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The Naka Island Resort, Phuket Thailand [Master Thread]

Old Sep 21, 2014, 10:19 pm
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The Naka Island Resort, Phuket Thailand [Master Thread]

Old Dec 19, 2011, 5:52 am
  #91  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Is it normal for C&P to be treated so differently from the award points redemption?

Do I need to bring my own soap & towels too since I am on a C&P rate?
HyperDude is offline  
Old Dec 19, 2011, 6:06 am
  #92  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
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Originally Posted by BoSoxinBkk
I also received an email (below) explaining that there is a speedboat charge for the C&P bookings. Oddly, it sounds as if the property has stopped C&P bookings beacuse of the speedboat issue.
Actually, there is way to escape this overcharged transfer fee by calling a local long tail boat to pick you up or to send you to the hotel. The fee is 500thb per way. Anyone is interested at knowing this information?
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Old Dec 19, 2011, 6:30 am
  #93  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Originally Posted by pelapela
Actually, there is way to escape this overcharged transfer fee by calling a local long tail boat to pick you up or to send you to the hotel. The fee is 500thb per way. Anyone is interested at knowing this information?
Yes!
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Old Dec 19, 2011, 8:11 am
  #94  
 
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I think this would be great info that you should post. A lot of people have been complaining about the hotel transfers and it's one of the reasons I decided to not stay at the hotel. Others might disagree with me, but I don't like the idea of feeling trapped except for a 2500 THB boat ride...
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Old Dec 19, 2011, 9:00 am
  #95  
 
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Originally Posted by DGS822
I think this would be great info that you should post. A lot of people have been complaining about the hotel transfers and it's one of the reasons I decided to not stay at the hotel. Others might disagree with me, but I don't like the idea of feeling trapped except for a 2500 THB boat ride...
+1
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Old Dec 19, 2011, 9:10 am
  #96  
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Originally Posted by LSE_Travel787
I am just finishing a few night stay Naka Island and I will post more details later; however, I thought it was worth noting that Cash + Points reservations and Points reservations do NOT include breakfast for Platinum guests. The buffet breakfast cost is 980 THB (plus 10% Service + 7% Vat) ~ 37 USD per person, there is a la cart options that range from 300-500 THB ++ and do not include coffee or juice. While I understand that it is not a stated Platinum benefit, I was a bit surprised as this is a departure from all other Starwood properties in Thailand (including the St. Regis Bangkok) that include breakfast for Platinum guest regardless of room rate. As a Platinum we did receive an upgrade to a seaview room which has an amazing view, free internet, and are entitled to 1 drink per person per night at Z bar.
So, they are offering the free breakfast for PLTs on paid and full points stays, but not C&P, or are they not offering free breakfast for PLTs at all?
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Old Dec 19, 2011, 9:11 am
  #97  
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Unbelievable !

You want to take a long tail boat over a hotel speedboat just to save THB1,500 for a return trip.

If you ask me, the BHT500 each way fare charged by the boatman is more of a rip-off than the BHT2,500 return fare charged by the resort using a speedboat. You guys are really amazing !
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Old Dec 19, 2011, 9:34 am
  #98  
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Originally Posted by mario33
Unbelievable !

You want to take a long tail boat over a hotel speedboat just to save THB1,500 for a return trip.

If you ask me, the BHT500 each way fare charged by the boatman is more of a rip-off than the BHT2,500 return fare charged by the resort using a speedboat. You guys are really amazing !
At today's echange rate, the 2500 THB is about US$79. It is, I understand, a very short ride. The rate seems excessive. However, I am not going to fret about $79.
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Old Dec 19, 2011, 9:45 am
  #99  
 
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Originally Posted by Starwood Lurker II
I was told that for SPG points redemption bookings the arrival and departure speedboat transfer is included.

[email protected]

Thyetus Lee | Social Media Specialist
Starwood Customer Contact Centre (AP) Pte Ltd
As Thyetus confirmed in an earlier post, the transfer is included free of charge for redemption bookings so they should honour it.
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Old Dec 19, 2011, 10:02 am
  #100  
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Originally Posted by PresRDC
At today's echange rate, the 2500 THB is about US$79. It is, I understand, a very short ride. The rate seems excessive. However, I am not going to fret about $79.
Yes, I agree $79 is a bit stiff; but the point I am making is that you are only saving $40-45 (return) by using a long tail boat. I am not sure whether some who posted here actually know what is a 'long tail' boat.

And for those who thought they could stay here and explore the main island, don't expect Bangkok taxi fares after you hop over to the main island. Have you forgotten Phuket's taxi mafia .....
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Old Dec 19, 2011, 10:24 am
  #101  
 
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Originally Posted by mario33
Yes, I agree $79 is a bit stiff; but the point I am making is that you are only saving $40-45 (return) by using a long tail boat. I am not sure whether some who posted here actually know what is a 'long tail' boat.
Actually, I know exactly what a long tail boat is, and I was the one who posted this information. I just returned from Naka Island today. This long tail boat is actually quite big, wich can easily fit in 4-6 people with luggages. The boat start from a po pier which is close to a po grand marina. I have a very detail report about Naka Island in a chinsese forum named flyertea.
http://www.flyertea.com/thread-78155-1-2.html
Try google translation. You guys can understand at least 80% of the information in that post.
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Old Dec 23, 2011, 1:41 pm
  #102  
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Confirmed with the hotel that they will offer free breakfast for 2 for Platinums in the Tonsai restuarant. We will be on a full redemption, not cash & points.
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Old Dec 29, 2011, 12:09 pm
  #103  
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Thumbs down Avoid until kinks are out of Naka Island resort

Ok folks, my experience in Naka Island compelled me to actually join flyertalk to post about my experiences there.

1. Let's clear up some of the details. We paid all points, 20,000 per night, and got free transportation to and from the island upon check-in and check-out. However, to get to and from Phuket proper otherwise, is a pretty hefty cost, so this is a resort you go to when you've done the whole Phuket thing and are looking for a place just to chill at the resort and relax and not go anywhere but the resort.

2. The food here (and I can only speak for the room service) SUCKS. SUCKS. SUCKS. We ordered Pad Thai, which should be a staple right? I mean we COOKED pad thai at a cooking school in Chiang Mai and it's not too difficult to make. And ours? Tasted like cardboard. The Masamaan Curry? Quarter inch of grease on the top. The actual curry when we got to it? Bland. We ordered a cheesecake brownie, took two bites, and pushed it away. The cheesecake didn't taste like cheesecake, being bland, and the brownie was hard and also equally tasteless. I mean for a resort with nothing to do but eat and chill... not good. You get one free drink per day but we never took advantage of that so we can't tell you too much. It was so bad we complained to the SPG Platinum line and got points back for our complaint and an immediate response from the hotel. So if they do something about it... but until then, I would definitely avoid. Look to Tripadvisor to see how the reviews are coming along for the food before you decide to book a stay here. Our stay was mid December 2011, just to get the timing down.

Service: So-so. Dead frog in pool, took 3 calls and 30 minutes for them to come and get it

This place definitely has some start-up kinks. I'd wait a year or so of busy season to get them through it. Thailand is big-time suffering from the floods as we could tell no one (dramaticizing here but you get the picture) was touristing out in any place in Thailand during peak season so it may take them a little while for the start-up kinks to be resolved.

I posted a pretty indepth review on Tripadvisor which is (at this moment) still pending to post.

Free breakfast is NOT included as a Platinum member due to the free roundtrip boat that they provide for check-in and check-out

The bathrooms (outdoor) are a little too quirky for us, more details on my Tripadvisor review so I'm not duplicating everything on two sites.

All in all:

Avoid for now.
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Old Dec 29, 2011, 12:48 pm
  #104  
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Even with their start up kinks, they have some pretty decent rates around 7500 Baht in Feb - Mar 2012.

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/points...e-in-thailand/
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Old Dec 31, 2011, 2:28 am
  #105  
 
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Question Conflicting reports on complimentary breakfasts

Some Platinum guests seem to have gotten this perk, while others reported that you had to pay for it.
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