Lara Homestay

The old retro Mediterranean look gives the homestay a charm of its own. Between the rooms, pool, beach just meters away, food and idyllic setting, it made for a beautiful escape, and it delivered.

The host was friendly and helpful, and cooked loads of food for me. It’s a really relaxed place in a quiet location. The building work was recently finished, and everything looks great, though a couple of things still need fixing. Just keep in mind it isn’t a resort-style place, so if that’s what you’re after, look elsewhere.

A quiet, secluded spot among shrimp farms and dragon fruit fields, under the area's hot sun. The sunrise by the nearby beach is beautiful, and the beach itself is clean and not crowded. There are trees and plants all around, arranged nicely, and the place has a nice artistic feel. The rooms are simply furnished in an old-fashioned style. There are around 10 dogs and cats, and they don’t mind what you’re doing. The home-cooked food is delicious and healthy. Food, fruit and seafood are cheap, and you can ask the staff to buy things and cook them for you. The host is very relaxed about meals: they don’t count how many you eat at check-in or check-out, so just let them know if you’re hungry. A few things to know beforehand: Wi-Fi is only available in the library area, there’s no air conditioning, and there are lots of bugs, mosquitoes and flies because of all the trees. It stays airy and windy throughout the day, though. When I was there in mid-2023, a nearby construction site made things a bit dirty. It may be difficult to get here. I took a train and then a taxi. The swimming pool was still a work in progress. Other nearby buildings may be finished soon, with some exciting experience ahead, though I’m not sure what that is yet. If you like a quiet place to rest with nature and a bit of art, give it a try.

The food and atmosphere felt like being back in my childhood hometown, and my son loved playing with the puppies here. It’s a great, quiet place to stay, though maybe not the best fit for families with young children. The beach is only 200m away, but it isn’t good for swimming.