Location
Set back, about 15 minutes walk from from Ong Lang Beach not far from Mango Bay and Bo Resorts. For now at least, this is the quieter strip on Phu Quoc. Detractors would have doubted such an unremarkable piece of land could be made so popular. The owners have proved them wrong.
Review
Phu Quoc Island's planners, seemingly hellbent on overdeveloping the island, would do well to take a close look at the resort that's been number been at, or near the top of Tripadvisor for years. In a way, Freedomland, with its collection of stripped back bungalows, is the anti-resort. It's small, there's no pool, air-conditioning, TV, spa or gym, the grounds are wild.
But guests love it.
Freedomland's not on the beach (it's around 10 - 15 minutes walk), and there's not an ounce of slickness. And guests don't seem to mind. In fact, they seem to prefer it that way.
Freedomland offers something most accommodations struggle to provide. A simple experience of friendly hospitality in a low impact natural environment. It's all about the people. The hosts, Peter and Rita, set the scene with delicious nightly communal dinners. Then, from what I could see, the guests take over - making the social experience with other like-minded travellers a major attraction of a stay.
Freedomland's not for everyone. Bungalows are very spartan. There's no air-con or TV. And they may be a tad too close to nature for some. And that's the point. Peter and Rita have done a great job of creating something for a specific kind of traveller. And they manage to assemble people of similar disposition from around the world. The feel is communal and there's plenty of communal space.
It's not really a homestay as the name suggests. But it's certainly very homely and hosts go out of their way to make people feel at home.
Bungalows range in size from 20 to 60 sqm. Some are made from timber, others from stone. All are airy, fan cooled with mosquito nets.
Book early. Freedomland is expanding but still runs full for much of the year.
Brief
Wifi in restaurant and common areas.
Disclosure
Rusty Compass listings are always independent. We list the places we think you should know about. That's it. We've not stayed at Freedomland but have visited many times. No money, or anything else, has changed hands for this listing.
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