Loved our stay at Serendipity. Views are incredible.Stayed on both ends of sunrise beach. Serendipity is closer to walking street and everything on the island is accessible by short taxi ride. The walk on the beach to the other end of Sunrise beach is about 20 minutes. Note: many stairs to the room - I counted 150! to our room. Need to be in decent shape but the views are worth it. Stayed in the deluxe pool room. Private pool with jets were a plus. Staff was wonderful. Small private beach that you can snorkel from. Wish they supplied beach chairs. The neighboring hotel does and restricts their use to patrons.
After my previous check-out, I was immediately welcomed with an early check-in at 11 am, a thoughtful touch that set the tone for the day. Adding to the charm was a complimentary tuk-tuk ride that whisked me further up into the neighborhood, showcasing the resort’s unique local approach right from the start.
The entrance, demure yet inviting, immediately set the mood. A warm welcome from a delightful couple made me feel truly at home. I was effortlessly ushered through the check-in process by the ever-efficient Ms. Aum, who swiftly snapped a copy of my passport. Before I knew it, Mr. Ton, the ever-attentive concierge, was already waiting with my carry-on bags, ensuring that every need was anticipated and met.
Strolling down through lush greens, I arrived at pool villa 6—a space that epitomizes rustic chic. Every little detail was meticulously curated, reflecting a harmonious blend of tropical elegance and simplicity. This enchanting villa served as the perfect backdrop for my “White Lotus”-inspired birthday getaway. Villa 6 aptly named “Jumpa” (Malay for “See You”), the villa felt like a heartfelt invitation to return, encapsulating the true spirit of serendipity.
This is it! Your search is over! This is the best hotel on the island. Book it early, because we met people who tried to book it four months in advance and couldn’t get a room. Even though there are some more expensive hotels on the island, they don’t compare to this one. This hotel has exceptional privacy where you can’t see your neighbor. All you see is the sea and lush greenery. The rooms are stunning with natural wood everywhere. The staff are incredible and will take care of you from pickup to drop off (just let them know your boat and its arrival and departure times in advance).
This is comparable or even better than my experiences in over water bungalows and beachfront bungalows in French Polynesia, Maldives, and Fiji. World-class snorkeling in your backyard (and I recommend booking the snorkel tour which is fantastic). And ultimately, retiring back to an architecturally stunning masterpiece with beautiful touches (flowers as faucet valves, doors with wooden locks). The plunge pools are very well maintained unlike most resorts where I usually avoid them, here I used the plunge pool every day. Honestly this hotel is better than most five-star hotels as it has character, privacy, architectural interest, beautiful breakfasts, and a fantastic location (all the other hotels are crammed next door to one another and their patrons are all crowded on the beach…not fun).
Tip: snorkeling is best just north of the large rock island in front of the hotel).
