Sandy Bay Resort

The rooms are nice and the beach is beautiful, but the service was poor. We booked three weeks and had to leave a night early. We gave the manager two weeks’ notice, but she wouldn’t refund us. She also told us off because a towel got dirty. Her attitude was bad, so I can’t give this five stars.

*Food only review* The beachfront setting is lovely, on one of the nicest beaches in kp, and the atmosphere was great. Service was friendly and attentive. Most of the dishes we tried were delicious: the fish Massaman Curry stood out, really fresh and tasty, with a good mix of fish and vegetables. The papaya salad and vegetable fried rice were tasty too. The chicken wings were a letdown. The skin was soggy and jelly-like, and the unpleasant sauce didn’t help. Wings should be crispy, especially at 250 baht. I expected much better. It seems like a nice place to stay as well, with pool and beach access.

We absolutely loved it. Our room was in the front row, facing the white sandy beach, with nothing between the entrance and the water except a coconut tree. It was spacious enough for two double beds, and the air-conditioning, hot water, and fridge all worked. The kids loved the pool too. A real tropical island haven.

The owner was wonderful and helped us sort out everything, from a scooter rental to taxis and ferry tickets. We stayed in the deluxe beachfront villa, just 10 meters from the water. The restaurant was very good, with an evening grill serving fish and a beautiful view. We also tried massages at lots of places in Thailand, and these were the best we had. We’ll definitely come back next year and recommend it. One thing to know: the hotel isn’t listed on booking or other sites, so you have to book through its website.