Eden Resort

The Eden Resort is much more serene than its location right by the airport and off the main road may suggest. The property is lush, laid-back, and friendly, with beautiful tropical gardens bursting with colorful flowers, and charming touches such as decorations made with car tires painted in bright colors. Stone paths wind through well-tended lawns dotted with yellow-and-white bungalows with pitched roofs, and a couple of cute bridges cross over a pond full of lotus flowers. This layout lends the hotel an intimate feel, which combines with a quiet atmosphere to create a tranquil retreat. 

Home to the main pool and the restaurants, the beachfront area is the heart of the property. During our stay, guests -- most of whom were Russian and Scandinavian families and couples -- seemed to gravitate towards two different areas: families tended to stay around the pool in the morning, while couples seemed to prefer the more relaxing vibe of the beach. In the late afternoon guests gathered at the beach to watch the stunning sunset from a lounger or the bar.

Although beautiful and charming, the property is in need of a few renovations. The original parts of the hotel (which are all but the main building) date back to 2010 and are starting to show some age, including chipping paint in some areas, and worn woodwork throughout. We did see a few painters doing touch-ups here and there, but nothing major.

Eden Resort is a good pick for families and couples seeking a laid-back, friendly hotel on the beach, but the neighboring Salinda Resort Phu Quoc Island may be a better pick for those looking for true luxury. Rates can be double than the Eden’s, but its rooms, spa, food, and common areas are more refined and upscale. The Famiana Resort & Spa is a good alternative for travelers on a tighter budget, with clean rooms set in lush gardens, two large pools, and a pleasant stretch of beach. Those seeking a hotel with more family-friendly amenities may want to consider the Vinpearl Phu Quoc Resort, which features a water and amusement park, and a safari. 

Like most resorts in the area, the Eden Resort is located adjacent to an empty lot where a large hotel is currently being built, so noise may be an issue until 2018.

Eden Resort is located between a lovely sandy beach and the main road that runs all along the western coast of Phu Quoc. While the main entrance is directly on the road, the rest of the property is set mostly along the beach, so noise is generally not an issue. There are a few restaurants, bars, and roadside shops within easy walking distance, but there is no sidewalk and taking a taxi may be safer for longer distances. Duong Dong, the only main city in Phu Quoc, is an easy 10-minute drive down the road. There, guests can find plenty of dining, drinking, and shopping options. The city's night market -- offering everything from pearls to souvenirs to fresh seafood -- is worth a quick visit. Stunning Soa Beach is a 35-minute drive away. The airport is about 10 minutes from the hotel.

The hotel has 166 air-conditioned rooms, including standard guest rooms in the main building, and a number of bungalows in the gardens. All are decorated in a simple contemporary style that combines crisp white linens and berry-red or fuchsia accents on the bed with heavy wooden furniture. There isn’t much of a local flair in Deluxe or Grand Rooms, but bungalows have handsome wooden floors and window frames reminiscent of those found in colonial-style Vietnamese homes. Rooms are big, light, and airy, with large windows offering ocean or garden views, but Grand Rooms lack outdoor spaces. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, and electric kettles; water, coffee, and tea are available free of charge in all rooms, and bungalows are equipped with DVD players as well. Free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the property, but it can be spotty at times. 

Though Grand Rooms are in good shape overall, most bungalows have not been renovated since the hotel opened in 2010 and are starting to show some wear and tear, especially the wooden surfaces. The patio doors in our bungalow could not be locked, and the floors were heavily scratched around the main entrance. 

Bathrooms vary in style, but most feature clean shower/tub combos and spacious sink areas with lots of counter space; bathrooms in Grand Rooms have large windows overlooking the bedroom. Bungalows have beautiful outdoor bathrooms clad in stone, complete with separate rain showers and deep sunken tubs. We were a little worried about privacy in these open bathrooms, but it turned out they were well designed and no one could see us despite our room being directly adjacent to a taller building.

The hotel is built directly on a lovely stretch of sand part of beautiful Long Beach. Although there aren’t technically any private beaches in Phu Quoc, the hotel does have a few dozen cushioned loungers and straw umbrellas only for guests. We saw no non-guests around save for a couple or two strolling down the beach, as there is nothing but other beachfront resorts in the immediate vicinity. There is a small thatched hut offering an array of cocktails and snacks on the sand, but waiter service is not available.

The hotel has two dining options, both adjacent to the pool. Orchid Restaurant serves a varied buffet for breakfast that includes Vietnamese and international options such as made-to-order pancakes, eggs, and the traditional local soup "pho." The dining room felt a little too busy and crowded when we visited in peak season, and the staff was slow to replace empty trays and coffee pots. The beachfront Strelitzia Restaurants is open for lunch and dinner, and is a popular spot among guests for sunset drinks. The menu offers a range of Asian and international options, including spring rolls, Australian beef, noodles, and pizza, but food is a tad overpriced.

The main pool is located right by the beach, and features a handful of loungers and umbrellas, a kiddy section, and a small whirlpool under some palm trees. There is an additional pool adjacent to the Grand Building, but it is small and can get some road noise. 

Although the hotel lacks a full spa, there are four massage rooms on-site offering an array of treatments and salon services. Two of the rooms are glass-enclosed and built on stilts over a charming lotus pond; the other two are directly on the beach, and feature muslin curtains for privacy.