Koh Tao Loft Hostel

I stayed one night before catching an early ferry, and the hostel is only three minutes from the departure point, which was very handy. There are lots of scuba schools nearby. The staff were friendly and supportive, and even arranged an early checkout so I could catch the ferry. The bathroom was clean and good, and the bed was spacious. I found the mattress a little too hard and the AC too cold. There's a bar next door, so some music and noise carried over, but it didn't bother me. They also have an outdoor table and offer activities.

The staff are lovely, but that's the only real positive for me. The toilets and shower smelled awful, with one shower for ten people. The mattresses were uncomfortable and the pillows hard, and there was only a bench outside the bar to hang out on. For what it costs, the facilities aren't worth it at all.

Tom was the best host I've ever met. He helped me rent a bike, and you can rent his own bikes too. He didn't ask for payment in advance and works on trust. I crashed a moped and caused him a lot of trouble, but Tom handled everything with the police and I'm forever grateful. Big thanks to him and all the staff. I'll come back one day, and I promise not to ride a moped. The location is perfect for getting around: seven minutes by car from Main pub street, five minutes on foot from the ferry, one minute from 7/11, and two minutes from the hospital, if you need it.

The mattresses and pillow in the six-person dorm were very comfortable, and each bed had a roomy area, a little bench for belongings, a plug and a light. I was on the top bunk, though, and the gap between the ceiling and the divider to the next bed was about 2.5 feet, so privacy could've been better. They do provide a screen at the front. The AC and fan both worked well. We stayed two nights, and the room smelled strongly of tiger balm the whole time. The washroom was fairly clean, but the shower head holder was broken, the drain was slow, and water sat there for about 20 minutes after a shower. There's a decent social area and an on-site bar with happy hour drinks, but no food. Being close to the pier made getting on and off the island easy for my partner and me. I wouldn't stay again, though it was better than our last hostel in Koh Tao.