Kaw Kwang Beach Resort

Kaw Kwang Beach Resort doesn't have much to distinguish it upon arrival. The resort sits down a dead-end drive, with a gravel parking lot fronting a rather plain looking house, which is the main building of the hotel. There really is not much of a lobby -- just a set of chairs and small table with a bookshelf full of books left by previous guests. Fortunately, most arrivals will not linger here, as the front desk is here, and check in is done quickly. The resort's only restaurant is just off this area, and can handle any overflow. While the prices here are often overly high for the quality of the rooms and features, this is common on Koh Lanta, and most guests are not here for the facilities, but to enjoy the quiet beach out front, or laze by the pleasant swimming pool. It's a solid choice for families or those looking for a beach holiday away from the crowds; it's as relaxed and low-brow as it gets on the island.

Kaw Kwang Beach Resort sits at the northern end of Klong Dao Beach, Koh Lanta's northernmost beach. While the sand in front of the resort here is not as appealing as further down the beach, and doesn't look directly out to the sea and sunset (blocked by a headland), it is nevertheless a very quiet spot, and a great location for those who want peace and quiet away from the crowds. Additionally, the resort is only about two miles from the ferry pier, making it perfect for getting off or onto the island. It's about the same distance from the resort into Baan Saladan, the main town on the island, which has plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops. However, it's a long and hot walk into town, so guests will need to rely on taxis to get around, which is a bit inconvenient as well as expensive. The resort sits down a dead-end drive just off of a quiet dead-end side road, so there are no worries about traffic or noise in these parts.

There's a vast array of rooms at Kaw Kwang Beach Resort. The entry-level rooms of the Hotel View category are upstairs. They all have a decent view of the property and swimming pool, as well as small terraces. The rooms themselves are not particularly impressive as the furniture is worn, and floors, with faux wood cover, are only slightly better. These rooms, as with all the other categories, come with small flat-screen televisions, mini-fridges with no items except water (at least in low season), tiny desk spaces built into the walls, and small bathrooms with hot showers. Bathrooms have minimal toiletries -- just basic soap, shampoo, cotton buds, and shower caps. The biggest downside to the rooms is that they do not have Wi-Fi access, and they also lack safe boxes. They all do have large (but very worn) closet spaces though. The other higher-category rooms are similar, differing mainly in location. Standard and Superior rooms sit in the garden, with seating spaces out front, and have the same features except that Standard Rooms have a choice of twin or double beds, and they're slightly smaller than Superior Rooms. Deluxe Rooms are the best bet here, as they are just off the beach, and are in far better condition than the other rooms, with nice paintings and batik wall hangings, floors in good shape, and small tables and chairs for two. They are far spiffier, but also much pricier.

Kaw Kwang Beach Resort has few features, making it rather overpriced for what one gets. There is a nice swimming pool, the resort's most pleasant feature, with sun loungers around it, and it looks out at the sea and beach right in front. There's a waterfall section at one end, and the pool is long enough to swim a few laps, although it isn't rectangular. Just off of the pool and adjacent to the lobby is the resort restaurant, which serves free breakfasts to guests in high season, but from May to November, guests must pay for breakfast separately. The restaurant closes at 9 p.m. in the low season, and even in high season, at 10 p.m., meaning there's no opportunity for a late night drink here. The only other feature at the resort is its in-house tour agency, which arranges trips in and around Lanta, and ferry and other transportation tickets; it also tajes care of tickets to events on the island like Thai boxing or elephant shows.