Costa Lanta is arguably the chicest and trendiest hotel in all of Klong Dao Beach in Koh Lanta. The design is undisputable very hip – that minimalist-slash-industrial look works well with the lush environment. It’s one of those hotels that looked good on the website and even better when you see it with your own eyes.
Overall we had an amazing time and hardly left the premises of the hotel except for few occasions to have lunch, dinner or to find a more active place to drink at night. Despite it on the height of Chinese New Year holiday (read: high peak season with surcharges to nearly everything), the hotel was never really full. In fact, it seemed empty. There were maximum of 4- 5 groups (small family, majority were couples or at least in pairs) including ours (there were 5 of us in our group) at any given time.
You can tell this place caters to couples as all rooms are fit for 2 person only (3rd person if it’s a small child), sunbeds and tables by the beach were all in pairs. Our group had to re-arrange the sunbeds everyday for all 5 days that we stayed there.
Collectively, my friends and I agreed that if ever we want to come back to Koh Lanta that we’d all still stay at Costa Lanta, and will recommend it to other people. My rating for the facilities of Costa Lanta would be an 8, and probably just 4 on the service (out of 10).
1. Rooms – like every single reviewer said, it’s very small once all doors (double up as walls) are closed, and it can feel slightly claustrophobic. It wasn’t an issue for us as we were only in the room literally to shower, change and sleep. While the rooms were really chic – the designer haven’t really thought about luggage. There was nowhere to put a luggage (let alone 2 if you are traveling as couple). There is a small closet in the bathroom – yes, could be helpful if you are the sort that unpacks everything, but then again where do you place your empty luggage? Nowhere! I’d like the resort to take this issue and improve on it. So travel light and unpack, stuff your things inside the small closet. I travel a lot but I nearly don’t unpack except for toiletries so I ended sticking my half-open luggage on top of the safe inside the closet as I hate to see it lying around, or traipsing over it in the bed area. [We had the Seavie Cabana (53sqm). We met a couple that stayed at Garden View Superior (63sqm) and wished we booked this room instead as the price weren't that much different but had enormous space. I recommend you choose the suprior rooms and negotiate the rates as low as you can]
2. Bathroom – the inside-outside living concept was great however it doesn’t work in a place infested with mosquitoes, insects and bugs. It was a challenge taking a shower and getting ready without being eaten alive by mosquitoes. Again, no one can dispute the design is chic, but not very practical. Netting on those gaps should be considered. This was a bigger issue for me than the size of the room. My friend’s face got bitten by mosquitoes while she was putting her make-up on! And yes, we had mosquito coil in the bathroom (2 sets even!) all evening.
3. Food – most of other reviewers on here were raving how great the food was though our experience was complete opposite. I didn’t inquire if they had changed cook/chef though. The quality of food was standard – palatable, presentable and filling but nothing to write home about. It was quite pricey for what it was. We ended up eating outside the resort (just outside the guardhouse) at this restaurant called Maladee. Now, that’s the kind of cooking and service I want to rave about but I will write a different review separately. Every food that we ordered from the resort there was at least one single letdown. Complaining isn’t much our thing but it gets frustrating.
4. Drinks/Cocktails – it was hit and misses with more misses than hits. How can anyone messed up a gin tonic? We are not fussy eaters or drinkers and we’ve traveled around Thailand’s remote places so we are quite baffled by the quality of service, and exhausted from sending drinks back and forth. It wasn’t a good experience for both sides.
5. Pool – by far the best feature of the resort, in not Koh Lanta. Amazingly well designed pool – the kind that makes your friends jealous of your holiday pictures. We were all a huge fan!
6. Beach – not white sand but beautiful nonetheless. The water is shallow enough, perfect for families with small children. Costa Lanta lucked out on the location as it’s on the Klong Dao Beach (north side) were it has few people (no ugly deck chairs lined up nearby) so it does feel very private and exclusive. Bring your runners as this beach is perfect for that morning/afternoon run when it’s low tide.
7. Service – I would rate this place a lot higher if the service was excellent, unfortunately by Thai standard it wasn’t good. The restaurant staffs were generally nice and had that Thai friendliness about them but not attentive enough. When you stay at ‘boutique hotels’ you sort of expect a more personal service that huge five star chains rarely provide however at Costa Lanta you are left to your own device. Not once anyone asked how we were doing, do we like to order drinks, etc. They could’ve easily sell more meals and drinks if they were proactive. While lounging by the beach on daybeds, no one bothers to ask if you want anything to drink (not once in our 5 days!) – We always had to walk to the restaurant to order drinks that took 30mins to be served (how much time do you need to prepare a can of coke and glass of ice and you only have 2 tables in the entire restaurant?). Everyone seems to move really, really slow which was interesting as I’ve not had this kind of service in Thailand before. I can enumerate many incidents were we fell the service could be better but the summary is that the service was standard at best.
Room Tip: If bedroom quality is important to you, I recommend you choose any of the Superior rooms as the pric...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
