Koh Russey Resort — Hotel in Koh Russei

Unparalleled Service at Koh Russey Resort

Koh Russey Resort is a peaceful getaway on a private island with a 1.2 km stretch of untouched beach. The location feels remote and quiet, offering couples a chance to truly unwind. It strikes a good balance between comfort and simplicity, making it ideal for a relaxing retreat. Here’s a breakdown of our experience:

Room Experience: The accommodations blend Cambodian design with modern touches, creating a space that feels both cultural and comfortable. Our villa featured a private pool and was surrounded by lush greenery, offering excellent privacy. The room was thoughtfully designed with high-end amenities and cozy furnishings.

Gym Facilities: The gym has two rooms: one equipped with machines and dumbbells (up to 20kg), two treadmills, one bike, one cross-trainer, one rower, and two adjustable benches. There is also a yoga studio for training, yoga, and meditation. The facilities are clean, air-conditioned, and well-maintained, ideal for fitness enthusiasts.

Dining Options: The food was delicious, with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients. The resort has two restaurants, operating alternately or together based on demand. Prices for food and drinks are higher on an island since everything must be transported there, so adjust expectations accordingly.

WiFi and Remote Work Suitability: WiFi coverage across the resort was available but sometimes slow, making it unsuitable for remote work videoconferences. Mobifone had no reception on the island, but the tranquil setting encouraged us to disconnect and enjoy the environment.

Service Quality: The service quality, especially in food and beverage, is exceptional. The staff are highly attentive, from setting tables perfectly to providing seamless service. Even trainees performed at a professional level. Housekeeping excelled in noticing small details that enhanced our stay. Preferences, such as replenishing cotton swabs or scheduling turndown service during dinner, were quickly noted and remembered. These thoughtful touches made the experience unforgettable.

Quiet/Adult-Only Areas: This resort is ideal for those prioritizing peace and quiet. The private beach and adult-oriented atmosphere provide a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle.

Location/Accessibility: Reaching the island requires a boat transfer, adding to its exclusivity. The transfer is included if you book directly through the resort but not with OTAs like Booking.com. Once there, the lush forests and crystal-clear sea create a breathtaking setting.

General Facilities: The resort’s infinity pool, spa, and recreational areas were excellent, contributing to a relaxing and luxurious vibe. The spa experience stood out for its exceptional quality and professional service. Treatments were performed by skilled staff in a serene environment. While spa services are on the pricier side, they offer excellent value for those seeking indulgence.

Opportunities for Improvement: While the resort offers activities like excursions and cooking classes, the prices were notably high. Adjusting these rates could make them more accessible for guests.

Unique Aspects: The resort’s design is inspired by traditional Cambodian Krama fabric, adding cultural richness to its modern aesthetic. The island’s eco-friendly initiatives align with sustainable tourism principles, which is commendable.

Personal Note: We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the team at Koh Russey Resort. The exceptional care we received made our visit unforgettable, and we felt genuinely valued throughout.

Bottom Line: Koh Russey Resort is an excellent choice for couples seeking an exclusive, tranquil getaway. With luxurious accommodations, outstanding service, and a stunning natural setting, it’s a destination worth considering for a...

Family stay, mid December 2023.

Overall, unique experience thanks to the feeling of being alone on this private island, combined with the design and comfort of the villas and with the staff kindness and smile.

Location: The resort is set on its own island. Considering the low number of accommodations (40/50) and the low occupation, this results in a feeling of absolute privacy and intimacy. Some guests will enjoy feeling alone on an island, some won't. For sure we did enjoy it. Just be aware of it before coming. The beach is very nice, overall well maintained as long as you do not walk towards the beach area where there are no accommodations. The only challenge in terms of location is the accessibility of the resort, which I guess is impacting its occupancy. While the 15 min boat journey to reach the resort island from the mainland lounge is quite enjoyable, it takes between 2 hours and a half and 3 hours by car to reach the lounge from Phnom Penh airport. There is a much closer airport in Sihanoukville but in our case, we couldn't find a flight to land directly there.

Rooms: We stayed in the Beach Villas. The rooms are very well designed (like the entire resort and public areas), with large space, outdoor patios, and of course direct access to the beach and views on the sea. Always cleaned. There are also villas with private pools but considering that the resort main pool is very nice and beautifully designed, we were very happy with our choice.

Service: Same as for the feeling of loneliness you might feel staying in this resort which you have to be aware of, don't come staying at Koh Russey Resort expecting to find a service like you could find in international luxury hotel chains like Four Seasons, Shangri-La and etc, you won't find it there. The team seems very young, probably not very experienced, but there is one thing we couldn't take away from them, it's their constant smile, and the fact that we could see they were always trying their best. Even if sometimes it took some time, the end goal was always reached which is the most important. The Front Office and Food & Beverage managers (or supervisors - but those 2 were clearly managing their team) really stood up as they were always there to answer our needs and to make sure the team knew what to do. Having those 2 guys working there gave us hope that they will be able to train their team to take them to their own level of service.

Food & Beverage: The resort has 2 restaurants, which during our stay served the same menus. The menu is quite short (around 5+ starters, 10 + mains and 3 deserts) and did not change until the last night of our 4 nights stay. While this seems a bit too low in terms of choice, we believe it's because of the low occupancy that the resort couldn't provide a more extensive menu. However, it's enough to not eat twice the same dishes if you don't stay more than 4 nights. On the last night they did change the menu.

Spa: We had 3 massages in total, and we all loved it.

We would easily recommend this resort for a 3/4 nights stay as the first step of a trip to Cambodia in order to relax and get read of the jet lag when flying from far, before visiting the main areas of Cambodia like Siem Reap. Just be aware of what you will find. If you look for a busy and super active place, with standardised 5 stars service, this might not be...

I’ve stayed at this resort three times over the past two years.

Our first two trips were fantastic (you can see timestamps from our earlier visits), which is why my partner and I continued booking the beachfront villa at $500+ per night. It’s a beautiful getaway here in Cambodia, where we live.

However, at this price point in Cambodia—or, honestly, anywhere in the world—certain standards of service and luxury are expected. Unfortunately, during our third visit, these standards were notably lacking.

Here’s what disappointed me. (I recognize I’m privileged to spend this amount on a vacation, and I genuinely try to approach it with gratitude):

The private boat ride to the island was scheduled for 1:30 pm but arrived 10 minutes late without any prior notice. On our first two visits, everything was prompt, and staff offered to carry our bags to the boat. This time, the boat was late, and there was no offer of assistance with our luggage.

To be fair, I always carry my own bags, but it would be nice if a 5-star hotel asked before I declined.

Check-in took over 20 minutes, despite no other guests waiting. I requested to go to the lobby restaurant to take a work call and asked if they could bring my room key and arrange a buggy for the ride to the villa (about 500 meters away). While they brought me the room key, they said no buggies were available, even though the place was nearly empty.

So, I walked to the villa carrying two bags, once again with no offer of help from staff.

During check-in, since it had rained earlier, staff had piled up cushions and pillows from around the property in the reception area (see photo). This gave the lobby a cluttered, warehouse-like appearance—far from a 5-star ambiance.

I asked for an ashtray at the open-air lobby restaurant, which the staff provided. Shortly after, an expat manager approached my partner, informing her that smoking wasn’t allowed, without any polite introduction or explanation.

I was on a work call with my earphones in, so I only found out later.

Upon arriving at the villa, we found the door open, the floor wet from rain, and the towels at the private pool also wet and not replaced.

After these incidents, we requested to speak to the GM. Staff informed us that the GM was unavailable after 5 pm.

I also understand the GM has changed since our previous visits, which may explain the stark difference in experience this time.

I know this all may seem trivial and like #firstworldproblems, but for $500+ a night at a five-star resort, most guests would expect a far better experience.

P.S. The GM later responded: “On the same evening I spent over an hour at the restaurants meeting guests and greeting our long-staying guests during their beach destination dining as well. Apologies if I missed you. I would have loved to talk to you and understand your frustrations. I never refuse to meet any of our valuable guests. Just for your information, I live on the island and meet guests during and after working hours, as well as on my days off if needed.”

We requested to speak to the GM both at check-in and later that evening. Both times, we were told by the staff the GM was...