Amazing Perfection

This is a fantasy - it is a cross between Robinson Crusoe and cutting edge design - each bungalow is very private has a separate bath, as well as an indoor and an outdoor shower, pluse bamboo screens which electronically drop at the touch of a button for added privacy... My wife and i stayed five nights, and we would have stayed for a month if we could have....the food is excellent and the staff amazing. We went snorkelling/diving a number of times, and on other days, just relaxed by the beach. there are not very many bungalows. The spa was amazing and is upon a hillside overlooking the resort.....this resort is only accessible by boat (one hour from krabi by speedboat ran about 80 dollars US), and is on a private beach shared with only three other resorts...none of them too large so the beach was usually quiet.... there is also a saltwater pool which we used each day which was lovely. Note that only a few of the bungalows have an ocean view, and those give up the privacy which made this place so magical, so I would skip the ocean view. This place was truly magical, with candles lit upon the beach at night, and every care attended to... this would be the ideal 5 star honeymoon getaway for those that shun the large institutional hotels and instead prefer privacy and style. We can't wait to return

4 nights in August

This is a fantastic place to stay. A bit on the expensive side but given a 2:1 special (not from the hotel website as they add the 17% service and tax) during August made it average 6100B/Nt for a Garden room. The location, beautiful rooms, unique grounds, and staff all added to the experience. The rooms have two different styles - one having the outdoors sitting area attached to the end and the other has it in the middle with the bathroom at one end. THis makes the bathroom more private from the room but you do have to go outside moving from the bathroom to the bedroom. The only negative was the restaraunt staff. We frequently received the wrong food (as apparently did many others with waiters wandering around for someone to claim a plate) and during dinner I finished my dinner before the other person's even arrived. I think they forgot as my dessert never appeared either. The food was very good when it did get there (about 75% success rate). Garden View rooms 32-34 appeared to have the best view (partial) of the sea while the rest have either a pool view or garden. There are only 3 seafront rooms. Do take a sea kyak and paddle around the north point for some great snorkeling and scenery. Free use of mask/fins/snorkel/kyak. Seafront loungers go quickly in the morning.

Prearrival arrangements were a struggle as apparently Zeavola doesn't help with transportation from either Krabi or Ton Sai and responded by saying "take a ferry and then a longtail from Ton Sai." A request for a two bed room resulted with a "we don't block rooms" response. Once there, they were very helpful though. Had the prearrival gone smoothly, I'd rate it an excellent.

Zeavola = Heaven on earth!

II read about Zeavola in travel books and had the opportunity to browse their website before heading off to Thailand this past June/July. I had my heart set on staying at Zeavola, but it was a little out of my price range. Before traveling to Koh Phi Phi , I called the reservations manager who offered me a bungalow for a lot less than what is advertised on the website (I was traveling in LOW season). I booked the bungalow on the spot.

Not only was Zeavola everything it claimed to be on the website, it exceeded my expectations in every way - its beauty, the service, the amenities, etc. Although it is definitely a romantic resort (a PERFECT place to go on a honeymoon), I was in absolute bliss staying there as a single traveler.

To start, Koh Phi Phi is a stunningly beautiful island paradise that is a welcome retreat from the busy island of Phuket. Zeavola is located on a small stretch of beach away from town that is only accessible by boat.

As soon as I arrived, I was greeted by a host who gave me a cold towel and a cold drink while I checked in. I was shown to my bungalow, and it was truly the most beautiful accommodation I have ever stayed in. It was very spacious (the size of a small studio) and the set-up was charming and unique. The bed, chaise lounge chair and desk are in an air-conditioned bungalow in which three of the four walls are floor to ceiling windows (with curtains, of course). The sink, the toilet and the two showers (yes, two showers - one completely outdoors and another in a separate dwelling adjacent to the sink) are outside the bungalow. The bar, outdoor lounge mat and comfy chairs are located on a large deck that separates the bungalow from the shower/sink area. All the furniture and accents are absolutely lovely and of high quality. The turn down service was very charming (I won't mention what makes it so adorable, otherwise I'd ruin all the surprises Zeavola has to offer!).

I could go on for much longer about all the things I loved about Zeavola, but I have limited space. Suffice it to say, the breakfast, the island tour that is offered through the hotel, the beach, the restaurant and most especially, the snorkeling right next to the hotel were amazing. The staff was so wonderful that when I left, I felt like I was saying goodbye to friends! After staying there, I would happily pay full price in high season. I can't wait to make my way back to Koh Phi Phi and to Zeavola.

Perfection in paradise!

My Husband and I just celebrated our 8th Anniversary at Zeavola and it was perfect! Even though it was supposed to be the rainy season, we enjoyed 5 days of perfect sunshine.

We have stayed at 5 star hotels all over the world and this resort has to be the best. A unique attention to detail is everywhere here: from the flowers strewn on our bed the first night to the framed photo of my husband and I the first day we arrived that showed up on our dresser. They even had a heart shaped cake for us on our first night! All complimentary! We stayed in one of the 3 beachfront suites (#52), which is a little hidden to provide the advantage of privacy and direct access to the beach.

The staff are amazing as well. No request is too much trouble. In particular, Mo who manages the restaurant made our stay very special. We also took advantage of the diving center that is part of the property. We were 1st time divers and the instructor Thomas, was excellent.

The food was wonderful as well. We never tired of the menu and appreciated the fact that it wasn't overpriced (which you find at so many other resorts). I had one treatment at the Spa on the premises after I had a sunburn and that was also excellent-cooling cucumber and aloe (they even gave some aloe to take back to my husband who also had a sunburn). In conclusion, I could not find one fault with this beautiful property and we hope to return again and again! If you are hesitating....don't.....this is paradise!

Wundervoll ...

Wir waren im Mai 2006 für 4 Nächte im Zeavola und hatten einen tollen, entspannenden Aufenthalt! Das Design der Villas ist fabelhaft, alles, was man braucht verpackt im gemütlichen, ländlichen Thai-Design ... d. h. Klimaanlage, DVD, TV, Moskitonetz, offene Terrasse ... Frühstück war super, man braucht gar nicht zum Büffet zu gehen; bestellen Sie einfach, was Sie möchten, aus einer schönen Auswahl von zumeist westlichen Frühstücksspeisen. Der Pool ist ziemlich einfach, aber da der Ozean nur 10 Meter entfernt ist, ist das auch egal. Feiner weißer Sand und ja, es gibt einige laute Longtail-Boote, aber so schlimm ist es wirklich nicht. Ziemlich lang mit ca. 4 Hotelanlagen, die sich über 500 m erstrecken. Außerdem gibt es eine kleines thailändisches Fischlokal (Jasmin.... sehr einfach, aber sehr gut!!!), für diejenigen, die nicht 800 Baht für ein Gericht im Hotelrestaurant bezahlen wollen. Schwedischer Tauchlehrer, schnorcheln kann man direkt vom Strand aus. Freundliches Personal. Wunderbare Umgebung fürs Abendessen, am Strand bei Vollmond mit Kerzen und Lichtern .... sooooo romantisch. Wir hatten ein gutes Angebot im Internet von 5500 Baht für eine Village Suite; schlagen Sie zu, bevor die Preise erhöht werden --- große Eröffnung ist Ende Mai (2006). Sehr empfehlenswert!!!

Complete bliss

We had an incredible time at Zeavola. The rooms are beautiful and very comfortable with the emphasis on the outdoors - the bathroom and undercover living areas looked over a tropical garden and it was so peaceful and relaxing! I loved the small touches - they put a stuffed turtle and penguin on our bed at night and lit lovely scents in the bathroom when we came back from dinner. They also left us a framed photograph from our arrival to the hotel which is such a lovely souvenir.

We ate at the hotel every night and enjoyed the food although the cocktails could have been a little more imaginative. On the last night were given a tour of the amazing kitchen, run by a lovely chef from LA. We then had a special BBQ on the beach with freshly caught fish and squid cooked in bananleaves and prepared in front of us. It was magical!

There's really no need to tour to Bamboo Island as the snorkelling just off the hotel is incredible - we saw Nemo fish and Moray eels and hundreds of fish. After the quiet of the resort Ton Sai is far too busy and smelly, as are all the over-populated touristy places - Monkey Beach etc. It's blissful just to stay at Zeavola and pamper yourself with a spa or just relax at the beach. Highly recommende!

Wonderful ...

We stayed at the Zeavola for 4 nights in May 2006 and we had a great relaxing time there! Villas are designed fabulously, everything you need packed in cosy rural Thai design ... that means A/C, DVD, TV, mosquita net, open terrace ...

breakfast was great, don't bother going to the buffet, you just order what you want from a fine selection of mostly western breakfast dishes.

The pool is quite simple but, with the ocean at 10 meters, you don't really care. Fine white sand, and yes some noisy longtails, but it's really not a big deal. quite long with 4 or so hotel resorts stretch over 500m. There's also a small Thai seafood eatery (Jasmin.... very simple but very good!!!), for those that don't wanna pay 800 Baht for a dish at the hotel restaurant.

Swedish scuba diving instructor, snorkeling possible right from the beach. Friendly staff. Great setting for dinner, lying at the beach at fullmoon with the candles and lights .... sooooo romantic.

We got a great rate of 5500 Baht, on the internet for a village suite, so go there before prices go up - their grand opening is end of May (2006). Highly recommendable!!!

Excellent

Great experience.

We stayed there for 4 nights, during our 3 week honeymoon in Thailand. For sure, the best hotel in Phi-Phi. We didn't even notice the resort was not finished. The spa was not opened, but they had some of the suites ready for it. No problem with that.

Service was incredible, with few (and minor) complaints: for example, slow service during breakfast some of the days, but remember you are in Thailand!

The satff was great, very friendly. Thay put flowers in the room everynight. The only problem was communicating with them prior to the arrival. We booked through a last minute web (130 EUR/night), and we really didn't know how to get there. They didn't answer to emails or faxes, but by phone the explained us that they would pick us up from Phi-Phi main pier.

The beach was not the best one (too many long tail boats sometimes, too noisy), but having dinner there was priceless. And you have many places to go and visit in Phi-Phi.

I strongly recommend it. And more, if you pay only 130 EUR.

Mmmmm

Cannot believe there are so few reviews and cannot believe the other reviewer was so little impressed by the resort.

Yes, not all the villas are finished, but one will hardly notice that and only if one is the curious type and decides to visit the whole village. With the perfect silence around, the finishing touches on the other villas are hard to notice. Both restaurants are open and dinner on the beach can become almost too romantic with the lights on the trees, the sea just a few inches away and the candles.

The villas are amazing both from outside and inside and the AC, DVD and CD players are really the only items reminding XXI century, but i am sure anyone who stayed in Thailand would never mind a good AC. Roomy lounge area, perfect bed and the cutest bathroom, the only confusion i had was if it felt more like i'm outside or inside and which was actually better.

Beach is very quiet, you may even find yourself alone, taking advantage of the wooden platforms with rugs, towels and cushins, under the umbrella. Everyday at lunchtime beach is swamped by daytrippers from Pukhet, who seldom even come close enough to Zeavola, for a few pictures before leaving the island.

You may find the water a bit too shallow and the bottom a bit rocky, but the resort has a very nice pool.

I was impressed.

Peace and Rest at Zeavola

This new luxury resort is big on promotion and marketing as we'd read about it in just about every publication possible from CN Traveller to Time magazine to Harpers to the International Herlad Tribune. None of the articles of course mention that of the 52 villas only about 20 are complete, that only one for the two restaurants is operative and that the spa is not open yet... But that is why you get pre-opening prices and deals!

Whilst being a luxry resort this place has a very Robinson Crusoe feel about it. Villas look like village huts from the outside whilst inside they're all AC, DVD players, CD Players, inside/outside bathrooms etc. Resort layout is made to feel like a village so ends up being quite confusing.

Beach is beautiful though shared with four other lower-key hotels. Also everyday at lunchtime beach is swamped by daytrippers from Pukhet!

Overall feeling is one of peace, calm and luxury. Restaurant is laid back and peaceful though food average. Staff are smiling and helpful but service needs much attention (45 minute wait fro breakfast when only 6 clients present!!!).

All in all a great stay for current pre-opening prices. When prices move up they'll need to work on service and detail.

Mostly couples though one family theres when we stayed for five nights in January