The Oceanic Sportel — Hotel in Ko Kaeo

TLDR: It fails to live up to expectations. While the gym is decent, the rest of the hotel experience is marred by slow breakfast resupply, bad room design, poor noise control, and overpriced services. The staff, except for one member of the kitchen staff who harassed my group, is serviceable. Additionally, the presence of disruptive tourists adds to the unpleasant atmosphere. Avoid this hotel.

Full version: This hotel falls short of expectations and leaves a bitter taste in one's mouth. While it functions decently as a gym, the rest of the hotel experience is riddled with numerous drawbacks and one major issue that cannot be overlooked.

The breakfast buffet offers a decent variety, with pastries, beverages, and heartier options available daily. However, the resupply of the buffet can be slow, leading to inconsistent food quality, with some items being undercooked or badly seasoned. Additionally, there seems to be a policy limiting certain food options to children only, which was communicated in a rude manner to my group.

The rooms, while adequately designed, lack certain amenities such as a microwave. The separation of toilet and shower is appreciated, but the lack of privacy due to a partially see-through glass door is a significant downside (plus the the fact that both the shower and toilet doors had gaps like a low-quality bathroom in the US). Furthermore, noise control is severely lacking, as sounds from both inside and outside the room permeate easily, disrupting any hope of a peaceful stay.

The laundry service is limited and overpriced, with only one laundry room available next to the front desk. Prices at the bar and restaurant are steep, and the gym, while spacious, could have been better configured. Additionally, the lack of a water fountain in the gym is an inconvenience, despite the provision of a small water bottle per visitor per day (though it is quite insufficient for those considering serious/strenuous exercise- a single 350mL bottle).

Staff service is generally acceptable, except for one glaring exception – My companions and I were subjected to continual harassment by a member of the kitchen staff. This individual, an older woman responsible for restocking the food (at the breakfast buffet), exhibited behavior that ranged from snide comments and cursing under her breath to outright screaming. While we initially attempted to overlook these behaviors, assuming that everyone has bad days, the situation escalated to physical harassment.

The kitchen staff member in question has resorted to slapping our hands away, jabbing her finger at our faces and torsos, and forcibly taking utensils out of our hands. Despite our efforts to address these issues with the staff on hand, the behavior has persisted and, if anything, has worsened over time.

Not only has this behavior been distressing for us personally, but it has also impacted our relationships with friends and associates. We had recommended your hotel to them, but this experience has soured our relationship with both your establishment and those we recommended to stay here.

As paying customers, we expect to be treated with respect and courtesy. This extensive and continual behavior significantly detracted from our overall stay and has left a lasting negative impression.

Another concern is the presence of buses of tourists, who have been observed exhibiting disruptive behavior and lack of common courtesy. This, coupled with potential discrimination from hotel staff towards East Asian guests, adds to the unpleasant atmosphere.

The Oceanic Sportel is a hotel to be avoided. Its shortcomings, including noise issues, limited amenities, overpriced services, and most importantly, unacceptable behavior from staff, overshadow any positive aspects it may have. Unless you are a very heavy sleeper, unconcerned with privacy or noise, and willing to overlook the mistreatment of guests, it's best to steer clear of this establishment.

I want to write more, but there is a character limit. & the game room wasn't working. My Insta:...

The best hotel that I have ever stayed at. We stayed here for three nights recently and I really regret not having booked the rest of my time in Thailand with them. This hotel is superior to any accomodation you can find on the island, and at the current promotional price of $55 CAD it feel like stealing.

The hotel is fairly new, built recently I think maybe in the last year or two. Every area shows exceptional attention to detail. The reception area is really comfortable and inviting. The rooms look exactly like what you see in the pictures. The bed is the biggest and most comfortable bed anywhere complete with motion sensored under-lighting which is great if you have to go to the washroom at night but don't want to turn on the lights. There is also back-lighting behind the mirrors in the room. The washroom is amazing as well, super powerful toilet which is separate from the shower area, brand new raindrop showerhead with powerful water flow. Lastly the rooms have satellite television and brand new safes.

As impressive as the rooms were the facilities, again amazing attention to detail. They have four indoor and two outdoor tennis courts, all maintained to professional standards. You can even watch people play tennis on CCTV! There is a full gym on-site as well which has every piece of equipment you could possibly need. They also have personal trainers that can help you with your workout and recovery. The pool was also stunning especially at night when the bottom mounted LEDs flash like stars under the water. The poolside bar serves any drinks you could want, but the pool and the bar do close early, around 8pm. They also have a play area for children as well as an arcade.

The only knock on the property currently is that is is a bit far away from the tourist areas. The nearest convenience store is about a 10 minute walk currently but the hotel has built a roadside retail space which will likely contain a convenience store soon. If you don't have a vehicle I would recommend downloading the bolt app. It can get you anywhere in the city for 200 baht ($8CAD).

I could keep going but I will end here. If you have a chance to stay at this place take it, I think you will be...

The Oceanic Sportel Phuket, established in December 2021, was founded by a tennis enthusiast with a passion for elevating the sport's popularity in Phuket.

The owner's vision was to create a world-class training facility that would appeal to both casual players and serious athletes.

This led to the development of a "one-stop playhouse" featuring tennis courts, a fitness center, a community mall, and the Oceanic Sportel hotel.

The aim was to create a space where individuals could connect, share their love for sports and travel, and maintain an active lifestyle.

The Oceanic Sportel's history is deeply rooted in the owner's personal dedication to tennis and a belief in its potential to enhance overall well-being.

The goal was to foster a community around sports, offering a place for training, recovery, and enjoyment of an active lifestyle. The vision extended beyond just providing facilities; it sought to inspire and attract more people to participate in tennis and other sports.

Key aspects of the Oceanic Sportel's history and purpose include:

Passion for Tennis: The owner's love for tennis was the primary motivation behind the project.

Visionary Approach: The owner aimed to establish a world-class training facility to promote tennis in Phuket.

One-Stop Sports Destination: The Oceanic Sportel provides tennis courts, fitness facilities, and accommodation, making it an ideal hub for active travelers.

Community Building: The project is designed to foster a community of sports enthusiasts and provide a space for connection and shared experiences.

Focus on Wellness: The Oceanic Sportel encourages an active lifestyle and highlights the benefits of exercise for both physical and mental well-being.

State-of-the-Art Facilities: The resort offers top-notch equipment and training programs, including a tennis club with ITF-recognized courts and a Peak Performance Team led by a master coach.

The Oceanic Sportel is committed to providing a comprehensive and inspiring environment for sports...