This review is written by a seasoned traveller 50 ++.
Visited this resort during Christmas time, to avoid the hype anywhere else. We suceeded. The resort grounds are large and well kept. Ponds, winding paths, small rice fields and the forrest makes it interesting to wander around. We paid extra to reserve an absoluut beach front room. The rooms are indeed very large, exactly like the website shows. Avoid room 704, no seaview, but seaview priced. Garden bungalows are surrounded by beautiful forrest, complete with birds and crickets. Beds are firm.
Due to lack of personel the pool bars were closed, pity.
Breakfast buffet and dinner was nothing special, but maybe we were spoiled in Pucket.
Both pools are beautiful, plenty of sun lounges. Little English is spoken by the friendly staff, but with some patience we always got the message across.
Beach: The tides vary a lot and with low tide one can not swim. Many rocks in the sea makes it tricky to walk without shoes. There are better beaches on the island.
Outside the resort within walking distance one can find 1 or 2 small restaurants. The resort can pick you up as a courtesy service.
We rented a small motorbike nearby and visited another resort to have a very good lunch also in a beautiful setting. Be very careful and avoid potholes, very dangerous especially when there has just been a down poor and one can not distinguish between road surface and pothole.
We were very happy during our 3 night stay and would love to come back.
Getting there: many speed boats leave from a small jetty on Phuket : Ban Rong pier. I copied from their timetable: 9.30, 12.hr, 17.00. But there are more ferries, at least in the high season. All taxi drivers will know where to bring you if you mention Koh Yao Yai. You will need transport from the island jetty to the resort, which is maybe 8 ks away.
The resort offers transfer and if your hotel in Phuket is far away from the jetty, then it is a good deal. However on our way back we paid for the transfer, but there was no taxi waiting for us at the pier in Phuket. So we ended up paying extra to hail a cab back to the airport.
Taxi airport to this jetty was 500 bath. All the taxies we took, used the meter and were honest. This resort is good for guests who want to be lazy, there is nothing else to do.
Even with all these remarks we will be happy to visit them again, because the villas/cottages, the views and the pools are worth it.