It's just a shame I didn't have Sirrona's review - "Breakfast with Vladamir and Friends" to read before I booked to stay here. Read it and bear it in mind...heavily!

Kudos to the person hired to photograph this place, a rather deceptive job. Except that the infinity pool is shabbily built and when we were there a step of the wooden walkway had rotted and fallen through. Apart from the downsides of loud speedo wearing Russians everywhere (and their topless women - no, that's seriously NOT an upside!) there was a positive. But first I'll continue with what made me and my girlfriend so disillusioned.

The Christmas Eve Galadinner for which we were obliged to pay a mere $60 each was extremely amateurish and entertaining only ironically. The buffet food was either cold or tasteless or both (drinks not included...remember $60!!!). The breakfast was very bad but lunch, although pricey, was better IF you got what you ordered. Which brings me to the next problem - the staff.

When you're paying so much you expect smart looking, professional, English speaking staff, after all the money's got to go somewhere. The staff's uniform (optional) was a shabby pink polo shirt with whatever hat each boy had - ranging from cowboy to gangster baseball cap. I don't begrudge them personally because although their English was useless they did try. They were just not the people needed to run such a self-proclaimed luxury beach resort.

If you do decide to stay, you won't have any chance to change your mind. Payment in full is taken prior to stay with absolutely no chance of a refund or any recompense on arrival, with the excuse that they are a "small boutique hotel" - they're not a small boutique hotel.

HOWEVER - the positive - our room was AMAZING! I'm not joking, thankfully. We paid the extra for a "Cliffview Deluxe" having seen the comments about the less expensive rooms. The bed in the middle of the well designed/decorated room was huge and comfortable with sheets changed daily. We had our own small infinity pool looking over the jungle behind and a large, decent shower. Also, the view from up at the big infinity pool is lovely for sunset.

Consequently we spent as much time in our room as possible and ended up going to and staying at the fantastic, very professionally run, Amari Emerald Cove. If I were you I'd do the same from the start.