Yellow House Koh Sichang

The sea view from the room was lovely, and there’s a little beach below, reached by a staircase shared with nearby hotels. Getting down there felt unsafe: the steps were steep, plants narrowed them, and most of the handrail was broken or missing. It’s a shame the hotels haven’t worked together to maintain it. Breakfast was limited too, with no orange juice, only hot drinks, and no orange or apple juice for sale in the fridge.

We keep coming back, and have stayed here around four or five times. The balcony, breakfast terrace, and path down below all have stunning views. It’s a simple guesthouse, without much room decor, but it’s always clean and tidy. The owner has about ten cats, and we enjoy seeing them and watching them grow each time we visit. There’s no food service beyond a basic breakfast, though instant drinks and noodles are available if you get hungry at night. We usually pick up food at 7-11 on the way back. The island is small enough to walk from the pier, but a tuk tuk can take you from the guesthouse to the beach and back for 250THB if you haven’t rented a bike. We walked back once, and the steep stretches were tiring.

The balcony view is gorgeous, but it’s shared with four other rooms, so there’s no privacy. People can see into your room through the glass door and window, which means keeping the curtains shut and missing the view. The hotel sits at the top of a hill, and the climb up is hard, especially for older guests. The bed was firm and comfortable, and the WiFi worked well. In the bathroom, there’s no wet and dry separation or shower curtain, so the whole floor gets wet.

The rooms were basic, clean, and looked after, with a comfortable bed. There was no daily cleaning, which I hadn’t expected, and breakfast was simple. We extended our stay directly with the hotel and agreed on a lower price for the extra nights without breakfast. Staff were really friendly and spent time at the start pointing out island sights and activities, including roads best avoided on a scooter. The dining area and room both have amazing views, and I loved the pets. It’s right by a secluded beach, while still fairly close to the main town and the island’s primary beach. You can walk, though a scooter is probably more convenient. There’s a steep set of steps between the parking area and the hotel, which we found part of its charm. I’d consider staying here again if I return to ko sichang.