Lanta Casuarina Beach Resort

Although it looks a little old from the outside, Lanta Casuarina has a pleasant exteriors, with quintessentially Thai red-tiled roofs. There is a newer building hidden in the back, which houses the Family Rooms and looks out over a small garden. The lobby is small and spartan, with a lot of open space. There are a few nice rattan chairs to sit in, plus a couple of ceramic wall carvings of scenes from Buddhist folklore, but overall it's not the most inviting place to linger. The grounds are far more pleasant, with a large lawn that has small statues and leads up to a swimming pool. The overall look is a bit worn, but it's hard to complain too much for the price; this is a terrific value for mid-range beachside lodgings. 

Lanta Casuarina Beach Resort is located at the southern end of Long Beach -- the longest beach on Koh Lanta -- about halfway down the west coast of the island. The resort is accessed via a short paved road off of the main beach road thoroughfare, and is right next to a public beach park, which gets lots of locals driving in on the weekends. There are plenty of restaurants and bars along the beach, and it is a 10- to 15-minute walk up to the village along the main road, where there are even more spots to drink, eat, and shop. This end of the beach is slightly quieter than some areas farther north, but there is still plenty going on. The Krabi Airport is a two-hour drive away. 

There are 65 rooms and villas at the Lanta Casuarina Beach Resort, the most popular of which are the Sea View rooms. While they have the same features as the entry-level Standard Rooms, they look out towards the sea rather than the garden; however don't expect any close up dramatic beach shots, as the water is in the distance and there are trees blocking clearer views. All units are spacious, with white tile floors in rooms and hardwood floors in the villas. Decor is simple but worn in places, with wooden furniture and earth-toned color schemes. Standard amenities include safes, mini-fridges, water-heating thermoses, and flat-screen TVs, but English cable channels are limited. Bathrooms are simple but functional, with walk-in showers (or shower/tub combos in Beach Front Villas). 

Lanta Casuarina Beach Resort doesn't have an abundance of features, but enough to make for a pleasant stay. The highlight here is the beach-facing swimming pool, which is a great spot for watching the sunset or stretching out on a slightly worn poolside lounge chair. There's also a kids' pool. Along with the Beach Bar -- which serves food and drinks throughout the day -- there's a restaurant, Ruen Thai, where a free breakfast is served daily. In the high season, Ruen Thai is also open for lunch and dinner, but it closes in quieter months. Although it's not much of a business hotel, there are some event space for meetings or functions and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. However, the connections can be spotty in rooms, and guests might find it easier to access the Internet from one of the common areas. The resort can also arrange transport and tours around the island and further afield.