Phra Nang Lanta by Vacation Village

The Phra Nang Lanta doesn't exactly fit the mold of higher-end Thai beach resorts that typically come with lots of dark teak and triangular tiled roofs. Instead, Phra Nang Lanta, with its blue-and-white pastel color palette, looks more like it belongs on the Mediterranean -- or New Mexico, with its adobe-style yellow exterior. The small entry that houses the reception and lobby is a rotunda, with a few blue benches and artsy-curved wood and bamboo chairs. Guests don't linger long here, though. They move to the beachfront, to the artsy bar, restaurant, and small pool. The Phra Nang Lanta, a refreshing change from the typical Thai beach resort, is the brightest spot in Kantiang Bay.

Phra Nang Lanta Resort is located on Kantiang Beach in the far south of the island. It’s about a 30-minute drive from the ferry pier and Saladan in the north, but it's far from the crowds on one of the island’s quieter beaches. Tiny Kantiang village, which is right behind the resort, offers a good selection of restaurants and bars, and the National Marine Park is five miles down the road at the island’s southern end. The resort can be reached via a small paved side road just off the main road south. It’s a generally quiet area, but nearby beach bars do liven up the scene in high season. Kantiang Beach is not necessarily the best on Koh Lanta, but it's not overly built up, and it's sheltered enough to offer good swimming. Phuket International Airport is about four and a half hours away by car, and Krabi Airport is about two and a half hours. 

The 15 rooms at the Phra Nang Lanta fall into two categories, Beach Front Studios and Family Suites. All rooms have beach and sea views, and they look more like they belong in Santorini or New Mexico than Thailand. The stucco-style walls and funky layout resemble a Georgia O'Keefe adobe, and the predominant colors are blue and white, like a Greek island. Each room has a sea-related name (Starfish, Seashell, Coral Reef) set in colorful tile as a welcome mat at the room entrance. All rooms have large outdoor sitting areas with hammocks, cushioned beds, and teak tables and chairs. They all come with flat-screen TVs, DVD players, safes, minibars, coffeemakers, electric kettles, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are large and have bathtubs and separate showers, and loads of wooden racks for drying clothes. The large Family Suites have kitchenettes, king beds, and kids' size daybeds. Rooms show a bit of wear, but overall they're cheerful and make for great rainy-day hangouts.

Phra Nang Lanta is a small boutique resort right on the beach, with a small swimming pool. It has a rooftop spa, which offers an outdoor Vichy shower, a steam room, a hot tub overlooking the beach, and an open-air massage area. Downstairs is an artsy beach bar with sea-blue shuttered doors, a blue-and-white interior, a petrified wood table, and artistically twisted rattan chairs. The Bay restaurant serves candlelit dinners next to the beach, and it offers a seafood grill in high season. The beach itself, a wide blanket of white sand, has no loungers, but a few of the pool's padded loungers are set out on a sundeck facing the shore. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the resort.