Coco Khao Sok Hostel

The staff were so welcoming, and breakfast was delicious. The hostel was super clean, with great five-bed dorms and plenty of toilets and showers, so I never had to wait. There aren't any large lockers, but there are smaller ones for valuables. I did the three-day, two-night jungle and lake package, and it was excellent value. Definitely recommend booking.

We took the 3D 2N tour through Coco Khao Sok. The hostel rooms were great and had very good air conditioning. We also enjoyed the night walk and boat rides. Our guide was lovely, knowledgeable, kept to the schedule and was fun to laugh with. The hostel staff were great too. Our group seemed very young, though maybe that was just our tour. It wasn't a problem, and I know hostels usually attract younger travellers. I did have a safety concern about the life jackets. While swimming in the lake, we were told everyone had to wear one, with no exceptions. The only ones available for the group were size XL. Mine rode so high above my head in the water that I couldn't see. I'm far from the skinniest person there, and even as a good swimmer I had to leave the water because I could only swim by pulling the jacket down hard with my arms. A jacket that's much too large can be just as unsafe, if not more so, than no jacket. They could have several sizes at the hostel for people to choose and keep with them on the island, instead of filling the boat with XL jackets that don't fit properly.

The scenery was beautiful and the night safari was enjoyable enough. The bungalows were basic, as expected, so that wasn't an issue. But we'd strongly advise against booking with Coco. We did the 3D2N tour, and the organisation was shocking. The first morning seemed wasted: we were taken to some random market, which I'm guessing was a money-making scheme, then spent well over an hour waiting around at the pier before boarding the boat. Food was the bigger problem. Every meal was cold, and the chicken curry was served both nights. We'd said before the trip that we don't eat chicken, but the only alternative was bland cabbage and plain rice. Even the people who did eat chicken complained that there was so little meat in the curry for such a big group. We were ravenous by the time we left, which really put a damper on the trip. Would I recommend visiting the national park and staying in the bungalows? Absolutely. Would I book with Coco again? Absolutely not.

The overnight floating bungalow stay has been the best part of my trip so far. My group was fantastic, our guide was funny, and we saw two wild elephants on the boat safari. There were a few waits and times when we could have used longer for an activity, but it was well worth it. The hostel was one of the best I've stayed in. When we arrived at Khao Sok bus station, a free taxi or shuttle took us to the hostel, saving us a 20-minute walk in the heat. The staff were incredibly kind and explained what to expect from the next day's tour.