The Dearly Koh Tao Hostel-PADI 5 Star Dive Resort

The room was spacious and had a balcony with chairs. Staff were friendly and helpful. The pool area was clean and nice to swim in. The buffet breakfast never ran out of food! Lots of hostel-organised events and shuttles to different beaches each day. Location was great for food options and getting to different beaches, especially if you hire a moped. It was a bit quieter than down by Sairee beach, which was nice. There's a 7/11 and laundry services nearby too.

Shared bathrooms were nice but a bit dirty - some of the showers were a bit mouldy. Toilets were very clean though.

Excellent property. Private rooms are great, loved the sunset shuttles to different areas each night. With the private room you could order breakfast which was great. Staff were very friendly

Everything was great, dorm clean and spacious with a big balcony, bed super comfy, I slept great and never waited for toilet or shower. The common areas are nice, you can work or do yoga, beautiful pool, good service of pick up and drop off from and to pier, nice breakfast, and the most amazing is the free shuttle everyday to a different beach and sunset bar. I enjoyed every day there. Social and good vibes but not party-loud. 10min walk from a true postcard beach, many cafes and restaurants around. The best option if you don't feel like driving a scooter. I would definitely go back!

A 400 thb deposit for a key and towel is a bit strange. There is a lost & found and giveaway system, which is a great initiative, but just a shame that it is not arranged nicely and is almost on the floor, piled up. But those are details.

The Superior Suite itself is genuinely great - spacious, comfortable, and the bed is one of the best I've had on this trip. No complaints there. Water pressure in the shower could be better, but that's a minor point.

Unfortunately, the staff is the reason I can't recommend this hotel. I'd read similar complaints in other reviews before booking and unfortunately they weren't isolated incidents. Two women in particular were consistently rude and unpleasant, with an attitude like guests owed them something. The only friendly person was a younger woman working mornings at reception. A few specific examples: • I wanted to bring a friend up to my room. Asking for ID is fair enough, but they also asked for money, which felt absurd. Even if that's genuinely their policy, the tone and way it was communicated was unnecessarily unpleasant. • I asked for help booking a taxi to pier that would also pick up my friend along the way. They flatly refused, saying if I wanted to pick up my friend too, I should just do it myself. • Asking for help choosing tours was equally frustrating - trying to book anything through them was so complicated that we ended up booking elsewhere anyway. (Also worth noting: diving is significantly cheaper at Sairee Beach - don't book that through the hotel.)