Kantary Beach Hotel, Khao Lak — Hotel in Phang-nga Province

We absolutely adore this place, which I hope means you will accept that the possible negatives I include are written to improve on what I believe is a dream place to holiday.||So the negatives first, the Hotel is about 10/15 minutes outside of Khao Lak centre, down a track that doesn't look like very much. There is a minimart which is very much Hotel prices, but it is well stocked from sun cream, drinks, souvenirs and sweets.||There is no loud music around the pools. No activity staff encouraging you to leave your sun bed to take part in x, y and z, but there is a relaxed feel with good beach towels a plenty and water sport equipment for hire.||The sun beds are comfortable and plenty. Not as many parasols as could be provided and some of them require the canvas replacing and a big mallet to secure them better. However we never once found it difficult to get a sun bed and find shade if that's what we wanted. The towel man works hard and is always on the go and helps out on many tasks.||Accommodation was excellent, a very clean suite with everything we needed and more. Our housekeeper "Nitaya" was friendly and did a great job daily. Absolutely no negatives.||Reception from the day we arrived to the day we left were really professional and friendly, always willing to listen and offer advice and solutions even if it meant finding out that to iron a shirt via the laundry would cost 80 baht. "Yaya"and her shift team she worked alongside, made the area so welcoming.||Restaurant and Cafe. Oh my goodness we both thought the standard of food and menu choice was really good. A choice of both Thai and western food. On the staff "Beer" and "Mom" led their teams with professionalism and exceptionally good humour. In the Similian Restaurant "Jiw" looked after us and you could tell how much she cared about your dining experience. My Lobster soup and Sea Bass was two of the finest meals I have had and my partners Duck was also praised highly. I can't spell the Chefs "Piyapong?" name but he cared too. ||My advice would be to spend some time speaking with staff about the options of dining, it is not the easiest thing in the world for all staff to know what Board you are on and with Finnish, German, Swede's, French and English speakers all asking questions and guessing the answers!! Just ask for "Beer or Mom" both those ladies have the experience to understand and answer your questions.||Final Negatives. In summary The Similian Restaurant doesn't advertise its menu enough and should be changed 3 times a week not once a week. Room towels are 85% good but quite a few are aged. Sort out the Parasols down by the beach. On the Pool by the minimart, put the canopy back over the shallow end and more of us would use that pool (It gets really hot as you don't get any sea breeze).||Final Positives, Brilliant beach, Brilliant Staff, Brilliant food, peaceful and ideal to recharge your personal batteries with very little to stress about.||Final Tip In reception Eco Khao Lak have a desk manned by "Mol", great for booking bespoke trips, group trips and the shuttle bus. Also in reception you can find the Guest relations lady who will also answer any questions you may have.||Feel free to ask me any...

My wife and myself are nearing the end of a most enjoyable 4 nights (particularly the last 2 - see below!) stay at the Kantary Beach Hotel Villas & Suites property located in the middle of one of Khao Lak’s finest beaches (even so, there are also 2 very nice Swimming Pools - one near the Beach and the other - which also has a Coffee Bar - close to the Reception area)||Having recently stayed (and really enjoyed - see Review) at the Kantary Hotel in Cape Panwa, we were much looking forward to this visit. Our first two nights were in one of the Block E Suites next to a large lake (good for spotting relatively large Monitor Lizards) but this may have been the source for the many mosquitoes that had taken up residence in our spacious room? In the same vein, the Reception (just a short walk away from Block E!) is inundated with gnats/mosquitoes which requires urgent attention as this is where all guests (the property is currently enjoying 100% occupancy) spend some time completing their registration details on arrival!!||Fortunately, we have now moved to one of the Villas which are far more comfortable and welcoming than the Suites. Although this comes at a premium, this accommodation option is strongly recommended - particularly for those guests spending more than a few nights!||On the F & B front, there is an excellent Buffet Breakfast (supplemented by an a very good Egg Station) at the Andaman Restaurant (which is also - together with the Similian Restaurant next door - more upmarket and only serves Western Food) is where Dinner also takes place. Quality of the food is excellent (the Thai Buffet was amongst the best I have ever had) but the price of drinks is on the high side - particularly for people like me who only drink water and I fail to see why the two Water Stations used at Breakfast are not also available in the evenings?||Most of the staff are also incredibly helpful and - provided they understand the issue - will do whatever they can to help. ||My biggest surprise, however, was delivered on our first evening whilst walking from our Suite to the Andaman Restaurant. In one of the Palm Trees were 2 Toucan (Hornbill) birds which I have never seen on the mainland in the 20+ years I have been coming to Thailand. The Hotel are naturally keen for them to take up residence and - with this in mind - have built an impressive nesting box. I wish them...

Having stayed at Cape and Kantary Hotels before we had high expectations of this hotel and we were not disappointed. The grounds, facilities, beach, restaurants and staff were all amazing!||We stayed in a Beachfront Villa overlooking a lovely grassed area with volleyball net and ping pong table and the beach and sea. Sitting on the balcony on the sun lounger chairs hearing the waves was just sensational. The villa was very roomy, lots of storage, self sufficient - small kitchenette with microwave, glasses, plates and cutlery which was good with having the kids. The main bedroom was big with a very comfortable queen bed and the living room sofa was converted into a very comfortable bed for our 5 year old. We had a selection of fruit left in our room daily along with bottles of fresh water. The bathroom was spacious with an outdoor shower which was a lovely touch.||We had daily massages which were in the open air located near to the beach which were lovely and relaxing.||The outdoor area of the hotel is well looked after and we saw the gardeners hard at work daily ensuring the gardens were well kept. You really felt like you were in a tropical paradise.||The pools were lovely and clean with plenty of sun beds which were in a good condition and comfortable. ||The thing that makes this hotel very special though is the friendly and attentive staff who cannot do enough for you. From breakfast in the morning being welcomed with a smile until dusk at Otters Bar for cocktails the staff will go above and beyond to ensure you have everything you need. We would like to say a special thank you to Dao, Tik, Guid and Top for making our stay so special and a really massive thank you to Khun Ken the Assistant General Manager who we saw most days looking after the guests and most importantly looking after his staff which was lovely to see. ||We will most certainly be returning to this hidden gem on the beautiful...