Mookdamun Bungalows

We stayed here for four nights. The owner who also runs the Pyramid restaurant on the front was very helpful. Breakfast was not included but you could get breakfast at the cafe/shop next to the owners restaurant which was very good and in demand. There was no aircon but there were two big fans in the room and a large fridge. We hired a scooter from the owner which did everything you wanted ie; went and stopped.

First the good: beautiful bungalows, with charming gardens and very comfortable bed. Location is ok.

No breakfast, and the coffee place nearby is just ok.

BUT the negative for me was significant in making my stay in Ko Yao Noi unwelcome and unpleasant. the communication between the manager and the booking agent is non existent and they took it out on me. Have never been so mistreated and insulted.

First of all, my booking was cancelled when the manager did not communicate with booking agent that I would be arriving 1 day later. I had called the listed number lseveral days before and had requested a 1 day arrival change from the manager and he assured me it would not be a problem. To my surprise I received a cancellation notice at 21:00 the night before my arrival. there was no one to reach per phone. I sent emails, and tried calling several times that night and the next morning. I finally reached someone around 10:00 the day I was due to arrive, correcting the mistake - again I heard “no problem”. When I arrived there was no one there to greet me, there is no reception, and the staff from the nearby restaurant pyramid did not know what was happening and were not so welcoming (besides 1 smiley nice man).

In the end They had reinstated only 1 night, However i was staying 2, and they wanted to charge me for 3 which is ridiculous especially since they were informed and agreed to the changes. The following day I had a meeting with the booking agent, and before I had a chance to sit down she starts to talk about money and accusing me of a no show. She refused to accept that I had spoken to the manager, suggesting I was lieing. She said she did not know what I was talking about and the manager was of course not present. The e mail I sent In response to the cancellation was too late according to her. She became sarcastic, flippant, and dismissive. When I tried to explain the confusion, especially as to why I called and not emailed (was at Khao lok with no service) she said that it was “my problem”

Later the manager, who was previously friendly, then accuses me of being “selfish”, and it only got worse. He insulted me, saying my profession was to work on the side of the street (which is a pretty creative insult I must admit), cursed me out, and lost his temper. Completely unprofessional. He told me not to ask him any more questions about traveling and connections.

I should have listened....

The next day in what I believe was a gesture of truce, he organized a taxi for me to go to pier for Ao Nang, BUT he told the driver to take me to the wrong pier, causing me nearly to miss the ferry. I had to pay for 2 taxis. Can’t prove it, but seems on purpose..

Needless to say the experience really made me sad and gave me a horrible impression of Thailand since it’s my first time. Having worked In hotels during college in NYC, it was always emphasized that the reason people return to an establishment is for its service, and they failed completely.

These bungalows are designed for bourgie Europeans. They are clearly in The business of only making money and spreading that Phuket resort bungalow setting, without the experience of good hospitality, listening and communicating clearly.

And a nice garden and comfortable bed only goes so far. After visiting other places, I learned that There are many many and i mean many other places that are much better to stay in.

The bungalows seem to be quite new, and are in great condition - they all have a nice deck, too. Ours was clean and spacious with AC, perfect for a couple of nights' stay. The check-in was fast and easy and the owner was really friendly, laid-back and helpful. We rented a scooter from them for 200 BHT per day which was convenient, and cheaper than renting it from a rental place. The only con was that the drain in the bathroom was placed weirdly behind the toilet seat instead of near the shower, and the water would pool up on the bathroom floor after showering. There was no squeegy to wipe the water towards the drain either. That was a small thing though in the overall picture. All in all, a very nice stay, and I would recommend these bungalows for other travelers.