Our family stayed in a two-bedroom villa for five nights. Yes - in "green season". We chose this resort because it is right on a major beach - and handy to everything else. A central location is essential in low season! Many shops and restaurants are closed all over the island for a few months. Green netting lines the beachside resorts and many owners take the opportunity to renovate or work elsewhere. Southern Lanta stays open year round. That means a regular army of workers groom the gardens daily and makes sure there are no stray leaves cluttering the pretty, tree-lined paths. Receptionists and managers are always around to help out.
We ventured all around the island over a few days to check out the scenery. It really is a beautiful island. There is not much happening here out of season - but most action is at the northern end of Klong Dao. Unlike most accommodation on Lanta, you can wander up the road from this resort and get a good choice of restaurants and bars which are actually open for business. A couple of bakeries, laundries, massage houses and a great travel service (Sunsmile Tours). Even a bank! Sure, everything is quieter than in peak season. No crowds.
The layout of the two-bedroom "family house" is unusual. But it works well. Two huge A/C bedrooms (each with a bathroom) are connected with a central fan-cooled sitting room. Plus a front verandah with deck chairs. Not the latest fashions or gadgets - but everything works.okay. Internet access is available via shared computers in a common room plus a limited WiFi network.
We were expecting monsoon rains at this time of year - but just copped the occasional tropical downpour. The major downside of green season is the choppy seas. This means few boat trips run at all and off-shore reefs and islands are not accessible. Also, rubbish is washed up along all of the main beaches - just like Phuket. Still, there are plenty of sandcastles being built here by travellers' children and local kids play on the beach later in the day.
There is a strong Swedish community on Koh Lanta. Many Swedes stay at this resort or the adjoining apartments and send their children to the Swedish school next door. There is a shallow swimming pool at the front of this resort plus a deeper pool back near the tennis courts. Both are small but worthwhile.
Resort restaurant facilities are basic in low season. But it is easy to imagine the beach-side restaurant and bar buzzing in peak season.
