Sanctuary Lanta

The bungalows are in front, some with beach views, while the new, nice hostel is behind them. Sanctuary bungalows and sanctuary art hostel are not the same place. The location is great, right by the beach, with tasty Indian food at the restaurant and the best people at the bar out front. But the property and little bungalows at the back are in poor shape, with stuff and trash all over. The restaurant toilets were disgusting, and the bungalows need care. Our hammock and door were broken, the pillows were so uncomfortable, and the bed was small for two. The bathroom is huge but has nowhere to hang towels or put your things. There were cockroaches in our bed too, which doesn't suggest cleanliness. The restaurant and reception staff seemed more focused on getting us to pay than welcoming us or looking after the room.

The owners and staff are friendly, and the location is great, right on the beach. There's a nice sea-view bar and a restaurant with lots of food choices. Just up the street are more restaurants, a 7-Eleven, a pharmacy and several scooter rentals, so the essentials are close by. I wouldn't stay here again. The cheaper bungalows have only a fan, no AC, and there's not much room inside. The doors and windows don't close properly, there's no safe, and holes in the walls and floor let insects in. The bathroom had only the basics, no toilet paper and just a small piece of soap. Snails and cockroaches came in through the open drain sometimes. It was dark and not very clean. The pricier bungalows might be better, but I wouldn't return.

The staff, especially Pin and Tui, were so friendly that I felt at home right away. The place is beautiful, good value, fun and social, and the rooms have air conditioning.

This has been the worst place in Thailand for me so far, a real horror story. I got food poisoning from a place one of the staff recommended. There were loads of mosquitoes, which I could accept, and the net wasn't effective, but I could still use spray. Bedbugs, though, were absolutely not okay and were eating me alive. The whole area around the bungalows smelled like toilets. The location is good, and the bungalow looks nice from the outside. That's all.