Peaceful Resort Koh Lanta

We were promised a 13:00 departure from Koh Lanta to Koh Yao Yai and an arrival at 14:40 without transfers. We stressed three times that the exact timing mattered, and staff confirmed it. Instead, the taxi that was meant to collect us at 11:40 arrived at 12:30. When I called at 11:40, their office said it had just left and would be there in ten minutes. It took another fifty minutes to show up. Everyone else from our hotel had already left for the pier in their own taxis, while we were left waiting an extra half hour. We missed the speedboat, even though staff had assured us it would wait. Now we have to take a crowded 13:30 boat with stops and will reach Koh Yao Yai an hour and a half later. The taxi was filthy, and the driver's dangerous driving made us feel sick. I absolutely don't recommend this place. The company was incompetent and unpleasant to deal with, and this has caused a lot of stress and trouble. If the next boat had been at 17:00, we'd have been stuck waiting for hours. I've spent a month traveling around the Thai islands and have never had anything like this happen elsewhere. Only here have I felt so disregarded.

For £13 a night, we got a huge double room, maybe because it was low season. The bed was really comfortable, the air con worked fine, and the beach was just a two-minute walk away. It felt like a five-star family resort, especially for a budget backpacker. Staff were busy working but always friendly, and they serviced the room daily when we put the sign on the handle. The only drawback was the weak shower pressure, which I could live with.

The staff made this stay special, and Saidah deserves a particular thank you for always going out of her way to help us. The bungalow was roomy, very clean, and had mosquito nets that made sleeping comfortable. Breakfast was simple and good, and the pool was well kept. Peaceful Resort felt calm and comfortable from the day we arrived until we left, just as its name suggests. My small complaint is the bathroom: it was clean, but could use a more modern look. The towels should be replaced, and rubber slippers would help since the floor gets quite wet after a shower. I'd gladly come back.

The rooms were good, the pool was nice, and service was good too. We did have one problem with a private tour that wasn't what we'd been promised, but they compensated us afterward and handled it well. The location is fine, though you'll probably want a scooter. Renting one through peacefull was fine, with fair prices, or you can use taxis or tuk-tuks.