Khaolak Hillside Villa

The rooms are nice, the staff are great, and breakfast is good. But getting to the beach isn't straightforward because you can't walk directly there. The pool is tiny, with just two sunbeds. I'd recommend this place to everyone if it were nearer the beach; as it is, it's better for people who aren't mainly here for beach time.

The location is excellent, with a short walk into town and good bars and restaurants by the main road entrance. The view is fantastic, and the price is great for what you get. The pool is quite small, so I wouldn't plan to spend much time there. There were lots of ants around the bungalow, though the room itself was clean. I didn't see any cockroaches. Grass cutting over the weekend we stayed made quite a bit of noise. I probably wouldn't return, not because the place is bad, but because there are too many good options nearby.

The staff were incredibly sweet and gave us five-star service. I accidentally left cash at reception, and they found it and kept it safe until I came back. That was honest and lovely of them. The value for money was incredible; I'd happily have paid double, and I didn't want to leave. Our villa had a sea view, and the surroundings were beautiful. There's a pool with loungers if you don't feel like walking about 10 minutes to the beach. The room was so spacious it felt almost like a studio apartment, and the bathroom was huge, with a shower screen. They brought water every day, and the fridge-freezer was handy. Breakfast was fantastic each morning. I think there were six sets to choose from, including eggs cooked different ways, omelette, bacon, muesli and yogurt. Everything came with fruit and juice, plus self-service toast and tea or coffee.

The room and service were the worst experience I can think of, in every respect. The staff were also very unfriendly.