Sawasdee Village Resort & Spa — Restaurant in Karon

What a lovely place to stay for our last stop in Thailand. We were dubious at first as the street it is on isn't that great (many ladies in bars and massage parlours trying to entice customers...! Husband repeatedly propositioned when he went to the pharmacy for me as I burned, but different story when he was with me!) However, walking along the entrance into the village is the start of a feast for the eyes and an oasis of calm within an otherwise very busy tourist area. We arrived early and were able to get towels and use the main pool facilities and the lounge immediately! The pool wasn't too busy which was nice and direct access to the pool bar which provides a menu for food too. |We had room 204 which was one of the pool access villas. The villa, while aging and in some places in need of decor, was fabulous. Its supposed to look rustic and its aged feel just added to the rustic charm of the place. Opulent ceilings, doors and the feel was lovely and the bed was enormous! Air con, shampoo etc and a brush all provided as were pool towels and a beach bag! The access to the small pool was a bit difficult as its a steep step down and out of the living room or from the decking whichever way you try and go and the decking area in this villa was smaller than other decked areas we saw! The big branch over our pool also restricted how far one of the doors would open to let you out which made things slightly difficult for me! This small pool led to a much larger private pool for the villas which was superb. There was an oasis bar at the end and while it was not manned - all you have to do is call the reception who send someone down to take your order! |Room service was hit and miss. One night really good food - next night not so good as it looked like it was made in a hurry! |Food at breakfast was ok. Not a huge selection but enough to please everyone and they also had English tea which was great (but ask for cold milk). Omelette was too oily - so I stuck with a fried egg on brown bread as my safe option. Food in the evening wasn't wonderful. Ordered pad thai with chicken but it tasted really fishy and I could not eat it. Got the impression the food was cooked immediately after a fish dish and the pan was not cleaned properly! We did not eat in there again. |The staff at the pool bar were lovely (Bow)! True Thai hospitality - smiley and friendly - she even let my husband shake his own cocktails! Shame they had to put up with some very rude customers who arrived as we were leaving and were loud, obnoxious and thought it was ok to bring their own vodka and soft drinks and bark orders at the bar staff for glasses etc while playing their own music really loudly all day. I thought this was disrespectful and the staff work too hard and are too nice to be treated like this!|There's a laundry right next door to the hotel which was cheap as chips (not sure what its called but presuming much cheaper than the hotel rate!) - 60tbh per kilo. Got it back the next day all sorted! |The hotel allowed us a late checkout at short notice for a small fee and then provided a shower room before we left so we could freshen up before we left - although there was no hairdryer! (I could have asked for one but time was against us so that's on me!) |We'd stay here again for sure. Its a lovely tranquil place (if you discount the rude folks at the bar) where the staff are super friendly and will do anything to help! |Overall - the hotel is lovely and one we would...

We stayed in room 113. Everything was generally good. The level of effort that has gone into curating an aesthetic and instagramable exterior to the resort shows. However if that's not your priority, you may feel that other aspects are a bit lacking or overpriced. Being in the large pool at night was a highlight. The lounge with free snacks and coffee/tea was nice. The drinks were good and the food at the restaurant was good. The beach is a 12-15 minute walk or they have a shuttle every hour. Not bad but not beachfront.

The few areas for comment/improvement based on first impressions that stuck out during our two nights there:

The very large cash deposit upfront was concerning and in all our traveling around the world have never had to leave such a large deposit at a hotel before. Concern we would not get some of it back due to made up charges. The good is that you can choose to do it via card if you don't have the cash, and we did get all the deposit back. Just a little concerning upon checking in.

Bedding left some to be desired. The bed wasn't the most comfortable but it was fine. The double bed was two mattresses with a topper so you can feel the seam down the middle if you plan on sleeping in the middle of the bed or if that matters to you. The pillows however could use the most improvement. Two of our pillows were very large and very hard, one was a bit large and very hard, and the fourth was softer more comfortable and what would be considered 'normal'. It would be best for the hotel to provide two hard and two soft pillows upfront like most other places do.

We ate at the restaurant and when we had just received our food and started eating, were bothered by one of the waitresses who tried to get us to scan a qr code and leave a five star to get a free drink. The qr code wasn't working for me. It was particularly off-putting because we were in the middle of eating and as the code didn't even work it was distracting. Just let us eat in peace. This should be done after the meal and not using scummy methods like this at a high end establishment lto coerce people into giving a five star review with free drinks or discounts. Just off putting, but the food was good albeit a little more expensive than other hotel food in town that tasted just as good.

The happy hour advertisement was misleadingly designed as it seems like any drink on the card is buy one get one free, but it's only the ones in the yellow circles. This could be more clearly communicated on the display and when asking the staff about it their English was not good enough to make it this clear.

The shower had a decorative ceiling with many openings and holes and my girlfriend was a little creeped out by this, which would be very easy for someone to stick a camera in.

There is "spa music" constantly playing throughout the grounds during the daytime. These low frequencies of the music were audible in our room when sleeping in the morning around 8 or 9. Subtle but it would be better to not have the music...

We had a 10/10 experience!

Our check-in was very fast and organized, taking only about 10 minutes. Despite arriving very early for a 3:00 pm check-in, they accommodated us immediately by changing our spa treatment starting time, which was a perfect way to wait for our room. If you prefer not to get a spa treatment while waiting for check-in, they provide a comfortable lounge area with complimentary refreshments for guests.

The spa treatment here was superb. From the moment you enter the spa, you feel warmly welcomed. They prioritize your preferences and expectations for the treatment, which I truly appreciated. The private room for couples' massage is beautifully detailed, clean, and relaxing without any distracting noises. The therapists were attentive and skilled. After your treatment, they ask for feedback via a survey, emphasizing their commitment to client satisfaction.

This hotel is genuinely one of the most beautiful we've stayed in. Almost every wall is covered with intricate details that make it feel like a dream, and the pool—wow! Photos simply don't do it justice.

The butler was incredibly sweet and gave us a thorough tour of our room and its features. We stayed in room 340, which was stunning with starry night lights on the ceiling and direct pool access from the shower, a very convenient feature. The water pressure in the shower was excellent, a feature I ALWAYS appreciate, with both a rain shower (very realistic) and a handheld shower head. The water heated up quickly and efficiently.

Their attention to details is so high, they go as far as to place a little scented bag behind the toilet that makes the whole toilet room smell sooo good. They also provide complimentary toothbrushes, toothpaste, and other necessities in case you forget yours, which was a thoughtful touch.

The air conditioning in the room worked perfectly, keeping us comfortable throughout our stay. The bed and pillows were very comfortable.

Every staff member we encountered was kind and responsive, and all areas, including our room and the pool, were impeccably clean. Overall, this hotel exceeded our expectations.

They are currently renovating some rooms, but honestly, you can barely notice any disturbance.

I will forever recommend this hotel to anybody traveling...