Koh Tao Hillside Resort

The hotel is a bit removed from the island's main hustle and bustle (a 5-minute drive) and is situated on a hill. This gives it fantastic sea views and a stunning beach with giant rocks, but also means there's a very steep descent to the hotel. The reception staff are incredibly welcoming, always smiling, and explained everything in detail. It's really convenient that there's a shuttle service to the center three times a day, plus a free transfer to the ferry pier! The hotel also has a diving school, and I thoroughly enjoyed doing two dives with them! We booked a Grand Diving bungalow, which are really lovely bungalows on the first scenic line with large balconies (there's even a hammock! I hung it on the balcony and enjoyed the beautiful views). Amazing sunsets are guaranteed! Overall, we really liked the hotel. Even though the descent is very steep, the spectacular views more than make up for it!

Beautiful sea view, comfortable accommodation, and a good breakfast. On the downside, there's no infrastructure nearby, the path down to the hotel grounds is very steep, and snorkeling masks are only available for rent at 150 baht per day.

New cabin. It has its own terrace, and the sunsets are amazing. Very quiet and peaceful.

Pros: * The view is stunning. * The staff are very pleasant. * The bungalows are renovated and quite spacious. * High ceilings. * Excellent terrace. * The sunsets are incredibly beautiful. * Good water pressure, and hot water is available! Cons: * Breakfasts!!! Don't count on them at all; they are truly sad. * Steep descents and ascents, which might not suit everyone. It was fine for us since my husband is good at riding a motorcycle. * There were cockroaches and a lizard living in the bungalow. * The towels are awful! They didn't smell fresh. Overall, it was tolerable, but for the price (we paid over 3000 Baht per night), it wasn't great. Overall impression: budget-friendly.

The facilities are old; the cottage I was given was very dated, and the cleanliness and maintenance were far from good. There were termites eating all the wood. It's a shame about the place, well-located but very poorly maintained.