📍Novotel Phu Quoc Resort: An Honest Review. (2024.)
WONDERING WHETHER STAYING AT NOVOTEL PHU QUOC RESORT IS WORTH IT?
One of Vietnam’s fastest emerging tourist destinations is Phu Quoc, a stunning tropical island just underneath Cambodia in the Gulf Of Thailand. Home to some of the country’s best theme parks and the world’s longest cable car and abundant with gorgeous natural beauty and notable cultural and heritage sites, it is a place more and more people are becoming aware of and including in their Vietnamese itineraries.
Capitalizing on its evolving status as the nation’s next must-visit hot spot, Phu Quoc has many fantastic new accommodation options for people looking to explore this gorgeous place. And if it’s a lush, private beachside resort you’re looking for, Novotel Phu Quoc Resort is a fantastic option for those who want to stay on the island in style. My boyfriend and I were here for one night during our month-long holiday in Vietnam and had a mostly positive experience stay. Here is our detailed and honest review of what we thought about this 5-star hotel.
Novotel Phu Quoc Resort.
- 5-star luxury beachfront resort.
- 4.5/5 from 4340 Google reviews.
- Spacious rooms with stunning bathrooms & balconies.
- Self-contained bungalows with private pools.
- 2 gorgeous pools & a private beach.
Novotel Phu Quoc Resort: Review Overview.
Novotel Phu Quoc is a gorgeous 5-star resort close to the international airport and the island’s main township of Duong Dong, providing guests with a high level of luxury in a convenient location.
Is Novotel Phu Quoc Worth Visiting?
Yes, Novotel Phu Quoc Resort is a fantastic accommodation option on the island of Phu Quoc. It has beautiful rooms featuring gorgeous bathrooms and spacious balconies.
It also has a slew of excellent facilities and services available for guests to use such as two stunning swimming pools, a private beach, two bars and restaurants, a relaxation spa, a fitness centre, a kids’ area and numerous activities, such as tennis and yoga on offer.
For all the good things about it, there are also a few things it could improve on, such as the decor in the bedroom part of the room feeling more 4-star, and the receptionist telling us the wrong thing about the use of the spa was a big one.
But overall, we still had a good experience at this hotel and think it is a solid option for accommodation on Phu Quoc Island.
Rooms.
General Overview & Room Amenities.
- Rooms, suites & bungalows.
- Bungalows are closer to the ocean and some even have a private pool.
- Each features high-end luxury amenities.
- Alternating rain & detachable hand-held shower.
- Sizeable wardrobe.
- Robe & Slippers.
- Minibar.
- Safe
- Wheelchair-accessible hotel.
Our Room.
✔️ Pros.
- The dark wooden furniture accents in the entranceway were beautiful.
- The design on the wardrobe and bathroom doors in particular were exquisite.
- Reasonably spacious and immaculately clean.
- The large wardrobe wall unit offered plenty of space, a dedicated luggage space and a three-quarter-length mirror.
- The bathroom was gorgeous. I loved the barn door and the floor-to-ceiling window between the bedroom and the shower.
- A large balcony overlooked the pool.
- Fun bathrobe.
- Two daily complimentary bottles of water. This was great because you can’t drink water straight out of the tap in Vietnam.
❌ Cons.
- The room decor in the bedroom area was a little basic.
- Safe wasn’t working.
- The two seats inside facing the balcony were too big and in the way.
Facilities & Services.
- 2 Swimming Pools.
- Truong Beach. (Private Beach.)
- Landscaped Tropical Gardens.
- 2 Bars. The Lounge Bar & the Ocean Bar.
- 2 Restaurants – The Food Exchange & Phu Quoc Seafood Restaurant.
- Balanced Spa.
- Fitness Centre.
- Kids Club – PlayStation use, activity program & qualified staff to look after them.
- Activities. – Tennis, cycling, water sports, table tennis, yoga and more.
- Function Rooms – Ballrooms, meeting rooms & events at the beach
- Airport Shuttle Service.
- Limited on-site outdoor parking.
- Day Pass – For those not staying overnight, but want use of the facilities.
General Pool & Private Beach.
✔️ Pros.
- Beautiful pool surrounded by all the traditional accommodations and surrounded by stunning ornamental pools.
- The second infinity pool overlooks the private beach and has the in-pool Ocean Bar.
- Truong Beach is a lovely place to watch the sun setting over the ocean.
❌ Cons.
- The weather was not great, which meant no swimming at the beach and being in the infinity pool by the ocean wasn’t the most pleasant when we were there.
- The beach had a bit of litter.
- It’s a bit of a distance to walk from the traditional lodgings to the oceanside pool and beach.
Restaurant.
✔️ Pros.
- As ALL – Accor Live Limitless Membmer, the buffet breakfast was included.
- My boyfriend thought this buffet breakfast was the best of all the places we stayed on Phu Quoc.
- For a la carte dinner, the staff. very helpful in organizing something for me to eat.
❌ Cons.
- No vegan options on the menu. However, they were kind enough to make something for me.
Other Resort Pros & Cons.
✔️ Pros.
- I liked the layout. It was symmetrical and not confusing.
- It felt very open and welcoming.
❌ Cons.
- The landscaped area between the two swimming pools was a bit drab.
Staff.
✔️ Pros.
- The staff were friendly, welcoming, attentitative and helpful.
- They had reasonably good English communication skills.
- They even sometimes take you around in a buggy.
❌ Cons.
- There was a big communication problem at the beginning. The lovely receptionist who welcomed us mistakenly told us and repeatedly confirmed to us that as ALL-Accor Live Limitless Members, we were entitled to a free massage, but when my boyfriend went to claim it, they said there were no free services. The front desk receptionist and spa parlour receptionist spoke and the former was especially apologetic and offered us use of the sauna.
Location.
✔️ Pros.
- Somewhat centrally located on the island’s western coast, making it a good choice for those who want to stay at the same luxury place while exploring the island’s many sights.
- Close to Phu Quoc International Airport – 10 minutes drive.
- 25 minutes drive from the island’s main town Duong Dong, and the numerous attractions it has there.
❌ Cons.
- None.
Overall Impressions.
Overall, our stay at Novotel Phu Quoc Resort was a positive one.
The lady at the front desk who checked us in was absolutely lovely and the most welcoming person we encountered from all our hotel check-ins. It was just unfortunate that she told us the wrong thing about getting a massage, which as my boyfriend loves those, was especially disappointing for him to be informed by the spa staff that that wasn’t the case. The front desk lady was extremely apologetic and was kind enough to offer us use of the sauna.
The bedroom resembled more of the 4-star hotel, so while it was still nice, it didn’t have that high-end attention to detail and air of luxury and exuberance that Movenpick Resort Waverly and Premier Residences Phu Quoc Emerald Bay had, the two other 5-star hotels we also stayed at on the island. However, the bathroom was gorgeous and I loved the spacious balcony overlooking the upper pool area.
The walk to the lower beachside pool was a bit long, and the beach was beautiful, even if it did have a few bits of litter hanging around. And my boyfriend loved the buffet breakfast food selection which was his favourite of the three hotels we were at on Phu Quoc Island.
Who Is The Resort Most Suitable For?
- Honeymooners.
- Couples celebrating a special occasion.
- Those who like to lap up luxury.
- People who prefer to have their holiday primarily at a resort.
- Family and friends looking for somewhere relaxing that is more than just a hotel to base themselves.
- People who prefer to have their holiday primarily at a resort.
Novotel Resort: FAQs.
Does Novotel Phu Quoc Resort Have A Pool?
Yes, the Novotel Phu Quoc Resort has not one, but two beautiful pools! The first one is nestled within the courtyard of the traditional accommodation lodgings and is surrounded by shallow ornamental pools, creating a beautiful, multilayered and relaxing space. A second is located just behind the private beach and overlooks the ocean.
What Is There To Do At Novotel Phu Quoc Resort?
There is a multitude of things to do at the resort for guests.
In-room.
- Sleeping.
- Watching TV.
- Have a long relaxing shower.
- Or bath (if the room has one. Some even have outdoor baths!)
- Take a poop or pee.
Out of Room.
- Get a treatment at the Balance Spa.
- Work out at the Fitness Centre.
- Entertain the kids at the Kids Club – PlayStation & activity program.
- Dine at the two restaurants.
Outside.
- Swim in, or relax by the two swimming pools or the beach.
- Have a poolside drink made to order at the Ocean Bar.
- Go for a stroll along the beach.
- Do one of the activities on offer – Tennies, cycling, water sports, table tennis, yoga, etc.
For those not staying at Novotel but would still like to use the facilities, there is a Day Pass which allows access to many of the resort’s offerings.
Does Novotel Phu Quoc Resort Have An Airport Shuttle?
Yes. Novotel Phu Quoc Resort provides convenient shuttle bus services to and from Phu Quoc International Airport. Unfortunately, they only operate every two hours in each direction from 7.00 am and 6.00 pm daily, which isn’t the most flexible. An excellent alternative is to use the Grab App and order a driver, which typically only takes minutes to book a few more from them to arrive.
How To Get To Phu Quoc Island?
Travelling by air is the most convenient way to reach the beautiful shores of Vietnam’s largest Island. Direct flights are available from major Vietnamese cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang and are operated by commercial carriers such as Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo, and Vietjet.
However, I would advise against choosing Vietjet due to the various problems we encountered with them during the 4 flights we booked with them which resulted in a total of 5 flights and included significant delays and cancellations, which negatively impacted our trip.
Conclusion: Novotel Phu Quoc Resort Review.
Novotel Phu Quoc Resort is a beautiful resort for those looking for a luxurious place to stay on Vietnam’s largest island, Phu Quoc. With its variety of accommodation options from traditional rooms and suites to self-contained bungalows, its two stunning pools, private beaches, and a pair of restaurants and bars located close to the international airport and the island’s main town, the sprawling resort is the perfect way to lap up the luxury lifestyle whilst simultaneously being close to the action and far away from it all.
