“From the moment I arrived, climbed out of the boat and waded ashore, I felt I had landed in some parallel universe. I was met, in the water!, by Massi (the general manager) who makes every effort to ensure your stay is everything you want it to be.
The Baans are all different in size and style. I stayed in Tarntawan which is perfect for the solo traveller. The room has a comfortable bed with mosquito net, fridge/minibar and tea/coffee making facility. Housekeeping was very efficient and kept everything beautifully clean.
The restaurant offers a great balance of casual yet elegant dining. Buffet style breakfast offers a good selection with a fabulous choice of beverages and green teas. There was generally plenty of choice for dinner – I am vegetarian and can honestly say I have never found it easier to eat well, with quality local dishes. I felt food and drinks – a great choice of juices, shakes and cocktails – were reasonably priced (wine is expensive but this is Thailand, not France!).
The beaches are stunning, I walked the 10km stretch without seeing another person. The water is really warm and offers safe swimming. I snorkelled a few times but there’s not a great deal to see. However, snorkelling trips are available to other islands.
Yoga is available twice daily, I did the morning session. A big ‘thank you’ to Alex who I found to be a great teacher.
This totally unspoilt island nurtures the wildlife which is fascinating – beautiful birds and butterflies, and monkeys doing their thing!
I stayed for a little over 2 weeks and I loved every minute. My first week coincided with half term and there were a few small children ( it’s a good destination for a young family). During the day I just never seemed to see them but they could be a bit much in the evening. You’d think that, with dinner being served until 9.00pm, the parents of infants would eat earlier and be more considerate to both the other guests and their own children! However, this was such a minor issue in the whole scheme of things.
The massages are great, lovely at the end of the day.
Everyday, I felt privileged just to be at Golden Buddha beach – it was all I could have wished for. A huge thank you to Massi and a great staff team. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Stayed February 2017, traveled solo”
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