Ko Tao
These traditional bungalows are set along a quiet, silky northern section of Sairee Beach, away from the crowds. The jungle backdrop adds to the sense of…
Must-see hotels in Ko Samui & the Lower Gulf
Pattani
The safest and best hotel in town, with soldiers outside and a metal detector in the lobby, this is where Thai politicians stay on their rare visits to…
Ko Pha-Ngan
A delightful picture in Ban Tai; a tree-bark and wood-chip covered path leads up to a variety of minimalist-chic bungalows with tinted glass hidden by the…
Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
Travellers love this spot on a small hill leading to a half-circle of dreamy white beach. Choose from modern, concrete villas with thatched roofs, cheaper…
Ko Pha-Ngan
Set along a stunning and secluded stretch of stony outcrops north of Ao Hin Kong, Chills’ cluster of delightfully simple but modern rooms all have…
Ko Samui & the Lower Gulf
Like most hotels in the region, this central and reputable nine-floor place, a short walk from the train station, would be more expensive if it weren't…
Ko Samui
The dreamy, deluxe design scheme at Sala Samui is exquisite and modern – clean whites and lacquered teaks are lavish throughout, while subtle turquoise…
Ko Pha-Ngan
At the far eastern corner of Hat Khuat (Bottle Beach), this double string of very basic, turquoise bungalows is the ideal place to chill out – for as long…
Ko Tao
Perched high over the gulf waters overlooking Chalok Ban Kao, Chintakiri is one of Ko Tao’s more luxurious properties. Rooms are spread around the inland…
Hat Yai
Super convenient if you have an early train as the Train Hotel is literally inside Hat Yai train station. It is clean and acceptable, although dorm rooms…
Ko Pha-Ngan
B52’s campus of Thai-styled bungalows sports plenty of thatch, polished concrete floors and rustic tropical tree trunks that lead down to the sea. The…
Ko Tao
New Heaven – part of the diving operation of the same name – delivers colourful huts perched on a hill over impossibly clear waters, air-con sea-view…
Ko Tao
With five types of rooms, this popular, small choice, a short walk from the pier, is nearly always full so book upfront. The owners are responsive,…
Hat Yai
With four-bed female dorms and eight-bed mixed dorms that are clean and tidy, this cheap hostel is conveniently close to the train station and a decent…
Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
To stay in Khao Luang National Park, contact the park headquarters who rent out these simple (mostly fan) bungalows that sleep between two to 12 people…
Ko Pha-Ngan
This relaxed, chilled-out 11-bungalow (fan and air-con) teak nest, tucked among jungle foliage, is attractive with fantastic views and a fine pool, but it…
Nakhon Si Thammarat Province
With spa, pool and elegant rooms, Khanom’s upscale retreat is a beautiful campus of rambling villas. The big price tag deters the crowds and the location…
Ko Tao
Go for the smaller dorms at this busy, clean and cheap hostel attracting a good backpacker crowd close to Sairee Beach. Staff is really helpful and there…
Ko Tao
Located conveniently close to the pier, this cool, little joint has a great, laid-back atmosphere. Dorms are nice and clean, and every week there's a…
Ko Tao
This friendly place offers basic, low-rise units peppered across a sandy, shady garden campus with fleeting glimpses of the blue ocean between fanned…
Ko Tao
Like many large diving operations on the island, Buddha View offers its divers discounted on-site digs in a super-social atmosphere.
Ko Pha-Ngan
With its tranquil, elegant setting, Green Papaya's polished wooden bungalows are a clear, albeit pricey, standout option along the lovely beach at Hat…
Ko Pha-Ngan
This solid and decent Thong Sala choice offers clean and simple tiled bungalows in the shade of bamboo and coconut palms along a breakwater above the…
Ko Samui
Programs at this friendly, practical and simple spa include colonics, massage, aqua detox, hypnotherapy and yoga, just to name a few. With rattan…
Ko Pha-Ngan
This remote outpost perched on the rocks south of Hat Rin has simple, good-value fan options and air-con bungalows with sweeping views of the sea; plus…
Ko Pha-Ngan
The world-famous Full Moon Party was first hatched on the plot occupied by this hostel – one of the three properties run by Paradise, and staying here…
Ko Samui
The big, bright cement rooms all with attached hot-water bathrooms and balcony in this nondescript apartment block are a steal. The Pott's staff is super…
Ko Tao
Above a boulder-strewn sea, these decent enough but basic corrugated roof huts are scattered across a lot of untamed tropical terrain. A rickety dock,…
Ko Samui
In the heart of Fisherman's Village, the Lodge feels like a colonial hunting chalet with hardwood floors and dark wooden beams across the ceiling, except…
Ko Samui
Resembling a multicoloured tower block, the Verticolour is reasonably priced and well located. There's a pool near the entrance, a small gym and a decent…
Nakhon Si Thammarat
V House Nakhon sums up the sleeping options in Nakhon city: dated, tired, functional, clean(ish) and cheap. None of the city's accommodation will…
Ko Pha-Ngan
Home to the Black Moon Party (another lunar excuse for Ko Pha-Ngan to go wild), pleasant Mac Bay is a sandy slice of Ban Khai where even the cheaper…
Nakhon Si Thammarat
There's a lovely forested setting here that's more like a shady jungle than the centre of town, but sadly most of the bare-brick rooms are rather gloomy,…
Ko Pha-Ngan
As well as clean four-bed dorms with outside terrace and garden-view doubles, there's lots of outdoor space at this hostel-cum-health-gym, with a fully…
Hat Yai
There is helpful staff and plentiful information about onward travel at this no frills hostel tucked away between a series of shopfronts and stalls on a…
Ko Pha-Ngan
A small, quiet operation away from the centre of Thong Sala. It's cheap and one of the few places available even at the last minute during the Full Moon…
Haad Yao See Through Boutique Resort
Ko Pha-Ngan
This towering polished cement double-storey complex with elongated Chinese-style wooden doors has a long but uninviting pool that's hard to access and the…
Ko Pha-Ngan
Slap bang in the centre of Hat Rin, friendly Delight offers decent lodging in a Thai-style building that comes with subtle designer details (such as…
Surat Thani
On the river south of the TAT office, the 230-room Wangtai is a smart, marbled choice in the centre of town, offering pleasant and comfortable, if rather…
Ko Tao
This family-run scatter of hillside bungalows is a so-so choice for solitude-seekers. Strap on a snorkel mask and swim around with the fish at your…
