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We visited Koh Lanta in December 2005 - click here for our Koh Lanta photo gallery and more information.
We have stayed in two hotels in Koh Lanta.
Lanta Palace Hotel
Stayed here in December 2005. Lanta Palace is a budget hotel located at Klong
Toab Beach, close to Klong Nin in the centre of Koh Lanta, about 20 minutes
from the pier. First impressions not good, as the hotel was down a dirt track,
past a building site (Rawi Warin hotel being built) with nothing much around
and we were then checked in by an unsmiling, unfriendly guy on Reception.
The room was quite basic but clean, bright and airy. We had no soap so we
asked at Reception and were told that there was a 7/11 up on the main road
and that we could get some there! The beach looked lovely from a distance
but it was really stony, which put us off swimming there. To make things
worse, there was a layer of scum on the pool!
The food in the restaurant was quite good - we had a delicious stir fried red curry and chicken with macaroni - both quite spicy and really tasty, but didn't think much of the cocktails at the bar - small, very expensive and tasteless. We had booked four nights here but checked out after two - it just wasn't for us.
Visit Lanta Palace's
website
Tip: If you are collected from the Pier by someone from the hotel, check whether they are waiting for another boat. We sat for an hour and a quarter waiting for the next boat to come in, in case the driver was able to pick up some more customers. If we'd known we'd have to sit in the back of the van for so long, we'd have paid for a taxi.
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Room at Lanta Palace |
Room at Lanta Palace |
Beach at Lanta Palace |
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We moved from the isolated Klong Toab beach, deciding that we preferred the look of Klong Dao beach. When researching Koh Lanta, we had been concerned that Klong Dao, being the main beach on the island, would be too commercialised and busy, however December is high season and the beach was virtually deserted. Also on the plus side, there was a selection of restaurants, mostly on the beach, and a few shops around. Just the right balance, we thought. We explored Long Beach and Klong Dao and looked at accommodation at several places along the way. We thought that both beaches were better than Klong Taob, but Klong Dao was the nicest. A lovely long stretch of beach with soft sand and clear sea which is shallow for a long way out. We loved the atmosphere at night on Klong Dao too. Lovely, cute little beach bars and restaurants, many with colourful cushions for you to sit on. Easy to chill.
Our general opinion was that the standard of accommodation wasn't too good. It's probably OK if you are looking for budget accommodation as there were lots of cheap, basic beach bungalows, but there didn't seem to be much in the mid price range. If we had been on a bigger budget we would have checked into the Best Western Hotel or Royal Lanta. The rooms at Best Western were gorgeous and although it's not on the nicest bit of the beach (lots of rocks around), it's just a couple of minutes walk from a nicer bit. The pool is small, but when the sea is so gorgeous to swim in who needs a pool? The Royal Lanta was on the nicest stretch of beach (near Southern Lanta), and had lovely bungalows and beautiful grounds - unfortunately the only room they had available was an executive at 11,000B!
Southern Lanta Hotel
Stayed here in December 2005. After researching the area and bearing in mind it was high season and many places were full, we decided this was our best option. The hotel is on the best stretch of beach and walking distance to the bars and restaurants along the beach. Having said that, the rooms aren't anything special - a bit dingy. The bungalows are quite nice, the grounds are nice with a lovely peaceful area in the centre for massage, and the staff friendly (much friendlier than Lanta Palace). We didn't eat in the restaurant, apart from breakfast which was OK. Visit Southern Lanta's website.
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Room
(E02) at Southern Lanta |
Room E02 at Southern
Lanta |
Toilet in Room E02
at Southern Lanta |
 Massage area at Southern
Lanta
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View
from balcony at Southern Lanta |
View of Southern
Lanta and beach looking back from the sea |
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