Baan Krating (-) in Khao Lak is a really nice Hotel with friendly staff and a romantic atmosphere. Unfortunately there are three downsides. 1. Cockroaches: In the bathroom were big holes in the wooden floor through which Cockroaches came. We moved into another room, but there were cockroaches too... a room price like this and then cockroaches? 2. Access to Beach: On the homepage it is said, that a small jungle path connects to the "Sandy Beach". But that beach is 1,5km away... For the nice and very long beach promenade you have to walk (15 min., street). 3. Food: Without any kick. Better eat downtown (Taxi, 5 min.).

We read a favourable review in the Lonely Planet for this hotel and decided to book one night and see what we thought. It was high season in Thailand but at $90 Canadian this is still expensive for the Khao Lak area. The bungalows are perched on a steep hill amongst a jungle basically. There's a small restaurant which had an average morning breakfast buffet. There's a small pool for swimming, didn't look dirty when we were there. There's no real swimming beach access from the hotel, you'd have to get into town somehow and visit one of the local beaches.
The room was small but had nice amentities, tv, fridge etc. They are wood and made it feel like a camping hut somewhat. Being in the jungle we had ants and one large cockroach in our room.
We didn't feel like we were getting value for money here so we checked out another place right on the beach called Nang Thong Bay Resort (very nice, read review) and decided to leave Baan Krating. This place could be so much better, or they could just lower their prices.

This place has a lot of potential, but was a great disappointment. At the top of the hill is the office, which is fine, clean modern, nice first impression. Once checked in you are taken downstairs to the library/restaurant.. smelled like old books. On your way to the room you notice how much the wooden steps are in need of repair, some are missing some buckle. Guess what! The room smelled like old books too, moldy smell. The room is small but has all the immenities, tv, safe, fridge. The bathroom is nice, all wooden. Website says outdoor shower which I looked forward to. Its a piece of loose PVC plastic pipe, not nice, although there is a fine shower in the bathroom. For value this place is great! However I felt like a prisoner, employees watching your every move, lots of employees standing around. If they just assigned one employee to get the green mold out of the pool, I would have used it. The pool is small and inviting, except its dirty. When you come and go the employees ask you where you are going, you are very captive there. The place could be fine, needs some TLC.

I would like here tell you how we were astonished by the poor maintenance of Baan Krating Khao lak resort during our stay 24-28 february 2006.
First of all,i wrote 2 times to reservations department to know exactly situation after tsunami.
I got no sounds.
Despite lack of news i confirm via my travel agent our comings.
Be sure that staff welcome have be great and full of kindness...but is it enough ?
We were 5 clients in your resort during our stay
Hotel maintenance was not up we are waiting for.
Junked stairs (my sons walked on 3 of them and hurt his foot);Toilet floor (AC6/AC7) with Hole,Wc out of order,Phone out,...swimming pool dirty and last but not least Garden and beach with empty plastic bottle,part of beam and branch on ground...bed lounge broken...
Due this lack of maintenance,we faced a venemous snake on our balcony.
By such attitude you give an bad image of thai Hotellerie and especially on Khao lak where people is demanding clients.
Make Money is one thing do right thing right is better.
Despite emails,nobody take care of my claim.
I DO NOT recommand THIS hotel.