I’m going to post my thoughts on the Cape Fahn. If this stay were cash I would be very unhappy; however I am going to base my thoughts on the stay being on points.
First, this resort comes across as very penny-pinching. There is saving money, then there is looking downright cheap to your guests and this one definitely comes across as the latter. For example, if you want to take the slippers from the room home with you (previously used — they wash and re-use them and don’t even get me started on how unsanitary that is
), it’s going to cost you $10.00. And they are gosh awful slippers, frankly you couldn’t pay me to take them. Another example, the a/c in the restaurant was off at dinner. This is the tropics and since it was raining outside, everyone was eating indoors, so it was probably over 90 degrees in the restaurant. Massively uncomfortable. Breakfast is not some great spread — I find it very lacking. They have a few kinds of fruit, bread and a toaster, cereal, baked goods, yogurt and some fresh juices. Then a few items you can order from the menu. I asked for a smoothie yesterday and was told they don’t have any. The shaving kits don’t have shave cream, just a razor. I used the shaving kit at both the Rosewood and the Inside House and both had a razor and shaving cream.
The service is what I will describe as very “hands off”. Like you have to find someone to ask for your bill 30 mins after you finished dinner because the wait staff is sitting behind the bar on their phones (this happened the last 2 nights). Likewise sitting by the beach, when you first sit down they bring you ice water and some fruit. Then you don’t see anyone again for the remainder of the day.
The majority of the staff don’t speak English. No exaggeration. It seems a lot speak Mandarin as their second language, but definitely not English. This makes it extremely hard to communicate with them. Even at reception English is not understood. Yesterday I went to Fisherman’s Village, which is a nice place to wander the streets for an hour or so; it’s a 20 min cab ride from the hotel. To get to and from the hotel you have to take a boat (high tide) or huge 4x4 (low tide) across the water. I was told when I got here not to walk because there are rocks and you can cut your feet in this part of the crossing. Anyways when I got back to the “lounge” last night I called for the 4x4 (low tide) and the reception told me to walk across, in the dark. I asked for the 4x4 and he could not understand me. It wasn’t until another couple were dropped off at the lounge that spoke Mandarin spoke to reception and they finally said they’d send the 4x4. Like WTH?
Inconsistent service. First night no treat left at turndown. Next 2 nights small treat bags left (6 x chocolate covered almonds and last night some chocolate peanut treats). Then tonight nothing. I was here when turn down was done and when I asked he had no clue what I was saying.
This is a first. Went to brush my teeth and housekeeping must have tossed my toothbrush and toothpaste. I have no clue why but I sure hope it’s something that never happens again. Luckily there is a toothbrush kit in the villa.
The Cape Fahn is on a ”private island”, directly across from a super touristy part of Koh Samui. I mentioned previously that you can walk across in low tide because the water is very shallow (it took me maybe 5-7 mins when I went across on my first night). It seems that a lot of people from the mainland resorts like to walk across and stare at the guests staying here (the pool is right on the beach). I have seen several wander right up the private residence, which is adjacent to the pool, just across a shallow water crossing. Yesterday I saw someone lie in the hammock belonging to the Cape Fahn for a good 2 hours before wandering back across the water. There is security, but he is rarely there to stop anyone. If I had an iota of daytime sun by my villa pool I wouldn’t be at the main pool.
I must mention what they call the gym. It is a teeny tiny space. Like if there are more than 4 people in there it’s going to be awkward. It contains 2 treadmills, an elliptical, a recumbent bike and another bike, all from probably 1990ish. There are free weights and a bench press machine. That’s it. Barely any floor space to stretch or do floor exercises and it would be impossible to do so if there were anyone else in the space. The first morning I went and the a/c was off; I had no clue how to turn it on, and inside the gym was as hot as it was outside. But I worked out anyways. Then a man and wife came in and he knew where to find a remote to turn on the a/c, which helped a bit, but I was already 45 mins into my workout when they arrived. Thankfully it has been on yesterday and this morning. They have a weighted hula hoop there, which I really enjoy, but there is no chance you can use it if there is anyone else in the gym due to the lack of floor space. Heck I had to do push ups between the elliptical and one of the treadmills this morning (and there wasn’t much space) because there was someone else there and that was the only space where it was possible to do them without her over tripping me.
On a redeeming note, the bed is very comfortable and the food I’ve had at dinner has been good.
I could go on, but I’m sure my point has been made. I would not come back to the Cape Fahn, points or not. I’d go to the Conrad, or try another island. If anyone wants to visit I’d advise you to temper your expectations. I read some blogs before coming that probably had comped stays (DUH) and was expecting so much more. I need to stop reading blog reviews, especially those that have their stays comped.