The Green Hotel Koh Lipe

The pool is long but very narrow, and the hotel is close to the high street and beaches. If you get a room on the first floor facing the pool, the location is good. There’s no soundproofing, so you can hear neighbors showering and using the toilet. There’s a notice at the entrance asking guests to remove their shoes, but the shiny green tiled floor makes it hard to tell if it’s wet. Taking your shoes off could lead to a very bad injury. I’m sure there have been plenty of injuries, but they keep quiet about them.

Of the three places we stayed on Koh Lipe, this was our favorite and the best value for money we found. The location was in the middle of the island, making it easy to walk everywhere, but it was quieter than staying on walking street. The rooms were spacious, really clean, and very nice. The staff were helpful.

The rooms were spacious and clean, and this is one of the cheaper choices in high season, when island prices can feel wildly out of line with what you get. But the good points ended there for us. Don’t rely on the central-looking spot on Google Maps. The hotel sits across from a waste processing site that looks more like a landfill piled high with trash. Recyclables are sorted out, then the rubbish is burned in the open. Parts of the walking route between the hotel and Walking Street, and between the pier and hotel, are unpaved and unlit. Taking the pier route, you can literally see the trash mountain on fire. The reception was often unattended, so we usually had to call the number they gave us. That’s not what I expect from a hotel. Most staff were friendly, except for one middle-aged woman who was very rude. Privacy was also poor. Each bathroom has a ventilation window that can’t be closed and opens straight onto the hallway, so shower sounds and smells, hallway conversations, and noise from other rooms all carry clearly. During our stay, the pool didn’t seem properly maintained. The water looked filthy and didn’t appear filtered. It was green, and I wouldn’t swim in it. We didn’t see other guests use it either. In high season, I’d only stay here if there were no other options or this was all my budget allowed. In low season, I wouldn’t bother, since beachfront resorts are heavily discounted and could give you a much better stay for a similar or slightly higher price.

The spa jets weren’t working, but the pool itself was fantastic. It’s a great hotel in the centre of Koh Lipe, with an easy stroll to walking street and both sunrise and sunset beaches. I’d happily stay again.