Summer Guesthouse & Hostel

The guests were sociable, which suited me well. I like a little chat after excursions but prefer doing my own thing during the day. The staff were welcoming and helpful too. I enjoyed saying hi, and they helped with bookings, tours, recommendations, and even a bandaid when I cut myself. My private AC room was spacious and clean. At first, I was concerned about a strange bathroom smell and wondered if it was mold. As I explored Koh Tao, though, I noticed the same smell in many bathrooms and figured it seemed common on the island, so I got used to it. The location is nice, with a gym, 24-hour market, restaurant, and cafe right next to the hostel, though the main center is a bit of a walk. I enjoyed my stay at this summer hostel enough to extend by one night.

The atmosphere wasn’t very social, with little to no interaction between guests, and my stay left me disappointed. The dorms had no privacy curtains, and I found a centipede in my bed, which added to my impression of poor room cleanliness. The bathroom wasn’t very clean either, and the toilets smelled strongly. AC rooms cost extra, as do towels, which I found unusual compared with most hostels. One night, someone had sex with a stranger in the dorm. It was completely inappropriate and really disturbing. I wouldn’t recommend this hostel.

The 24-hour supermarket just across the street was so convenient, and we appreciated being able to extend our stay several times without any trouble. The bathrooms were clean and the staff friendly, so overall we had a great stay. For sleep, though, our room was next to the common area, where people often talked and laughed loudly after midnight. There were also quite a lot of motorbikes going by, so keep that in mind if you want peace and quiet. That was the only downside.

We felt welcome, and the common area was great. There were informal outings if you wanted to join, but no pressure. The team were helpful, especially Toby, and it made a nice laid-back but social base in Koh Tao. Our private room felt like a little apartment, with an ensuite, balcony, fridge, and kettle. There’s a gym and a 24/7 mart across the road, and it’s about an 8-minute walk to the main Sairee shops and restaurants. We loved our stay at the Summer Guesthouse, extended twice, and could happily have stayed longer. I highly recommend it.