Family-friendly Hotels in Koh Yao Yai

My partner and I stayed at Koh Yao Yao Village for 3 nights during our travels around Thailand. The hotel is set within lush tropical grounds and has been designed to connect with nature. Whilst the hotel is quite remote, we hired a moped from a place at the end of the hotel drive for 250thb/day which made the island easily accessible. We stayed in a Deluxe Villa which was huge and we couldn’t quite believe this was the lowest standard accommodation on offer. The villa has a spacious outdoor area with loungers, a day bed, and chair, all of which were great for chilling out during the evening. Other aspects we loved about the room was being able to listen to nature whilst using the outdoor shower. The main pool is large and well designed, offering outstanding views across Thale Ko Yao towards Krabi. There is a swim up bar which offers a selection of drinks/cocktails however the service here was on the slower side. Breakfast was generally good, offering a wide variety of both local and international options. We also ate in the main restaurant for dinner on two nights where we found the food to be ok. A few reasons why I’ve rated this hotel 4/5: 1 - whilst I think the design of the hotel is timeless, some areas are starting to show their age e.g. AC not working on one night (took 3 calls to reception to resolve), bathroom sink plug not working. 2 - The music around the main pool/restaurant started to frustrate us after a day, I feel for people staying here for any longer. It appears the playlist/CD has about 8 songs and these repeat all day and evening. 3 - all food and drinks are subject to a mandatory service charge so the price you see on the menu isn’t the price you pay. I wouldn’t have an issue with this in a restaurant setting or if the service was outstanding however it wasn’t. On top of this, you are then also asked if you’d like to leave a tip (on top of service charge) when you settle each bill.

According to Google the Thiwson Beach Resort is a 4 star resort, by definition this means it needs to offer a deluxe guest experience with a wide range of facilities, superior design qualities and excellent service. Based on this definition I felt it fell short of the mark and is a 3 star hotel at best, having said that, I absolutely loved it hence the high rating. At the time of writing #kohyaoyai only has a handful of resorts and guesthouses to choose from, i researched them carefully, my essentials being air conditioning & swimming pool in the mid range price bracket, my wish list being a characterful locally owned property on a beach. With the @thiwsonbeach I struck gold. This unpolished gem offered everything on my wish list plus more. Owned by a local family, three generations of whom regularly join the guests for dinner in the open air restaurant which serves very tasty reasonable priced Thai food and great chicken nuggets to the delight of my toddler (albeit they were out of fries for the duration of our stay!). Beside this are the beachfront huts are in prime position with their own outdoor jacuzzi, it’s no wonder they book up so far in advance. There are facilities on site to hire scooters or book tours to explore the island and two lovely pool areas. I was initially disappointed with the hilltop location of our own bungalow which are actually across the road from the others, but the quiet semi private pool area in front of our large veranda anf the sunrise view through the frangipani trees buckled my reservations. Our family suite was made up of 2 interconnecting rooms, including an extra bed charge charge & 3% credit card levy cost us €150 per night. The resort isn’t perfect, there are holes in the concrete (my little girl took a nasty fall in one) & bugs in the rooms (to the delight of my 9 year old boy), there is no room service and while there is sand the sea is separated from the resort with a concrete flood barrier & is extremely tidal so not ideal for swimming but for me character trumps perfection every time so I would return again in a heartbeat💖

This place is absolutely amazing! The staff are so Nice and helpful, and the place is beautiful! The hotel is located on the beach, wich is so pretty. This place also has two amazing swimmingpools, the best seaview and an amazing resturant with great food. We had the best stay ever, and will definetly come back!

At Esmeralda View Resort, exceptional service and top-notch amenities create a memorable experience for guests. Complimentary internet access is available in the resort to ensure you stay connected during your visit.Arrange your trips to and from the airport using the resort's convenient transportation services booking. Complimentary parking is available for guests.Due to health concerns, smoking is strictly prohibited within the entire premises of resort. For the health and well-being of all guests and staff, smoking is restricted exclusively to assigned zones. A delightful breakfast is the perfect way to begin your day, and at Esmeralda View Resort, you can always indulge in a scrumptious meal on-site. Allow your journey to be free from the pangs of hunger! On-site eateries offer delicious and accessible meal choices. At Esmeralda View Resort, guests with diverse dietary needs are accommodated by offering options like halal among the different types of cuisine.At Esmeralda View Resort, affordable refreshments are available 24/7 through the convenient vending machines on-site.Are you inclined to prepare your own dishes? You will surely appreciate having the on-site BBQ facilities available.At Esmeralda View Resort, guests can take pleasure in the delightful recreational amenities provided for their entertainment. At the resort, a truly unique characteristic is the private beach that grants immediate sea entry solely for its valued visitors.Conclude your days in complete tranquility by paying a visit to massage and solarium for ultimate relaxation.At Esmeralda View Resort, a wide array of amenities guarantees a fulfilling experience throughout your visit. Make your holiday truly memorable by taking a rejuvenating plunge into the pool.

Such a lovely place, such a lovely face! Can see amazing sunrise from the terrace, nice garden, private beach, terrific services, hospitable owner, wonderful 3 days spent there. Will come back again! PS: the hotel owner provides car pickup and delivery services, they make sure your boat has arrived before they leave the dock.

Stayed a week here, beautiful room and our own pool, with a stunning view. Staff here are all excellent cannot do enough for you, breakfast good if not quirky, you’ll find out! Good choice and super fresh. Hired mopeds 300 bhat for 24 hours, you need one to explore the island properly, ate a lot here all the food very good, everything closes down at 9pm, so we went to 7/11 store and got drinks for our patio area of an evening. You can totally unwind here, no late nights on the island, and everyone we came across were just great, super friendly and chilled, Will definitely come back here again 10/10 from us xxxx