Iyara Resort And Spa Kohchang

We didn't stay at the resort but we stop at the restaurant. The service was fine, nothing to complain about it. We ordered roasted chicken with fries and salad. We didn't have to wait a log time to get the dishes. Food was very good and it was quite cheap.

When our taxi turned off the road I wondered where on earth I had booked as it seemed to be a back street behind a motorbike workshop. However my fears were dispelled when, after about 50m we came upon a peaceful little gem. We stayed in small bungalows situated around an attractive pool. The bungalows were quirky with old, dark wood furniture. They were clean and comfortable with lovely fresh (and ornately folded) towels and linen. There had obviously been a lot of work going on to improve the gardens and grounds and it was beautifully maintained. There was a very nice buffet breakfast each morning and the staff were always pleasant and helpful. The only hitch was the door lock on my bungalow was broken and they were reluctant to sort it out. It did still lock so wasn't a real problem. All the facilities were nearby with shops, bars, restaurants, street food, tour agents and taxi hire. The road ran along the coast so you could get taxis up and down the coast to other resorts. It was a bit of a walk to the beach but it was not arduous. The beach itself was well worth the walk. There are a couple of hotels fronting the beach but it was quite unspoiled with beautiful sand, a gently sloping beach and just a few small bars and beach huts along it. It was a much nicer beach than the busy White Sands or Lonely Beach.

We had a reservation for 14 April which we booked on the 13th, a day before. On the 14th morning while driving from Bangkok to Ko Chang my wife decided to call the hotel again to ensure our reservation is okay as this is the peak holiday season of Songkhran. And guess what, the hotel told us that they have given away our room to another guest last night! And they didn't even have the courtesy to call to inform us. Luckily we managed to book another hotel due to a last minute cancellation. Imagine.. the scenario when we arrived after a long 4 hours drive from Bangkok to discover that we don't have a room! Although we didn't stay at the Iyara, however this unpleasant incident of them cancelling our booking on confirms that they have ZERO customer service. And reading some of the reviews I don't think we are wrong!