Seashell Resort Koh Tao

The resort’s location is great, but I wouldn’t recommend staying here. Nights were noisy, even in the remote bungalow, where I could hear the nightlife. Another resort in a similar location didn’t have that problem. I booked four nights in a high bungalow, then needed one more night and could only get a huge family room intended for five or more people. The bungalow was in a separate area across a very busy road. It was okay but dated, and there was no warm water, which I don’t remember being mentioned in the description. My room wasn’t cleaned, although I left the key at reception, and the waste bin was very full after four nights. The laundry service was good, though. The large family room was nice but badly maintained. There was broken glass behind the bed, and the bathtub plug wouldn’t work, so I couldn’t remove it. The water was slightly warm. The pool is nice, but several planks are loose or broken, so watch your step.

The location is the real draw: Seashell sits at the entrance to the main village, right on the path to the main pier, with lots to see and do close by. The beachfront bar also has the island’s best mango smoothies! The property has the potential to be an exceptional resort, but right now the experience is mediocre. A fresh coat of paint would make the rooms and grounds look ten times better. Breakfast was just okay, with little variety from one day to the next.

We had a lovely four-night stay in a twin deluxe room for an average price, even though the service wasn’t good enough. The room was spacious, with air conditioning and a fridge, and the room, garden and restaurant were clean. Breakfast was very good, with Asian and European choices, and the pool was nice to have. The location is by the sea, on the main road and walking street. Service was a letdown. Laundry came back late with no explanation. The free taxi shuttle took us to the hotel, but going back to the pier cost 300 Bath for a six-minute ride. The desk staff weren’t very friendly or polite; maybe they just didn’t speak English, but we felt like we were bothering them. At checkout, they entered without knocking and rushed us into a taxi 30 minutes before the time we’d asked for. Unacceptable. They also required a 2000 Bath deposit for the room key, which seemed incoherent when they already had all our information, and excessive for a plastic card.

The noise made this an uncomfortable stay for the price. Our room was by a main road, and people outside sometimes played music and sang loudly past midnight. Reception closed at 8 p.m., so there was nobody to report it to and we had to go out ourselves to ask them to quiet down. There was also an issue with the room we booked through Agoda. It was listed as having air conditioning, but at check-in we were told it only had a fan and that we’d have to pay extra for air conditioning. I showed the listing to the receptionist, who said it wasn’t the hotel’s fault. It seems the same room description is still being used, which could confuse guests. After we upgraded, the air conditioning in the new room didn’t work well. The room stayed warm, and the fan setting didn’t seem to work properly. When we arrived, the man at reception wasn’t very friendly or helpful. This is just my experience, and I hope it helps other guests make an informed choice.