I hope this email finds you well. I would like to provide feedback to you all regarding our most recent stay at Koh Yao Yai Village.
Overall we had a lovely stay and despite the change from Paradise we were happy with the compensation of $1000 BAHT. The staff were all very lovely and accommodating and the food exceeded expectations.
However, the biggest problem that we encountered was with the transfers to and from the airport.
On our way there the only documentation we had at the pier to say that the speed boat to Koh Yao Yai Island was included in our package was the itinerary from our travel agent. This is of course was no use to prove our case as they couldn't read or understand English. Thankfully someone there stuck up from us and after a lot of back and forth we were allowed on the boat.
However, it only worsened on the way back. I asked the driver from Yao Yai Village if the pier staff would know that the boat transfer was already prepaid and he nodded. However I don't think he understood my question. Once on the boat we were yelled out with demands for money. Yet again I tried to show my papers outlining that this transfer was in fact paid for by paradise. To no avail as there was a language barrier. The staff became very irate and wouldn't let us leave once arriving at the next pier. I tried on numerous occasions to tell them they needed to continue this conversation with both Paradise and Yao Yai and finally once he got ahold of one of the hotels he dismissed us.
We felt sick from this heated exchange, only to find that once we were at the pier awaiting our pre-paid pick up there was nowhere there. We were approached by taxi drivers offering lifts to the airport, however as we were at the end of our trip we didn't have bought BAHT. After waiting an hour (and with a flight to catch) we begged the locals to allow to use their mobile so we could call paradise hotel. After being transferred numerous times by paradise they arranged a pick up and thankfully she was there quickly.
Unfortunately this left a sour taste in our month after what was a lovely getaway.
May I suggest refining this process for future guests. I think either don't include free transfers in the package price and reduce the amount accordingly. Or give travellers something that they can show the pier staff to say this transfer will be covered by the allocated resort. Also there needs to be more promptness with transfers as we don't phone call capabilities whilst overseas therefore, we don't want to be following up transfer companies when this is the job of the hotel. Also we had no details of the company to even make the calls ourselves.
For your information I have also written an open review of our stay at Koh Yao Yai Village and included these comments in our feedback survey upon departure of the resort. Please find the link here;
http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g676354-d1557732-r278640050-Koh_Yao_Yai_Village-Ko_Yao_Yai_Phang_Nga_Province.html#review278640050
I hope that you can appreciate my honesty in this feedback and comments. I can only hope that you take it on board and you make the appropriate arrangements or revise the process so future customers of your companies don't have this same issue.
A reply of acknowledgement would be welcomed.