Having just got home raving about Costa Lanta to all our mates we're quite shocked by the above review. We are four friends who spent just under 2 weeks at Costa Lanta and ate in the restaurant regularly for either lunch or dinner. The food is AMAZING and we struggled to find the same subtlety of flavour anywhere nearby, which were all much more touristy cuisine. As for the service, the restaurant staff were charming and, okay, they may not be quite as efficient as a top hotel in the UK but they were always happy to help. As a place to wind down after the stresses of work and pre-Xmas London it was bliss.

Tim, Jo, Adz and Wendy

(115/116)

The Costa Lanta is a beautifully designed chic hotel. Lots of polished concrete and wood and an oasis of calm right on the beach front on Koh Lanta island. However, there are major problems with service at the hotel. Having travelled in Thailand you get used to(even in the cheapest hotels) warm, gentle and top class service. Service at this hotel in the bar and restaurant can at best be described as unfriendly, bordering on rude at times. Considering how expensive this hotel is compared to others on the island and in Thailand this comes as quite a shock. Ordering drinks and food was such a bad experience that after the first evening we always ate outside the hotel to avoid the 'cold' staff. However we had to endure breakfast there as it was included in the price - and without fail each morning we were let down. In addition to the unfriendly staff it also took ages to get a drink, or even persuade someone to take your order. All in all, not worth paying top notch to stay here when you can have such gracious service in many other hotels on the island. A real pity as it is a beautiful hotel but in need of good restaurant and bar manager and some staff who smile and are helpful rather than frown at you and ignore you.