Resort Chada Lanta Beach Resort

We stayed in the silver suit and loved how spacious, luxurious, and beautiful the rooms were. The pool was large, clean, and very well cared for, with direct beach access from the pool area. Breakfast tasted great, although vegetarian options were limited. It’s also near the port.

We enjoyed staying here. The rooms were comfortable, the staff friendly, the food good, and the sea beautiful. It seems like a good choice for families with children. The internet reached all parts of the hotel, though it was only just fast enough. There was live music every night. The hotel is on a wide, uncrowded beach. Swimming was good at any tide, even though low tide sends the sea far out because the shore is so gentle. We saw a few jellyfish that didn’t look dangerous, but it’s still sensible to be cautious. Although the property is on the beach, the buildings sit a little way back behind trees, so there are no sea-view rooms. Some rooms open directly onto a large pool. We chose a cheaper second-floor room for a bit more privacy. It was spacious, with a bedroom and living room separated by the bathroom area, a glass-walled shower, and a large separate tub for two. We appreciated having a kettle and fridge. Bathrobes and plastic slippers were provided, but the slippers had already been used. We only got one regular room key, with the room number attached, and the safe also used a regular key. Unlike hotels with card locks and coded safes, this made swimming inconvenient. We could leave the keys at reception each time, which was annoying, or remove the number tag and take the key to the beach. We had breakfast and dinner included, which left us free to try nearby restaurants at lunch. Breakfast had a good mix of local and international choices. Dinner had fewer options, but everything was tasty. Drinks weren’t included with dinner, and had to be bought separately, including at the fantastic Christmas and New Year dinners. On New Year’s night, the staff started clearing up at 10 pm, taking food away and cleaning tables. One couple returned from the bathroom and couldn’t find their table.

The resort sits on a quiet stretch in a well kept property, with a very friendly staff. Good quality Western-style food is available. The local town is about a 15-minute walk away, or just a few minutes by tuk-tuk. My only complaint is the WiFi keeps dropping out, and they should consider upgrading the equipment.

The beach is lovely, with soft sand, gentle waves, and sunsets that practically call for applause. It’s the sort of place where you walk slowly, think vaguely, and order another drink because it’s still 2-for-1. Chada Lanta Beach Resort has roomy villas, tropical gardens, and a beautifully laid out, unhurried feel. Even the calm beach seems to have been trained, and the whole place has the quiet confidence of a very polite elephant. The staff are absurdly kind and efficient. They remember your name, help with a smile, and somehow seem to enjoy their jobs, which feels unfair to the rest of the world. At Cheekee, the 2-for-1 drink deals are a social experiment. You go in thinking you’ll have one and end up with two, until sunset feels meaningful and strangers start seeming marvellous. The evenings are lively, and you feel both triumphant and slightly irresponsible. The varan, or monitor lizards, wander about like enormous prehistoric creatures that were here long before us and will remain after we return to our inboxes. At first you wonder if that’s allowed, then they become oddly comforting reminders that nature doesn’t need your opinion. This resort is elegant without being pretentious, relaxed without being lazy, and wonderfully strange. Between the service, Cheekee’s dangerously generous drinks, and the occasional wandering dinosaur, it’s a soothing, faintly absurd holiday. Honestly, perfection. It makes you question your ambitions within minutes: perhaps there’s no reason to do anything ambitious ever again.