I couldn't see a master thread for this property, so I hope you don't mind me creating one?
Review as Diamond Ambassador
Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked Hideaway Villa (the entry room category). A few days before the stay, we were upgraded to the Hideaway Pool Villa. The resort does not participate in the IHG One Rewards programme, so this was at the resort's discretion. However, they do offer one free 60 minute spa therapy per person - we had the choice of an aroma massage or a nuad thai massage - as a sweetener for Diamonds.
How are the rooms?
On two levels, with bed and sofa on upper level and bathroom (standalone bath + his n hers + toilet + outdoor shower) a few stone steps down. Nightlight recommended for nocturnal trips to the loo to avoid a broken neck. There are twin air conditioners which can cool the room down well but they are noisy (50dB on the lowest setting). On the plus side, they double up as a white noise machine at night? Pool was a nice to have, with a cushioned lazing area and loungers, and even got some sun through the foliage. However, we mainly used the communal areas of the resort.
How is the exec. lounge?
N/A - there is no lounge.
What was good and what was bad?
This was my first ever Six Senses stay. I have always viewed it as an aspirational brand which is somewhat next level from, say, an IC resort. Perhaps I was mistaken in this regard. I did not find a whole lot of wow factor during the four days at Six Senses Samui.
The resort is old, and to me, it shows. Not so much in maintenance/condition, but in dated look and concept, which is a far harder issue for the resort to resolve. I remember "rustic luxury" places being the in-thing in the late noughties, with places in Thailand such as Aleenta and Evason (Six Senses Samui is a former Evason, if I am not mistaken). I appreciate it's personal preference, given that repeat visitors still readily stump up the cash to stay here - and perhaps also some grumbling middle age on my part - but having a outdoor shower surrounded by an old, rickety, stained wall of bamboo no longer does it for me, especially when I have to hunch under the rain shower as it's been mounted at a max height of six foot, and only then after running the shower for a full minute until the hot water comes through. However petty, I think it's reasonable for me to expect a slightly better ablution experience at a $1000/night resort.
There are things the resort does well: there are staff everywhere, even if their pastel uniforms put me in mind of a recovery clinic or some other sort of institution (actually, coupled with the on-site buggies and food prices, perhaps it's closer to The Prisoner. "I am a name, not a Villa Number!"). You will be cheerily greeted every few seconds or so as you make your way around the place. The breakfast, whilst small and lacking daily variety in the buffet, makes up for it by offering three specials a day, which are freshly prepared and of good quality. The restaurant does a lot of dishes well (at a cost). The infinity pool is lovely and is a designated chill zone (although the planes landing at USM don't obey). The pool bar area was even better and more modern IMHO, with local beer on tap (curiously, not available elsewhere in the resort), wood-fired pizzas and a good range of lounging options. The beach is less of a gem, shared as it is with another resort, which looms over the little cove as noisy jet-skis zoom by. Perhaps I expected too much from a resort on the crowded end of Samui, but whilst there were pockets of relaxation, it didn't feel ultra special, especially having just come from a much better four day stay at the IC on the less developed far side of the island.
Perhaps I set my expectations too high. Perhaps my past experiences of Evason and Aleenta in a previous post-backpacker life have coloured my view of "shabby chic" resorts (there was a little too much "shabby" and not enough "chic" for my tastes). Perhaps I should have done more research.
Or perhaps my experience (a couple of hours after checking in) of plugging my laptop into the desk plug and the wire smoking, then melting before my eyes and then finally sparking with frightening 240V electricity set the tone. Not so much the incident itself - I guess it was most likely a weakness in the cable rather than the plug socket? - but rather the response from the reception on me patiently explaining that the socket needed to be checked, as it could be a fire hazard, if not for me but for a future guest. The individual on reception was deeply concerned about my fried cable, but try as I might, could not grasp the concept that it required further investigation, and either ignored or did not understand my request to see a manager. Ultimately I used the Six Senses app (which is buggy) to contact a manager via my "Guest Experience Maker" with the chat function, who on explaining the issue, dealt with it well. The socket was looked at and replaced with a new one - whether due to it being faulty or through an abundance of caution, I don't know. But the initial contact raised serious concerns about staff quality, safety training and communication.
Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
I booked almost a full year out and paid around £400/night. The price increased to £800/night for most of the rest of the year, only dropping back to what I paid a few days before the stay (for the one room that was available - the Hideaway Villa that I was upgraded from, I guess). Zero points were earned due to the resort not being a participant in the IHG One Rewards scheme.
I've been harsh on the resort, but that's because I expected a lot. We still had a good time, but the expectation did not fully meet reality. I guess for £400/night I got off lightly in financial terms, even if the IC is much better value for the same price. I'm just glad I didn't pay double that. I doubt we'll be back.
Review as Diamond Ambassador
Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
Booked Hideaway Villa (the entry room category). A few days before the stay, we were upgraded to the Hideaway Pool Villa. The resort does not participate in the IHG One Rewards programme, so this was at the resort's discretion. However, they do offer one free 60 minute spa therapy per person - we had the choice of an aroma massage or a nuad thai massage - as a sweetener for Diamonds.
How are the rooms?
On two levels, with bed and sofa on upper level and bathroom (standalone bath + his n hers + toilet + outdoor shower) a few stone steps down. Nightlight recommended for nocturnal trips to the loo to avoid a broken neck. There are twin air conditioners which can cool the room down well but they are noisy (50dB on the lowest setting). On the plus side, they double up as a white noise machine at night? Pool was a nice to have, with a cushioned lazing area and loungers, and even got some sun through the foliage. However, we mainly used the communal areas of the resort.
How is the exec. lounge?
N/A - there is no lounge.
What was good and what was bad?
This was my first ever Six Senses stay. I have always viewed it as an aspirational brand which is somewhat next level from, say, an IC resort. Perhaps I was mistaken in this regard. I did not find a whole lot of wow factor during the four days at Six Senses Samui.
The resort is old, and to me, it shows. Not so much in maintenance/condition, but in dated look and concept, which is a far harder issue for the resort to resolve. I remember "rustic luxury" places being the in-thing in the late noughties, with places in Thailand such as Aleenta and Evason (Six Senses Samui is a former Evason, if I am not mistaken). I appreciate it's personal preference, given that repeat visitors still readily stump up the cash to stay here - and perhaps also some grumbling middle age on my part - but having a outdoor shower surrounded by an old, rickety, stained wall of bamboo no longer does it for me, especially when I have to hunch under the rain shower as it's been mounted at a max height of six foot, and only then after running the shower for a full minute until the hot water comes through. However petty, I think it's reasonable for me to expect a slightly better ablution experience at a $1000/night resort.
There are things the resort does well: there are staff everywhere, even if their pastel uniforms put me in mind of a recovery clinic or some other sort of institution (actually, coupled with the on-site buggies and food prices, perhaps it's closer to The Prisoner. "I am a name, not a Villa Number!"). You will be cheerily greeted every few seconds or so as you make your way around the place. The breakfast, whilst small and lacking daily variety in the buffet, makes up for it by offering three specials a day, which are freshly prepared and of good quality. The restaurant does a lot of dishes well (at a cost). The infinity pool is lovely and is a designated chill zone (although the planes landing at USM don't obey). The pool bar area was even better and more modern IMHO, with local beer on tap (curiously, not available elsewhere in the resort), wood-fired pizzas and a good range of lounging options. The beach is less of a gem, shared as it is with another resort, which looms over the little cove as noisy jet-skis zoom by. Perhaps I expected too much from a resort on the crowded end of Samui, but whilst there were pockets of relaxation, it didn't feel ultra special, especially having just come from a much better four day stay at the IC on the less developed far side of the island.
Perhaps I set my expectations too high. Perhaps my past experiences of Evason and Aleenta in a previous post-backpacker life have coloured my view of "shabby chic" resorts (there was a little too much "shabby" and not enough "chic" for my tastes). Perhaps I should have done more research.
Or perhaps my experience (a couple of hours after checking in) of plugging my laptop into the desk plug and the wire smoking, then melting before my eyes and then finally sparking with frightening 240V electricity set the tone. Not so much the incident itself - I guess it was most likely a weakness in the cable rather than the plug socket? - but rather the response from the reception on me patiently explaining that the socket needed to be checked, as it could be a fire hazard, if not for me but for a future guest. The individual on reception was deeply concerned about my fried cable, but try as I might, could not grasp the concept that it required further investigation, and either ignored or did not understand my request to see a manager. Ultimately I used the Six Senses app (which is buggy) to contact a manager via my "Guest Experience Maker" with the chat function, who on explaining the issue, dealt with it well. The socket was looked at and replaced with a new one - whether due to it being faulty or through an abundance of caution, I don't know. But the initial contact raised serious concerns about staff quality, safety training and communication.
Value for $ or Priority Club Points? Would you return?
I booked almost a full year out and paid around £400/night. The price increased to £800/night for most of the rest of the year, only dropping back to what I paid a few days before the stay (for the one room that was available - the Hideaway Villa that I was upgraded from, I guess). Zero points were earned due to the resort not being a participant in the IHG One Rewards scheme.
I've been harsh on the resort, but that's because I expected a lot. We still had a good time, but the expectation did not fully meet reality. I guess for £400/night I got off lightly in financial terms, even if the IC is much better value for the same price. I'm just glad I didn't pay double that. I doubt we'll be back.