The Cobble Beach Hotel

The small room had an amazing terrace view, and we spent a lot of time relaxing out there. It was easy to get down to the beach, though it has cobblestones rather than sand, and the pool is only 10 m away if you'd rather lounge there. Breakfast had a great selection, and the staff were lovely. We stayed three nights over Christmas in a room with three single beds. When we arrived by ferry at 1 pm, someone was waiting at the pier and took our luggage to the hotel, which was a really nice surprise. We also used the laundry service for 60 baht/kg and were happy with it. Just allow a full day for it to come back, so don't send it off on the day you leave. We loved the stay and would come back.

Breakfast and the restaurant's view were the best parts, and they were flexible about checkout time. Still, the price seemed high compared with other resorts nearby, and slippers that were supposed to be provided were missing. The luggage carrier arriving 15 minutes before checkout was annoying. The location also made things awkward. It's a 2 km walk from the pier, even with the luggage pickup service. We paid extra for a sea view front room, but the view was quite limited, with only two rooms offering a proper one. It didn't feel like good value, and next time I might look elsewhere.

The infinity pool has some amazing views, and the staff work incredibly hard. Nothing seemed like too much trouble for them. The rooms are basic but clean, and I had a lovely couple of days here. There are quite a few steps up and down, so I wouldn't recommend it if you're unsteady on your legs. The main area, with lots of shops, bars and restaurants, is about an 8-minute walk away. I'd definitely stay again. Don't expect five-star luxury, but I don't think you'll be disappointed.

The location was beautiful and the host was wonderful, but the rooms were very basic. The showers in both rooms had no hot water because they were broken. The walls were so thin we could hear everything, and the nightclub played drum and bass until 4.30 am. Fine if that's your thing, but it wasn't ours.