The Naka Island Resort & Spa

A perfect hotel where you can take Muay Thai lessons. During my 5-day stay, I booked three personal Muay Thai sessions. Thanks to that, I feel like my body avoided aging. Training in a luxurious space surrounded by nature felt absolutely amazing. Even in the heat, the trainer held pads with full energy, so I was able to train hard. Thank you for the amazing training and for the Muay Thai shorts gift. Rock and Song

This was my second stay at The Naka Island, and I chose to return because my first visit was truly memorable. Back then, I received a beautiful pool villa upgrade, the breakfast was exceptional, and honestly the café latte alone could have convinced me to come back. Most importantly, I felt genuine warmth from the staff — a feeling that stayed with me long after I checked out. This time, however, the experience felt different. The resort is still stunning, the latte still perfect, and overall the staff continue to offer good service. My villa was comfortable and well cared for, although I did notice a few spider webs on the ceiling that could use more detailed attention. The check-in staff were excellent — warm, friendly, and welcoming. But at check-out, I felt the opposite. The staff at the front desk were polite, but I didn’t feel any sense of connection or belonging as a returning guest. The “encanto,” the charm and magic I felt on my first stay, simply wasn’t there anymore. Instead of feeling appreciated, I felt like just another guest passing through. The Veranda Restaurant team remained a highlight. They were attentive, remembered how I liked my breakfast plated, and made us feel taken care of. On our last night, they asked to take a photo with me and my husband, and I initially felt touched by what I believed was a genuine moment. But receiving the printed photo the next morning — although kind — made it feel more staged than spontaneous. Sweet, yes, but lacking authenticity. And for me, genuine connection matters more than orchestrated gestures. I also noticed this stay felt different from my first visit, which I had booked directly. This time I booked through a travel partner, and while I can’t say for sure, the experience felt less personal and more transactional. Outside the resort, the beach remains peaceful, but walking into the nearby village we saw a lot of trash and an abandoned villa. I know the resort operates independently, but even a small social or community initiative to help clean or support the local area would make a meaningful difference and reflect true hospitality. Regarding dining, the food is extremely expensive — expected for a luxury hotel — but it didn’t feel luxurious. Portions were small, flavors lacked Thai character, and nothing felt memorable or special. Finally, on my first stay, I received a small eye stone as a parting gift — a simple gesture that made me feel seen and appreciated. I had hoped to receive it again, not because I expected it, but because it was part of the heartfelt experience that made me return. This time, it wasn’t offered, adding to the feeling that the personal touch was missing. Thailand will always remain a place I return to every year. The people, culture, and warmth are unmatched. But after this stay, I’m not sure The Naka Island will be part of my future trips. There are beautiful beachfront resorts in places like Phi Phi where the welcome feels more genuine, the food feels authentic, and the connection is heartfelt. I truly hope The Naka Island finds its way back to the authenticity and charm that made my first stay unforgettable.

So here is the honest review. The staff is absolutely amazing and goes way above and beyond, especially the two-girl team at Zbar. I would say the hotel, which seems to be in a bit of a construction zone as of current, is not the Luxury that you might be used to from the brand, but more mid-level. The Bonvey piece for elite members is also somewhat lacking, which is a notable strength at other properties. The reality of this property is that it is far from any of the things to do on Phuket. You take the boat to the marina and get into a personal car/taxi to go where you need to go. The hotel seems to pad the amount a bit if they arrange the car pickup versus going directly, but the difference is very negligible. These are local drivers who are very nice in their personal cars, which is what it is. You can talk with them directly, and many times they will wait for you or drive you all day for a very reasonable amount. Grab App is also good if you dont want to pay cash, which is only expected almost everywhere, so it's not a big deal. You have to do your own research if you want to travel out, as it seems the hotel wants to keep you on property as much as possible, which, I suppose, from a business perspective, makes sense for them. If you leave during the day for an outing, it is typically fine. However, on the return, if it's after 5 pm or raining, the travel time back is generally more than an hour, which takes the fun out of leaving. Again, the property is far from many things on the island, except for a boat tour that may depart from the marina or near Ao Po Grand Marina. Bangle Road is a sight to see, but you'll need to do your own research on that. Old Town Phuket had a great Sunday night market that was very calm and enjoyable. They also had very reasonable spas and massages everywhere, so it's a must. The Blue Elephant Cooking School was well worth the time; we thoroughly enjoyed it, and the head chef, Paul, was exceptional. We visited Laguna Boat Avenue a few times, which is a more upscale area filled with expats. Definitely take the elephant sanctuary tour to get up close with teh elephants sustainably and ethically. As with any hotel, the rates for the spa are about 10x what you can find once you venture off property, but that is expected. We also had construction outside the treatment rooms, which somewhat spoiled the spa experience for us at teh hotel. The speedboats didn't seem to adhere to a strict schedule, which created some issues for us. If you are returning after 7:45 pm, please note that there will be a charge for the boat ride. The last thing we learned, which was very upsetting to us coming from Hawaii, was that the boats appeared to dump trash into the water near the hotel. We saw daily dumps, and when it was low tide, which was often, it wasn't enjoyable. We spent an hour one afternoon with Cookie at the hotel picking up trash, plastic, and all sorts of things that should not be dumped in teh ocean. It was very sad to see it so often, and the island needs some education as they are killing the reefs and beaches. After seeing the trash dumps daily you really do not want to go in the water. The beahces on the poperty are fair at best making the pool a better choice which seems off for an island. If you want rustic and remote with great staff this is the place for you. If you want more action closer to activities poke around a bit.

Magical place ! We enjoyed every moment of our time at the naka island, we booked it only for two nights but we wished to stay more ! The place is beautiful and full of fun activities! The staff are so friendly and overall we will visit again for sure !!

Very nice resort on the island, not far from the main island, service was goods. Many activities in the hotel, good kayaking tour around the island. Cozy atmosphere, rooms are great. Amazing sunsets! Just one suggestion: to control AC in the GYM, not to let it run at +17 at night, that is my Sustainabile soul talking now 😀 Definitely will come back!