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I love Bangkok, it’s an awesome base for when I’m not traveling but sometimes I feel the need to properly escape the madness, forget about making money online and kicking back on a Thai island for a few days.

I did that recently, and this time I head to Koh Lanta. I was thinking seafood, motorbike rental, beers at sunset and trying to convince my pasty Irish body to change from almost translucent to something vaguely similar to a tan.

Koh Lanta is a beautiful island on the west coast of Thailand, I took an Air Asia flight to Trang (around $50 each way, bargain) then connected onto a minibus that I organized from the airport (another $8 or so, about 90 mins). You can also take a bus from Bangkok (either Southern Bus Terminal or Khao San Road – 12 hours, $30 or so).

The island itself was just what I needed, long white sand beaches, plenty of food stalls with some impressively swish restaurants and bars to visit. I was on boyfriend duty so I wanted some beachside luxury throughout my stay. I choose to stay at the gorgeous Twin Lotus Resort and Spa and it was everything I had hoped my island experience would bring and more!

The resort is essentially a series of mini-villas, each one is modern/Thai style with a huge bed, foreign tvs, an amazing bathroom area and if you book early, cracking beach and sea views. Sometimes when I stay in awesome places like this I have to really struggle to leave my villa!

But alas, I did. The hotel can organize super cheap scooter rental ($7 or so per day) and then you’re free to explore the island. The Twin Lotus Resort is in the north of the island though, which is perfect. Right on Klong Dao beach, just a few minutes from the best seafood restaurants, busiest night market, cool bars and the port from which you embark – couldn’t be better.

They’ve just employed a new chef too and he’s entirely transformed the menu. So if your holiday break requires cocktails and seafood on the beach, then Twin Lotus is the place to be. I had one of the most amazing seafood spreads there one night, where the chef came out and had a chat with me too. I love hotels that maintain a level of luxury but still have that touch of informality.

I stayed on the island for 4 nights and personally I’d say that was just about perfect. Like I mentioned Koh Lanta is not a small island but I get island fever if I hang around too long so 4 days of luxury and relaxtion, complete with $5 hour long massages every day was just what I needed to recharge before heading back to Bangkok and recommence my online money hustling!

If you make it to Thailand, I’d massively recommend a trip here and if you need to escape the backpacking vibe for a few days, share a room with your buddy or partner for about $30 each – awesome price, now just get snapping and instagram a few jealous pics for your friends back home to enjoy. Happy travels!