Every once in a while, a splurge on accommodation is definitely worth the while.
After having researched the Thai island of Koh Yao Yai and realised that there was very little choice of accommodation, we were lucky to find a great low season deal for one of the nicest resorts; Koh Yao Yai Village.
When a rickety open-top truck came to meet us off the boat from Phuket, I was skeptical. I wasn’t sure that the hotel was going to live up to its wonderful photo-filled website.
I needn’t have worried.
Upon arrival we were given refreshing cold towels and a welcome drink, which was much appreciated in the heat of the midday. We were taken through the check-in process and then escorted to our private bungalow by golf cart.
Once I saw the quality of the accommodation, I knew that all of my misgivings had been false. It was serene, secluded and oh-so-pretty.
We had our own covered patio area complete with sofas and sunchairs (which actually turned out to be a great place from which to watch the storms roll by), an open-air rainfall shower and huge bathroom complete with everything we could need – including a kettle! I cannot tell you how excited I was to see a kettle…not nearly enough hotels and resorts abroad have these!
All of this would have been perfect as it was, but then we got changed and headed out to the pool. The INFINITY pool, you guys.
And it was cocktail happy hour at the swim-up bar. I actually died inside.
I spent every afternoon sipping on mai tais and gazing out at the limestones karsts of other Thai islands from the pool, feeling more relaxed than I had done in ages.
Each morning we were greeted with a wonderful breakfast buffet and cooked-to-order omelettes and pancakes. There was even Italian-style coffee – this was something that constantly surprised me throughout Asia, actually; the quality of their coffee and coffee shops compared to many other parts of the world.
The only slight negative I could point out about the resort was that the wifi signal didn’t work in the bungalows. I had to take my laptop down to the lobby area to get any work done or check my emails. But you know what? Maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing after all, as it encouraged me to actually switch off every once in a while and just enjoy my surroundings.
I didn’t receive any kind of compensation for writing this post, I just really loved my time at Koh Yao Yai Village. You can find it on most major booking websites, although I found the amazing low season deal via the hotel’s own website.
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