Royal Yao Yai Island Beach Resort

We loved the place, especially the beautiful sunset from the beach. The rooms were clean, and the free kayaks were a nice extra. When our room's AC suddenly stopped working, they moved us to another room straight away, which was good service. The staff were warm and friendly, and the cat cafe was a nice spot too. We'd definitely visit again.

We had a great stay despite having read quite a few bad reviews beforehand. Most of the problems others described didn't come up for us, though I can imagine them happening when the hotel is crowded. The staff and organization don't seem quite ready for peak crowds. The location is excellent, right by the beach, with shops and restaurants an easy walk away. We liked having a pool with a slide for the kids as well as direct beach access, which was perfect for our family. Breakfast was good, with plenty of choices and seats when we went early. It might be harder later in the morning. There were some drawbacks. The rooms have very little sound insulation, so you can easily hear the neighbors. The staff are friendly, but their English is limited and they sometimes struggle to solve problems. The restaurant is quite overpriced, so we ate out each evening. Even so, it was a very pleasant family holiday, and we really enjoyed the location and facilities.

The view was breathtaking every time we saw it, and we really enjoyed the location and time by the pool. The beds were super comfortable, with plenty of sunbeds and beanbags by the pool and beach. We had fun with the kayaks, too. Shops, food places and bike rentals are all close by. We enjoyed our time at Koh Yao Yai, and with a bit more care this place could be amazing. There were a number of problems, though. The shower was quite mouldy and put us off using it, although it seems like something that could be cleaned and maintained easily. The hotel is still being renovated. For our first two days there was a lot of loud banging and clattering outside our room while they fixed a ramp. We would have preferred to be told about the construction before settling in. The rooms aren't soundproof, so we could also hear people coming back through the hallway late in the evening. The TVs weren't great, and the remote was in Japanese. The room telephone didn't work, leaving WhatsApp as our only way to contact reception. Tap water looked yellow as it filled the white sink. We know the water isn't completely fresh, but it put us off. The restaurant was hit or miss, and there were much better, cheaper places nearby. Breakfast selection wasn't too bad, but the coffee machine wasn't working for the last two days, even though there seemed to be plenty of staff on the floor who could make coffee.

The beach and pool areas are very good, with lots of grass and bean bags to use when the sunbeds are taken. The staff are friendly, and butlers are available on WhatsApp all the time. The room was clean, but smelled of mold. Food at the hotel is very expensive, so I'd recommend eating outside. We twice had no hot water. They came quickly to fix it, but it was annoying. WiFi also had a lot of problems outside the lobby and restaurant. Breakfast was okay.