AANA Resort & Villas Koh Chang

Environment: The accommodation offers a serene natural environment with lush greenery, which many guests find appealing.

We were really looking forward to a relaxing stay at Aana Villas and Spa, but unfortunately, it did not live up to expectations. The biggest issue was the noise. The walls are incredibly thin – we could hear every step and sneeze from the room above. It was impossible to get a decent night’s sleep. On top of that, smoke from other rooms drifted into ours, which was unpleasant and frustrating. There was also a leak in the bathroom ceiling, dripping directly onto the toilet paper, and ants were all over the bedroom. Not what you expect at this price point or from a hotel that presents itself as a high-end resort. Of the two swimming pools, one looked quite murky and did not appear clean. There was no bar service at either pool, which made it feel a bit lifeless. The boat service to the beach was great, and the food we ordered from the restaurant was genuinely good – probably the highlight. Breakfast was fine given the off-peak room rate, but would have been disappointing if we had paid full price. What left a particularly sour taste was the lack of response when we checked out early and explained the issues. I mentioned we had not been able to sleep due to the noise, but the receptionist said nothing – no apology, no acknowledgment. One thing to note: during low season, not much is open in the surrounding area. We had to head to Lonely Beach or White Sand Beach for restaurants, massage shops, and any sort of evening atmosphere. The hotel did help us call a songteow, which was appreciated, as they were hard to flag down on the main road during this time. That said, I would not choose this location again for that reason – it felt too isolated without much to do nearby. Overall, it felt more like a basic guesthouse experience than a restful villa spa retreat. It looks pretty but under the surface, a low quality offering. A shame, as the location and restaurant have potential.