Sol by Meliá Phu Quoc — Hotel in Phú Quốc

We spent 2 weeks there. Overall it was pleasant stay. WHEN WE ARRIVED at 8AM they told us we need to wait till 2PM for our room and All inclusive package. We waited in the lobby, they brought us hot towel and a drink. We got our room at 11AM. Also when we arrived they wanted 200$ deposit - we didn't have that much cash so the receptionist told us that we either leave our passport as a deposit or they can freeze this money on our card. We chose the second option, the money was returned immediately after check-out. Also we mistakenly booked a room with 2 single beds but upon request at the reception we got a room with a double bed without any problems. THE ROOM was nice, there's a big bottle of water for whole stay, kettle, basic tea, coffee. THE CLEANLINESS of the bathroom could be better (unpleasent smell from the sink) but towels are changed every day. In the same time toilets in common area, by the pool etc were extremely clean and overall whole hotel was very clean. THE BEACH is nice and clean with swing and hammocks. The water is cloudy and has an unpleasant smell, so there is no chance for snorkeling. It was our first holiday where we chose to spend time only in the pool. There's beach volleyball and kayaks as well. THE POOL area is nice, lot of sunbeds and shady spots. There is very good quality table tenis available. Clean beach towels are available any time you want. One of the bartenders working at the poolbar was ignoring guests, he was hiding on the stairs all the time. THE STAFF overall is very nice. Only a few people in the hotel can communicate in English. But you can see that they are trying very hard. SPECIAL THANKS to: Kaacao (who speaks excellent English), Nghiep, Nicic, Huy, Loc, Duyen (and I am so sorry if any of the names are misspelled!). Special thanks to chef Sergio who prepared delicious meal for us. THE MAIN RESTAURANT is all day dining. And there's a la carte menu everywhere besides breakfast buffet which is good and diversified (there's even miso soup, banh mi, fried rice and more). They have big Asian and Italian menu there. We loved the pho, the beef salad is amazing, pizza is nice. I didn't like the barracuda (fishy smell). OLA, the Spanish restaurant is included in all inclusive package only for the lunch. I had the best paella there. The fish of the day is very good. THE SHACK has very tasty hazy draught beer. They're making delicious frozen coffee. If you ask, they'll make popcorn just for you, sweet or salty. The food is tasty, I recommend fried noodles. The korean dumplings are very hot. Their passion fruit cheescake is to die for! TO SUM UP ALL INCLUSIVE, there is variety of food to choose and in 2 weeks we didn't manage to try everything. We're happy with all inclusive even though Vietnam is famous for its street food. You have to sign the bill every time you order something, even if it's only a tea. DRINKS are ok. Mohito is very good. The soft drinks for your drinks are served in cans. Some bartenders don't know some drinks, even basic ones. But finally they always manage to do something. And by the way the waiters often brings the wrong orders. You have to be patient :) NO ANIMATIONS take place in the hotel apart from one special Christmas evening with guitarist. One day there was a musician playing for evening guests of Ola restaurant as well and there was some food show on the Saturday but that's it in 2 weeks. OUTSIDE THE HOTEL there are some things to do. At the reception you can book a bus to the night market (bus ticket is cheap). The free shuttle bus to Vinworld departs from the bus stop on the street in front of the hotel. 5-10 walking minutes from the hotel there are stalls with food and cheap coconuts. 20 minutes along the beach you can reach the street with shops and restaurants. In the opposite direction there are interesting art installations where you can take pictures. There is almost always a taxi waiting outside the hotel. It's always a good idea to take a taxi to the Sunworld on the south...

I wouldn’t call it the worst stay I had, however, it was pretty disappointing. I still don’t understand what kind of clientele they are looking to attract. There isn’t enough fun for families with kids, yet it is extremely boring when traveling with friends and not romantic at all if you are to travel with your significant other.

Room We booked ocean view room and while the room was decent size and indeed was facing the ocean, it still felt it was different from booking. The minibar was empty, some of the furniture looked like it was harshly painted and seemed very poorly finished. The room also had refillable toiletries that looked like they’ve seen better days, however, nice new bedding and towels.

Common areas Very well-maintained garden in bloom looked lovely. Inside the building it’s rather dusty which is very obvious especially on the dark wooden furniture in the lobby.

Pool The pool has shallow part for the younger kids and generously sized adult section. The cabanas were lovely, however sun loungers were extremely uncomfortable and old. The pool also has a bar but should there be a competition for the most introverted person, the guy serving drinks there would definitely take the first prize for constantly hiding from the guests and being on his phone.

Food and beverage options This would be the most disappointing part: their F&B concept. There were 5 outlets open during our stay. Pool bar - great apart from the service.

Shack - 12 pm to 8pm - burgers, sandwiches and some light bites. Regular restaurant you’d expect to have somewhere by the pool to hide from the sun during the hottest hours.

The kitchen - main all day dining outlet - serving buffet breakfast and a-la carte lunch and dinner. This is where the fun begins. The place has two menus - international and supposedly Vietnamese. While both menus combined offer probably around 70 dishes the selection is very random. First of all, I would expect to have more authentic Vietnamese experience being on an island, full of fresh seafood and local specialties. Secondly, I do understand having international menu, however, again - choose what do you wish to serve. Pizza is decent, that’s fine, but why having sandwiches if Shack has them too?! Trying to have a little bit of everything is confusing and I’m sure leads to a lot of wastage. Third, I’m not sure what’s their problem with chicken but any poultry dish we were served was sad, tough and not seasoned. Guess what, even chicken strips. Last but not least, maybe try to rotate the menu to make it a bit less boring for your customers?

Ginger - lobby bar open from 10am to 5pm. Why would you have these strange opening hours for a lobby bar? Those normally work until late anywhere else in the world. Ginger serves drinks and coffee. That’s it, no food there.

Ola - beach club. The worst outlet in the resort. It was meant to be a Spanish tavern but something went wrong. I mean serving a sad paella with tough chicken, 3 shrimps and overcooked rice goes nowhere near any kind on Spanish cooking. We tried several dishes there, they weren’t good. Again, why not opening a place with a regular seafood boil, hotpot or a seafood grill? Why making it so complicated?

Finally, we opted for all-inclusive package which isn’t cheap. Having spent few days in the mainland we were hoping for a carefree time on an island to rewind before going back to the city life, late night conversations near the beach, perhaps some light music. To our surprise the coverage was very restrictive and the latest one could possibly get a drink was in fact 9:30 pm in the main restaurant because everything else is already closed. Despite the restaurant being open until 10 pm you can only order until 9:30 pm both food and drinks. I struggle to remember when was the last time I was required to bed so early while on vacation since there was simply no other option. I guess it wasn’t the worst stay, but this was certainly the most boring resort...

I recently stayed at Sol by Meliá Phu Quoc, and while there were some highlights, my overall experience was disappointing due to significant drawbacks, particularly regarding sleep quality and the resort's location.

Sleep Quality: 1/5 The king-size bed was stiff and hard, making it one of the most uncomfortable mattresses I’ve encountered in my travels. Attempts to soften it with extra pillows proved futile, and I ended up sleeping on the small sofa in the room instead. Additionally, the noise level added to the discomfort. I could hear footsteps from the room above and people moving in the outdoor corridor, which made it nearly impossible to get restful sleep.

Cleanliness: 5/5 On a positive note, the overall cleanliness of the room, bathroom, and common areas was impeccable. The housekeeping staff clearly put effort into maintaining the hotel to a high standard.

Location: 2/5 While the hotel is conveniently close to the airport, it is quite isolated from local markets, convenience stores, restaurants, and shopping areas. If you plan to stay here, I highly recommend stopping for supplies before arriving. The resort offers several dining options, but the food was underwhelming, with small portions and a lack of authentic flavors typical of Phu Quoc.

Amenities and Activities: Spa Services: I indulged in a 3-hour spa package that included a massage, body scrub, and mud wrap. While the treatments were pleasant, I was disappointed that the session ended 30 minutes earlier than the time I paid for. Additionally, the spa’s shower only had lukewarm water, which meant I had to return to my room to shower after treatments. Pools: The resort advertises multiple pools, but the main pool is the only one truly functional. The others are shallow, ankle-deep decorative areas that aren’t suitable for swimming. Despite paying extra for a room with direct pool access, the “pool” was narrow and shallow, more decorative than practical. Beach: The beachfront was not as serene as other resorts on Phu Quoc. The ocean was choppy, with waves obscuring the ocean floor, unlike the tranquil, clear blue waters I experienced at other properties on the island. Walkability and Surroundings: 2/5 There isn’t much to explore on foot outside the hotel. Walking to the right of the property leads to overgrown grass and stray dogs that bark or chase you. Heading left takes you to a highway with a few makeshift fruit vendors and small pharmacies. For nightlife or shopping, you’ll need to drive about 20 minutes to reach the nearest hub.

Unique Features: Staff were GREAT! Excellent customer service and greeting at reception. The free water stations in the rooms and reception area were a thoughtful touch and much appreciated.

Value for Money: 2.5/5 While the resort offers basic amenities and decent service, there are better options on Phu Quoc that provide superior comfort, authentic cuisine, better beach conditions, and a more engaging experience overall.

Final Verdict: I would not stay at Sol by Meliá Phu Quoc again, but it may appeal to those looking for an isolated, compound-style vacation. In my opinion, Sol by Meliá is ideal for travelers seeking a secluded, all-inclusive resort experience with minimal interest in exploring local culture or activities. The property caters to those who prefer staying within a hotel compound and are indifferent to authentic local immersion.

For travelers prioritizing comfort, local immersion, and tranquil beaches, I recommend exploring other oceanfront hotels...