Lanta Mermaid Boutique House

friendly staff, good breakfast, near beach, very nice place to stay.

We found the management and staff exceptionally helpful and polite. The level of attention and quality of service was as good as one would experience from well trained 5 star hotel staff. The hotel was extremely clean and comfortable, breakfasts were fresh and with multiple courses. Traffic noise was somewhat more than we expected but not a significant deterrent as other aspects of the stay compensated for this. One concern we had was with the booking of a speedboat trip to Koh Rok. Brochures within the foyer advertised one company but management booked us with another. This was confusing at pick up time. More problematic was the Lanta Surin Travel and Tour company we were booked with by the hotel management had a maximum capacity of 30 passengers on their vessel yet on our tour, there were 40 cramped passengers and an inadequate number of fins and I assume, an inadequate number of life jackets. For future guests, our speedboat experience with Lanta Surin Tour and Travel is definitely not recommended. Lanta Gardenhill who we thought we were being booked with, had smaller numbers on their boat for the same price. Check who management is booking you with to avoid our experience with the 'greedy company'.

If you have OCD and insist on a sterile, soul less building to sleep in this is for you. But if you want the kindness, helpfulness and frienliness that you get in 99% of Thai hotels then STEER WELL CLEAR OF THIS PLACE. We did not even get a welcome on arrival, all we were greeted with was "how are you paying", "you can walk up the road and use the ATM at 7/11, you go now I will wait". Management and staff show no happiness or helpfulness, just a list of rules you must read on arrival. I was expecting them to ask me to sign to say I have read and will obey...the Commandant (sorry manager) is stuck between showing her true Thai manner and the farang owners rules. The building (I refuse to call this place a hotel) is in LOCKDOWN MODE at 10pm. Lights out, doors locked, bar closed, food and drink locked away, internet turned off. The rules state you cannot take any food or drink into your cell, but do not put anything in the fridge or provide anything after 10pm. The building does have its good points, Its location is good and it is so spotlessly clean it actually intimidates you. You cannot feel relaxed and enjoy your holiday for fear of making anything dirty or breking a rule and in my opinion that is what a hotel is there for, to assist you in enjoying this wonderful island. DO visit Lanta but DO NOT visit LANTA MERMAID unless you insist on a sterile, soul less building for your base.