Woodlawn Villas Resort

You come here for space, greenery and a slower pace rather than a large hotel complex. Woodlawn Villas Resort sits among mature coconut trees and tropical gardens, with a swimming pool at the centre of the stay and balconies looking out over the garden.

The accommodation works particularly well if you are travelling as a couple, with friends or as a family and want somewhere that feels more like a villa base than a standard room block. Air conditioning, free WiFi, comfortable beds, tea and coffee facilities and a private outdoor space cover the practical side; the jungle setting deals with the scenery without making a speech about it.

You are in Chalok Baan Khao, on the southern side of Koh Tao, Thailand. The resort is about 200 metres from the main road, so restaurants, cash machines, convenience stores, laundry shops, yoga classes, dive shops and tour agencies are close enough to be useful without sitting on your doorstep.

Chalok Bay is around a nine-minute walk away, with seafront restaurants and coffee shops. Shark Bay is about 0.7 miles away by road, while Aow Leuk Beach is around 0.8 miles away; Sairee Beach is roughly a five- to six-minute drive. Mae Haad Pier is about 1 mile away, around a three-minute drive, which keeps arrival and departure fairly straightforward once you are on the island.

The room choice is really a question of how much room you need around your holiday. Couples can keep things simple with the one-bedroom villa or the Superior Double Room with Balcony, while families and groups have the useful option of a family apartment or a much larger family villa with three bathrooms. The Superior Double Room is for adults only, so families should look elsewhere in the accommodation range.

The villas and suites add a kitchenette, living area and dining area, which gives you somewhere to sit properly rather than balancing a takeaway on the edge of the bed. That matters on a diving holiday: you can spread out, store drinks in the refrigerator and make tea or coffee without turning the bedroom into a snack station. Family accommodation also gives you more scope to separate sleeping and sitting time.

Every room has air conditioning, a fan, a private bathroom with shower and toiletries, a flat-screen Smart TV, a safety deposit box and a garden-facing balcony, patio or terrace depending on the accommodation. Complimentary drinking water is provided, along with tea and coffee facilities. Daily housekeeping, free WiFi and a drying rack keep the unglamorous parts of island life under control.

There is no resort restaurant or breakfast arrangement to build your day around, but you are not marooned with a kettle. All-day room service is available, and Chalok Bay brings seafront restaurants and coffee shops within a nine-minute walk.

For a quick meal or a change of scene, the main-road area has several nearby options, including Tukta Thai Food, Metal Sheet Food and Drinks and Rain Hill Restaurant. Hammock Cafe Plae Yuan, Cappuccino and Deisha View are also in the surrounding area, so you can find coffee, a drink or a meal without turning dinner into an expedition. The villas and suites include kitchenettes, while all accommodation has tea and coffee facilities and a refrigerator.

The outdoor pool is the obvious place to put the day on pause, with sun loungers, beach chairs, umbrellas and pool toys around it. A sun terrace, garden and outdoor furniture give you several ways to sit outside, whether you want a proper read or simply need to stop moving for a while.

Massage is available on site, and the tour desk can help shape a day away from the resort. Cycling and cultural excursions are offered, with a Koh Nang Yuan day trip among the named options. Kayaking, snorkelling and boat excursions are also available as water-based activities, while fishing and hiking can be arranged off site. After that, the Smart TV and streaming service are there for the rare evening when doing absolutely nothing wins.

Mae Haad Pier is about 1 mile away. A shuttle from the pier is available for check-in and check-out, and the resort also offers airport shuttle arrangements. The pier transfer is the useful detail here: it saves you from arriving on Koh Tao with luggage, dive kit and the usual collection of bags wondering how far the next vehicle is.

Check-in runs from 14:00 to 20:00, and check-out from 08:00 to 11:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in, and the minimum check-in age is 18. Private check-in and check-out, luggage storage, daily housekeeping, a tour desk, laundry and ironing services are available. Free private parking is on site, and WiFi is free throughout the property.

Samui International Airport is about 38 miles away, while Chumphon Airport is around 53 miles away. The island connection matters more than the straight-line airport distance, so arrange the relevant transfer before travelling rather than leaving the last leg to chance.