A true hidden gem”

A true gem in Koh Lanta Yai, albeit still relatively unknown among locals in both Lanta and Krabi Town (which can be a problem when it comes to getting a taxi). Keep the hotel's telephone number at hand. My only regret was that I didn't stay longer (only 1 night) but the stay was nonetheless memorable. The room was impressive both in terms of design aesthetics and size. The high ceiling, coupled with the white theme really accentuates the space within. Furthermore, the Houben gave us a top floor room with a commanding view of Kan Tiang Bay. Choose from a selection of DVD movies for in-room entertainment, or you could take a dip in its infinity pool or just relax by the pool with a good book.

“Designer chic with the feel of a private villa””

I am going to start this review by stating if you are used to the Ritz Carlton and expect that type of service at the Houben don't come. You will just annoy yourself, the staff and the other guests. If however you are used to and enjoy staying in amazing boutique feel hotels where the staff blend in to the background yet are there when ever you need anything then come. The Houben has the look and feel of a large expensive private European villa. uber modern and uber cool. Forget suits, shirts and ties, this is strictly linen, baggy, and lots of it. The location: perfect. Poised on the top of a cliff overlooking the bay the swimming pool (brilliant blood red) forms a seamless infinity edge with the sea beyond. Perfect for sitting and watching the sunset. Other people in Ko Lanta have to go to a bar or restaurant for a cliff top sunset - guests here just move from the lounger to the pool and back again. The hotel is a 40 min (20 min in Shana drives you - Belgiums Alain Prost in a great way!) from the boat pier in the north. Located a 5 min walk from the beach and the dive shops this is a great place to be based for the National Park and the diving at Ko Hao. Free and fast Wifi through out although please remember you are in Thailand, 1 hour off shore so it is going to be intermittent. That is not the hotels fault so no use blaming them. Besides - it is FREE. The rooms: The hotel does not do itself justice with the pro photos of their rooms. They are resplendent and pristine. Clean whites everywhere mixed with red. The owners, a Thai / Beligian couple are interior designers and bring everything that is cool, chic, minimalist and modern to the the establishment. The rooms have huge and superbly comfortable king beds. TV (should you want it....). Uninterrupted views of the ocean. A nespresso machine, mini bar, whirlpool baths etc etc etc. Everything is clean and tidy. This is not your beach shack type of establishment. All rooms have big balconies with either outd

Perfect, intimate hotel”

The Houben was the perfect hotel for us to get away from it all and have the best, quiet, relaxing holiday. The hotel is on the quiet part of the island, on Ba Kantiang Bay, which only has a few other hotels and shops (including a 7eleven and ATMs). I would recommend The Houben for couples or adults rather than families with children as it (and Ba Kantiang) is more the sort of place where you go to relax and not do much. The hotel is strikingly designed and tastefully decorated to the last detail. Our room (as all rooms do) had a view to the west over the water, which provided spectacular sunsets. Staff were excellent and the food, though pricier than other places to eat around, was very good. We look forward to staying at The Houben again for a quiet getaway.

Beautifully quiet and boutique, an oasis in Thaila”

We LOVED this hotel. After transferring from a nearby island and dealing with the crazy ferry and tour sales people and tuk tuk men, The Houben was like arriving in HEAVEN. The staff are wonderfully friendly, all greeting you at arrival with a cool refreshing welcome drink and always greeting you with a smile every time you see them around the hotel. The Houben is a designer style hotel with a very modern feel, the rooms are AMAZING! Our bed was very comfortable, we could easily stay in our room for hours just relaxing and watching the sun set out of our huge balcony window overlooking the ocean. These guys have though of every comfort, they even have a DVD borrowing service so if you feel like a night in, you can watch movies which is great! Not only do they make the rooms up in the morning, they also make the rooms down at night! The room service will fold down your bed, light the candles and put out your slippers and some water for the night. The red pool was a real feature and the food was excellent. I would rate this hotel as the best on Koh Lanta for couples or anyone wishing for a quiet and luxurious place to stay. Not a children hotel though, sorry!

Paradise on koh Lanta”

The Houben is an excellent hotel on koh Lanta. Located in the south of koh Lanta the Houben lies near excellent kantiang beach. The Hotel itself looks out over a rock bay and is located high on the rocks, so you can't go to the beach easily. The rooms are excellent, nice beds, big shower and jacuzzi. The design of the interior is smart and understated. The swimming pool is great and the restaurant serves up good food. Would recommend and definitely would like to return

Fine hotel and staff - low value for money”

Rating the hotel in a vacuum - apart from cost/value considerations - its a very nice boutique on a cliff-side with a bar stocked with interesting Belgian beers and very well-designed rooms. I had been to Koh Lanta several times previously, usually staying in more rustic bungalows (always a solid step above backpacker accommodation) and this was unquestionably the nicest place I've stayed. Its a bit far South, which extends travel times to other parts of the island, but also makes it a bit more remote (in a pleasant way). The beach nearest to the hotel is not particularly nice as Thai beaches go, but the next cove to the south is one of the most beautiful beaches I've seen on the island - worth the extra walk or the short hop on a moto. In a vacuum, I would give the Houben a solid 4 out of 5. My primary issue with the Houben is that its prices are steep, and if the Agoda listing is correct, outright ludicrous in-season. We were fortunate and got a very good off-season deal. It was still a bit more than I would usually pay, but all things considered I was happy to get the chance for semi-luxury accommodation at a fair price. I think the main issue is that the Houben is charging as though it were a luxury resort and it is not. We avoided the worst of that by booking with the off-season discount; however, all of the small things - moto rental, food costs, etc. were steep in light of the quality and prevailing prices at shops a few minutes walk away. I don't mind paying if something is qualitatively better, but a surcharge on readily available items, especially during low season, struck me as a little cheap. So again - very nice place, pleasant staff and certainly worth it at the off-season rate. Just consider booking airport transfer, moto rental, and purchasing food at some of the other more reasonable places nearby. If you are a "luxury traveler" (which I am clearly not) this may be of less concern, but do not expect super high-end when booking.

The best hotel ever!”

I have only good things to say about this place. First, we were so impressed by what we saw online that we decided to go to Koh Lanta because of the houben. When we got there, everything was so impressive that it was even more than what we expected. The service was great. The room, the design, the sunset, the bed, the jacuzzi, the restaurant and everything else is simply awesome. The only bad thing was that we could not stay longer. It is, with no doubt, the best hotel we have ever been to and we are definitely booking for the next stay.

Top Hotel, Fantastic view, Great location”

i booked this after looking reading good reviews about it and seeing the spectacular pictures in the houben website. i always try to manage my expectations by thinking that it never looks as good as in the photos. this is one instance where it is as good, if not better then in the photos. when i was taken to my villa, i remember going wow! i had an amazing view of the sea from almost every section of the room (bed, sink, sitting area, patio). the only places that you can't see the sea from is the toilet and bathroom. the architecture of the houben is modern, beautiful and setup in a way where you have a great view of the sea. the property is very well maintained with great service. it is small and intimate and we file like we were staying at a friend's villa. the owner and her daughter are very hands on and it reflects in the quality. i am already thinking about going back there again... hopefully soon.

Lovely hotel, great/friendly staff”

wonderful time at the houben. we loved talking to the staff there and felt looked after. they made us feel like we were home away from home addressing any questions/concerns immediately, with the exception of one odd experience: when we ordered the most expensive item on the menu (champagne to celebrate our 1st anniversary), champagne was too warm in which of course we asked for ice. we were later charged for this ice. paying wasn't the issue; it was just confusing and it could make some wonder negatively about the reason and the set up of it. if it is necessary to charge, our suggestion is to include this in the price itself. with that out of the way, i'd like to leave on a positive tone that the houben deserves. the place was truly wonderful. beautiful rooms, semi-private balcony (partitioned walls) with outdoor seats, and view of the sunset. infinity pool and jacuzzi area kept at great temperature. the amazing staff made sure to turn on the jacuzzi side of the pool whenever we were taking a dip. we felt that they were attentive and anticipated our needs. some rooms have a private jacuzzi and a spa is onsite (though did not partake). not a single spot of dirt/mess noticeable. location: although no direct beach access, it is only a short walk to the beach. local travel agencies are close by for booking kayaking trips, motorbike rentals, and anything else to explore the island. my husband and i also appreciated the immediate warm welcome from the staff and the cold pomegranate drink upon arrival. free dvd rentals to watch in modern hip rooms were nice touches to the service. absolutely would return again. we have recommended this place to everyone and anyone we happened to be talking about our vacation. next time, we are thinking of bringing our respective parents as well.

A 15 room luxury boutique hotel”

The Houben differs from the general hotels and resorts in Lanta. It is very elegant. Small, only 15 rooms. All of them having a view towards the sea. Located on high grounds you get (in addition to tsunami safety...) a very nice view of the sunset. Pool area is great. Although a tendency of guests "reserving" pool chairs by placing the towels, but never using the chairs. Idiotic behavior - stop that! Not the hotels fault. A negative experience was one of the staff in the reception who were absolutely ignorant about many of our questions. She couldn't offer any help to quite simple inquiries. Other staff lifts the grade to OK. The service in the restaurant was OK but not great. Breakfast was very good. That apart Houben must be highly recommended.

The Houben --A must STAY on Lanta”

The Houben was an amazing 5 days of our 5 week trip to Thailand. Very close walking distance to beach, restaurants and some nightlife. A short drive to other towns on the island. We stayed in an Ocean-front room with balcony hot-tub. The room was huge as was the comfortable bed. The grounds of the hotel were very nice and the red-tiled pool very inviting. What made a stay extra special was the awesome staff they attentiveness was first-class. We enjoyed our holiday to Lanta very much. We would highly recommend and would make a return stay to the Houben.!!!!!!!

Awesome Stay at The Houben”

We recently got back from the trip to Koh Lanta. stayed at The Houben for 8 nights and had the most awesome time there. The staff there was always very helpful, going out of the way to provide us all they could. Would have loved some sort of direct access to the beach (however its not very far - about 7 mins walk from the Hotel) - something the hotel can't help with currently thank you making our vacation amazing

Awesome views, lovely rooms, excellent service!!”

as soon as we arrived we fell in love with the houben. we stayed in april 2012 for 4 nights and decided to go back for a further 2 nights at the end of our stay on koh lanta. the pool is big and clean, the rooms spacious and nicely furnished and the staff are very friendly. the hotel restaurant serves tasty food whilst there are also other restaurants nearby or moped/tuk tuk distance away.

I got a good rest”

i enjoyed my stay at the Houben. The rooms are clean and huge. It's modern European style, which I am still more comfortable with. The highlight of their rooms is the I can see the great paranomic ocean view every day from my balcony, especially so when the hotel is located High on a cliff. You can also relax by the pool with the same ocean view. Food is alright. Breakfast is included in the room charge and you can order various food from the menu and they will cook it for you. Wish they had more local choices on the menu. I am also glad with the serving sizes which are generous. The delightful thing about the hotel is the staff are always greeting you with a smile and seeing if they can help. Greetings to Shana and Yindee for their service. The hotel is located on Kantieng Bay, which is one of the smaller beach with a small row of shophouses. I felt I liked this place more as it is less touristy and more private, though the trade off is less souvenir shops/ places to eat. Our favorite place to eat is at the drunken sailors where both Thai and western food choices are excellent. Do try the burgers.

Beautiful Hotel, wonderful service”

We stayed at The Houben for 5 nights recently and had a wonderful time. The rooms are large, clean, modern and airy with the most fantastic views, absolutely picture perfect sunsets from the balcony every night. The bathroom was stunning, polished concrete with extra touches like organic shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion and an oil burner with lovely fragrant oil that was lit for us each evening. The breakfast was delicious, freshly cooked for you and served with fresh coffee in their beautiful restaurant. All in all we had a great time in Lanta and would definitely go back to The Houben.

Fantastic hotel”

We had the most relaxing time at this fabulous hotel. Right from checking in, we were made to feel special by Sharna, Walter and all the staff who are so friendly and attentive. The rooms all have wonderful sunset views and are very well appointed. We were so comfortable in our room and at the hotel that some days we just didn't feel the need to leave and often had the entire area to ourselves all day. Super quiet and chilled. The breakfast is delicious and I feel the right choice to have a limited buffet service and allow guests to choose from a menu, which means all the food is cooked fresh to order. The homemade jams were delicious, I only wish I could have eaten more! We had a few nights where it rained so hard we didn't want to go out and ate in the hotel restaurant instead. Wow.. the meals were fantastic, some of the best food we have eaten on our 9 week trip and very good value compared to other restaurants around Koh Lanta of a similar standard. We cannot wait to come back!!

Excellent Stay”

it started with a warm welcome and thorough introduction to the room by the receptionist. the bed is so much more comfortable than my previous resort and we slept very well. you can also tell that a lot of attention are put into the details of everything. i was from the creative industry and i can attest that they have taken a lot of efforts into coordinating colours and aesthetics. contrary to some internet websites, kantiang bay is actually not as good as klong dao beach (where i stayed before houben). but the wonderful pool keeps you at the hotel anyway. it's not too convenient to go to the bay.

lovely hotel with a modern contempoary design”

we had the unforgettable stays with houben even we missed our first night stay. we missed our flight from bangkok. so we arrived at the next monday during breakfast time. houben gives you a sense of peaceful & privacy stay since it has only 15 rooms. very nice swimming pool with salt water & very easy to access to the beach!! breakfast was great, made in order so no food are being wasted. i love the coconut jam for bread!! very thai style. dinner was great! we like the designed of everything in houben and the restaurant's thai food was yummy!

A fantastic hotel with a great view”

This is an amazing hotel. Starting from its modern design, the room itself was spectacular with a magnificent view of the ocean. We stayed in the room on the 3rd floor with high ceiling, very nice furnishing, and just impressive design overlooking the ocean... the room/view was so amazing that I felt like foregoing everything else in Koh Lanta! Service was amazing... because the hotel only has 15units, they staff knows you and provide very customized help/assistance. Wish we could've stayed longer... this is paradise.

Super Stay and Lovely Place to Stay”

Everything from check in till our very last minute of our stay. They provide not just great hotel hospitality but also very informative of what you activities you can find or do. We wanted a great private stay and they gave us more than that. Something that make us want to stay there more. The Kan Tiang beach was just 300 metres away for away beach activities and 150 metres from hotel was a small road shop with 7-11 and few restaurants.