Tanote Villa

Our reservation had to change because of unexpected flight cancellations connected to the situation in the Middle East. The Tanote Villa team handled a stressful situation with patience and professionalism. They were understanding, flexible, and kind, and their communication was clear and helpful. I sincerely appreciate their support and hospitality, and highly recommend Tanote Villa to anyone visiting Koh Tao.

The hotel sits on a hill in the forest, which is actually a beautiful setting, but I’d definitely avoid staying here. Our friends had a room by the pool and it was okay apart from a cockroach in their bathroom. We were in small cottages below the pool, and our room was dirty, the bathroom disgusting, and the toilet clearly hadn’t been cleaned. I have a video. The towels were worn out like cleaning rags. At night, animals jumped on the cottage, though we couldn’t tell if they were on the roof or underneath. The pools look lovely, but the water had a lot of chemicals. Although advertised as being on the beach, it takes 10-15 minutes to get there using stairs and a bridge through a dirty forest where locals live. There was rubbish, old plants, and wood everywhere. After what felt like a walk through a landfill, we reached a beach that was another shock. I’d never seen the sea so dirty. Plastic waste was everywhere, the green water was full of plankton, and snorkeling was impossible. The sand was sharp dead coral that cut our feet, so walking without flip-flops was impossible. Getting to the village means taking a taxi or the hotel shuttle, which is free and runs at 8:30 a.m., returning at 4:30 p.m. A private taxi from the village is 400 THB one way. The internet in our area didn’t work, and the Wi-Fi passwords were wrong. The reception girls didn’t seem to care. The guys at the restaurant, on the other hand, were extremely kind, and the restaurant food was very good and delicious.

It’s a decent place, and breakfast was good. The driver was very nice, and a ride to sairee beach cost 400 baht. But there’s no real vibe at the hotel, no music or bar, and not much to do nearby. The beach takes a ten-minute hike to reach, reception staff weren’t very welcoming or nice, and it doesn’t feel worth the money or the distance from the center.

Tanote Bay is only a five-minute walk away, making this a good spot for snorkeling and setting off to dive. The village is farther, about ten minutes by taxi or moped. After traveling across thailand, I think friendlier staff would help. The hotel feels old and tired and could use a refresh. Breakfast was okay, but the room cleaning could be better too.