Six Senses Yao Noi

Disappointing and Inconsistent Experience at Six Senses Yao Noi We arrived at Six Senses Yao Noi after a long journey, expecting the level of luxury and care the brand is known for. Unfortunately, our experience fell well short. We had booked a four bed-villa hideaway for our family Christmas holiday. The accommodation we were shown was dark, cramped, and hidden deep in the jungle. Rather than serene, it felt neglected—poorly lit, overrun with mosquitoes, and with frogs jumping at you as you entered. The space lacked comfort, warmth, and ANY sense of luxury. Despite booking four villas, there was no comfortable communal area for a family stay. The only shared space was a single table fully exposed to the elements, making it unusable due to mosquitoes and wildlife. The best place to hang in the evening was in our bed under the mosquito net that contained holes! That first evening was handled poorly. I asked to speak to the manager three times and was told he was “busy.” He never came. No apology, acknowledgment, or small gesture was offered to ease the situation. When we asked to move rooms, we were initially told there was no availability, only to later be told a room had been “found,” making the earlier response feel misleading. The following day, my parents were moved to a different villa that was light-filled, beautiful, and exactly what one expects from Six Senses—highlighting how much the room allocation defines the experience here. In contrast, much of the hotel feels tired and firmly on the wrong side of “shabby chic.” The staff were generally pleasant, and once settled, we were well looked after. However, the sour first impression never fully lifted, and notably, we never met the manager. The food was mixed but overall good, the Thai being the winner… The beach is underwhelming and poorly serviced, lacking the small thoughtful touches expected at this level. The main pool is visually stunning, with a sensational view, but overcrowded and insufficient for the number of guests so we could barely hang out there. If you are seeking a true jungle experience, the type you find when you are a Gap year student, the hideaway villas may suit you. Otherwise, check your room category very carefully—because at Six Senses Yao Noi, the difference between exceptional and unacceptable is significant.

We are just coming to the end of our 4 night stay at the six senses and we’ve had the most wonderful few days and can find very few markers that do not get a 5/5 from us. This is a hotel brand we have come to love starting on our honeymoon in Portugal, to Ibiza and now Thailand. The Thai resort has a different vibe to its European counterparts but that is fitting for the location, which is Thailand 20 years ago in time and completely unspoilt, in case you were wondering. You will find few places such that can give you the experience you’ll get here. Service: I’m not sure I can recall having had much better. Every single member of staff you encounter greets you with a wonderful smile. The operation is super slick - from the on demand golf buggies to transfer you over the resort (it’s complex to navigate without a map but not dissimilar to a Maldives resort with villas spaced out from multiple restaurants). To borrowing rain jackets, mountain bikes or anything else you could want. A special mention to Nubsib who looked after us the whole time, greeting us at every single mealtime and being in contact with us daily on WhatsApp about any special dining events, happy hours or tours that were happening throughout the resort. We attended two ‘special events’ - a fish bbq where the executive chef spent time with us discussing food and all things chilli sauce, to a special drinks on the beach with all the staff where we got to chat to the general manager and sous chef at the Nithan restaurant. Many wonderful people work here and they all collectively made our stay memorable. Villa: we stayed in 14 which was a hideaway villa that had good sun into the afternoons on our pool deck. We were very happy with the condition and amenities. House keeping come in twice a day and turn down your room with the mosquito net set up in the evening. The pool, beach and restaurants are all wonderful. Food is a very high quality and every restaurant offers a unique setting in the resort. The breakfast buffet isn’t super vast - it offers good European, Chinese and Thai options - as well as 5 or 6 made to order dishes and a juice menu which is typical for the six senses resorts. The morning view over the limestone islands is beautiful. Mozzies: now let me prefix this, I am a pasty English girl who has suffered with cellulitis related hospital visits on prior trips from mosquito bites be it Kenya, Malaysia, Hong Kong… I’m married to an Asian and that is part and parcel of coming to Asia I am afraid, so come prepared is the lesson here. I come on every trip with anti histamines, anti inflammatory tabs, aloe gel, ice packs, hydrocortisone just in case… and I read the reviews here before I arrived so I was doubly prepared. I used my jungle 50 deet daily and I have not been bitten once and I haven’t needed my stash of meds. That is a good outcome for a trip to Asia! As long as you take precautions you’ll be fine. They are fumigating the resort a few times a week that not everywhere does, they have nets in the rooms (haven’t seen any in my villa tbf), the villa has blue light bug magnets and every table in every bar or restaurant has a ‘natural repellent’ provided. Not sure what more they could for their guests to be honest…

We had very high expectations when booking Six Senses Yao Noi, but our experience was deeply disappointing. We booked a Panorama Villa, which looked completely different from the one shown on the website. The layout and overall condition were not as advertised, the villas are dated, tired, and in clear need of renovation. During our stay, we had to deal with multiple issues: a leaking air conditioner, a malfunctioning toilet, and several other maintenance problems. Everything felt like it was falling apart. The breakfast was mediocre, the facilities were basic, and the entire resort was overrun with insects, to the point where we were uncomfortable even using the bathroom at night. The shower area looked more like an old institution than a luxury resort. While the location itself is beautiful, it’s nowhere near enough to justify the price point. We booked for a full week but decided to leave after just three nights. The management did offer a 50% refund for the unused nights, which we appreciated, although given the extent of the issues, a full refund would have been more appropriate. This property urgently needs a full renovation and should not be priced as a luxury experience in its current state.

We stayed at Six Senses Yao Noi for 5 nights. The staff are great and attentive, facilities are adequate but for the price of the hotel per night, Six Senses are living of a Brand. The resort is in need of upgrading, rooms are still good, beds comfortable and outside lounge areas clean, but the electrics, tech (Basic TV or speakers et) need updated. Bathrooms also in need of updating. The resort in its entirety is also requiring maintenance, from the wooden steps to the walkways, and the rooms. For the price paid I would expect this to be ultra special and on point for every aspect. The island is very special and the wildlife amazing. In addition if maintenance is ongoing (and its needed), for the price paid, I would expect the resort to be closed and updated. We had multiple maintenance happening to the left and right of our villa. Granted its low season but again if the price is this high they should not be compromising guest peace and quiet with maintenance noise. Planned closure or close villas that are close to maintenance etc should be done. I would come back to the island, the hotel is in a very special place and has amazing grounds and beach. If you want silence and relax (out-with of maintenance noise) and the hotel has been updated in a year or two. I may consider coming back to this hotel. For now though the price is to high for what you are getting. Breakfast was not the best, would expect higher level of offering and service for the breakfast. Staff amazing though and we enjoyed our time, if not a little annoyed with the cost for the experience.

Our stay at Six Senses Yao Noi was nothing short of extraordinary. Surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of Phang Nga Bay, we at xemsomenh.com felt an immediate sense of peace and harmony. The villas offered not only luxurious comfort but also a deep connection with nature, from sunrise views over limestone cliffs to the calming sounds of the ocean. Every detail reflected mindfulness, sustainability, and care, making the experience both rejuvenating and inspiring. Six Senses Yao Noi is more than a destination – it is a sanctuary of the soul that left us with memories to cherish forever.