Palm Sweet Resort in Chumphon City

Service let it down. I mistakenly booked the wrong weekend and tried to change the date. Couldn't do it. Tried to arrange with the hotel directly which ended up in a 3 hour tour of calling agoda and the boss. Agreed in the end to get 50 refund from the cancellation and book again. I asked if they would include breakfast since they are essentially getting to rent out the same room again and get to keep 50% of my booking. They refused to even consider it.

The rooms were a bit stale but otherwise basic/fine/average. What was exceptional about this place was the inexplicably hostile customer service. We came during Songkran, so perhaps the receptionist would rather not be stuck at work, and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic certainly heightens tensions. Maybe they were just having a bad day - who knows.

Earlier in the evening of our stay, we called and spoke to the receptionist at Palm Sweet to inquire about a taxi, as we were stranded near the pier with no way of getting to the hotel (because despite having an airport, Chumphon does not yet have Grab/ride apps and taxis services are few and far between - getting around without your own transport is very difficult). The receptionist was completely disinterested in our situation and offered no help or suggestions whatsoever - just awkward silences on the phone. After several hours of calling various defunct taxi companies and then OTHER hotels, the friendly people at the Moonshine Resort were sympathetic to our plight and were able to hire us a driver (even though were were not staying with them). When we eventually arrived at the Palm Sweet, the receptionist refused to greet us or even look us in the face, instead he coldly took our passports and ordered us to fill out some forms. Another woman came in and was just as rude and unpleasant. Overall, we were made to feel extremely unwelcome. When they slid us a key across the counter without a word, we naturally asked where our room was located (as we had just arrived, it was dark outside, and the complex is large and mazy). The woman sighed and muttered under her breath, “อะไร,อยากให้เราอุ้มไปด้วยเหรอ?”, which was a patronizing remark akin to “what, now you need me to hold your hand and walk you to the door?” Simply shocking behavior from people who work in hospitality and one of the most awkward hotel experiences in my four years in Thailand.

Perhaps Thai patrons have had better experiences here, but between the lack of patience and respect towards customers/foreigners?, lack of English language ability, and their generally negative attitude, I highly recommend staying away from the Palm Sweet Resort.