Our first night in Ko Lanta, we didn’t have a place to stay, so we tried our luck at a place recommended by a travel agency by the ferry.  We told them our budget was $15 and we wanted a place within walking distance of a sandy beach.  Within minutes, an employee of “Merry Beach Resort” was on his way to pick us up to take us to our bungalow.  I highly recommend going through a local travel agency if you don’t have a reservation when arriving at a new place.  They are usually on every corner, especially near bus stations, ferry stops and airports.  We tried a guidebook a few times during the trip and were disappointed as a rule.  Either the places were fully booked, more expensive, or of lesser quality than noted in the guidebook.  Basically, a guidebook mention seems to mean you don’t have to upkeep your place as you are guaranteed a constant stream of travelers.  You also don’t have to pay booking fees from reserving online and you don’t have to worry about being charged if you break a reservation.  You have a place to stay for your first night and if you don’t like it you have time to find a new place for the next night.