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We pulled up to our Villa 1216. The villa is a standalone structure that sits on a hill side. The entrance to the property is a small wooden structure that is a door with a small roof and support sides. It can be locked and it has a sweet little sign that can indicate privacy or the request for room cleaning.
The Setup: Unforeseen Events
Introduction: Planning for Thailand
Review: Cathay Pacific Lounge SFO
Review: Cathay Pacific International First Class – San Francisco To Hong Kong
Review: The Pier, Hong Kong International Airport
Review: Dragonair International Business Class – Hong Kong To Phuket
Review: Anantara Layan Phuket Resort – Deluxe Seaview Suite
Boat Transfer & Check-in: The Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa
Review: Santhiya Koh Yao Yai – Ocean View Pool Villa Suite
Review: Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort
Day Trip: National Marine Park – Koh Hong Archipelago
Final Thoughts & Monkey Business – Santhiya Koh Yao Yai
Review: Thai Royal Orchid Lounge – Phuket
Review: Lux Pay In Lounge – Phuket
Review: Dragonair International Business Class – Phuket To Hong Kong
Review: Regal Airport Hotel – Superior Room
Review: Cathay Pacific International First Class – Hong Kong To Chicago
Review: American Airlines Flagship Lounge – Chicago
Review: American Airlines Domestic First Class – Chicago To San Francisco
Front entry
Inside the front entry
Privacy and room makeup sign
Door art
As you progress through the “front door” you walk on an outdoor elevated bridge that leads around your villa into the seaside patio. The seaside patio is breathtaking. You have a small table with a couple chairs, a couple outdoor lounge chairs, umbrella, and your private pool. 180 degree views of the Andaman Sea frame your backdrop as you sit and lookout from your private patio.
Side path
Looking back
Villa deck
Pool view with Ko sup in the far background
Corner pool view
The resort associate escorted us into the villa trough the patio sliding door entrance. The interior was equally impressive. The villa is a long rectangular room divided into 3 sections. 2 different sets of doors can be closed in order to have privacy in any one/all section(s). The room off the patio entrance is the main living room. It contained a TV, couch, chairs, coffee table and some furniture.
Main living room
Day bed in living room
That room connected to a center room. This acted as a sort of extended bedroom. It contained 2 closets, 2 vanities, a long bench and in the center of the back wall was the entrance/exit to the outdoor bathroom. It was a functional space that when the all the doors weren’t closed really opened the space up.
Center room
Center room vanity
Center room closet
Door to living closed
Door to bedroom open
The last interior room was the bedroom. It contained a beautiful and comfortable 4-post bed with 2 night stands. Windows faced out seaside and to the right outside bathtub. The entire villa was covered in hazelnut colored natural wood. The attention to detail was high and most of the wood included carvings and intricate patterns that added to the Thai charm. The indoor space was air-conditioned with 2 high wall units (one on each side) which keep the place cool and comfortable in the muggy Thai weather.
Bedroom with 4 post bed
Views from the bed
Out the back side of the center room was the outdoor bathroom. It ran the entire long width of the Villa and an enclosed shower, commode, shelving, 2 sinks and then past the door to the open shower. It was sectioned off by a closeable door that lead around to outdoor bathtub. I wasn’t sure how well having the bathroom outdoor, although covered, was going to work. We ended up liking the setup, especially the outdoor shower.
Door in center room to outdoor bathroom
Covered portion of outdoor bathroom
Double sink area
Bathroom shelve area
Commode
Covered shower
Open shower with side access to bath
Towel hangers in open shower area
Open bath around side to pool
On the day of our arrival we received and in room amenity that included a bowl of fruit, bottle of wine and a bag of cookies. The fruit and cookies was repeated each day after that. The room also came with 4 bottles of water and they were replenished every day as well. There was also a refrigerated minibar in the living room that was stocked with beer, wine and other distilled spirits.
Welcome amenity
Minibar snacks
Resort info
Laundry service
In the morning while we were at breakfast hotel staff would usually stop by and clean the room for the day. In the evening we would receive turndown service while out at dinner. Susan loved the turn down service because of the bed/towel art (edit – forgot towel art pics ).
Sweet treatment form the room staff
When we booked the Santhiya the marginal cost for the pool villa was $224 night and I wondered how we would feel about the additional cost during and after our stay. We both agreed it was more than worth it. In particular, we really enjoyed the pool and outdoor patio. After visiting the beach, it was nice to come back to relax and watch the sea and sunsets while lounging on the deck and in the pool.
Pool at night
Light show every evening
In Summary
It was hard to find any fault in the Santhiya Pool Villa Suite. The rooms were beautifully deigned with obvious and tasteful local influence. The indoor and outdoor spaces really complemented each other and the resort staff was professional and sweet. The pool was a decadent luxury. We came to Thailand and this resort to spend time together and relax, and the villa enhanced our experience.
