My husband and I recently visited Aleenta as we both work in very demanding jobs and were desparate for a week of relaxation. Aleenta greatly exceeded our expectations, surpassing many of its "peers". From the graciousness of the Thai staff, to feeling the wind across my back as I experienced a fantastic massage in the sky spa to romantic and delicious meals for two delivered to our villa, it was fantastic. There was just enough to do to keep us entertained (visits to the caves, boat trips) without making us feel like we should be doing something. The rooms were welcoming , the bed hard to leave, and the outdoor shower to die for (big and roomy). We also appreciated the careful but non-intrusive attention of the resident manager who clearly has the respect and affection of his staff. Our week at Aleenta accomplished just what we needed. We came back relaxed and recharged. As we found it excellent value for money , we are planning our next visit as I write.

My husband and I booked the Romance package for the beggining of June and left feeling totally de-toxicated , the no TV policy did wonders though I was rather apprehensive at first. We took daily advantage of the Spa service since my husband swear to the fact that the masseuse ranked in his best top 3, while the head chef never failed to impress us with her talented knowledge of Fusion cuisine. It must be mentioned that the pampering does not come cheap considering the many unexpected short falls ie; gardener indiscreetly trimming the lawn in front of the bangalow while we were relaxing on our porch , the faulty toilet , the laundry that was never returned on time or the lack of cold water in the shower. Nonetheless, the simple but elegant design of the complex, the calmness and the helpful staff were enough for us to over look the short comings.

Firstly - we are still in Thailand, Hua Hin and are now writing from another hotel (review to follow).

We had booked into the Aleenta for 12 nights and left after 5.
why are you giving it 4/5 you may ask? i hopefully will explain....

After having booked direct with the hotel we were met at the airport (eventually) after making a tannoy announcement to find our driver who was not at the exit. Very helpful and polite man. a journey of 3 hours later we were checked in with the usual drink and flowers, and at 10.30pm ate a nice meal outside our room, although my impression of Gai Yang is not the same as theirs.

Initial impressions of our pool villa were impressive, if not compact. no drawers for any clothing and just a two door wardrobe, which effectively meant we were living out of our suitcases. each plunge pool is a nice touch, if not an oversized bath. constant battling with the doors (sliding window doors) which were ill fitting and allowed the Mosquitos free access to lunch, dinner and supper without a gate pass made for nervous nights.

After two days of violent rain our floor was awash with rain water, and beach towels were used to staunch the tide. after consultation with Jason, we were offered the Palm Suite which was far more spacious, and had a prettier bathroom. unfortunately, after periodic requests to access the Internet which was available (wireless) in the Pool suite, it still failed to materialise. this allowed me to try and walk nonchanantly with laptop in hand at least 4 times a day waving it around like a demented hacker looking for a signal, to regain the connection from the reception area.

Unfortunately, and the staff obviously were not aware of this, i require the Internet constantly for business. although we asked enough times.

our first night in the palm suite brought about a new dilemma.....
is it me? or does everybody else eat 6Kg of carrots a day? with no TV, and 3 days of romance, we were in need of a respite, let's read said the wife, upon switching the bedside lamps on we were back to romancing, they had the capacity of a 1 watt bulb as by now so did i.
luckily the kind staff brought a reading lamp whereby i was able to tuck into a good book.

we soon realised that we had a choice, either spend 12 days and nights 'romancing' or hire a car....so, car hired.....we set off for Hua hin for a day out, please note, either hire a sherpa, buy GPRS or lay a rice trail when you set off, it is not the easiest route to find. it took us about 30-45 minutes to Hua Hin depending on traffic,
dogs in the road and credit, the hotel does give a route map (they must have lost a few unwary guests!)

Please note - i have written this with a 'tongue in cheek' attitude and my aim is not to disparage the resort. Jason and his team are marvellous, breakfast was sublime and in general (having a stressful job) it achieved what i required. that is total isolation, relaxation
and peace.

enough reviews are made here about the food, this is one area i have to disagree, we found the menu limited, and having travelled to Thailand 4 times in the last 2 years we were, to put it bluntly, disappointed. i am not sure if Jason can verify, but it seemed as thougn a change of chef was preparing meals? we live and breathe Thai food and culture and this, for us was not it. we ate the themed Tapas, and having worked and spent over 3 years of my life in Spanish
speaking regions and having a Spanish sister-in-law, this again was not true to their heritage.

I am not going to discuss the prices of anything, in my opinion, you have a choice, pay it or do not pay it. if you do not want to pay what ANY resort is charging, eat and drink elsewhere.

CONCLUSION - a beautiful chic resort, extremely well managed and extremely isolated. I would humbly suggest that anybody choosing this
resort, choose very wisely. If it is a haven for peace and tranquility that is required 24/7 you cannot fault it & i admire the no TV policy, but feel this must be tempered with an alternative option to stimulate one's interest in anything other than spending money.

We have ONE issue outstanding with the resort, and it would not be correct of me to vent my spleen here, without allowing Jason the opportunity to resolve the issue first.

Before any negative feedback, my wife and i adore each other, she is my best friend and i could live on the moon with her, she is a get up and go person, this may be where our choice let us down, not the resort.

We avidly follow the comments, feedback and advice given by fellow travellers, and having travelled to over 50 countries and stopped in too many hotels to list, we are finding it more difficult to ascertain why people give 5/5 so freely. 5/5 in our humble opinion is for Nirvana, Utopia and something that is rarely achieved. this may be a fault of the site, for only allowing a limited scope of marking, but this resort is not Utopia.

We arranged a private transfer by car courtesy of Aleenta from Bangkok to the hotel, and were greeted by a very friendly and courteous driver. Whilst relaxing in our luxury car, we had the oppourtunity to freshen up, as Aleenta had also provided cool towels and drinking water for our journey.
On arrival at the hotel we were greeted with drinks and floral arrangements. Almost instantly we began to relax, and realised that in choosing Aleenta we had discovered a treasure. We arrived in our room to the scent of essential oils and truly ambient music on our own personal ipod. The room was wonderful, and i discovered the next morning the beautiful window seat was perfect for watching the high tide in the morning.
We spent our days relaxing by the infinity pool, gazing over beautiful clear waters. Some days we took a stroll to the frangipani wing and swam in the pool and slept by the sea. The sea wasnt particulary clear, and i have been to better beaches, but it was quiet and private, you could walk up and down a few times during the day and not bump into anyone. And besides the pools are fantastic
The menu was excellent, and breakfast was by far my favourite meal of the day, fresh fruit and pastrys in abundance. The staff at Aleenta were superb and ensured our stay was perfect. It was my Partners birthday while we were there, and they arranged a private bbq on the beach, with a seafood menu, wine desert, private chef and a waitress, for a tiny £50. The food in general was a little expensive for Thailand, However, im not complaining, the standard and quality were superb and the service excellent, so regardless still value for money. Aleenta is quite isolated, but the attentive staff make you feel that you dont need to leave anyway. We took a trip to Hua hin, and felt like we had been ejected from the womb, However my private yoga session by the sea sedated me once again. We booked through Tablet hotels, and paid the Rack rate, which was about £575, for six nights, with breakfast.
This hotel is wonderful, go, you would not be dissapointed. I have reccommended it to many already. We intend to visit again next year. If you are a chic traveller, looking for a relaxing, rewarding break, with great food, a spa and perfect service, and no interuptions, then Aleenta is the one. Enjoy