Paris Beach Village Phu Quoc

The Paris Beach Phu Quoc is not an immediately easy sell: It is tucked away down a bumpy unpaved road (it took us a couple of attempts to find it) and flanked on both sides by large construction sites with massive piles of rubble and half-built structures. The property itself, though, is quaint and pleasant, with lovely gardens full of palm trees and fuchsia bougainvillea, and just a couple dozen cute white bungalows with pitched roofs, dark wooden shutters, and charming little vine-covered patios. Everything is no-frills here, from the beachfront restaurant that doubles as the reception, to the pool and the services offered. But the hotel’s laid-back atmosphere, skinny but sandy stretch of beach, and air-conditioned rooms -- some for up to four guests -- draw plenty of budget-conscious families and couples, mostly from Russia.

The hotel’s unfortunate location between two large hotels in the works is its main downside, as it would be a peaceful, friendly place otherwise. During our visit, most guests took refuge at the beach, which is farthest from the noise, while the pool -- located literally in the shadow of a half-built hotel -- was deserted. Works are expected to be completed by mid-2018, but the loudest construction phases should be done by the end of 2017. Travelers expecting to spend most of their time exploring the island or on the beach may find this to be a good pick, but those looking to relax on-site may want to compare rates at the Sea Star Resort, which has a wider beach, a larger pool, and newer rooms. The Thanh Kieu Beach Resort is a little more expensive and lacks a pool, but offers better value overall, with cute airy rooms and a nice stretch of beach. Backpackers and travelers on an even tighter budget may want to consider the beachfront Viet Thanh Resort, although rooms are nicer at the Paris Beach. 

Located down a rocky dirt path off the main road, the hotel can be hard to find. A small sign on the side of the road points in the right direction, but the piles of rubble and the brick wall all along one side of the path made us turn around twice thinking we had inadvertently entered a construction site. In fact, we had, but eventually found the Paris Beach Resort at the end of the plot of land. Besides the half-built hotels flanking the property, there are also a number of casual shacks with food and drinks directly on the sand a few minutes’ walk down the beach. A few other dining options can be found along the main road, although there are no sidewalks and motorbikes tend to drive on the shoulder. Duong Dong, the island’s main city, is an easy 10-minute drive down the road. The town’s main draw is the night market, offering everything from pearls to souvenirs to fresh seafood. Stunning Soa Beach is a 35-minute drive away, and the airport is about 10 minutes from the hotel.

The hotel has 34 rooms, including 31 housed in charming white bungalows, and three larger poolside villas with kitchenettes. All rooms are set in the gardens and feature simple, dated decor that pairs old-fashioned gray floor tiles with basic wooden furniture and red couches with busy patterns. Most rooms are sunny, and touches such as wooden shutters add some charm, but style and design are clearly not the focus here. All rooms and villas feature good amenities such as air-conditioning, electric kettles, lightly stocked minibars, and flat-screen TVs; Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the property. Charming little patios come equipped with a lounger or two, and a small table with two chairs. 

Bathrooms are basic but clean, with showers, small sink areas, windows, and hairdryers. Basic toiletries are also provided. Unlike most other budget properties where bathrooms have wet room-style showers, the Paris Beach has upgraded to enclosed showers with sliding doors in many rooms. 

One of the hotel’s best perks is location directly on the beach. The stretch of sand right outside the Paris Resort is narrow (and during our visit the rubble from the adjacent construction site was unsightly), but the beach has fine sand and a handful of cute wooden loungers with cushions. Waters are calm and shallow in the winter, but the summer can bring stronger currents and some waves. Housed in an open wooden pavilion overlooking the beach is the hotel’s restaurant, which serves a small but free breakfast buffet, decent a la carte lunches, and barbecue dinners. There is also a small pool tucked away by the main entrance, complete with a kiddy section and a few loungers. It is the part of the property closest to one of the long-term construction sites, and noise will likely be an issue until 2018.