Isara Lanta Beach Resort

Small, beachfront and built around bungalows rather than corridors, Isara Lanta suits divers who want the sea close, a private balcony and somewhere straightforward to eat and unwind. The setting is relaxed without trying too hard: Thai-style salas, a sundeck, sunbeds and the Beach Bar form the social heart of the resort.

You can keep the evening simple here. Walk back from the beach, settle under the shade with a cold drink, and let the island do the entertaining. A swimming pool, garden views and live sports broadcasts cover the moments when you are not swimming, eating or deciding whether one more drink is sensible. It probably is not, but that is what holidays are for.

You are in Ko Lanta, Thailand, on the southern end of Klong Khong Beach. The resort has direct access to a white-sand beach, with loungers and parasols already part of the arrangement. Sea first, then garden, rainforest and the island's mountain range behind it.

Long Beach and Klong Nin Beach are both about 2 miles away, while Secret Beach is roughly 1 mile from the resort. Baan Saladan, the island's main town, is a 12-minute ride away. For a change of scenery, Mu Ko Lanta National Park is about 10 miles away by road, and several restaurants and bars sit within roughly 1 mile of the bungalows.

Krabi International Airport is about 51 miles away by road. The journey is not a quick hop, so arranging a private or shared transfer with the hotel makes sense, particularly when luggage and dive bags are involved.

The accommodation is bungalow-based, with traditional Thai-style furniture and a private balcony. Choose the Superior Bungalow if air conditioning matters after a hot day outdoors; the Deluxe Bungalow adds both air conditioning and a fan. The Standard Bungalow is the simpler fan-cooled option and is intended for adults rather than children.

Every bungalow has a private bathroom with a shower and hot water, a fridge, a wardrobe and either a garden or sea view. The fridge earns its keep when you return warm, salty and ready for water rather than conversation. Air conditioning gives you the faster route to recovery, while the fan offers a less complicated night for those who prefer moving air and an open, breezier feel.

Private entrances keep the room arrangement practical, and daily housekeeping takes care of the reset while you are out. Superior and Deluxe bungalows can accommodate a cot or extra bed on request; the Standard Bungalow is for two adults. In other words, couples have the easy choice, while anyone travelling with a child needs to select the category carefully rather than discover the fine print at check-in.

The Isara Lanta Beach Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner beside the beach, in a setting of Thai-style salas, a sundeck and sunbeds. The kitchen moves between German specialities, Thai dishes and fresh seafood, which is useful when one evening calls for something familiar and the next calls for chilli, lime and a little more ambition.

Breakfast is continental and starts at 8am. It is not included in the stay, and it is not an early-plunge breakfast service, so check your departure plans before assuming you can eat and still make the boat. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are available, with fresh market ingredients and organic vegetables among the kitchen's stated priorities.

There is one bar: the Beach Bar. Local beers, spirits, fruit daiquiris, Margaritas, Mojitos, Long Island Iced Teas, fresh shakes and juices cover the liquid side of the operation. Food runs until 10pm, while the bar stays open until midnight, giving you somewhere to land after dinner without turning the resort into a nightclub.

The direct beach access does most of the heavy lifting. Sun loungers, parasols and the sundeck give you several ways to spend an afternoon without putting on anything more technical than sandals. Klong Khong's white sand and the island's long coastline are right outside, while the swimming pool offers a change from salt water when that feels like a worthwhile experiment.

A massage near the beach is available for the muscles that have spent the day carrying kit, luggage or both. Bicycle rental gives you a practical way to explore at your own pace, and the on-site tour desk can help organise outings around Ko Lanta and the surrounding islands. Car and motorbike rental are also available for those who prefer to set their own timetable.

The Beach Bar's salas and sunbeds are the natural place to stop afterwards, with chilled background music and the sea in front of you. There is also live sport on screen for evenings when the weather, the legs or simple laziness win the argument.

Check-in runs from 2pm to 10pm, and check-out is from 8am to 11am. You need to provide photo identification and a credit card on arrival, and the hotel needs your expected arrival time in advance. A later departure can be requested, subject to availability.

An airport shuttle can be arranged on request, and the hotel also offers transfer services, car hire, bicycle rental, luggage storage and a tour desk. Free Wi-Fi covers the rooms and public areas. If you are driving, free public parking is available nearby, with a reservation required; the on-site description also refers to free parking, so confirm the arrangement when organising your arrival.

A safety deposit box is available, and daily housekeeping keeps the bungalow in order. Children of all ages are welcome in the appropriate room categories, with cots and extra beds available on request. Bring cash for incidentals and allow a little time at arrival for the hotel's check-in formalities.

The restaurant works with fresh ingredients bought from the local market, and most vegetables and other products are organic. That is a concrete part of the kitchen's approach rather than a slogan attached to the bungalow walls.

The wider setting is Ko Lanta's coastline, rainforest and archipelago of more than fifty islands. Staying close to the beach, eating from the local market and exploring the island by bicycle all fit naturally with a lighter-footprint way to spend your non-diving hours.