Two weeks before the launch of our last magazine issue, we needed a place to buckle down, focus and work on it at full force. We’d heard many people sing praises about this island that was highly accessible from the busy beach town of Krabi, yet quiet and peaceful, nothing like the other touristy islands in the region. Koh Lanta was going to be our home base for the next two weeks – where we hoped we could leave the stress of travel behind and let our creativity flow.
We were forewarned that low season in Koh Lanta probably does not offer the kind of experience that one would expect, and for the most part they were right. Although we partly enjoyed the tranquility of the location, we did not appreciate the frequent rain and strong winds. The beach was dirty, packed with rubbish and huge waves, and much of it was fenced out due to the dangerous conditions. 70% of the restaurants, hotels and amenities were closed for most part of the day (if not completely closed for restoration) and there was hardly anyone around. But we had known all of these beforehand, so we set out to enjoy our time in Koh Lanta while trying to get as much work done as possible.
Our base camp on the island was Lanta Pavillion Resort. Situated along Klong Khong beach, this beach front resort features 37 individual bungalows with basic amenities, a bean-shaped pool and direct access to the beach. Our room was clean and comfortable enough for budget travelers, although luxury-craving couples should probably look elsewhere. We were the only guests there most of the time, so besides the creepy manager, there were few staff around to help us.
At this time of the year (we visited in late April), the sea conditions made it impossible to swim or even enjoy the beach but we had heard from friends that the beach is pretty decent during peak season. The sun barely made an appearance throughout our stay but when it did, we made the most out of it and jumped into the pool. Although WiFi was only available at the restaurant area, which was closed for the low season, there was a paid option for internet access in our bungalow that worked quite well for our needs.
When we’d planned this new location-independent lifestyle, I had pictured us working on our laptops by the beach, sipping a margarita while the creative juices flowed. But of course things never turn out the way you want them to – we ended up working in our room most of the time, since it was usually too hot to sit out (despite the cloudy weather) and the sound of the ferocious crashing waves made a hardly soothing soundtrack. We did however rent a scooter (from a nearby travel agency) to explore the island, where we found chill-out beach bars, panoramic clifftop restaurants and idyllic beaches.
Our stay at Lanta Pavillion was all in all comfortable, but we wished we had come in a more inviting time of the year. Would we return to Koh Lanta again? I honestly doubt so.
Disclaimer: Our stay was made possible by Koh Lanta Pavillion, but all opinions are our own.
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