Layana truly deserves its high rating and great reviews. My partner and I stayed there in mid November and really enjoyed it. We were looking for somewhere a little off the beaten path (as best you can get in Thailand), but still high quality and relaxing. Layana and Ko Lanta delivered on all accounts. I give it exceptionally high rating on its staff, service, and facilities. Ko Lanta is not a party island, so go elsewhere if thats what you are looking for. For us, the island was perfect. It has a very relaxed atmosphere with friendly locals. We stayed in the basic room and found it exceptional. The basic rooms are in a four-plex with private balconies. The spa at the Layana was great as well. More expensive than your standard massage on the beach, but the spa was a great experience, well worth the price. We got a discounted couple's swedish massage and I would recommend this. I would suggest branching out and exploring other parts of the island and restaurants along the beach. Seems to me the divey places always had the best food. Ko Lanta has a relaxed and less touristy feel than other Thai islands we have visited. Check it out before this changes. Layana also provides first class service at a less than first class price. I would also suggest doing the morning bike tours and the cave exploration. (However, be prepared for hiking, heat, crawling, climbing, spiders, and getting dirty for the cave. Its not what we expected, but it was a great adventure.)

This was just such an amazing place to stay. Very calm, and it only rained one or two days during our stay, and only for about 1-2 hours.

The owners are amazingly gracious and are always having wonderful events. The leisure staff, including the super fun Mr. Bee, give perfect service when on one of the trips, or just lounging by the pool.

I feel Layana was the perfect balance between having enough activities to keep my wife busy, and myself relaxed and just enjoying the sun/beach.

Also, the restaurant is really, really good. The cooking class is fun, and make sure to order the Layana special sometime.

The only downside to the place is the local town of Saladan is so-so. Most of the shops sell tourist junk and there just doesn't feel like much local culture is represented there. The Saturday Market is better.

To wrap it up, everyone was super nice, the drivers are terrifying, and the beaches/forests/nature are nirvana inducing.

It is a nice place to stay. I found some of the reviews exaggerated. Nice rooms, good service, very friendly and helpful staff, though it is kind of uncomfortable that they are always running around to serve you. But the menu was quiet limited and it gets really boring after couple of days and the sea was not that great either. Nothing wrong with the place but I could not say it is paradise or something...And not a lot to do when it is raining...

Just wanted to add my own experience of this wonderful hotel from my stay in 2007.

Wonderful hotel site, with spacious beautiful hotel rooms. The large grounds coupled with the proportionally low number of rooms really give a feeling of peace and tranquility.

Service is excellent.

There is one pool which is a good size and is never too congested! The hotel is right on the beach which is great. Only slight minus from my point of view is that the sea is not the best in Thailand - rougher and not as crystal clear as elsewhere.

In conclusion this is great value for money and will certainly return!