Crystal Bay Yacht Club Beach Resort

We had a wonderful stay at Crystal Bay Resort. Everything was perfect – the rooms and facilities were extremely clean, the staff was incredibly kind, attentive, and very child-friendly. The food was delicious, and the view over the beautiful beach was just stunning. We would definitely come back without hesitation!

clean room, great service and cheap bike rental. we got the Seaview room which was absolutely gorgeous. That view is to die for. will definitely come back again especially for this price.

Beautiful small hotel with amazing views, not necessarily close to everything but more in a location where everything isn't too far away. We stayed in the grand Seaview room on the top floor and it was phenomenal. The staff was very friendly. Very great place to stay for a honeymoon!

We stayed here for almost a week and had a mostly pleasant experience. The hotel has charm, a fantastic location, and some really thoughtful touches, but also a few things you should be aware of before booking.

✅ Pros
• Quick check-in
• Luggage brought to the room
• No deposit required
• Friendly and helpful staff
• Rooms with aircon and toiletries
• Beachfront location
• Free sunbeds (limited)
• Excellent cocktails
• Motorbike rental nearby with free parking

❌ Cons
• Bedsheets weren’t changed
• Noisy early-morning cleaning
• Water outages (government infrastructure works)
• Limited bike availability on-site
• Occasional bad smell near stairway sunbed

🛏️ The Stay

Check-in was quick and smooth, and having our luggage carried to the room was a nice bonus in the heat. We appreciated not having to leave a deposit – instead, you just sign a list with replacement costs in case something gets damaged.

The room itself was basic but had everything we needed: air conditioning, and practical dispensers for shampoo and shower gel both at the sink and in the shower. Depending on your room type, staff will personally show you the way.

🏝️ The Location

The location is a real highlight: the hotel sits directly on a sandy beach that’s great for swimming and snorkeling. There are a few local restaurants nearby, and the hotel’s own restaurant offers a beautiful sea view – ideal for sunsets and slow mornings.

Sunbeds are available for free, although there aren’t many. Some lucky rooms even come with private loungers right by the sea.

If you need a scooter, the hotel rents some out, but they were all booked during our stay. We ended up going across the street – and we’re glad we did. The service there was excellent, prices were fair, and as a customer, you get free parking. Crystal Beach itself doesn’t offer parking, and non-customers at the rental place have to pay a daily fee.

⚠️ Things to Know

Housekeeping started around 8 AM every day. The staff uses walkie-talkies, and the sound really carries through the thin upstairs doors. If you’re a light sleeper, keep this in mind.

Unfortunately, our sheets weren’t changed during our 6-night stay – even though the info in the room said they’d be replaced every 3 days. We noticed a small green stain that never moved.

Twice, the water stopped working completely – no toilet, no shower, no sink. There is a small sign in the bathroom explaining that this may happen due to ongoing government infrastructure updates. Luckily, the outdoor restroom still worked.

Lastly, one of the sunbeds near the stairway had a sewage smell – probably from a drain pipe running nearby. It wasn’t a deal-breaker, but definitely noticeable.

✅ Conclusion

This hotel offers good value and an amazing beach location. With friendly staff, cold cocktails, and a relaxed vibe, it’s a great choice for beach lovers and snorkelers.

Just be aware of a few quirks, like water interruptions or cleaning noise in the mornings. If you go in with realistic expectations, you’ll enjoy your stay – we certainly did, and we’d come back!

Rooms are ok, but the location is the best. Easy access to the best beach in the area. Only real drawback is there is no parking or hotel drop off/ pull in. We were dropped across the street and had to run across busy street with two big bags. But again, the location is key. Loungers right above the beach, nice pool and decent food and drinks. Recommend the superior room over the basic. Great stay!

Beautiful Hotel to stay in. Cozy and romantic with great sea view. The staff were very helpful. Lamai beaches and markets were 15mins walk away. Overall, would recommend for quiet, sea view with good room experience.
You can just enjoy the sunrise and sunset from the hotel.

We ate here and the food was delicious. highly recommend the massaman curry. The staff were all extremely friendly and kind. Beautiful view out to sea also :)

Perfect stay at this hotel, I would love to stay here again some day. Perfect views, easy access to beach and pool, lovely staff, clean fresh room. Very happy here. Thank you 🙏

I booked this hotel for two nights. I was with my husband. Hotel rooms were ok, all necessary facilities were available. Our room was sea facing. The view was amazing, worth spending money. Poll was also neat and clean. Loved their service. Staff were friendly too. We took car on rent for roaming around the island.

Value for money!! This is not a 5 star resort and definitely not the Banyan Tree, but it has an amazing view over Crystal Bay and very good pricing for a real seasight view balcony.
The staff is very friendly.

Just 1 item for improvement: the coffee!! But a neighboring bar has an excellent machine for addicts like me.