In short: Tripplo’s analysis covers a sample of 61 guest reviews of The Houben. Guests in the sample highlight Service & staff, Location and Food & restaurants. The most common complaints: The hotel feels worn and in need of renovation. The toilet has no door, which leaves little privacy.
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Facts we have checked
- Adults only
- Minimum age18+
- Adult facilities
Source: thehouben.com · checked 16 Oct 2026
Tripplo’s hotel summary
Tripplo’s analysis · Updated 21 October 2026 · How we review hotels
The Houben is a small adults-only boutique hotel for guests aged 18 and over, perched on the hill above Ba Kantiang Bay. The infinity pool and most rooms look out over the Andaman Sea towards the sunset, and the rooms themselves are large, spotless and fitted with generous balconies. What guests remember most, however, is the staff: warm, attentive and personal enough that many say they felt like part of a family. Breakfast and happy-hour cocktails round off the picture. The setting has a physical cost. There are many steps between the road, the rooms and the pool, which makes the hotel a poor fit for anyone with limited mobility. Some bathrooms are open-plan with no door on the toilet, and dinner service can be slow on busy evenings. Couples who want a quiet base with views, and the beach a short walk away, will feel at home; families with children cannot stay.
Guests score it 9.1 out of 10 — the average across the 7 hotels we list on Koh Lanta is 9.2.
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- Guests describe the team as kind, attentive and genuinely warm, with several saying they felt part of a family. One guest mentions how kind they were on a birthday, and in quieter periods staff have served breakfast on the room balcony.
- The hotel sits high above Kantiang Bay, so the infinity pool and most rooms look straight out to sea. The sunsets are one of the things guests mention most often.
- The hilltop setting means plenty of stairs between the rooms, the pool and the road. Guests with limited mobility should think carefully before booking.
- In some rooms the toilet sits around a corner without a door, which several guests found too open for comfort. Others mention weak lighting in the bathroom.
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Should you book it?
The Houben is worth booking for couples who want a small, quiet hotel with sunset views — but pick somewhere else if you are travelling with children, who cannot stay here.
Book it if you want
- Couples who want a small, quiet hotel with sunset views
- Travellers who like to walk down to the beach and local restaurants
Pick somewhere else if
- You are travelling with children, who cannot stay here
- Stairs are difficult for you
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What guests actually say
Tripplo’s analysis uses a sample of 61 guest reviews. Texts may be shortened. Mentions are counted after automated classification and describe the sample, rather than every guest’s experience.
The sample follows how Booking.com and Google sort reviews, which puts satisfied guests first, so criticism is under-represented. Read the drawbacks below and the latest reviews on Booking.com before you book.
Food & restaurants
- +A standout breakfast, cooked to order, with fruit and Thai sweets on the side
- +Great cocktails, with happy hour a highlight
- +Tasty food prepared with care
- –Drinks and snacks can take a very long time to arrive
- –Food and drinks are pricey compared with local restaurants
- –A few found the food and the breakfast routine disappointing
”An amazing breakfast: whatever you like from the à la carte menu, plus a buffet with fruit and Thai sweets.” — guest, translated
Service & staff
- +Warm, attentive staff who make you feel like part of the family
- +Kind touches such as birthday surprises, breakfast in bed and a late checkout
- +Help arranging taxis and trips
- –Bar and room-service orders can be very slow
- –Rooms were not always ready at check-in
- –Some felt communication was patchy and staff were hard to find at night
”The staff are so lovely it feels like you are part of a family, and they were especially kind on my birthday.” — guest, translated
Pools, beach & aquapark
- +A lovely pool with sea views, perfect for relaxing
- +Comfortable loungers around the pool
- –Some found the pool water heavily chlorinated
- –Grime on the pool edge and tiles was reported
- –The pool was closed for cleaning without warning
”It sits on top of a cliff overlooking the water, with a killer pool and yummy breakfast.” — guest, translated
The rooms
- +Large, spacious rooms with sea views
- +Some rooms have a private pool or a jacuzzi
- +Many guests praise the comfortable beds
- –The toilet has no door, which leaves little privacy
- –Faults such as weak air conditioning, a leaking sprayer or a slow-filling jacuzzi
- –Musty smells in some bathrooms, and some found the beds too firm
”Our room was very spacious and had the most stunning view of the pool area and out to the ocean.” — guest, translated
Condition & cleanliness
- +Some guests found the rooms spotlessly clean
- –The hotel feels worn and in need of renovation
- –Mould and musty smells in bathrooms
- –Broken fittings, plus power and air-conditioning problems
”The property feels old, worn out and in urgent need of renovation.” — guest, translated
Location
- +A clifftop setting with sweeping sea and sunset views
- +A short walk to the beach, restaurants and shops
- +A peaceful, secluded feel
- –Lots of steps and no lift, which is hard for anyone with limited mobility
- –You need a scooter to explore further afield
”Fantastic location, within walking distance of the restaurants and the beach.” — guest, translated
Noise levels
- +Quiet and peaceful, ideal for unwinding
- –Loud air conditioning or a pool pump next to some rooms disturbed sleep
- –Road noise and neighbours can be heard
”Quiet and relaxing. Perfect for couples.” — guest, translated
Value for money
- –Many feel the price is too high for the condition of the hotel
- –Food and drinks are expensive for Thailand
”I'm not sure it's worth the money, and the food and drinks are quite expensive for Thailand.” — guest, translated
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Frequently asked questions
How do guests rate The Houben?
On Booking.com it scores 9.1/10 from 353 guest reviews.
How many stars does The Houben have?
The Houben is a 4-star hotel.
What amenities does The Houben offer?
The Houben offers infinity Pool, sea View, spa, fitness Centre, restaurant and bar.
Weather & sea temperature — Koh Lanta
Right now: 27° air · 31° sea
Reading about Koh Lanta
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272 Moo 5, Ba Kantiang Bay, Koh Lanta Yai, Krabi, 81150 Ko Lanta, Thailand