Twin Bay Resort, Kow Kwang beach, Koh Lanta

When I arrived on my first ever visit to Thailand, some 18 or 19 years ago, after I spend a few days in Bangkok, I stayed on Koh Lanta for about a week, on Kow Kwang beach, but the Southern end of the beach. Twin Bay Resort is at the Northern end of this beach.

The beach has not changed, except that there are more resorts now and the place that I stayed at doesn't seem to be there anymore, at least I can't find it anymore. The road to Sala Dan has changed a lot, from a narrow dirt road there is now paved streets!

The Twin Bay Resort has a great location and looks out over the bay with a powder sand beach, crystal clear waters and it's surrounded by a lush tropical forest. The bungalows are nicely located near the beach and the whole experience is very laid back and very affordable. 

Being located near Sal Dan, the busy main village of the island makes it also convenient. As they state, a casual 3 star resort in a 5 star setting! Recommended!

Booking by AGODA

Booking by HOTELS COMBINED

Guest room

Family Room

Bungalow

Pool

Beach

Klong Nin Beach Resort, Koh Lanta

During the January 2013 PADI IDC on Koh Lanta, we used the pool of this resort and I was pleasantly surprised about the nice environment of this resort. Located  in a nice and quiet part of the island, tucked away behind the road between the beach and he resort, it's a haven of tranquility.

The beach is just 20 meters away in case you feel like a nice white sandy environment. The resort is cosy by itself, lush green between the paths and bungalows make for a relaxed and green setting.

A nice big, clean and clear pool waits for you and all rooms have a/c, wifi and are spacious. An excellent value for money is to be had.

Get away from the hustle and look for some down time in a relaxed environment, Klong Nin Beach Resort may for that bill.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Guest room

Guest room

Balcony

Bungalow

Pool

The Heart Inn, Saladan, Koh Lanta

The Heart Inn, Saladan, Koh Lanta

The Heart Inn is one of those places that reminds me why travelling around Thailand can be so nice, clean and cheap rooms with all mod cons! During my last IDC that I conducted on Koh Lanta, during February/March 2011 I stayed here and for the up and coming IDC for March/April 2011 I will stay here again!

The room I stayed in had a/c, a mini fridge, cable TV, wifi and a shower with hot and cold water for well under 1.000,-THB per night!

The reception/lobby area also offers internet service.

Fair enough, it's not on the beach, although walk out the reception, hang a left and walk 500 meters and you're on a beach! The Heart doesn't have a pool neither, which I never use during when stay somewhere during work, so this comes at no big loss to me. The bathroom was interesting and funny though, some real creativity was used, have a look here.

One other real benefit of this Inn is that you're within walking distance of pretty much all restaurants, banks and shopping in Saladan and the motorbike taxis take you for a few Baht to the nearby Long Beach where there are even more restaurant options. The Inn's location is also in a very quiet small street off the main road pretty much in 'downtown' Saladan.

For people leaving with the ferries, it's also within walking distance of said ferries, location is everything!

All in all, great location and excellent value, what else can I say?

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Guest room

Guest room

Guest room

Guest room

Reception/lobby area

Ananda Lanta Resort, Klong Dao, Koh Lanta

Ananda Lanta Resort, Klong Dao, Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is becoming a hot spot during my current travels and it's easy to check out the hotels on this lovely island. One of my current March 2011 IDC candidates is staying at this hotel and he's pleased with it.

Good to know is that resort is not at the beach side of the road, however, within 3 minutes you can be at the beach if you just cross the road. On the up side, the hotel boosts one of the bigger pools on the island.

All 48 rooms have their own balcony and the resort is located near Saladan, the busiest part of the island. Restaurants are plenty full near the hotel, combining a quiet and relaxed environment with plenty of things to do and see very nearby.

Booking with Agoda

Booking with Hotels Combined

Superior room

Superior seview

Deluxe seaview

Swimming pool

Exterior

Royal Lanta Resort & Spa, Klong Dao

Royal Lanta Resort & Spa, Klong Dao

Located near Koh Lanta's main town of Saladan at the very popular beach of Klong Dao, the Royal Lanta Resort caters with just 48 rooms to guests looking for rest and relaxation on a white powdered beach!

Being near Saladan is convenient of you want some nearby day and night time activities and there are plenty of bars and restaurants within walking distance.

They have two swimming pools and on top of that they're located on the beach as well. For a fairly moderate priced ranged holiday this hotel will suit you well on Koh Lanta.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Superior room

Deluxe room

Suite room

Villas

Swimming pool

Baan Lanta, Baan Kan Tiang Bay, Koh Lanta

Baan Lanta, Baan Kan Tiang Bay, Koh Lanta

This nice and small Resort and Spa is tucked away on Baan Kan Tiangs Beach, still one of Koh Lanta's best kept secrets. The first time I drove to Baan Kan Tiang, I thought I left the point of no return on the road a few times already and when you don't expect anything at all to show up anymore, all of a sudden, there's this little village in a valley as if it just walked out of a book! Later I found out that this still isn't the end of the world and the road actually continues for a little bit.

In this nice little valley is exactly where the Baan Lanta is located. Small, nice and very relaxed. With only 15 rooms, no need to be afraid that it will be overcrowded!

The view over the bay is astonishing and romantic at the same time and the restaurant at Baan Lanta has some tasty meals waiting for you.

The nice thing about the location is that although it's far away from everything else on the island, the valley has a few nice other things to offer, a 7-11 (very convenient!), some more restaurants and everything you may need to cover first things at hand. At night the 'why not' is not to be missed with their own band!

Scubafish is running a tight ship at the resort for all your diving necessities and their boats leave from the bay in season, how convenient does this get?

Time for a break, looking for a nice secluded bay in mid range prices, Baan Lanta may well be your choice.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Deluxe Pool Villa

Deluxe Pool Villa

Bay front Villa

Swimming pool

View from the beach

Rawi Warin Resort & Spa Koh Lanta

Rawi Warin Resort & Spa Koh Lanta

Tucked into the foothills of the Koh Lanta Yai and overlooking the crystal waters of Klong Tob Bay in the Southern part of the island.

If you are looking for a quiet, battery charging holiday, this may be exactly your place but if you are interested in an action packed getaway, this is not for you.

The hotel boosts an excellent children care room and boasts an fantastic home movie theater, which you need to book in advance but you can watch your own movies in it, in a mini movie theater setting.

Outside of the premises is Aunty Mae's bakery which has 50% off on all cakes between 7 and 8pm.

The resort features its own pier for guests arriving from Krabi town which has a newly renovated airport. It is also possible to arrange exclusive dining whereby specially created menus can be prepared in the privacy of one of the villas. There's also a personal butler and staff on hand.

With over 10,000 trees and flowers planted in the landscaped gardens, you are likely to spend much time foraging through the resort grounds itself.

The Rawi Warin has 180 guest rooms and villas and especially in off season the rates are very attractive.

Be pampered in luxury for reasonable prices off season and enjoy the great weather during high season and get well rested in this luxury resort.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Pond two Queen bed room

Sunset pool Villa - Living Room

Landscape

Movie House

Swimming pool at night time

Narima, Baan Kan Tiang Bay, Koh Lanta

Narima, Baan Kan Tiang Bay, Koh Lanta

This lovely resort is located in the 'deep' South of Koh Lanta, far away from the 'hustle and bustle' of Saladan, the main town on the Northern shores of the Koh Lanta.

With natural beauty engulfing its modern composition, the Narima is sure to dazzle nature-lovers and casual travelers alike.

Located near the National Marine Park on the unspoilt south coast of the magnificent island of Koh Lanta, the hotel sits close to sandy beaches, crystal clear water and an amazing underwater world. My next IDC that I will teach, starting 27th October on Koh Lanta will be conducted in this resort!

All bungalows come with a spectacular ocean view are luxuriously appointed and decorated elegantly with dark wood furnishings, stylish fixtures, muted color schemes, and authentic artwork. The restaurants overlooking the beach include a wide range of traditional and international cuisines. Priding itself as a green hotel, The Narima preserved as many of the original trees and plants as possible. The bungalows are built around existing trees and only felled when absolutely necessary.

Booking by Agoda

Bungalow exterior

Bungalow exterior view

Lounge area

Swimming pool

Sunset in the South of Lanta

Pimalai Resort & Spa, Koh Lanta

Pimalai Resort & Spa, Koh Lanta

This luxurious resort is nestled in a tropical forest facing a pristine white sand beach which is one of Koh Lanta’s finest. Pimalai (a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World) is set on 100 acres of lush greenery and directly on a stretch of unspoiled beach.

This exclusive beach resort combines all the right ingredients - subtle five star comforts, natural beauty, environmental friendliness and lots of space.

There are 121 accommodation units to choose from, 3 restaurants, 2 swimming pools and a fantastic beach to top it all off. It's located in the Southern part of Koh Lanta at Ba Kan Biang Bay and beach. A small village is within a 10 minute walk and gives some alternatives in case you get bored of the excellent food in the hotel!

If you want a quiet beach, luxury and great food and accommodation, without a doubt this must be your call on Koh Lanta. Room rates aren't cheap but worth every Baht!

Bookings by Agoda

Bookings by Hotels Combined

Deluxe room

Pavilion suite living room

Beach Villa 2 bed rooms, living room area

Bay front deluxe room

The Horizon Swimming pool

Kaw Kwang Beach Resort, Koh Lanta

Kaw Kwang Beach Resort, Koh Lanta

It has been around 16 years since I was first on Koh Lanta and a few years later I visited again. May 2010 saw the return of me and instead of a single traveller back in the days, I came with my family this time around.

Back in the days it was just sand roads around the island and Kaw Kwang Beach resort was a top end resort and one of the very first resorts on the island at all.

Time does tell and the resort nowadays has lost a bit of its former glory. The resort is now surrounded by high end resorts 21st century style. This is no problem however since the rooms at Kaw Kwang are decently priced and especially the Garden View rooms and bungalows have excellent value.

One of the other things that didn't change over all those years are the nice beaches, seemingly endless long and hardly occupied, although in all fairness, we visited during the beginning of low season and many places around the island were already closed.

We had a family room, which was a basic two room bungalow, the only thing that comes to mind was that the bathroom had a strong smell, so we sprayed, which helped. I did notice at reception that we weren't the only ones with this problem. At the end of the day no serious big problem, I guess it comes with an aged resort.

Wifi was available at the reception area only but of good quality and the food was ok, big portions but nothing special. They have a very nice garden to relax in and a lovely piece of beach in front.

It was great to be back on Koh Lanta again and we all enjoyed our stay at Kaw Kwang. For a good deal, you might want to check this resort out, decent prices and very near the piers and ferries at Saladan village.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Pool

Modern Beach front bungalow

Deluxe Beach and Superior Garden view

Family room

Pool with ocean and beach view

Relaxing garden with sala

Klong Kao beach