Think & Retro Cafe Lipa Noi Samui

I expected to enjoy this place, but it didn’t live up to what I hoped for. The room felt dated and smelled damp. There was mold and mildew in the shower, plus a crack that let water leak or run out when it was on. I asked to get two nights refunded so I could move to another hotel, and the staff understood. We stayed one night and left. The location might suit families, but there isn’t much to do for young couples, so I wouldn’t recommend it for them. I can see potential here, but it needs a lot more care and updating. Compared with other hotels I stayed in, this was underwhelming.

The children’s playroom was a favorite, and the beach was lovely. We had two little kids with us, and the staff were so friendly, exactly how I wish to be treated everywhere. The rooms were amazing and the location calm. We were sad to leave, which says it all. All the best.

DO NOT BOOK. We paid £2275.00 for a week of bed and breakfast, and based on my experience owning and renting out property abroad, I wouldn’t have expected to pay more than £700. In a country where things aren’t expensive, the standards were appalling. The hotel claims to be four-star, but I’d say two-star at most, and even that is generous. It feels run down, and management responded to our concerns with hostility and ignorance. It seemed they were happy to take people’s money without putting more into keeping the hotel up to standard. The following week we stayed in a hotel of the same class at a comparable price, and it was out of this world.

Getting here took about 50 minutes from the airport. We offered a taxi driver outside the airport, rather than inside, 800 baht, though I think you might be able to haggle down to 600. At check-in none of our credit cards worked, so we had to pay for a taxi to an ATM that accepted our card. If possible, bring cash. We love our beachfront villa with its private pool. The views and quiet seclusion are hard to beat, and there’s plenty to see, though it’s definitely not a party spot. The only thing to keep in mind is that the neighbors are fairly close, so loud conversation or music carries over. It didn’t bother us much.