As of August 2005, this is not...
As of August 2005, this is not a 5-star hotel, but a noisy and dirty construction site stretching out over the entire resort, with sleezy time-sharing sales agents showing potential customers around the hotel and disturbing the guests (sales office right next to reception). NOTHING of what is promised on the website ("privacy, tranquility, luxury") was true. The few villas offered are located next to the reception and a busy parking lot. Completion was scheduled for April 2005 but the hotel should not be finished until end of the year. The beach was dirty and seemed under construction, beach bar and furniture as well as beach beds had the quality and appearance of a two-star hotel!
From what I saw, here is my opinion of what you will get once the hotel is finished:
- a small beach that will take a full renovation (bar, beds etc.) and regular cleaning until it is five star level
- a small pool and terrasse area that will probably be overcrowded under fully booked conditions
- a wonderful view over the bay if you are ready to book the highest category (but you will have neighbours sharing the villa pool!)
- the risk to be booked into a Pavillion Suite overlooking the parking lot with absolutely no privacy on your terrace
- a number of nice villas behind the existing ones, with the risk of having a view on those villas instead of on the ocean (or no view at all).
So if you want to be sure to have a resort with privacy and tranquility, a large and almost private beach, a wonderful setting of cottages in a vast garden area stretching along the beach with ocean view from EVERY beach or ocean view cottage, a pool large enough to really swim in it and a perfect 5 star-service, go to Napasai Samui. That's what I did after cancelling the Pensinula.