Magic House

The hotel is only a 3 minute walk from the ferry, so we chose it for our early sailing the next morning. We expected a basic room for one night, but it exceeded what we’d hoped for. The staff were welcoming, friendly, and helpful the whole time, and the standard room was clean and had everything we needed. We ate at the restaurant, where the food was freshly cooked, superb, good value, and offered lots of options. There isn’t much to do nearby, but a cheap Grab ride into Chumphon gives you plenty of choices. You can also walk along the nearby beach. From our terrace we had a great sea view, and were happy to spend the evening there with cards, beers, and the local lizards. The hotel can book ferry tickets for you. I’d already booked well in advance, but the hotel’s prices are much cheaper.

The location is good, and the staff were very nice, but the management wasn’t. When we arrived around 20:30, they tried to charge us a 500 baht deposit for a 50 baht key. There were rules for everything, parking cost extra, and they wouldn’t rent us a scooter for a short time. The place felt like a tourist trap for overcharging. Bring bug spray for the mosquitoes and midges. The food was very expensive and much worse than average street food. The prawns in the pad thai were old and overcooked. Don’t eat here, go around the corner near the ferry terminal for a better meal at a normal price. The towels and bathroom smelled like urine under a very strong bleach or chlorine smell. Honestly, this was the worst hotel experience I’ve had over multiple trips to Thailand. It was a huge difference from the usual accommodating Thai vibe.

If you arrive late and need the morning catamaran ferry to Koh Tao, this is a lovely place to stay in a perfect location. The rooms are comfortable and nicely appointed, and the staff are very friendly and accommodating.

Everything went smoothly. I checked in, showered, went to bed, and left my car in the car park. It’s not just a place to stay for the ferry either, there’s a nice beach nearby that looks really relaxing.