Koh Mook De Tara

The staff made me feel welcome and comfortable the whole time. They were genuinely kind, and when I got sick, they made sure I got safely to the hospital and back. I’m so grateful, and they’ll always have a special place in my heart. Thank you. We spent six nights at Tara’s and loved our cottage. It had everything we needed. The cleaning was spot on, and if we didn’t need the room cleaned, staff left a bag of essentials on the door, including water, soap, coffee, and paper. The restaurant was great too. After three months in Thailand, I still wasn’t disappointed. Their fried rice was the best we’d had, and the sizzling vegetables were delicious. And yes, there are bats, dogs, crabs, and lizards. What do people expect? I found being so close to nature interesting. I’m a cat lady, but the dogs around Tara’s were friendly and wanted cuddles. Please don’t feed them, though. They can attack and hurt each other, so let the staff and locals handle feeding. Lanta animal welfare visits the island regularly for health checks and sterilisation. To help, you can donate or visit them at Koh Lanta. You know you’ve found a good place when you don’t want to leave.

We had to wait a long time for pickup at the pier, and the queue was confusing and poorly managed. Even though we’d arrived earlier, we were picked up later, so we rented a motorbike taxi and went to the accommodation ourselves. Kayaks were available, but there were no life jackets, which should have been provided for guests’ safety. Breakfast was ordinary and the service average. The staff seemed indifferent rather than friendly or service-minded, unlike what you’d expect from hospitality staff. There were lots of dogs around. Some lay in front of our room, but after we shooed them off, they didn’t return to us and went to other guests’ rooms instead.

The location is peaceful and relaxing, the price is fair, and our stay is going well. Breakfast is plentiful and very, very good, and the staff are attentive. I’m writing both as a hotel operator and as a guest on holiday. The property is clean and very nice, but the shared areas are neglected. The seaside bar and restaurant area could be so good, yet it isn’t being run or cared for. If this were my property, I’d get the bar and restaurant going and make more of the beachfront. A table on the sand in the evening, with the sound of the waves, would be lovely. I went around the island for dinner and drinks. It’s beautiful, but during the rainy season the island was generally quiet and the businesses felt dull. If places were livelier in the evenings, I’m sure they’d attract plenty of visitors. I’d still definitely choose this hotel again.

The beachfront room was amazing, and it’s a really peaceful spot. Staff were lovely and breakfast was very nice. It isn’t a buffet, they bring everything out ready for you. Guests can use the kayaks for free if they want.