Mook Ing Lay

The location is handy, near the pier and within walking distance of the beaches and restaurants. The room was really clean and the bed comfortable. The blanket was very thin, but the kind owner gave me an extra one. They also welcomed me with fruit, and the staff were really nice.

The stairs up to the loft are quite steep, so keep that in mind if you have mobility concerns. Everything else made for a clean, comfortable stay with plenty of charm. We came after a six-hour ferry ride from Phuket and were greeted by smiling staff and the resident cats, which made the hotel feel cozy right away. Our room was spotless and had towels, snacks, Nestlé coffee packets, plenty of blankets and pillows for the three of us, a hot shower, and air conditioning that kept us cool. The front desk arranged laundry, and it came back fresh and professionally done overnight. The hotel is conveniently close to the pier, where tuk tuk drivers offer friendly service and flat rates across the island. Highly recommend this stay. , Erin, EnD Adventures

The local school sits right behind the hotel, and most mornings around 7.15am they play very loud Thai pop music for up to 30 minutes. That brought down my rating for the location, even though the hotel is very central to the bars and restaurants. We had three rooms between us: one was missing a safe, and another didn't have a bean bag. Otherwise, the rooms were nice and clean, the staff were friendly, and the beds were comfortable. Showers had good pressure, and they changed the linen after two nights. The fresh fruit and two bottles of water each day were a lovely touch.

I liked my stay overall and would come back, but a few things need attention. The rooms are basic, clean, and comfortable, though the beds are hard. I happen to like a firm bed, but it may not suit everyone. When I checked the room details on booking.com, they said there would be a safety deposit box. There wasn't one, and I only got one after making a fuss, when one was taken from a bigger, more expensive room. Communication was difficult because no one at the hotel spoke English. That was especially challenging during the island-wide power cuts. One night the power went out across the island, leaving the hotel without power or water for around 12 hours. Nobody came to check that guests were okay. At about 8.30pm I went to reception to ask about a generator, battery lights or candles, and water for flushing the toilet, but no one was there. Power cuts seem fairly common, and there was another island-wide outage 12 hours after the first, though that one lasted only three hours. I understand the owners don't control the cuts, but being without backup power or even torches and candles isn't good service. I got a battery lantern only after complaining that I didn't want to be left in the dark for a second time. Other businesses and hotels on the island seemed better prepared. I'd like to see better communication and service, backup facilities, and a safety deposit box in every room.