Pitiusas Beach Resort

The best part is the private beach, with a coral reef right beside it. We saw lots of different fish and even a stingray. They also arrange trips from the hotel, which is great if you don’t want to share the experience with 30 other tourists. Tao, the owner, is a great guy and made us feel at home. The lodge itself is basic but good, and the food is simple but tasty. We’d definitely come back!

A lovely, cozy place with a great view, just right if you want a quiet, private retreat. It’s nothing fancy, though, and the distance to Walking Street and most restaurants was the one thing I didn’t like. Lipe is walkable, but expect a 15-30 minute walk unless you take a motorbike taxi.

The owner is nice and personable, and the place is clean, quiet, and tucked away in a wonderful spot for snorkeling. There are hardly any boats around to worry about while swimming. Bring your own snorkeling gear, though. The woman at the counter said they don’t wash theirs, and both sets she offered looked pretty bad. I went straight to Walking Street to buy my own, which was frustrating since I have gear at home and would have brought it if I’d known. I bought fins as well because the resort’s were long diving fins, and I prefer shorter ones.

Pitiusas felt like the best fit for us during our 10 days on Koh Lipe. We wanted somewhere simple and slow, with a homestay feel, and the private beach with its lovely corals was a highlight. Our room was clean and in perfect condition. Kip and her family were warm and helped with our requests, including vegetarian breakfasts and workout equipment. Kayaks and snorkeling gear were free to borrow, handy for exploring the little beaches to the west where we saw hermit crabs and other wildlife. This isn't a luxury resort. Some areas need maintenance, and the place seems to have the post-Covid money troubles many places have had. The only damage we noticed was a few broken planks on the path to the beach, which we stepped over. I can see why someone expecting a polished resort might not be happy, but we had a great stay.