Eight Koh Tao

It's basic accommodation, just as advertised, but the value is hard to beat. I got a great rate through Agoda. The room was a decent size, clean enough and tidy, with a good fan and a hot shower. I booked two nights and stayed eight more. Asking for fresh linen or a towel was no trouble, and the people there are lovely. A short walk to the left outside the building is Ming's Kitchen, a small restaurant run by pensioners Ming Ming. The food is absolutely lovely. Try to support them. I had duck on salad with rice, and it was great.

For a cheap room, it wasn't too bad, and the woman at reception was friendly enough and helped me rent a scooter. The location worked well for us, less than a minute from a big 7-eleven and right by Greasy spoon, our favorite breakfast place. I'd recommend it if you're on a budget and don't expect much. We booked the non-AC room. The room itself was fine, with a big window, a fan, enough space, and a large bed that was comfortable enough. The bathroom was rough: the shower sprayed either onto the sink and mirror or toward the toilet, and you had to stand about a meter away to catch the water. The ceiling dripped on us while using the toilet, and the sink faucet was rusty and loose.

I travel on a budget and am used to hostels and budget hotels, but I would never return here. Half a square meter of black mold in a damp room is unacceptable. We had a double room with a large patch of black mold in a bedroom corner, and the bathroom was also full of it and poorly maintained. The mounted fan didn't work. The leather mattress cover made us sweaty, and I can't imagine when it was last cleaned. We got two fleece blankets, though I wasn't sure they'd been washed. The room had just one bench and one table, both seeming dirty, plus a single hanger and dusty shelf. Over our three nights there was no room service, not even trash removal. The staff weren't especially welcoming either.

The woman running the place was wonderful and helped us so much. It's in a great spot, with some nice restaurants within walking distance. The room was what you'd expect for the price, with no AC, which I don't mind because I hate AC. Ours had a little mold, though. For budget travel I'd still recommend it, since I've definitely stayed in worse places for more money.