PULLMAN RESORT Phu Quoc, Vietnam š»š³ć4K Resort Tour & ReviewćFamily Pool Paradise
The Pullman Resort is one of those placesĀ that positions itself very well. It isĀ Ā a very nice resort which has done a greatĀ job offering a premium family product withĀ Ā some great food to boot. Welcome to Phu Quoc. For those of you that are new to the channel,Ā Ā
Thanks for stopping by, my name isĀ Kevin and I am the Flip Flop Traveller.Ā I think the internet is in need of a wholeĀ lot more honesty when it comes to airlineĀ Ā and hotel content and thatās why Iām here- IāmĀ just here to be real. I make trip reports andĀ Ā
High end hotel reviews and I always self fund myĀ trips. In fact, youāll always be able to find theĀ Ā exact price I paid in the description below.Ā I donāt alert any companies Iāll be filmingĀ Ā because I want as normal of an experience asĀ possible. So, in this video today, Iām goingĀ Ā
To give you nothing more than my personal, honestĀ and unbiased opinion based on my own experience.Ā Itās a bit of an overcast and ominous day onĀ the island, but not to worry since itās a veryĀ Ā quick drive from the airport. If you saw myĀ previous Regent Phu Quoc video, the PullmanĀ Ā
Is in the same area, just about a kilometerĀ to the north of it and the Intercontinental.Ā The exterior, from the street side at least,Ā is a bit odd Iām not going to lie. Itās givingĀ Ā me retro vibes but not necessarily inĀ the best of ways. It almost reminds meĀ Ā
A bit of the Copan building in Sao Paulo. The reason the design surprises me thoughĀ Ā is because the hotel is near brand new. Opened inĀ 2020- great timing- the hotel has a total of 331Ā Ā rooms and villas and was designed by SalvadorĀ PĆ©rez Arroyo. For this facade of the building,Ā Ā
His intention was to create a complexĀ with fluid lines and a kinetic whirl,Ā Ā inspired by the lively fishingĀ villages of the island. Hmm, ok.Ā Once inside though, I assure you itāsĀ much more, shall we say as expected.Ā The lobby interior is inviting with theĀ first thing you see being the all day bar,Ā Ā
The Lighthouse Bar which is actually openĀ 24 hours. My only critique in here would beĀ Ā that it feels like a collection of thingsĀ rather than a cohesive design. Frankly ifĀ Ā they just got rid of this blond wood sofa,Ā it would probably feel a bit nicer in here.Ā
I do love a beautiful staircase though. If you head down to the description youāllĀ Ā find my next five videos to come out as well asĀ other bits and pieces like the soundtrack titlesĀ Ā featured in this video. On your way down there,Ā donāt forget to subscribe- I release full lengthĀ Ā
Videos every Thursday and Saturday. Checkin will take place to the rightĀ Ā hand side where youāll be offered aĀ mulberry iced tea and a cold towel.Ā Letās head outside and explore the grounds. On the right hand side you can see one ofĀ Ā
The low slung room room structures whichĀ flank either side of the pool. PerhapsĀ Ā it will be better to imagine if we take a lookĀ at where we are and how the hotel is laid out.Ā Phu Quoc is a Vietnamese island in the Gulf ofĀ Thailand, to the south of Cambodia. The majorityĀ Ā
Of tourists will arrive via the internationalĀ airport which is just a 15 minute drive away.Ā Zooming in, we can see the full resort.Ā Here is the largest structure with theĀ Ā majority of the rooms and here are the 3 lowĀ rise room structures flanking the pool. ThenĀ Ā
Thereās a lot of space on property devoted toĀ some villas before reaching the beach itself.Ā The interesting thing to note is that the entireĀ layout was meant to look like, a fish. Now,Ā Ā can I see it? Sure. But I get the feeling theĀ resort was designed and then someone lookedĀ Ā
At it and said, āoh hey, that almost looksĀ like a fishā… but thatās just my guess.Ā The central pool is huge, like really huge.Ā Thereās no adults only section per say,Ā Ā but this side is the more adult side of the two.Ā On the other side of the venue in the middle areĀ Ā
Much shallower pools which are all connected andĀ a great space for families with younger kids.Ā Ā Itās no surprise then that this is my first bigĀ point. If you are looking for a reasonably pricedĀ Ā resort for a pool focused trip with kids,Ā this really would be a good spot for you,Ā Ā
Especially if you had one of the rooms closeĀ to the pool on the side of the shallow parts.Ā Hereās your friendly reminder to click thatĀ thumbs up button, subscribe to the channelĀ Ā and share this video with friends and family.Ā Those are truly the easiest ways- all free forĀ Ā
You- to help the channel grow. If youād like toĀ support me further my Patreon is linked in theĀ Ā description below. Thanks very much in advance. This venue, named Coconutz pool bar offers bitsĀ Ā and drinks throughout the day- oneĀ of your two best bets for lunch.Ā
Iāll note as we look around, if the resortĀ looks deserted, well it kinda was. ThisĀ Ā was filmed in the summer and while I normallyĀ always film at times which would disturb otherĀ Ā guests the least, the Pullman made my job easyĀ with pretty low occupancy. Letās keep in mindĀ Ā
That Vietnamās tourism market is recovering muchĀ much slower than that of Thailand and Bali- whichĀ Ā is why I wait until now to come back to Phu Quoc. That said, by the time this video is published,Ā Ā occupancy rates certainly wonātĀ be back to pre-Covid levels,Ā Ā
But they will be a bit more lively for sure. As we head to the beach, let me mention my 2ndĀ Ā big point. The layout is odd. I donāt think itĀ detracts from the experience, thereās nothingĀ Ā
Missing, but it does feel like a lot more couldĀ have been done with the property. If Iām honest itĀ Ā feels like the cabanas were built as a way to fillĀ all of this space. Again, this isnāt a complaint,Ā Ā
But rather an observation of perhaps what moreĀ could have been. A separate adults pool perhaps.Ā These barriers here are common for west facingĀ resorts in Phu Quoc in late summer and autumn,Ā Ā not quite sure why they were put up soĀ early, but Iām happy they tried to haveĀ Ā
Them blend in as much as possible. Far tooĀ many resorts on the island will put up theĀ Ā equivalent of a blue tarp and call it a day. The beach itself was clean, spread out and hadĀ Ā
A selection of free and paid water activities. As we head over to take a look at the BeachĀ Ā House venue which is open for lunch,Ā dinner and drinks, let me mention a bitĀ Ā about Pullman and how they position themselves. As a brand, Pullman goes way back to 1894 when aĀ Ā
French Railroad company established a separateĀ Hotel group to maintain the hotels theyād beenĀ Ā opening near their train stations. Fast forwardĀ like 100 years and Accor acquired a majority stakeĀ Ā in 1991 and by 1993 completely killed the brand.Ā All existing Pullmans were turned into Sofitels.Ā
In 2007, Accor revived the brand and focusedĀ it on business travelers which was changed inĀ Ā 2013 which saw a new branding focusing on aĀ younger generation of āmobile, hyper-connectedĀ Ā customersā. The hotels and resorts are said to beĀ designed to be in tune with todayās mobile world,Ā Ā
Blending peak performance and personal well-being.Ā Each property is aimed to be a vibrant place whereĀ Ā global nomads can feel at their best. Makes me wonder how many hundreds ofĀ Ā thousands of dollars were spent to come up withĀ a round about way of āwe target millennialsā.Ā
Ok, time to go check out my room. I was bookedĀ into a Deluxe King and was upgraded to a poolĀ Ā access Cabana. Certainly I wasnāt complaining,Ā but I have no idea why I was upgraded. I knowĀ Ā some of you wonder about these things, so IāllĀ mention that this stay was booked through aĀ Ā
Third party using a burner email address. ThereĀ was no Accor account attached to the booking andĀ Ā the room I was given is the same one that wasĀ already prepared for me on arrival. That lastĀ Ā detail is one I always pay close attention to. Anyway, here we are. The cabanas are in clustersĀ Ā
Of four, two above and two below. Each haveĀ their own private outdoor seating area whichĀ Ā all connect to a lazy lagoon style plunge pool. Iāll let you have a look around and Iāll comeĀ Ā back to you in a bit with my favorite andĀ least favorite details about the room.Ā
Ok, letās start with my least favoriteĀ details. First up, maybe theyāre justĀ Ā expecting this to grow in over time, butĀ the outdoor shower area is very exposed,Ā Ā I mean very exposed. And at night you can seeĀ my little setup here, if youāre not carefulĀ Ā
And get too close to the door, you may beĀ greeting the world in an unexpected way.Ā Second detail is that big āol stainĀ on the sofa. Itās a pretty new place,Ā Ā you canāt tell me they couldnāt scrub that out. Last up, no jackfruit! That actually kindaĀ Ā
Ridiculous. No durian is very common dueĀ to the smell. No mangosteen is commonĀ Ā since they very easily stain linens. ButĀ no jackfruit? Come on, itās natureās candy.Ā There are plenty of details that I loved though.Ā First up, letās start off with the CO Bigelow bulkĀ Ā
Container products. When I lived in New York, theĀ original Bigelow store was my actual pharmacy,Ā Ā so itās a bit of a nostalgia thing everytime I seeĀ them on the other side of the world at a Pullman.Ā 2nd detail is also in the bathroom- thisĀ giant soaking tub- maybe onsen tub is moreĀ Ā
Appropriate. I was literally shocked to findĀ this in here. A really great thing to have.Ā Last detail I loved was the outdoor layout. ItāsĀ rare when you can have four cabanas or villas,Ā Ā whatever you want to call them, clusteredĀ together and sharing the same pool spaceĀ Ā
But also gives you a decent sense of privacy. Iād definitely suggest looking at a cabanaĀ Ā since they really arenāt priced ridiculouslyĀ high compared to standard superior and deluxeĀ Ā rooms. Also great for kids sinceĀ the plunge pools are not too deep.Ā
Ok, after part one of the sunset on the beach,Ā we head up to the rooftop to finish it off.Ā For dinner, we are staying up here on the roof andĀ heading to Mad Cow. Yes, I know itās a horribleĀ Ā
And tone deaf name and still surprises me. TheĀ Pullman in Saigon has a restaurant with the sameĀ Ā name. Luckily though, the food was really good. In Saigon they are known for their burgers,Ā Ā so I went with a Caesar Salad and a burger. ToĀ say I was absolutely shocked when it was notĀ Ā
Just a table side caesar, but a really wellĀ done one at that would be an understatement.Ā Only crappy part were the croutons, but Iāll lookĀ past them in favor of how great the rest was.Ā As for the burger, it too was delicious.Ā My personal opinion, Vietnam has hundredsĀ Ā
Of burger focused restaurants and must haveĀ some of the most inconsistent preparation onĀ Ā earth. So I was cautiously skeptical, butĀ it wasnāt necessary. You should eat hereĀ Ā even if staying at one of the nearby resorts. The overcast weather continued so I unfortunatelyĀ Ā
Donāt have any beautiful sunrise shots, so letāsĀ just get straight into breakfast at Salt & Pepper.Ā Located just off of the lobby,Ā this is their all day dining venue.Ā It was nice, fresh and bright, but consideringĀ occupancy was low, I donāt know what all of thisĀ Ā
Temporary seating was necessary. The food though, oh the food.Ā Itās hard to say definitively the best, butĀ Iāll say this is top five breakfast buffetsĀ Ā Iāve ever had in Vietnam. They had everythingĀ youād expect, hot and cold. But there were soĀ Ā
Many little touches that showed the quality of theĀ food on offer. Having Dāissy butter, for example.Ā My favorite part of the buffet was theĀ extensive Vietnamese section. Youāve neverĀ Ā heard me say that in a review before- becauseĀ there are never extensive Vietnamese sections.Ā
I think it might have been a bit obvious already,Ā but my third big point here is definitely the foodĀ Ā on offer. For this category of resort, itāsĀ one of the best food offerings in Vietnam,Ā Ā I think. Another example of how well AccorĀ properties focus on food offerings in the region.Ā
My personal favorite was theĀ Binh Dinh style Banh Beo,Ā Ā especially when theyāre swimming in fish sauce. Ok, so as we finish up the buffet and take aĀ Ā look at the nicely equipped gym, letās see ifĀ we canāt wrap this up neatly. Service wise,Ā Ā
I would say itās right where my expectations were.Ā Staff are all friendly and trained well enough,Ā Ā but itās a very young staff and so this is not theĀ place to come for refined and individual service,Ā Ā if that wasnāt already obvious. But, I donātĀ think thatās a bad thing. The service here wasĀ Ā
Mostly appropriate for the resort. As for just about everything else,Ā Ā it all exceeded my expectations. ForĀ the price, itās a solid offering forĀ Ā families or a couple just looking to get away. I really hope you enjoyed this review today. IfĀ Ā
You did, please be sure to click that thumbs upĀ button and subscribe with notifications on so youĀ Ā donāt miss out on my twice weekly content.Ā I upload full length videos every ThursdayĀ Ā and Saturday. Iāll see you next time for aĀ very special flight in Etihad Airways firstĀ Ā
Class Apartments from Abu Dhabi to London.Ā Oh and thanks for watching until the end.
Watch this video if you want to see what the 5-star Pullman Resort in Phu Quoc, Vietnam is like. This resort tour and honest review will take you through the full Pullman experience on the island- from a room tour, to the food offerings, to the pools and the beach.
š„ In This Video:
-Hotel & Brand Overview
-Location Graphic
-Mega Pool Tour
-Quiet & Calm Beach
-Grounds Tour
-Plunge Pool Cabana Full Tour
-Lighthouse Bar
-Dinner at Mad Cow
-Breakfast at Salt n Pepper (Full Buffet)
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āš¼ Videos & Playlists Mentioned in Video
ā Videos by Score, 90-95: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL83ZLLu2Le8MjuT5VXUn6Gmff4s4UFIrW
ā Vietnam Beach Resorts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL83ZLLu2Le8O_51tKnOWI24-FwAlN-H7B
ā My Favorite Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL83ZLLu2Le8Ols1LZ2GbrVjIGvwMtkCa6
šø Rate Paid
Rate Paid: $148.97 USD
Category: Pool Access Cabana (up from Deluxe King)
Inclusions: Breakfast
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š¶ Background Music in This Video
ā¢ āCoconut Fantasiesā by Bomstrumentals vol. 1
ā¢ āSunsetā by Ocean Ave
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āŖ Video Chapters ā©
0:00 Hotel Preview & Info
00:58 Arriving at Resort
01:42 Resort Exterior & Design
02:30 Lobby & Reception
04:00 Location Map Graphic
04:44 Primary Pool Area
07:21 Need to Know FAQs
07:32 Heading to the Beach
08:04 Resort Beach Facilities
09:21 Beach House Restaurant
10:22 Children Play Areas
10:55 Heading to My Room
11:42 Pool Access Cabana Room Tour
17:38 Sunset from Beach & Rooftop
19:14 Dinner at Mad Cow Restaurant
20:37 Breakfast Buffet at Salt nā Pepper
22:49 Final Thoughts & Fitness Center
23:30 The Flip Flop Score
This is NOT a promotional video. I pay for all of my flights and hotels (and I always tell you how much!) so I can be as honest and impartial as possible. I do not receive any special treatment that wouldnāt otherwise be publicly accessible, in fact, the hotels and airlines have no idea about my visit and that’s the way I like it!
#pullman #phuquoc #hotelreview
39 Comments
This hotel makes me feel lonely. The exteriors, all the furniture, the decors are all mismatched and dated. I would not even want to think about going to this hotel at all
The food looked great and that sunset was amazing! That stain on that that couch thoughā¦ I wouldāve asked for another room. I donāt like things like that! Thanks for another great video š
when is your best of 2023 coming ???
Mad cow, how inviting!!šš great video as always šš
Always enjoy watching your videos Kevin and seeing other hotels from around the world,,,peace and happiness on your travels ššššš
Kevin, I am planning a trip to Vietnam next year. Due to my budget and time limation, I can only able to travel to two places in Vietnam. So, I have to choose two places out of the following four which are; Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat and Phu Quoc. Which two places among them should I choose? Please help me as I am in a big dilemma.
Did you book the hotel through AMEX or Chase? That might be a reason for a free upgrade
Did you had any neighbors? Considering it's a family oriented resort I expect them to have good noise isolation… something Vietnam is notoriously bad
Looking forward for saigon in the future
Great Belgian GM
First time we stayed in a high floor main building room. The odd construction created a wind sheer and it was difficult to sleep.
Second time we stayed in a swimming pool villa which was OK.
Love the huge pool and the garden
The restaurant is fine, great bone marrow
I gave it a 8/10
As an avid, long-time viewer of your channel, I think I speak for everyone when I say the quality of your reviews just keeps getting better and better. However I have a curiosity: your reviews are not intended to be in chronological order, I get that. But as a viewer, I personally sometimes get confused where you are and where you're going to… maybe that's the point lol? Like you're aceing the Phu Quoc reviews atm, and yet for your next video you're flying to London before you've finished the Phu Quoc hotels. This non-linear approach keeps things spiced up I guess, and one of the reasons you're perhaps 1 of the top 2 or 3 travel YouTubers is because you understand audience engagement. Is this the reason, or do you just like it random yourself haha? Anyway, keep up the good work
Never been a huge fan of the Pullman brand if i'm honest, but really excited for Vietnam this year. I think you told me the hotel industry was not in a good place in Vietnam right now, but as i have yet to explore everywhere (apart from Hanoi) i am currently picking some beach properties based on your reviews. On reflection, this pulllman is ok, the beachside is so amazing compared to most Thai or Balinese properties. The pool is amazing too. Not a touch on the Regent, but maybe more my personal style than the JW Marriott's campus lol. Another one on my watchlist.
The building front has the Soviet Brutalism feel to it
Accor's branding is quite unknown and weak in consumers mind compared to other big box chains. They must invest in marketing to deliver their branding message more. Although the resort is awesome, solid offering and petite the name pullman doesn't pull. If someone told this was a Delta hotel, Element, voco etc one could easily believe.
I want to know is Phu Quoc beaches swimming and water activities friendly?
I was curious if Pullman had anything to do with the train company. Plus your history lesson explains why I haven't really heard about them before. I did recently find they have a property near Miami international airport, which could be a good place for a layover.
I stayed here in April ā22. It was fine but after watching your Regent videoā¦ no comparison.
Another great review Kevin. Looks quiet and peaceful when you were there. Keep them comingā¤š
Thanks for the video ā¦we will definitely visit this resort. We have been at Sheraton Phu Quoc several times.
Hi Kevin, if you had your druthers what would you tackle next: Africa, Europe, South America or North America?
I couldnāt get interested or excited about this place during the whole video except the food part. The place looked soulless to me, disjointed architecture, mismatched styling and a very far reaching branding concept that I frankly didnāt get trying to find out what vibe they were going for. In short, I felt I have been looking at a video of a fish, that never really wasā¦ Great video Kevin, thank you!
Wow, that's a great price for what you get for sure.
Thank You āļø
Thank you Kevin, the hotel seems to be very nice. I like room, pool and food. Food looks great.
I don't think I've heard such high praise for a hotel's food from you in a long time O.O
16:44 jackfruit sap is very sticky
Wow
I had the Bacon Encephalopathy Burger at Mad Cow and it was crazygood yo!
That outdoor shower of your cabana or garden villa is completely exposed to the world! That is a HUGE design flaw! They could easily remedy that by replacing those vertical timber posts with a brick wall.
Kevin's seasoning to a Pullman PQ named soup
1. Opened in 2020 – – Fantastic timing š(Couldn't argue)
2. Inspired by the lively fishing villages of the island Hmmmm… š¤ O. K. š
3.Oh! Heyyy…š¤ That almost looks like a fishš
4. Really makes me wonder how many $$$š¤ were spent to say we target millenials
5. Expecting to grow overtimeš«£ 30 years herhaps…
6. You maybe greeting the world in an unexpected way ā ļøšµāš«šµ
7. No jackfruit. It's nature's candy šļøšš
8. You should visit Mad Cowš® (Horrible and tone deaf name) if staying in nearby hotels
šššš
FF, Iām considering signing up for your Patreon. Before I do I just have one question. How have you funded several years of 5 star hotel round the world travel, often in Business class? Itās a lifestyle Iād be interested in. Honest answer only please.
Thanks for the info + video!
Haven't had a chance to go to Phu Quoc yet but your videos have convinced me to add it to my list!
Kevin, do you ever do tests for bacteria in pools and hot tubs? Jackfruit emits a strong, bubble-gum odour that has been likened to a combination of rotten-onions, bananas, and pineapple (can't say it ever bothered me). Also an article in the Guardian several years ago, pretty well damning the fruit from every possible angle, caused deep angst in the tourism industry leading to much more widespread banning. This hotel looks like remarkable value for money.
You have a wide vocabulary which is interesting and great as to many so called vloggers use wow and amazing to describe buildings food and general place they are staying at
I love the videos but I'd like to say I prefer it when you talk us through the full room tour.
Building exterior looks like it's an airport parking lot…
Thanks for sharing we just stayed 4 nights at Intercontinental Phu Quoc . We were fortunately upgraded to a beautiful 2 bedrooms Bridge Suite measuring a whopping 300sq.m. While the hotel is beautiful landscape . The staff is so inexperienced. There is no recognition for higher tier IHG members (Platinum Elite). When there was a problem at check in -the supervisor (his name is Trung) told me to contact the sales agent myself . Breakfast was chaos with decent spread but the staff is inexperienced & rude – refused to make fresh Banh Mi & fried egg . Some of our friends did not have their rooms cleaned until very late at night or they have to request. Intercontinental Phu Quoc should renamed Holiday Inn Express. Phu Quoc is deserted . Despite my connection to Phu Quoc(My father named me after the island "Quoc" after he was posted there as the founding principal of Duong Dong High School back in 1963) I would not come back to this so called " Pearl Island"
Wow!! Dep qua!!! NgĘ°į»i Vietnamese Äang song o Canada Rįŗ„t thĆch video cį»§a bįŗ”n. ššš
The building from the entry looks like a dungeon from star wars or something š
Super tacky. Been to Vietnam from north to south but wont be coming to Phu Quoc.