Captain Hook Resort

Simply perfect, there are no other words the staff is a kindness to all proof and listening to your every desire on a dream day

The setting of this resort is idyllic. No large trees were cut down in the construction of the bungalows, and as a result, they are surrounded by a rainforest looking out on mangroves which, next to the restaurant, open up to a bay of crystal-clear water, ideal for swimming. The people who work for the resort are very efficient. Most of them do not speak English, but the manager, Pai, and Alek both speak good English, and are not only personable, but highly attentive to guest needs and wishes. There is no easy access to the site because it requires a boat from the road, so it is not easy to come and go, but given the natural setting and the good food at the restaurant, there is no real need to go elsewhere on this largely undeveloped island. Nevertheless, the managers are always on hand to assist you if you want to leave the site. Potential guests should know that the breakfast is mostly Thai, and there is an extra cost for espresso and cappuccinos. More western options, more vegetarian food, and a variety of fruits beyond pineapple, watermelon and dragon fruit would be a welcome improvement. Tropical fruit drinks and ice cream were available all day and those were a nice treat. There are also special set meals that are delicious, with lots of fresh seafood, but the number of dishes and portion sizes are quite large if only one or two people order it so a smaller portion for a lower price would be a good idea. There is no major reef nearby, but if you snorkel around the rocks by the pool, there are patches of colorful coral and a nice variety of fish to be seen. The resort has kayaks available for free which makes it very easy to go into the mangroves, visit nearby beaches, or explore beyond the little bay. Snorkel equipment is available for a daily fee. There is a masseuse on site who is excellent and the cost is reasonable. this is the perfect getaway if you want to immerse yourself in an unspoiled natural environment. Surprisingly, perhaps because of the balmy breezes, there were very few insects no problems with mosquitoes (at least in late January), which in other similar settings can be a problem. We highly recommend this unique, beautiful, and well managed place.

Staying at the Captain Hook Resort was a case of very good and very bad. Firstly, the good: The good was the scenic part, the tranquillity and ambience. The buffet style breakfasts were not at all bad. Reasonably limited but what was on offer was very delicious. Staff too were very approachable, helpful and attentive. Now for the bad: It was the appalling shed of an accommodation. If it was for single occupancy it would be bad, but for four it was beyond a joke. I call them “huts or sheds” (they call them villas)… call ’em what they like but they aren’t anything resembling to what I envisage a villa to be. The so-called villa (shed) was a tiny room less than 6mts long with four mattresses shoe-horned on a raised platform. Nowhere at all to hang clothes; no storage; no TV, and worst of all, no fridge. There was absolutely nowhere to hang clothes and no drawers to fit even a single person luggage contents. Trying to sort out the sheer chaos caused because four people in this minute room attempting to get belongings sorted was ridiculous. The shower and toilet were down steep stone steps into a rustic cellar. With bare boulders and rocks mortared together. Absolutely dreadful. Thank God we were only staying here a couple of days. Within minutes of unpacking a few essentials we realised it was going to be sheer bedlam with everyone getting in each other’s way. A further annoyance as many other reviewers have stated is the fact that the Captain Hook is only accessible by boat. You are effectively stuck in the place. You cannot pop out of the resort to, say, visit another bar or restaurant for an evening's outing. Because of our confinement, we were obliged to dine on-site. This was another plus as the food was delicious with ample portions. The resort deserves more stars because of the good points but I had to reduce to two stars because the accommodation spoled our stay. This is a great pity because the potential of the Captain Hook Resort is immense. The setting is lovely and the staff, as said. Demolish those terrible sheds and build decent sized ones and the place would be near perfect and that is if you don’t mind being confined to on-site amenities only.