We just returned from the Amanda resort and were extremely unsatisfied. The resort has only two family bungalows - one with the sea view and one with "garden view". As we got the last one, it turned
out it is not garden but "kitchen back door view". Quite depressive. We asked for another bungalow, but they were all full at the moment. The food was good enough, the pool as well, but not the beach.
On their homepage they announce the cooking classes, when I asked for it, nobody knew anything. As the resort is "spa", the massage was 5 -10 times more expensive as anywhere else on the island. When we ordered the taxi through the reception desk, it was 3 times more expensive - we paid 700 baht to the Chaweng beach, when returned (with
another taxi which we stopped at the street), we paid only 250 baht. It is not a big money, but I do not like the idea, that somebody cheats me.
The biggest dissapointment was the New Year's Eve. We did not expect much, but the whole evening was terrible. The staff was making the
"stage" beside the pool the whole day, so we couldn't use the swimming
pool, but in the evening there was practicaly nothing going on! The dinner at 7, then around half an hour Thai dance, and that was it. The lady from reception desk was trying with some games, which sounded
stupid even to our kids. Till 10 pm not only the guests but even the majority of the staff dissapeared, only the reception lady stayed to count down at midnight. Depressive.
Because of all this we asked travel agent to change the hotel - we moved the next day to Fair House Hotel at Chaweng beach, which was as quiet as Amanda, but better food, nicer staff, much better rooms and much cheaper massage on the beach - for the same price! Also the beach
is much much nicer.
- Samui Amanda Hotel

