So we checked into the hotel tonight.
The lobby is open-air. All facilities are apparently open now (both restaurants and the spa and the regency club - haven't checked anything out yet). We took the hotel limousine from the airport, cost is 2,000 baht (Mercedes E-Class limousine). Check-In was very friendly - took quite a while because they had to find a buggy (welcome drink and cold towel provided). There is a small shop in the lobby area and also a tour desk. We were taken with the buggy to a room in the 9000 range which was described as a Club Deluxe Pool King room (we upgraded with points, just before the devaluation, and were promised the 105 sq m room to do so (I wanted to use points for a suite but was told that this room was actually bigger and better for couples).
The room smells completely new - not surprising, as this wing apparently only opened yesterday and nobody has stayed in it before. It most definitely does not feel like 105 sq m. I thought we had gotten the "Club Oceanview Pool King" category which is described as being 60 sq m. When asked, the friendly gentleman who checked us in said that this counts the terrace, the bathroom, etc. Still doesn't feel like 105 sq m.
Anyway - the first room we were taken to had a cleaning apparatus in the middle of the room, dirt and dirty footprints all over the room and bathroom. The poor gentleman who checked us in was very surprised. When we checked the toilet, it was actually broken, the top was off and there was some weird dirt all over the floor.
Naturally, the gentleman went and looked for a new room for us (took a while again), which is in the same category. In this room, the small dipping pool is completely overgrown with plants, so no view.
But the toilet seems to be functional ;-).
I find the description on the website a bit of an exaggeration.
Club Deluxe Pool King
Hardwood floors and ocean views welcome visitors to this 105-sqm deluxe corner guestroom that boasts one king bed and large balcony with private pool and jacuzzi. A separate tub and shower can be found in the spacious bathroom, while the room’s modern amenities include a 40-inch flatscreen TV, iPod docking station and complimentary wireless Internet. Regency Club guests have access to Club Lounge.
The "private pool and jacuzzi" is a very small dipping pool that apparently has some jets, so don't expect a pool
and a jacuzzi out there. The iPod docking station is a JBL wireless speaker, no actual charge possible.
The Internet seems to work ok so far.
There is a very large infinity pool in front of the lobby and (haven't seen this one yet) another, smaller infinity pool at the Regency Club.
No personal welcome note from the GM or anything.
We are going to check out one of the restaurants tonight and the rest of the facilities tomorrow and will then decide whether we stay or check out and - for now - go to a hotel that has gone through growing pains already. Considering the fact that no corporate rates seem to be loaded yet and the daily rate is almost 8,000 Baht plus tax, I think we might get better value elsewhere, at least for the moment.
But maybe the view and the beach and the facilities and perhaps the friendliness of the staff will change our mind
.
P.S.: As anywhere in Phuket right now, the mosquitoes seem to be quite aggressive...already got bitten a few times.