Hutyee Boat Bungalow

This is a family-run place for backpackers, with fans in the bungalows and no air conditioning. The sheets were clean, and the shower and toilet worked. It's a short three-minute walk to the beach, though there's no ocean view. The family were very pleasant, and the owner, who is the head of the family, was chatty and happy to help with anything. He even brought us morning coffee on the balcony. A good one to check out if you're travelling on a budget.

We ended up here after our original hotel turned out to be beside a very busy road with major roadworks. Bae saved us by having a room available. We hadn't realized how busy ko lanta is along long beach, our mistake, but Hut yee felt like an old-school oasis of old Thailand. We really enjoyed our week. If you'd like a homestay experience with a lovely local family, this is the place.

The family who run this place are the best part. The patriarch is the sweetest man and goes out of his way to help. They can arrange motorbike rentals, tour tickets, boat and bus tickets, and laundry, all at very affordable prices. The bungalows are clean and nice, with hot showers; there may be the odd critter around. Each has a front deck with seats, a little table, and a hammock. They're only 30 metres back from the beach, and the shade is much appreciated.

We chose hut yee after seeing it recommended by lonely planet, and it may be as described, but it wasn't right for us. The owner welcomes you into the family and invites you to eat with them. Some people might love feeling like part of the family, but we didn't find the atmosphere relaxing. His family and many of his kids fill the home and social area, so we didn't feel we had much choice about how to spend our time. The bungalows are close to the beach, spacious and shady, and have a fridge. But for the price, compared with nearby bungalows, our room wasn't very clean, had lots of bugs, and the bed was uncomfortable.