Soneva Kiri
Introduction: Soneva Kiri is a luxury resort in Koh Kood, Thailand, known for its stunning villas, eco-friendly design, and exceptional service. The resort offers experiences like treetop dining and outdoor cinema, blending luxury with nature in a tranquil setting.
My arrival experience: Warm welcome from Ms. Friday, before being escorted to lunch. After a great lunch and conversation with Gabriel, the South African chef, I arrived at my villa where we did the check-in.
What I liked: The overall experience. This is a world class resort. What impressed me most was probably the high priority on food, the level of privacy and of course the extraordinary design and concept.
What about the food? Like its sister hotel, Soneva Fushi, Soneva Kiri has a high priority for food. They do very little import and produce a lot on the island itself. The South African chef Gabriel has worked at Frégate Island Private in the past, and it was a pleasure to meet him again at Koh Kood and hear about the concept of Soneva Kiri. The food was not at Michelin level, but it certainly exceeded my expectations and was some of the best I’ve had at any of Asia’s top resorts. Make sure you try one of the 60 different kinds of homemade ice cream!
What about the service: Ms. Friday is a personal butler to take care of everything day and night. Mine did a good job, but although I liked the experience at Soneva Kiri, the service did not meet my expectations. Many of the staff could improve their English level, and a few service details could be improved.
For example, I had to go for dinner before 9 pm as the housekeeping didn’t work afterwards. I wanted a late dinner, but it wasn’t possible if I wanted turn down service. I also didn’t like the rip-off mini-bar. They charge you THB230 for a Coca-Cola, which you can buy at any supermarket in Thailand for THB10-20. Nobody likes to get ripped off, and it’s something I would imagine even some of the most wealthy people in the world don’t like.
Many of the world’s best resorts offer complimentary mini-bars, and it would be great if Soneva Kiri would follow. Another problem was a cat at the restaurant. For lunch, the cat begged me for food, and for dinner, it suddenly touched my legs. Despite having things to work with, I liked Soneva Kiri, and with some service improvements, it could end up being one of my favourite resorts in the whole world. Based on my one-night stay on June 30th, 2015, I’ll call it a fantastic experience with a great concept.
What about the rooms: A perfect combination of luxury and eco-friendliness. Fantastic, soft beds, complimentary internet and worldwide phone calls. Two outdoor showers, a jacuzzi, natural bathroom products and a large private swimming pool in a villa located right on the beach.
Number of rooms: 35.
Website: www.soneva.com/soneva-kiri
Type of property: Resort.
Location: Koh Kood, Thailand.
Facilities: Six Senses Spa with excellent facilities including sauna, steam and an updated gym. Public swimming pools and a library where you can send complimentary postcards.
Complimentary internet: Yes.
My overall impression: Fantastic experience. The overall impression is easy. This is a world-class resort with an outstanding concept.
