My wife & I just spent 6 nights/7 days at Layana Resort. We had a standard garden villa located nearby to the pool area & beach. The room and bed was superb and the bathroom was large, separate shower and albeit a small bathtub, the privacy of one's own small garden behind the glassed in bath was a nice touch.
We suggest that you book a ground floor villa, close to the pool area and don't worry if you cannot get in to one of the beach front villas.
Their Spa staff were friendly and very competent.
The staff were all very friendly and helpful.
The pool area is combined with the bar and the restaurant, with a lounge adjacent. This was all decked in timber and led to the beach directly in front of the decking and pool.
There were lots of staff attending to everyone's needs at the pool and on the beach, including continuously topping up ones glasses of iced water.
We walked across the beach some nights to eat at other resaurants that whilst cheaper, the food was still great. Obviously not the same level of service and finesse, but meant that one does not need to eat in 3 meals a day, everyday.
We arranged a scooter with the hotel and spent a day cruising the Island, having dinner at the local Village (Saladan) and generally having heaps of fun.
Layana arrange all your day trips, diving etc.
We recommend that you use their boat to get from the Port to the Resort and thus bypass 2 ferries via road.
We can't wait to go back.
Beach was also amazing - no coral, stones or rocks to trip over.
Highly recommended.

Mannion - Derby England

Firstly let me apologise for the review being so late to arrive on the screen but hey what can one say about this place that hasn't already been said.

We arrived at the Layan (in the rain) after a very, very long journey but upon arrival in reception and to "friends we made there" (Tracey and Jason) saying enjoy, enjoy and that is excatly what we did.

Our room which was number 1010 was very large, clean and in an excellent position over looking very well kept gardens and very close to the pool. Every morning the pool boys (who could not do enough for you) put towels on the sun loungers (it was never crowded), brougt ice cold water and liked the occasional chat.

Whilst we were there the rugby was on and they let us have the conference room to watch it (2.00am in the morning). They also provded us with a big ice box with beer, wine and soft drinks - very nice. Luckily Bob and Margie were away on holiday as we might have got some stick off them (if you didn't know they are South Africans). It was a shame we did not get to meet them as we left the day they came back.

The food in the reasturant was excellent and as it rained most evenings (we imagined have a few meals on the beach) we ate there. The chef came out every evening and asked people if there meal was alright and did they enjoy it Whilst at the Layana it was my husbands birthday and we had a table overlooking the sea with "happy birthday" spelt out in shells on the table. They also brought him out a cake and sang to him which was a very nice touch. The staff thought it even nicer when he shared his cake between them all.

Michael never ceased to amaze everyone by always taking to people, asking if you were alright, did we need anything doing (all this before 7.30 in the morning) did he ever go to bed!!!!!

All the staff at the Layana were excellent from the gardeners, chambermaid girls, waiters, receptionist and the list goes on - keep up the good work

We did manage to get a trip up with the Layana team to Phi Phi which is what I have always wanted to do and if you get the chance go as it was amazing. The snorkelling with the fish was more than we could have ever imagined and when we arrive at the island you get a sense of well being and cannot imagine how the islanders must have felt with the tsunami, they just seem to pick themselves up and start again.

We made some good friens there so hi to Tracey and Jason how is the scuba diving going?

All in all if you want to think you are in paradise make sure you go but remeber one thing "don't tell everyone" we might not be able to get a room there next time.

We booked Layana for the last week of our honeymoon, which was preceeded by 3 weeks of exploring both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. After living out of suitcases for 3 weeks and covering 3,000 kms in rental cars, all we wanted was to relax for a week. And we could not have found a more perfect destination than Layana.

I think previous reviews have covered everything that needs to be said, and we were definitely not worried by the lack of milk shakes as highlighted by a previous reviewer! But there were things that made Layana stand out fom the crowd as regards other 5 star resorts that we have previously stayed in over the world:

1. Staff: Enough could not be done for us. This was topped on the last day when we had a 3.30pm checkout. We fully expected to be showering by the pool and changing into travelling clothes there and then. Without requesting facilities, we were assigned a bedroom for the day, informed by a note slipped under the door overnight, to use as we wished.

2. Extras: Water and fruit was supplied free of charge in the bedrooms, by the pool and at the bar. Iced towels at the pool when it got hot. Kayaks for sea trips were complimentary, and there was also a small sailboat that could be used.

3. Arrival: Arriving by speedboat, we were greeted on the beach by the management and staff and presented with cold drinks and fresh flower necklaces. Being honeymooners, our room was made up with fresh flowers and was beautiful. We felt like special guests rather than being treated like a number at a 'branded' resort.

4. Setting: It is true that Koh Lanta is not Phi Phi or Phuket as regards nightlife, but if you want to chill out and relax, then this is the place for you. The pool is the centrepiece of the resort and is as amazing as it looks in the previously submitted photos. The beach is fabulous, and the restaurants and bars along the beach are great fun and some open late and are lively. Nothing better than a walk back along the gorgeous beach, wading through the warm water after dinner before going to bed. Thai Cat was our favourite restaurant. The fish bbq was fantastic.

5. Organised trips: We went on the Phi Phi trip on one of the Layana speedboats and it was amazing from start to finish. Logi was a great host. Do one of the island tours!

In summary, this is the best hotel that I have ever stayed in, and I will definitely be back in the next few years, before Koh Lanta becomes too commercialised like some of the surrounding islands.......

Every part of our short week at the Layana was fantasic, it blew our expectations out of the water. I booked the Layana after reading good reviews on Trip Advisor and our experience certainly matched the experiences of others it seems!
We arrived by their speed boat which was exciting and were greeted on the beach with a drink and then shown to our lovely garden suite room. We were in block 7 which is great as it is close to the pool and restaurant, but also still has a private balcony. I must say that the resort was full when we arrived but there was no sense of overcrowding at all.
The people who work here are all so friendly and always say hello when passing and helping you as much as they can. I found the restaurant really good value for the type of foods and the surroundings. We ate in the reastaurant every night but 2 where we got room service or tried a place in Saladan. FYI Mr. Pizza is not good!!!
The town was more than i'd expected to find considering the size of the island and from what people have said. There are plenty of little shops and baks and pharmacys etc...The island regularly looses electricity for a few mins at a time but the hotel is backed up with a generator so you will never notice this happening.
Another thing to mention are the excursions. We went on 2. The Phi Phi trip and the 4 Islands trip. Both were snorkling trips and included lunch and anything you want to drink. I highly recommend these trips. My thanks to Logy and the crew for helping me snorkel and through the emerald cave!! I'm so glad i did it!
Apart from what I have mentioned the rest of the reviews say it all. Layana will not dissapoint you! Thank you to everybody there who made it a very special week. And good luck to Keng!
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