Baan Khao Sok Resort

The hut was simple, clean and just what we needed. The beds were the most comfortable we’ve had in Thailand, thanks to a huge foam topper that actually had some give. It was quiet and idyllic, set off the main road, with stunning views. You get the main street’s hustle and bustle nearby without the noise and fuss. Staff were great and had a good selection of tours at reasonable prices, better than GetYourGuide. The Khao sok national park entrance is a 15-minute walk away. We wish we’d had more time here. There’s no fridge in the room, so water won’t stay cold unless you turn the AC way up, which worked fine when we did.

The gardens were lovely, and we enjoyed sitting on the terrace with a great view. Our bungalow on stilts cost £33 per night and had a basic, fairly small room, as expected for the price. It was about a four-minute walk from the town center. The stairs to ours were quite steep, though not all the bungalows have steep stairs. The room was clean, the air conditioning worked, the shower had warm water and the toilet flushed well. My only criticism is that breakfast costs extra and is very expensive. Walk to the end of the road and turn right, and there’s a cafe right there with excellent breakfast for half the price.

The views are beautiful and the rooms are nice, but one staff member made us feel completely unwelcome. We arrived on a bike, and when I asked about a room, the older Thai lady said, “This is not luxury,” which felt odd since it was 1000 baht in a national park and I wasn’t expecting luxury. I said we live in koh phangan and are used to the jungle. She replied, “You are not in koh phangan now, your in khao sok.” It was very rude. Things got worse when we checked in: our room was full of bugs because there was a huge hole in the window frame. I don’t know why we were put in that room when the resort was empty. When I asked for a bug zapper, she told me to go buy one for my one-night stay. My Thai partner complained, and they gave us a mosquito net, then moved us to another room once they realized they were being bad hosts. By then, it was a bit late. We felt like a burden. I’m giving three stars because it is a nice place, and I want to make clear that only one staff member was rude. The young Burmese woman was fantastic and did everything she could to help, but she wasn’t in charge. I’d suggest the owners talk with the boss lady or find someone else for reception. A receptionist should make guests feel welcome, and that didn’t happen at all. I wouldn’t return to Khao Sok.

The staff were nice and the location was great, though the rooms were a little dated and there were lots of ants. We took the two-day, one-night trip through the hostel and it was great. I’d still recommend this as a good place to stop before the Khao Sok lake tour.