Sai Daeng Resort

How anyone can rate this below 5 stars I don't know, it's pure paradise! The sea is crystal clear, the setting is on a quiet cliff up a big hill so the views are breathtaking and the rooms are lovely. Service has also been amazing and people are lovely. They have free shuttles to and from the town if you need them which drop you off at the pier. The food has been fine, we have eaten all Thai dishes really but the breakfast has also been great with lots of choice. Would love to return and get a sea view room as we had a garden room as cost was less, really a once in a lifetime experience.

We recently stayed at Sai DAENG Resort and there's no denying that the setting is absolutely stunning — the views over the bay are beautiful, and the surrounding nature makes for a really peaceful atmosphere. The snorkelling was also a highlight, with equipment provided in the room and vibrant marine life just steps from the beach. Unfortunately, the room itself really let the experience down. From the moment we arrived, there was a persistent smell of sewage in the room that didn’t go away. On top of that, the air-conditioning started leaking in the middle of the night. While staff were friendly and quick to come and fix it (even during the night), it wasn’t ideal. The next day, we returned to the room to find the staff inside without us being informed, and the entire AC unit had been removed from the wall — again, quite a surprise. The resort is also quite far out from the main areas of Koh Tao, so taxis can be expensive. They do offer shuttle buses to the pier but you need to book in advance and still have to make your way into the centre from there at a cost. Overall, while the natural beauty of the place and the helpfulness of the staff were definite positives, the condition of the room and the surprise maintenance work left us feeling disappointed. If the rooms were improved, it could be a really great spot — but for now, the experience didn’t quite live up to the expectations set by the location.

Pros - lovely setting/views and snorkelling Cons - resort is very rundown. I feel the original owner has either sold it or given up? Dirty rooms, breakfast was very unsanitary with flies everywhere. Our shower leaked every time we used it under the toilet. The water wasn’t working once we first arrived and we had to wait an hour to shower after a long journey and missed their only free shuttle to town. Would not recommend staying here. The value for money is terrible.