Camille's Thailand Hotel recommendations

Ocean Breeze Resort, Khao Lak

2012-01-10T09:13:00.004+07:00

Ocean Breeze Resort, Khao Lak

This resort is straight on the beach in Khao Lak and during my recent, December PADI IDC which I conducted in Khao Lak, I had the opportunity to visit this lovely resort.

The resort has recently been renovated and it makes it even more enjoyable to sit at the secluded and pristine beach in front of the hotel, looking at a sunset!

The resort is family friendly and has a good restaurant on the premises but nearby plenty of other options can be found.

31 wonderfully designed private bungalows and 14 superior rooms are available. The resort embraced a beautiful contemporary Thai style, featuring both finest cultural and natural elements of Thai design, making your stay very comfy and memorable.

Booking by Agoda

Deluxe beachfront bungalow

Deluxe room

Swimming pool

Pristine beach

Sunset

Tinidee Hotel Phuket

2011-12-11T20:20:00.004+07:00

Tinidee Hotel Phuket

Whilst teaching a PADI IDC in Khao Lak in December 2011, I noticed that there was an 11km run in Kathu during a day off of said IDC. This was an event that I would like to participate in but now I needed a place to stay. A quick search on internet delivered a great deal on rooms at the Tinidee at Agoda.

It was well worth the money! Located in-between two golf courts, the Loch Plam Golf Club and the Red Mountain Golf Course, it's idyllic and quiet. The rooms are nice, 32 superior rooms measuring 36 square meters and 15 deluxe rooms measuring 44 meters, divided over four buildings. There's no pool (I guess that's not the reason for visiting here) but therefor you're right in the middle of a beautiful gold course, still within 15 minutes of all the hassle that Patong has to offer or 10 minutes from Central festival shopping mall.

If you arrive by car, the hotel is located inside the golf course premises!

Especially if you're a golf buff, this is very convenient and nicely priced.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Entrance sign

Superior room

Deluxe room

View from the balcony in each room

Club house/restaurant with the golf court in the background

Airport Resort & Spa Phuket, Airport

2011-11-24T08:04:00.003+07:00

Airport Resort & Spa Phuket, Airport

This hotel is located within 5 minutes of Phuket airport and is ideal for spending a night in transit or transferring. Don't confuse this hotel with the Phuket Airport Hotel, where I stayed previously. The latter raised their price to the same level as the Airport Resort & Spa and to be honest, the Airport Resort & Spa wins that contest easily, hands down!

Once you pass the village near Phuket airport, you immediately reach this resort and that's immediately the only downside, if you would like to stray from the resort, you have about a 5 minute walk into the village where there are plenty of other restaurant options besides the resorts restaurants.

Other than that the resort is just fine, nice rooms, friendly staff, free transfers between the airport and the resort, the only real minus I could find is that wifi is only available for free next to the pool.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

My room

Bedroom

Suite

Swimming Pool

Windsor Suites hotel, Sukhumvit, Soi 20, Bangkok

2011-10-08T10:03:00.003+07:00

Windsor Suites hotel, Sukhumvit, Soi 20, Bangkok

We're staying here with the whole family for 5 nights in October 2011 and we enjoy it. It's an older style hotel but it's big, there are 460 suites which suits our family just fine. The kids can sleep on an expandable couch and this all at a decent rate. Two TV's, wi-fi in the room is a good start. It's not modern but all works and the staff is very friendly and helpful.

There's a fitness room, a nice swimming pool that the kids enjoy and various restaurants inside and near the hotel, from simple street food to excellent diner options.

The location is also excellent, within walking distance to Asoke Sky train and Subway station which makes it easy to get around Bangkok.

A good deal can be had here and for future reference we might find ourselves back at this hotel.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Diplomat one bedroom suite

Counselor one bedroom suite

Family two bedroom suite

Swimming pool

Hotel exterior

Haad Son Resort, Haad Son, Koh Phangan

2011-09-09T07:34:00.003+07:00

Haad Son Resort, Haad Son, Koh Phangan

This resort is located on Koh Phangan in it's 'own' exclusive bay; Haad Son. Nicely nestled between Haad Chao Phao and Haad Yao, just North of Thong Sala.

The resort boosts a great variety of accommodation, from relatively cheap bungalows to an exclusive penthouse suite with private pool. It's a family run resort and Haad Son is one of the few undeveloped bays. Although small, the beach is some 300 meters long it's a lovely setting with some spectacular sun sets.

There are 3 restaurants and 2 bars on the premises to cater to all your needs.

A quiet and relaxing area on Koh Phangan with a lovely location, catering to various budgets.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

At the entrance

Deluxe Ocean Villa

Deluxe Beach Front Hotel

Standard Garden Villa

The beach

Swimming Pool

Convenient Resort, Bang Na/Suvarnabhumi Airport

2011-08-17T11:25:00.002+07:00

Convenient Resort, Bang Na/Suvarnabhumi Airport

Once more a hotel near Suvarnabhumi airport. This hotel is just a 5 minute ride away from the airport and is very cheap. They offer free transfers but be careful with these transfers since they most likely run just once per hour and if you just missed it by a few minutes you will have to wait. A taxi that has been waiting in line for a long time and is hoping for a ride downtown Bangkok will not be happy or plain refuse to bring you to this hotel.

The hotel offers free wifi and there's an outdoor restaurant offering Thai and Western dishes until 5am. Ideal for later arrivals! There's also a Thai massage place in the hotel which offer 24 hours in room service.

Convenient Resort is a modern four store building which opened in 2006), the hotel offers 67 en-suit bedrooms, and for comfort and safety aspects it's completely non smoking, which is pretty unique in Asia!

For short or longer stop overs near Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, an ideal choice at amazing rates.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Superior room

Deluxe room

Deluxe corner room

Exterior

View by night of the airport from the hotel

B52 Beach Resort, Thongsala/Bantai, Koh Phangan

2011-07-30T14:23:00.003+07:00

B52 Beach Resort, Thongsala/Bantai, Koh Phangan

The B52 had nice and clean rooms and bungalows, conveniently located near Thongsala and it's shopping opportunities and restaurants. If you're on Phangan for the full moon party, Haad Rin is about 20 minutes away by taxi, the black moon party is about 10 minutes away and the half moon just a few minutes.

It's still a nice and quiet area with all rooms and bungalows having sea view, however, the beach isn't a sandy beach and for real beach life, you will need to travel. The infinity pool will make up however!

For what you pay, the rooms are very nicely priced, have a look and check it out and most importantly, enjoy!

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Standard bungalow

Deluxe Bungalow

Villa room

Pool

Kasalong Phuket Resort, Nai Yan Beach

2011-06-12T21:05:00.002+07:00

Kasalong Phuket Resort, Nai Yan Beach

During our stay in Phuket during the Laguna Phuket International Marathon in which I participated, we stayed at the Kasalong and enjoyed it a lot.

The rooms are all suites with a living room which holds a fridge and a microwave and a bed room with connecting bathroom. There's a nice pool and the staff is very friendly and accommodating.

The Nai Yan area is also very nice and makes for a nice change compared to Kata, Karon and let alone Patong! The surrounding scenery is lush and very green with the ocean nearby. It's also near the airport, which is less than 10 minutes away.

The downside may be that it is relatively far away from any kind of shopping, like Central Festival. The upside is that the a newly opened water park is very nearby again.

The rooms are very nicely priced and I can recommend staying here.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Bed room

Bungalow exterior

Resort complex

Reception area

Swimming pool

Kaew Samui Resort, Surat Thani

2011-05-30T21:32:00.002+07:00

Kaew Samui Resort, Surat Thani

Is located on the 401 ring road that leads around the city and is a good choice if you're 'stuck' in Surat Thani on your way to the islands or on your way to Bangkok coming from the South. Shopping malls are nearby, the city is nearby and the ferries in Donsak to Koh Samui and the other islands are just under an hour away. The hotel (it's really not a resort!) is located in an industrial area though and is mainly catering to Thai business people.

The restaurant is nice and free wifi is available, ask at check in and it's a newly build hotel.

Low prices are a plus, it's convenient and just what you need for a night's stay in Surat!

Booking by Agoda

Guest room

Reception

Restaurant

S31 Sukhumvit Hotel, Sukhumvit, Soi 31, Bangkok

2011-05-09T09:41:00.004+07:00

S31 Sukhumvit Hotel, Sukhumvit, Soi 31, Bangkok

Looking for convenience, central location and that little touch of luxury, S31 has it for the tourist and the business person.

Designed by by award winning architect Sumej Jumsai, he really put in the 'works', including a roof top restaurant with a great view over Bangkok and a nice swimming pool using the latest eco friendly salt system.

Located in-between two BTS stations, Asoke and Prom Phong, near the Emporium luxury shopping mall and the Queen Sirikit Convention Center, just 2 km's away from the Bangkok Cityair Terminal “Makkasan Station” (airport link) or a 30 minute drive from Suvarnabhumi airport and near to the vibrating night life of Bangkok, it's hard to beat this location.

The rooms feature; 8 foot beds, full-frame windows for glorious unobstructed city views and lots of delightful natural lights, double-door refrigerator, in keeping with the in-room catering possibilities implicit in the pantry, 42” wide screen digital-format LCD TV (in all suites) and best of all; show bathrooms with special glazing system that allows you to enjoy the view while you bathe without being seen! How exciting can it get?

More pictures are posted of my stay at the S31 on my Samui info blog.

More than five star, better than Boutique, according to a review in the Bangkok Post (Thailand's biggest English newspaper), this pretty much sums it up! Currently special deals are available so get them whilst they last!

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Deluxe room with 8 foot bed

Executive Suite

Duplex suite

Swimming pool

Lobby

Phuket Airport Hotel, Airport

2011-04-23T21:33:00.004+07:00

Phuket Airport Hotel, Airport

It's location is excellent, within about 600 meters of the entrance of Phuket Airport, almost walking distance. Yeah right, not very appealing with a lot of luggage. The staff however is very friendly and accommodating and they offer pick ups at the airport for 100,-THB and free transfers in the morning to the airport. Easy peasy.

The hotel itself is rather small with just 12 rooms, a pool and a restaurant. Around the corner is a 7-11 and a few restaurants but why bother if you can eat on location? The beach is just 600 meters away but for most travelers; transit passengers, layovers and short-stay guests the hotel is just for a night or a day room and it fulfills this purpose excellently. There's free wifi but make sure you check the rooms near the restaurant where the router is. I had bad reception in my room and was offered an alternative room.

Looking for a fair price near Phuket airport, this may be just it, convenient, simple yet effective and easy, as long as you don't expect luxury. Very nice staff, did I mention that yet?

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Room with king size and single bed

Room exterior

Restaurant

Pool

Mystic Place, Bangkok

2011-04-14T15:00:00.002+07:00

Mystic Place, Bangkok

This is at last a hotel that gives meaning to the word 'boutique hotel'. Located in the Saphan Kwai area of Bangkok, near the Chatuchak weekend market and near the Saphan Kwai BTS Station, Mystic Place is a perfect hotspot for guests who love Art and Fantasy, and desire a different out-of-the-ordinary experience when staying in Bangkok. Forget those "ordinary" hotels; Mystic Place is definitely one-of-a-kind destination.

Each of the 36 rooms have been uniquely designed centering around a theme by Thailand's most talented artists and gives this hotel a uniqueness that hasn't been matched yet in Bangkok.

There's a free Shuttle Tuk Tuk to BTS, MRT and Chatuchak Market for the guests which makes it convenient and easy to get around.

Although I haven't stayed here myself, it's high on my list of places to stay at during a next trip to Bangkok. This hotel was brought under my attention by a fellow blogger, Talen of Thailand Land of Smiles and during his stay he had a great time. One of the nice features of the hotel is that when you book on line, where you can see pictures of all 36 rooms, but you don't like the room upon, you can change rooms daily for a 200,-THB surcharge, unless you stay for more than 3 nights and the surcharge is dropped.

If in Bangkok and you're in for something different within a very reasonable price range, Mystic Place is your stop!

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Superior room

Deluxe room

Superior double bed

Lobby

Front desk

The Heart Inn, Saladan, Koh Lanta

2011-03-22T14:02:00.003+07:00

The Heart Inn, Saladan, Koh Lanta

The Heart Inn is one of those places that reminds me why travelling around Thailand can be so nice, clean and cheap rooms with all mod cons! During my last IDC that I conducted on Koh Lanta, during February/March 2011 I stayed here and for the up and coming IDC for March/April 2011 I will stay here again!

The room I stayed in had a/c, a mini fridge, cable TV, wifi and a shower with hot and cold water for well under 1.000,-THB per night!

The reception/lobby area also offers internet service.

Fair enough, it's not on the beach, although walk out the reception, hang a left and walk 500 meters and you're on a beach! The Heart doesn't have a pool neither, which I never use during when stay somewhere during work, so this comes at no big loss to me. The bathroom was interesting and funny though, some real creativity was used, have a look here.

One other real benefit of this Inn is that you're within walking distance of pretty much all restaurants, banks and shopping in Saladan and the motorbike taxis take you for a few Baht to the nearby Long Beach where there are even more restaurant options. The Inn's location is also in a very quiet small street off the main road pretty much in 'downtown' Saladan.

For people leaving with the ferries, it's also within walking distance of said ferries, location is everything!

All in all, great location and excellent value, what else can I say?

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Guest room

Reception/lobby area

Ananda Lanta Resort, Klong Dao, Koh Lanta

2011-03-09T08:36:00.005+07:00

Ananda Lanta Resort, Klong Dao, Koh Lanta

Koh Lanta is becoming a hot spot during my current travels and it's easy to check out the hotels on this lovely island. One of my current March 2011 IDC candidates is staying at this hotel and he's pleased with it.

Good to know is that resort is not at the beach side of the road, however, within 3 minutes you can be at the beach if you just cross the road. On the up side, the hotel boosts one of the bigger pools on the island.

All 48 rooms have their own balcony and the resort is located near Saladan, the busiest part of the island. Restaurants are plenty full near the hotel, combining a quiet and relaxed environment with plenty of things to do and see very nearby.

Booking with Agoda

Booking with Hotels Combined

Superior room

Superior seview

Deluxe seaview

Swimming pool

Exterior

Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai

2011-02-28T22:11:00.004+07:00

Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai

This typical Four Seasons luxury style resort with it's 80 rooms is located in the middle of rice fields and paddies and the hotel has spacious Lanna-style pavilions that overlook those terraced rice fields and the mountains of the beautiful Mae Rim Valley. How relaxing can it get?

It's a few minutes by car though to the hustle and bustle of Chiang Mai.

You can savour the unique flavours of northern and vegetarian Thai specialties at Sala Mae Rim restaurant, renowned for its sumptuous Thai and Western cuisine. A high teak wood ceiling complements Northern Thai artifacts and sweeping views of the Mae Rim Valley.

Located beside the Resort's main swimming pool, Terraces offers a stunning open air setting with an expansive view of the surrounding rice paddies and the distant Doi Suthep mountain range. Complementing the traditional Lanna-style architecture of the Resort, Terraces features international cuisine inspired by the region's abundant natural produce and showcases sensational dishes from Asia and beyond

From the Thai cooking school to the acclaimed spa and flawless service, this is a signature Four Seasons experience.

For a real relaxing experience in the middle of the country side, with prices that go along with the Four Seasons experience, this hotel comes highly recommended!

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Guest room

Villa

Exterior

View

Swimming pool

Royal Lanta Resort & Spa, Klong Dao

2011-02-17T12:37:00.002+07:00

Royal Lanta Resort & Spa, Klong Dao

Located near Koh Lanta's main town of Saladan at the very popular beach of Klong Dao, the Royal Lanta Resort caters with just 48 rooms to guests looking for rest and relaxation on a white powdered beach!

Being near Saladan is convenient of you want some nearby day and night time activities and there are plenty of bars and restaurants within walking distance.

They have two swimming pools and on top of that they're located on the beach as well. For a fairly moderate priced ranged holiday this hotel will suit you well on Koh Lanta.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Superior room

Deluxe room

Suite room

Villas

Swimming pool

Salad Buri Resort & Spa, Haad Salad, Koh Phangan

2011-01-31T15:55:00.002+07:00

Salad Buri Resort & Spa, Haad Salad, Koh Phangan

Haad Salad is arguably one of the coziest beaches on Koh Phangan. It's definitely a very intimate beach and offers some amazing sunsets!

There's not much space here due to the size of the bay but there are a few options available and Salad Buri is at the higher end of your options and with 52 rooms they're not doing bad at all.

The resort is not too far away from the main port in Thong Sala and (luckily!) far enough away from Haad Rin and it's full moon madness in the very South of the island.

Enjoy a relaxing stay at one of Phangan's best bays in a medium ranged price bracket.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Guest room

Superior room

Villa

Balcony

Swimming Pool

Tharathip Resort, Thongsala, Koh Phangan

2011-01-21T21:10:00.003+07:00

Tharathip Resort, Thongsala, Koh Phangan

The Tharathip is located in Wok Tom Bay about 5 minutes by bike or car from Thongsala, the main city on Koh Phangan and is easily accessible from the main pier which is located in Thongsala.

The resort is used a lot for people visiting the full moon party but who still want a quiet place to retreat withing a reasonable distance from the party. Haad Rin is about 20 to 30 minutes away by car and/or bike.

The 36 rooms are convenient and have the basic amenities including wifi. Fairly priced, a good choice for a few nights when you also want that quiet retreat from the Full Moon Party aka FMP.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Superior Villa

Deluxe Seaview

Family Suite

Ocean view

Swimming pool

The Paragon Inn, Bang Na/Suvarnabhumi Airport

2010-12-27T19:59:00.004+07:00

The Paragon Inn, Bang Na/Suvarnabhumi Airport

This family owned and run hotel is near Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, just a 10 minute ride away. Having just stayed at the Silver Gold Garden hotel near the Paragon Inn, the Inn is slightly more upscale but still in a very price friendly range.

The hotel provides 25 spacious rooms and the hotel is surrounded by beautiful nature and decorated in a contemporary style.

It's traditional Thai style offers a clean, cozy atmosphere for you to admire and enjoy. The on-site swimming pool in a garden setting makes the Paragon Inn different from any other airport area hotel experience and adds just that little bit extra. Be aware that their may be an extra charge for using the pool though but on the other hand, it may be possible to upgrade the room for just a very small amount, pending on availability. Free wifi is available throughout the hotel.
It is also conveniently located near the Paseo Shopping Complex with a night market and restaurants and room service continues until 2am.

The Paragon Inn only offers one way transfers, from the hotel to the airport and they come at a marginal extra charge.

A very nice option in case you need a stop over between flights.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Deluxe room

Lobby

Exterior

Breakfast area

Swimming pool

Silver Gold Garden Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, Bang Na/Suvarnabhumi Airport

2010-12-15T14:27:00.004+07:00

Silver Gold Garden Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, Bang Na/Suvarnabhumi Airport

This is a very convenient located hotel within 10 to 15 minutes from Suvarnabhumi Airport and it offers a free round trip transfer to/from the airport and it's very affordable. What else can you ask for.

I will use it tonight for a late arrival from Samui and an early departure from the airport, just perfect for my purpose this 4 story property with 67 rooms and suites.

The transfers from the hotel to the airport are every hour on the half hour and upon arriving at the airport, you may have to wait a bit before the transfer takes off. All in all worthwhile considering it's included in the rate.

There's a 24 hours Tesco Lotus branch opposite the hotel, a night market and the hotel itself offers babysitting, business center, family room, hotel/airport transfer, laundry service/dry cleaning, meeting facilities , restaurant, room service, safety deposit boxes and WiFi (at a small surcharge). The hotel also has ample parking space available. Sounds about ideal to me!

The room amenities are also well taken care of; air conditioning, balcony/terrace, bathrobes, complimentary bottled water, desk, hair dryer, mini bar, non smoking rooms, satellite/cable TV, shower, television, television LCD/plasma screen and there's a small massage parlor attached to the hotel.

Can't beat this in my humble opinion for this price. An absolute winner at low cost! The rooms are small but do the job for a night and the reception staff was very efficient during my stay. I got a room at the ground floor, which was very convenient, be aware that the hotel does not have an elevator, getting to the room will be easy with staff help but getting out of a room might be more tricky unless you get staff involved.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Superior double bedroom

Superior twin bedroom

Superior suite room

24 hour free round trip airport transfer

Exterior

JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, Khuk Kak Beach

2010-11-27T19:57:00.002+07:00

JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, Khuk Kak Beach

This Marriott resort has a dream location, along the white, almost untouched beaches of Khao Lak. The resort offers all the 5 star amenities one can and should expect for very reasonable prices. Special offers are on a regular base available.

The nearby Similan Islands undoubtedly provide the best dive sites in Thailand, while the three national parks (Khao Lak Lam Ru, Khao Sok, Sri Phang Nga) are perfect for treks-on foot and on elephants, rafting and canoeing. The nearby Takuapa Old Town has several Sino-Portuguese designed buildings. The resort also organizes games, and non-motorized sports such as kayaking are on offer. Additionally there are mountain bikes available to explore the nearby villages.

The resort is slightly away from all activities, a good 10km, transportation may come in handy.

Free high-speed Internet access, business center, early check-in/ late check out lounge, kids club and last but not least; the longest swimming pool in southeast Asia.

Luxury at a 5 star level for affordable rates, enjoy as long as it lasts before Khao Lak will be discovered by 'the masses' and special offers will be no longer available.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

One bed room studio

Bathroom

Exterior

Beach

Sunset

Baan Lanta, Baan Kan Tiang Bay, Koh Lanta

2010-11-12T16:08:00.003+07:00

Baan Lanta, Baan Kan Tiang Bay, Koh Lanta

This nice and small Resort and Spa is tucked away on Baan Kan Tiangs Beach, still one of Koh Lanta's best kept secrets. The first time I drove to Baan Kan Tiang, I thought I left the point of no return on the road a few times already and when you don't expect anything at all to show up anymore, all of a sudden, there's this little village in a valley as if it just walked out of a book! Later I found out that this still isn't the end of the world and the road actually continues for a little bit.

In this nice little valley is exactly where the Baan Lanta is located. Small, nice and very relaxed. With only 15 rooms, no need to be afraid that it will be overcrowded!

The view over the bay is astonishing and romantic at the same time and the restaurant at Baan Lanta has some tasty meals waiting for you.

The nice thing about the location is that although it's far away from everything else on the island, the valley has a few nice other things to offer, a 7-11 (very convenient!), some more restaurants and everything you may need to cover first things at hand. At night the 'why not' is not to be missed with their own band!

Scubafish is running a tight ship at the resort for all your diving necessities and their boats leave from the bay in season, how convenient does this get?

Time for a break, looking for a nice secluded bay in mid range prices, Baan Lanta may well be your choice.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Deluxe Pool Villa

Bay front Villa

Swimming pool

View from the beach

Rawi Warin Resort & Spa Koh Lanta

2010-10-29T20:22:00.002+07:00

Rawi Warin Resort & Spa Koh Lanta

Tucked into the foothills of the Koh Lanta Yai and overlooking the crystal waters of Klong Tob Bay in the Southern part of the island.
If you are looking for a quiet, battery charging holiday, this may be exactly your place but if you are interested in an action packed getaway, this is not for you.

The hotel boosts an excellent children care room and boasts an fantastic home movie theater, which you need to book in advance but you can watch your own movies in it, in a mini movie theater setting.

Outside of the premises is Aunty Mae's bakery which has 50% off on all cakes between 7 and 8pm.

The resort features its own pier for guests arriving from Krabi town which has a newly renovated airport. It is also possible to arrange exclusive dining whereby specially created menus can be prepared in the privacy of one of the villas. There's also a personal butler and staff on hand.
With over 10,000 trees and flowers planted in the landscaped gardens, you are likely to spend much time foraging through the resort grounds itself.

The Rawi Warin has 180 guest rooms and villas and especially in off season the rates are very attractive.

Be pampered in luxury for reasonable prices off season and enjoy the great weather during high season and get well rested in this luxury resort.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Pond two Queen bed room

Sunset pool Villa - Living Room

Landscape

Movie House

Swimming pool at night time

Holiday Inn Resort, Koh Phi Phi

2010-10-13T15:43:00.003+07:00

Holiday Inn Resort, Koh Phi Phi

It's been a while since I've been to Koh Phi Phi, almost 12 years ago, late 1998, when the movie 'The Beach' was being filmed there, around the corner in Mango Bay and I was doing my PADI Divemaster course on Koh Phi Phi.

A lot has happened ever since, including the 2004 Tsunami that had an impact on Phi Phi.

One of my friends stayed at the Holiday Inn and really enjoyed it. There are 77 bungalows available, including garden, superior, family and beach bungalows on 20 acres of land. Interestingly, the rooms come without TV sets!

If you arrive at Phi Phi's Tonsai Bay, pretty much the only way to get to the resort is by a long tail boat transfer, since the resort is located at the Laem Tong Beach, about 9km away from Tonsai Bay.

Due to its location on the secluded Laem Tong beach, it's a very quiet and idyllic stay, far away from the hustle and bustle of Tonsai. It's rather pricey but very pleasant to stay here.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Bungalow room

Bungalow exterior

Swimming pool

Pool

Beach

Narima, Baan Kan Tiang Bay, Koh Lanta

2010-09-30T22:27:00.003+07:00

Narima, Baan Kan Tiang Bay, Koh Lanta

This lovely resort is located in the 'deep' South of Koh Lanta, far away from the 'hustle and bustle' of Saladan, the main town on the Northern shores of the Koh Lanta.

With natural beauty engulfing its modern composition, the Narima is sure to dazzle nature-lovers and casual travelers alike.

Located near the National Marine Park on the unspoilt south coast of the magnificent island of Koh Lanta, the hotel sits close to sandy beaches, crystal clear water and an amazing underwater world. My next IDC that I will teach, starting 27th October on Koh Lanta will be conducted in this resort!

All bungalows come with a spectacular ocean view are luxuriously appointed and decorated elegantly with dark wood furnishings, stylish fixtures, muted color schemes, and authentic artwork. The restaurants overlooking the beach include a wide range of traditional and international cuisines. Priding itself as a green hotel, The Narima preserved as many of the original trees and plants as possible. The bungalows are built around existing trees and only felled when absolutely necessary.

Booking by Agoda

Bungalow exterior

Bungalow exterior view

Lounge area

Swimming pool

Sunset in the South of Lanta

Rasananda Resort, Thong Nai Pan Noi Beach, Koh Phangan

2010-09-10T09:37:00.003+07:00

Rasananda Resort, Thong Nai Pan Noi Beach, Koh Phangan

You want luxury and a perfect location in Koh Phangan, Rasananda is the place for you!

While well known around the globe for its world famous festivities, Koh Phangan actually has isolated hideaways which bring the gift of tranquility to discerning travelers. Rasananda is an oasis of 44 villas and suites sprawled over 200 meters of sea-view frontage along the pristine white sands of Tong Nai Pan Noi beach, northeast of Phangan island, just 30 minutes away by private speedboat from Samui.

Each of the 44 villas and suites has a private pool and all rooms are well decorated using many locally found materials and include modern amenities like satellite (Apple) LCD TV, home theater, high speed internet access and mini bar. Other hotel facilities for recreation and relaxation include a 'water garden' with bubble-beds, Jacuzzi, sundeck, a fantastic massage service and a yoga studio. The onsite restaurant serves delicious cuisines from around the world as well as reasonably priced fresh seafood.

If you want to get pampered and have the budget to do so, Rasananda is the place to be on Koh Phangan.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Thai Villa with pool

Garden Suite with Pool

Ocean Front Garden Suite

Ocean Front Pool Villa

Beach View

Hat Yai Golden Crown Hotel, Hat Yai

2010-08-25T18:57:00.002+07:00

Hat Yai Golden Crown Hotel, Hat Yai

Memories come back of making visa runs and trips and they always included a nights lay over in Hat Yai.

Nowadays the visa runs are done within a day from Samui, leaving at silly o'clock in the morning and arriving late in the evening back on the island. Not my style at all. I preferred to take the local bus to Hat Yai, from there take a mini bus to the border and than back to Hat Yai or Song Kla with a taxi. Piece of cake and you had a night rest in Hat Yai. This was in the days when there were no shopping malls on Koh Samui! Hat Yai was a nice break.

Had Yai is also known as one of the few cities besides Phuket where the Vegetarian festival is celebrated. A very interesting experience indeed.

My visa run days were way before I started my blogs so unfortunately not too many posts about those trips but nonetheless, let's get back the matter at hand and that's a hotel in Had Yai.

The Had Yai Golden Crown is a typical hotel for the city, cheap, conveniently located near the city and it's shopping. Nothing more, nothing less. For under a 1.000,-THB you get a room, what else do you need just for the night?

Enjoy Had Yai and I still dream of a Chinese restaurant near the rail way station, it was that good!

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Standard Room

Guest room

Entrance

Pimalai Resort & Spa, Koh Lanta

2010-08-09T22:27:00.003+07:00

Pimalai Resort & Spa, Koh Lanta

This luxurious resort is nestled in a tropical forest facing a pristine white sand beach which is one of Koh Lanta’s finest. Pimalai (a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World) is set on 100 acres of lush greenery and directly on a stretch of unspoiled beach.

This exclusive beach resort combines all the right ingredients - subtle five star comforts, natural beauty, environmental friendliness and lots of space.

There are 121 accommodation units to choose from, 3 restaurants, 2 swimming pools and a fantastic beach to top it all off. It's located in the Southern part of Koh Lanta at Ba Kan Biang Bay and beach. A small village is within a 10 minute walk and gives some alternatives in case you get bored of the excellent food in the hotel!

If you want a quiet beach, luxury and great food and accommodation, without a doubt this must be your call on Koh Lanta. Room rates aren't cheap but worth every Baht!

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Bookings by Hotels Combined

Deluxe room

Pavilion suite living room

Beach Villa 2 bed rooms, living room area

Bay front deluxe room

The Horizon Swimming pool

Centara Duangtawan, Chiang Mai

2010-07-20T10:59:00.003+07:00

Centara Duangtawan, Chiang Mai

My sister stayed in the Centara Duangtawan in Chiang Mai for a couple of days in July 2010 and they really liked the hotel.

The Centara Duangtawan is located directly near the old town of Chiang Mai, as centrally located as you can think of and the hotel is just moments away from the stellar Night Bazaar and it's world famous shopping area.

The breakfast is up to Centara standards and they have a pool on one of the lower floors although i personally almost never use a pool when I'm in a hotel in the city.

The prices for this hotel are also stunning and are a real steal.

If I end up in Chiang Mai, I know which hotel will be very high on my priority list!

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Booking by Hotels Combined

Hotel exterior

Deluxe room

One bedroom suite

Family suite

Swimming pool

Milky Bay Resort, Ao Ban Tai, Koh Phangan

2010-07-05T10:54:00.003+07:00

Milky Bay Resort, Ao Ban Tai, Koh Phangan

Located at the long stretching Ao Ban Tai on Koh Phangan and is part of the long unbroken stretch of white sand beach that runs from Ban Khai right the way up to Thongsala. Most of the land along the coastline has been formed as coconut plantation and the area takes on a dreamy desert island feel with palms leaning into the calm emerald sea. Ao Ban Tai has a broad beach that is protected from the high seas by the rich coral reef that follows the south and west coastline, providing a haven for beautiful and harmless marine life and a great place to go snorkeling.

The resort is also located relatively near the Haad Rin or Full Moon Party beach, so an ideal location if that's your reason for visiting, although 4 nights accommodation are required over the FMP period.

The staff is very accommodating and friendly in this resort and the bungalows at Milky Bay all come with air-con and hot water as standard. The decor inside the rooms is pleasing and each room has a spacious balcony with sea or garden views.
On the beachfront there is a volleyball net, other activities include table tennis, free pool tables in the bar area and of course the sunset swimming pool. Other facilities include massage sala, herbal steam room and salon.

A good location with rooms in various price ranges.

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Superior room

Studio

Beach front Studio

Double room Villa

Beach

Kao Lak Youth Club, Kao Lak

2010-06-20T15:25:00.005+07:00

Kao Lak Youth Club, Kao Lak

During a Similan Islands dive trip in January 2009, I stayed one night in this Youth Club in Kao Lak.

The name is rather misleading though, it's a hotel with a couple of stand alone bungalows build on a hill and isn't anywhere what you would expect from a youth club.

The rooms are all wood and simple but nice, if you're near reception you also get Wifi in the room. The rooms also come with air conditioning, TV and fridge, pretty much what you would expect in your average hotel room and not in a youth club.

They're located very centrally inside Kao Lak, not on the beach if that's what you're looking for and they're very reasonably priced.

A good choice for me when I was passing through, convenient and price conscious.

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View of reception with resort in the back

Bungalow

Amari Nova Suite Hotel, Pattaya

2010-06-06T13:32:00.002+07:00

Amari Nova Suite Hotel, Pattaya

Having just stayed in the Amari Nova Platinum for the third time, it''s worthwhile pointing this Amari hotel in Pattaya out as well.

It's not as conveniently located as the Nova Platinum, it's actually hidden between some small streets where only local Pattaya cab drivers know their way around, so make sure you pick up a card from the reception with instructions in Thai to find it back. The hotel does offer golf cart trips to the main road where you can jump on a 10 Baht taxi and you'll find that the entertainment and shopping areas aren't actually that far away.

The 77 studios and bedroom suites are spacious though and are well worth their value.

The extensive facilities have been designed to pamper guests and also include a rooftop swimming pool with jacuzzi and a fitness centre. The hotel is home to a stylishly innovative lounging and dining experience with the (‘Minus 5’) -5 Supperclub, a trendy restaurant to chill out in with family and friends, as well as the coolest bar in this bustling city, -5 Ice Bar, where chilled drinks and funky tunes are served at subzero temperatures.

All around this hotel gets the thumbs up and for a nice relaxation time, it's highly recommended.

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One bed room suite

One bed room corner suite

Suite room

Kitchen

Swimming pool

Haad Yao Bay View Resort, Koh Phangan

2010-05-22T19:50:00.002+07:00

Haad Yao Bay View Resort, Koh Phangan

This is located at one of the longer beaches on Koh Phangan, Haad means beach in Thai and Yao means big. The resort used to house the first concrete building on this beach, a good 10 or so years ago and whilst visiting Koh Phangan very recently for the very first time after having lived on Koh Samui for almost 11 years, I stayed at this resort.

It's very conveniently located on Haad Yao, at the Northern corner and has very attractive prices on all of their rooms, all fitted with air con and wifi in the room. The staff was also very help full. When I was there earlier this month it was a very young average guest staying there.

If you want a convenient and fairly cheap aircon room and don't mind the big concrete building compared to the cosy bungalows Koh Phangan has to offer, this place may be well down your alley.

Booking by Hotels Combined

Standard room

Swimming pool

Exterior view from the beach

Haad Yao beach looking South

Kaw Kwang Beach Resort, Koh Lanta

2010-05-09T09:13:00.005+07:00

Kaw Kwang Beach Resort, Koh Lanta

It has been around 16 years since I was first on Koh Lanta and a few years later I visited again. May 2010 saw the return of me and instead of a single traveller back in the days, I came with my family this time around.

Back in the days it was just sand roads around the island and Kaw Kwang Beach resort was a top end resort and one of the very first resorts on the island at all.

Time does tell and the resort nowadays has lost a bit of its former glory. The resort is now surrounded by high end resorts 21st century style. This is no problem however since the rooms at Kaw Kwang are decently priced and especially the Garden View rooms and bungalows have excellent value.

One of the other things that didn't change over all those years are the nice beaches, seemingly endless long and hardly occupied, although in all fairness, we visited during the beginning of low season and many places around the island were already closed.

We had a family room, which was a basic two room bungalow, the only thing that comes to mind was that the bathroom had a strong smell, so we sprayed, which helped. I did notice at reception that we weren't the only ones with this problem. At the end of the day no serious big problem, I guess it comes with an aged resort.

Wifi was available at the reception area only but of good quality and the food was ok, big portions but nothing special. They have a very nice garden to relax in and a lovely piece of beach in front.

It was great to be back on Koh Lanta again and we all enjoyed our stay at Kaw Kwang. For a good deal, you might want to check this resort out, decent prices and very near the piers and ferries at Saladan village.

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Pool

Modern Beach front bungalow

Deluxe Beach and Superior Garden view

Family room

Pool with ocean and beach view

Relaxing garden with sala

Klong Kao beach

Dusit Buncha Resort, Koh Tao

2010-04-30T01:05:00.003+07:00

Dusit Buncha Resort, Koh Tao

This is one of the nice resorts on Koh Tao that is well hidden and far away from all the hustle and bustle that Koh Tao has to offer on Sairee Beach and Mae Haad.

On the Northern tip of the divers paradise of Koh Tao lies this eco-friendly resort.

Dusit Buncha prides itself on being the only solar-powered resort on the island, with most bungalows equipped with solar panels. You will feel very much a part of the island at Dusit Buncha, since they made sure the buildings are blended with the surrounding environment.

It's nice and romantic and also secluded. As with almost everywhere on the island, electricity can be a problem, but this seems part of the adventure that Koh Tao or 'The Rock' is.

Prices at the Dusit Buncha are in the medium range and if you like nature, this will suit you fine.

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Guest room

Balcony/terrace

Exterior

View

Swimming pool

Rachawadee Resort and Hotel, Khon Kaen

2010-04-09T20:36:00.003+07:00

Rachawadee Resort and Hotel, Khon Kaen

This is one of those lovely and cosy family run resorts that are plenty full around in Thailand but oh so difficult to come by if you're not aware of them.

This family run resort, is a successful attempt by the Somjaiwong family to bring to Khon Kaen an eco-friendly property. Rent a car or a bike to explore the city and nearby areas or book a customized tour with the hotel. And if you are a golf enthusiast, you are sure to appreciate the location, which puts several courses within driving distance. On-site recreational activities include a pool, gym, and traditional Thai massage. Solar powered water heating and reusable laundry bags are just two of the many eco-friendly practices followed at the resort.

The resort is 500 metres from Khon Kaen Airport and a short 10 minutes drive from Khon Kaen City Centre, convenient if you brought your own car, since taxi's are difficult to get a hold of but the hotel runs a shuttle service to down town Khon Kaen. Encircled by coconut palms and gardens the contemporary Thai style Rachawadee Resort & Hotel has a 9 hole mini golf course and the gardens surrounding the resort are breath taking and the grounds are like being in a botanical garden, even the trees are sign posted as to the type/name. Animals, especially rabbits roam freely and waterfalls, creeks and waterways flow everywhere and there's even a small zoo which the kids will just absolutely love!

An excellent and relaxing and economical option, just make sure there's no wedding on the night you stay, make sure to get a room away from the party. Surrounded by green spaces, the Rachawadee Resort and Hotel is an affordable and relaxing place to stay when visiting the Isan region.

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Guest room

Exterior

Garden

Swimming pool

Jomtien Garden Hotel & Resort, Pattaya

2010-03-26T22:58:00.000+07:00

Jomtien Garden Hotel & Resort, Pattaya

Jomtien is part of Pattaya, or is it? In my book it is, it's just a very short ride from Pattaya away and it's located at a much nicer beach than Pattaya. Actually, when travelling with my family I prefer Jomtien beach over Pattaya since I think it's nicer and quieter than Pattaya and as already mentioned, in my opinion the beach is superior.

This place has it all; The Jomtien Garden Hotel & Resort is just 10 minutes south of the main city, located close to a multitude of shopping malls, restaurants and tourist spots. On site, you will find two swimming pools, a tennis court, pool table, tropical garden, children’s playground and massage facilities. Internet access is offered to all guests. For dining, there are a number of restaurants serving local and international dishes. There are also a number of bars, as well as private banquet and karaoke rooms. Room service is available 24 hours.

The good news is that all of this comes at an affordable price and they have 192 rooms with plenty of different room options, most likely they will have your desired room set up.

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Villa

Deluxe room

Guest room

Deluxe room

Bann Pantai Resort, Chaam

2010-03-12T11:38:00.003+07:00

Bann Pantai Resort, Chaam

Perfect for a weekend getaway, this resort is located in the beach town of Cha-am just a two hour drive from Bangkok. This boutique property is located right on the beach, only a few steps from the water and near Narathip road that leads into Chaam, just hang a left once you reach the beach.

It's well maintained, brand new boutique resort and the only one of it's kind on the beach stretch. Parking is not far from the rooms and if you are looking for a beach holiday without the tourists that usually come with it, Bannpantai Resort is Cha-am could be your answer.

The hotel is in a medium price range.

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Guest room

Deluxe room

Balcony overlooking the pool

Swimming pool

Hotel exterior

Jamahkiri Spa & Resort, Koh Tao

2010-02-17T12:22:00.002+07:00

Jamahkiri Spa & Resort, Koh Tao

This luxury resort is located at the far end of the Koh Tao dive site that I know by the name of Ao Leuk and almost opposite Shark island or Red Rock. The nearest beach is Sai Daeng Beach.

This South part of Koh Tao is offering a lovely and beautifully quiet location and the resort offers not only a picturesque location but excellent amenities as well . It's well known for it's Spa treatments and they're part of the resort experience, something that can only be highly recommended to participate in.

The resort lays claim to being the only property on the island to now offer clean water all year round, with the desalination system in place. Jamahkiri Spa & Resort makes for the perfect destination for a honeymoon or a couple's getaway.

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Guest room

Swimming pool

View from a balcony

Beach front

Mom Tri's Villa Royale Hotel, Kata Beach, Phuket

2010-02-01T13:56:00.004+07:00

Mom Tri's Villa Royale Hotel, Kata Beach, Phuket

This hotel ranks high on the fave hotels on Phuket and was on top spot last year on Trip Advisor.
It's conveniently located between Kata beach and Kata Noi, built into the rocks and with only 35 rooms it's near perfect. The guest rooms are decorated in distinct Thai style and sit amongst landscaped gardens, all with sea views and complimentary wireless access.
You can easily access the beach with it's white sand and the water beyond via the resort's private walkway.
Mom Luang Tridhosyuth Devakul aka Mom Tri is a renowned architect and is related to the Thai royal family.

Mom Tri's kitchen is also well known all over Phuket and the innovative menu features Thai, European and fusion cuisine. You can choose to dine on the covered patio, open-air garden terraces or the salas and Mom Tri's also includes an award-winning wine cellar.

If you want a nice place with breathtaking views over Phuket's Kata beach, Mom Tri's Villa Royale is the place for you. Just keep in mind that it ain't the cheapest place on the island but well worth it.

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Beach wing suite

Balcony terrace

Royale Suite

Royal Suite bedroom

Restaurant

Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort, Pattaya

2010-01-15T21:13:00.004+07:00

Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort, Pattaya

This recently opened resort of the Centara chain in Pattaya is high on my list of places to stay at in Pattaya, especially with children!

Besides a spectacular architectal design, looking in from the ocean, and having 555 rooms at your service, the main attraction is are the 5 differrent pools and the "Lost World" theme throughout the resort which features an extensive water park including swimming pools, children's pool, infinity pool, lap pool, lazy river, waterslideswaterfalls and other aquatic activities in the water park. All free to access by guests!

The pools as seen from a hotel window, your kids will leave this place with tears in their eyes! It will get me excited, that's for shure!

The resort is located on the Northern end of Pattaya you are on Naklua and Wong Amat Beach on 230 meters of fine sandy beach.

There are family rooms and lots of children activities in the resort; a large extensive kids club and a daily activity programincluding an indoor Cam Safari and games rooms for 3 to 9 years old while teenagers have a separate E Zone games room. A Pattaya dream come true!

All in all a fantastic deal if you visit Pattaya with your children.

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Camille

Kata Beach Resort & Spa, Kata Beach, Phuket

2010-01-02T23:02:00.000+07:00

Kata Beach Resort & Spa, Kata Beach, Phuket

Although I haven't stayed here yet, I had the opportunity to visit the Kata beach Resort on a couple of times, the last time very recently when I was in Phuket last month, December 2009, for a PADI Course Director update and we had the meeting in one of their conference rooms. Some friends of mine have also stayed at this hotel, which gave me the opportunity to check out some of their rooms.

It is very nice, big and luxurious and is set amidst lush tropical gardens and overlooks the Andaman Sea. The resort is only 15 minute drive away from Phuket town, and the popular Patong Beach. You can enjoy a range of Asian Western and Mediterranean dishes at one of the four restaurants. The location creates a peaceful and exotic atmosphere for total relaxation away from the crowd although you're still very conveniently at the easy going Southern corner of Kata.
The swimming pool is really nice and offers a great view over Kata Bay.
Facilities at the resort include boutique, baggage handling, car rental, salon, currency exchange, and an on-call doctor.

A great and quiet location with a medium ranged price tag.

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Deluxe room

Superior room

Restaurant

Swimming pool

Swimming pool aerial view

Case E Mare, Kata Beach, Phuket

2009-12-15T18:17:00.004+07:00

Case E Mare, Kata Beach, Phuket

This week I stayed one night in Phuket for work, to be more precise for a PADI Course Director update and a friend recommended the Casa E Mare in Kata Beach, since it was near the hotel that the seminar was at.

It's an Italian owned and run hotel/restaurant/ice cream parlour and it has a nice and quiet location, just a few minutes walk away from Kata beach, one of the more relaxed and quiet beaches on Phuket.

The Italian cold cuts on display looked fantastic but unfortunately I didn't get the time the try them out.

The rooms are simple, straightforward and affordable but are very nicely laid out and cosy and they have all the minimum requirements a room needs.

If you need to spend time in Phuket and don't need to be near the ocean, and you like a nice and family atmosphere, this is the place to be.

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Downstairs restaurant and pool table

Some great cold cuts at display

My room

Centara Karon Resort, Phuket

2009-12-03T19:53:00.005+07:00

Centara Karon Resort, Phuket

At Centara Karon Resort, by the same chain that brings you Centara Kata Resort in Phuket there is so much to offer all guests. You will want to come back again and again.

The resort is a modern, mid-rise establishment with panoramic views of Karon Beach and the lush hinterland of the hills behind. From the fringe of Phuket's emerald green hills, the crystal clear waters of the Andaman sea unfold into the horizon. Karon Beach displays its majestic sweep as one of the finest soft white sandy beaches to be found anywhere on Phuket island, and it is a popular holiday resort offering the visitor everything that is expected from a tropical island destination.
Heading to the beach is a gentle three-minute stroll from the resort where the dazzling white sand of Karon's four-kilometer beach sweeps before you.

Centara Karon Resort is made up by 4 residential zones, The Terraces, The Lagoon, Tropicale and the Cabanas with a total of 316 rooms, complimented by a further 19 villas units scattered around the grounds.

The Terraces offer newly refurbished superior and superior ocean view rooms together with 4 delightfully appointed deluxe honeymoon rooms complete with their own over sized terrace and private out door sunken jacuzzi tub.

Accommodations at The Lagoon offer spacious deluxe rooms many of which have 2 double beds which are ideal for family holidays accommodating up to 2 adults and 2 children with ease. Deluxe family studio rooms offers even greater comfort and space.

Tropicale is especially designed for travelers seeking a more luxurious and inclusive vacation experience. Guests will enjoy Thai contemporary furnishings, nightly turn down service and the exclusive use of the lounge serving daytime snacks and pastries, all day tea and coffee and evening cocktails and snacks all of which are complimentary. Additionally the lounge offers newspapers, reading materials and free internet access.

Finally spacious The Cabanas are set within a garden location offering total privacy together with all the comfort and service expected from a premium room category.

All the air-conditioned rooms, suites, and villas are tastefully decorated in contemporary Thai style. Rooms have a private balcony or terrace and offer amenities designed for comfort. Superior guest rooms are located in The Terraces building offering partial or full ocean views. Deluxe and Premium Deluxe rooms are located in The Lagoon and Tropicale wings. They offer larger accommodation up to 52 sq.m. Villas are clustered and located in The Cabanas zone - around the pool area of The Lagoon wing. All rooms offer air conditioning, color TV with satellite channels and in-house movies, in-house musics, refrigerator, tea and coffee making facilities, IDD telephone, bathroom with bath and shower.

A good value deal in low season and reasonably priced in the busy seasons in a nice and quiet area of Phuket.

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Deluxe Cabana Room

Lagoon Deluxe room

Deluxe Honeymoon spa suites at the Terraces

Pool

Aerial view

Supar Royal Beach Hotel, Khanom (Nakhon Si Thammarat)

2009-11-22T20:23:00.005+07:00

Supar Royal Beach Hotel, Khanom, Nai Phao Bay, (Nakhon Si Thammarat)

I've been here twice with my family, each time whilst travelling through. One time was when we made a trip to the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat and the hotel is located on a lovely beach on Nai Phao Bay. Khanom is part of the province of Nakhon Si Thammarat although it's located just around Donsak's corenr, where the ferries to/from Koh Samui arrive and leave.

Although the name raises questions about correct translations, it's a nice place with a beautiful beachfront and on the beach they have a row of wooden beach huts which are usually filled up over the weekend with Thais on a weekend trip.

The beach restaurant in front of the hotel is really good and can be recommended. Rooms are cheap and nothing fancy in the main building but for our purpose they were perfectly all right.

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Standard room

Sun coming up in the morning seen from the 5th floor

The Lobby

The beach front

The swimming pool

Sawasdee Sea View Hotel, Pattaya

2009-11-04T20:57:00.008+07:00

Sawasdee Sea View Hotel, Pattaya

The Sawasdee Sea View Hotel in Pattaya, is very centrally located at the entrance of Soi 10 near Beach Road in the heart of Central Pattaya Beach, only 10 steps away from beach, shopping centers, and entertainment spots. Mike's shopping mall is almost across the road of Soi 10 and the brand new Central Festival is within walking distance.

It's a budget hotel and the rooms include all the amenities of a modern hotel to ensure that the guests have a pleasant stay. All rooms are air-conditioned, have an ensuite bathroom, cable Tv, hot water, a refrigerator, and a queen size or twin beds. Facilities at the hotel include, restaurant & bar, laundry service, tour desk, and a safe deposit box.

The place is old though and lived out but excellent value for a budget traveller with good location. During the October 2009 wreck dive trip to Pattaya, two of the divers stayed here and they were happy with the price and what they got for it.

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Standard Room

Double room

Suite room

Regency Park Hotel, Sukhumvit 22, Bangkok

2009-10-21T21:38:00.007+07:00

Regency Park Hotel, Sukhumvit 22, Bangkok

Located almost on the top corner of Soi 22 of Sukhumvit, very near Washington Square and in walking distance to the Phrom Phong BTS Skytrain station.
This is an excellent location indeed! It's one of the first hotels in Bangkok I stayed in once I started living on Samui and I have been coming back over time, due to it's great location.

The Emporium Shopping Mall and the Benjasiri park are also within walking distance and especially the park is very nice and a relief in the fast paced city life of Bangkok. It's also near the Queen Sirikit convention center.

Although the rooms don't have windows, the hotel offers a nice indoors garden as an alternative and all rooms have all the necessary amenities. One tip before booking, make sure that breakfast is included since that's not included in their standard prices!

The Regency Park Hotel offers a quality reasonably-priced three-star boutique hotel with 117 rooms and suites in one of Bangkok’s most famous entertainment, shopping, and business districts.

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Hotel exterior

Lobby

Deluxe room

Superior room

In house garden

Imperial Hua Hin Beach Resort, Hua Hin

2009-10-04T17:29:00.004+07:00

Imperial Hua Hin Beach Resort, Hua Hin

Located slightly outside of Hua Hin so it's slightly isolated if you have to rely on the two hourly shuttle which the hotel runs to downtown Hua Hin. The hotel is part of the Imperial chain and you can expect the usual Imperial hospitality and comfort.

The resort provides 124 elegantly designed rooms, and has a beachfront location on Klaikangwon Beach.

The three-star resort provides a complimentary shuttle serve to Hua Hin, so guests can enjoy all the bustling markets, restaurants and entertainment venues that the city has to offer. It is also 7 km away from the domestic airport. There are a few onsite restaurants for guests to dine at, including the Montalay Beachfront Restaurant, which serves a variety of both Thai and Western cuisine, and the coffee shop entertains guests with live piano music.

Excellent medium range value for a nice and relaxed environment.

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Booking by R24

Guest room

Deluxe Twin

Junior Suite

2 and 3 bedroom suite

Exterior and swimming pool

Charm Churee Villa Rustic Resort, Koh Tao

2009-09-16T20:38:00.008+07:00

Charm Churee Villa Rustic Resort, Koh Tao at Jansom Bay

During my many stays on Koh Tao for diving or work on Koh Tao during PADI IE's I get to know the island relatively well.
One very nice discovery is the Charm Churee Villa Rustic Resort south of Mae Haad on Koh Tao.

The hotel is set in Jansom Bay, one of Koh Tao’s most beautiful areas, with views of the beach and the crystal-clear waters. Set in a secluded spot, this resort is the ideal place to get away from the stresses of modern life. There are two restaurants on site serving a variety of Thai and international dishes, as well as a range of cocktails. This is a great place to visit during your trip to Thailand.

The beach is exclusive to the resort which makes it even more desirable to stay there. On the down side, elevators are a big no no on Koh Tao so be prepared for some stairs walking in order to get to the room or anything else on the premises.

To get away from it all for a reasonable price, this is one of the places in Thailand to be and direct access to all the great dive sites Koh Tao has to offer.

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Booking by R24

Deluxe Room

Panorama terrace

View from a sunset room

Sunset over Koh Tao

View of the exclusive beach and the bay

Bandara Suites Hotel, Silom, Bangkok

2009-09-02T21:45:00.008+07:00

Bandara Suites Hotel, Silom, Bangkok

A friend of mine just stayed here and although he turned out to not be a big Bangkok fan, he enjoyed staying at this hotel.

Bandara Suites is the calm within the storm. Located in the heart of Silom; one of Bangkok's most important financial, shopping, restaurant, and night life districts. The Bandara Suites superb location on Soi Sala Daeng 1 , is only a 5 minute walk down a quiet Soi to the MRTA Subway and BTS Sky train and the three main thoroughfares of Silom, Sathorn, and Rama IV roads. Bangkok's traffic free connecter to all of down town. Bandara Suites Hotel is comprised of 2 high rise buildings. Bandara Hotel & Resort is a 17 storey structure with 48 units of exclusively serviced residence designed to match the Pure Bandara Suites concept. There are also a 4 bedroom penthouse and a 3 bedroom penthouse that offer the maximum in amenities, service, and extravagance. Bandara Hotel & Resort has been designed for the long term resident who needs to be in Bangkok's prime business location.

Bandara Suites is a 26 storey building which brags some of the best views in all of Bangkok. Enjoy the splendid sunrise and observe as Thailand's capital city comes to life; and then later in the day watch the sunset and the skyline of Bangkok shine with high rise illumination

All rooms at Bandara Suites are equipped with high-speed internet and full kitchens for a comfortable stay of one night or as a permanent residence. The 4-star hotel’s facilities include: 2 pools, a spa, a gym, a squash court, a sauna, a whirlpool, a business center, and a restaurant. The city is waiting to be explored as soon as you step out of Bandara Suites in Silom.

Currently, Agoda has some fantastic offers for this hotel available.

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Deluxe two bedroom suite living room

One bedroom suite dining area

Deluxe room

Jacuzzi pool

Lounge area

Twin Towers Hotel, Bangkok

2009-08-18T08:44:00.011+07:00

Twin Towers Hotel, Bangkok

The location of the Twin Towers hotel on Rama VI road in Bangkok is one of it's best assets, about a kilometer away from Chinatown with all it's fascinating little streets, food and exotic things to see and discover and on the edge of Chinatown is also a small street laced with outstanding Indian restaurants and (literal) hole in the wall places.
Many business area's are nearby, an entertainment zone (Patpong) is also around the corner and shopping malls are just a BTS station away with MBK and Siam Paragorn just to name a few.

Both my sister and an old friend of mine with their respective families stayed here early August 2009 for a few days, just before they visited me and my family on Koh Samui and both were happy with the price/quality on offer. They also booked various other activities through agencies in the hotel lobby, very well organised both inside the hotel and the actual trips that they booked.

There are a total of 660 rooms at the hotel, each designed with your comfort in mind. A variety of delectable dishes are served at the on-site eateries, while the cocktail bar serves an array of exotic drinks.

A good choice if you're travelling with a family or in general want a good deal for an affordable rate in Bangkok.

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Deluxe Twin room

Standard King Size room

Pool at the hotel

The exterior

An unusual shot of the hotels exterior

Rajamangala Pavilion Beach Resort, Songkhla

2009-08-04T09:57:00.007+07:00

Rajamangala Pavilion Beach Resort, Songkhla

It's been a while since I stayed in Songkla, probably for over 6 years or so upon writing, back in the days that I still needed to make Visa and border runs. Usually I stayed in Hat Yai but Songkla is very nearby and makes for a perfect break without the big city hustle of Hat Yai.

My impressions of Songkla were that the city is very laid back and relaxed and had a beautiful beach which seemed to stretch for ever.

Although I didn't stay in the Rajamangala Resort, it's located on Chalatat or Samila Beach with a lovely view over the bay and is a short distance from Songkla 'downtown'.
All rooms have fantastic views of the Samila beach and the Gulf of Thailand from the private balconies.
The hotel boosts Chalatat Restaurant located at the 1st Floor and they serve Thai, Chinese & European Cuisine. Operated between 06.00 – 24.00 with 125 seats.

If you want some more action, for keen bargain hunters, take a 20-minute drive to the bustling Santisook market in Hat Yai, where inexpensive duty free goods, from cigarettes, cosmetics, to food stuff, brought in mostly from neighboring Malaysia are abundant. Various other shopping malls and restaurants are also located in the center of Had Yai.

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Guest room

Guest room

Superior room

Lobby

Swimming Pool

LK Metropole Hotel, Pattaya

2009-07-20T21:10:00.005+07:00

LK Metropole Hotel, Pattaya

Each room of this modern hotel has its own balcony with city, pool and ocean views, all 133 of them.
With the beach and the array of entertainments that make Pattaya famous all within walking distance this hotel is ideal for those who like to be close to the action.
The Metropole offers a wide array of facilities including a fitness center, a spa, a swimming pool and a massage service. All the rooms are tastefully laid out and come with hi speed internet access, a mini bar and television. At the LK Metropole Hotel you can experience a little luxury and peace between forays into the razzmatazz that characterizes Pattaya.

The location is really good; smack down in the middle of Pattaya on the corner of Soi Buakhao and Soi Diana and is one of the few hotels in Pattaya with a car park.

The pool is rather small though and breakfast is not spectacular but good enough to get a day started, be aware that the 'free' wifi internet access is only available for one hour per day.

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Standard room

Studio room

Restaurant

Restaurant and pool

Exterior

Rachaphruk Grand Hotel, Nakorn Ratchasima/Korat

2009-07-04T21:44:00.005+07:00

Rachaphruk Grand Hotel, Nakorn Ratchasima/Korat

We stayed in the Rachaphruk Grand Hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima or also known as Korat during our trip last to Isaan or the North Eastern part of Thailand last year in January.

What I really liked about the hotel was all the souvenirs, like pictures and banners from all kind of US Air Force personal that stayed in this place, starting during the Vietnam War, when Korat hosted an airport to the US Air Force.

The other thing I really liked about this specific hotel is it's location which was on the ring road around the town center, but directly opposite the road that leads to Kohn Kaen and Udon Thani which we had to take the next day.

The hotel supports a coffee shop, a Chinese Dim Sum restaurant and a disco. On the third floor is a swimming pool and also a fitness center.

All in all a decent choice and affordable. The Superior rooms are decent and for just a couple of hundred Baht more you can get a Junior Suite room on each floor.

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Superior room

Junior Suite

Pool

Location

Lebua at State Tower Hotel, Silom Road, Bangkok

2009-06-16T20:20:00.004+07:00

Lebua at State Tower Hotel, Silom Road, Bangkok

Lebua at State Tower Hotel offers 327 suites within the prestigious 65-storey State Tower which rises over a main thoroughfare of Bangkok near the river. High-speed elevators whisk you away to suites that exude space-age luxury with an old-world feel. Each suite is equipped with a charming living room, modern bathroom with separate shower, two flat-screen TVs, a DVD player, in-room broadband internet connectivity, workstation, a large and fully stocked refrigerator, a coffee percolator, iron and ironing board and personal safe. Lebua has conveniently procured a private entrance for the reception area on the ground floor. The rooftop restaurants offer a breathtaking-yet-breezy, romantic-yet-stately dining experience that on a clear day, makes for the experience of a lifetime.

Within the State Tower, there are a wide range of shopping, dining and entertainment choices under one roof. Additionally, the hotel offers a number of features for residents.

My sister and her family stayed here once and I was lucky enough to be in Bangkok and visited her here and it was gorgeous. Unfortunately it was very stormy that day and our planned dinner at the Sirocco restaurant was rudely disturbed by rain and we had to relocate to the room/suite.

The view that I had up there was stunning though and well worth it. Unfortunately it was before my blogging days started so I don't have any pictures of the place nor of the restaurant.
Come to think of it, I actually stayed at the Dynasty Inn Grande when she stayed here at Lebua.

This is not a cheap place to stay in Bangkok but it's definately worthwhile it if you can afford it.

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Standard room

Two bedroom suite

Three bedroom living room

Balcony view over Bangkok

Sirocco restaurant

Dynasty Inn Grande, Sukhumvit Soi 6, Bangkok

2009-06-06T16:12:00.005+07:00

Dynasty Inn Grande, Sukhumvit Soi 6, Bangkok

Great location in Bangkok, excellent price and good rooms with all the relevant amenities facilities including internet in the room . It's on the corner of Soi 4 also known as Soi Nana and in walking distance (just a 5 minute walk) to Nana BTS Skytrain station or use their shuttle service and you are only a few stops from the shopping destinations of Siam and Ratchaprasong.

The hotel even offers a shuttle service to the Nana sky train station. The tour desk at the hotel can help guests plan tours in and around Bangkok, and if you want to travel in style hire on of the cars on offer. Bloom Cafe, the restaurant at Dynasty Grande serves Thai fusion and international dishes, but with so many options nearby you might want to try them all. Across the road in Soi 11 guests will find some of the best nightlife spots in the city, BED and Q Bar. Guests will appreciate an excellent location along with great service, and the best part, all at an affordable price at Dynasty Grande.

Having stayed here myself, I can highly recommend this hotel with a price of just above 2.000,-THB per night, all taxes included but excluding breakfast. A hard to beat deal in this part of Bangkok.

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Deluxe room

Deluxe room with view from the bed

Deluxe Grande room

Working place in the room

The very spacious reception

Montra Resort & Spa, Mae Haad, Koh Tao

2009-05-28T11:35:00.004+07:00

Montra Resort & Spa, Mae Haad, Koh Tao

The brand new Montra Resort & Spa in Mae Haad on Koh Tao is finally completed and it looks beautiful. It's a nice upscale boutique resort next to the Seatran pier on Koh Tao, just a 2 minute walk and on it's the other side is Sairee beach, just a 10 minute walk away, a beautiful scenic walk.

Montra resort is specially designed to pamper the needs of indulgent leisure travelers. The hotel is also popular among water sport enthusiasts who can indulge in scuba diving and snorkeling very nearby. The June Juea Beach, Ao Leuk and Thian Og Bay are some of the other unspoiled tourist spots within close proximity. Accommodation options are varied and there is something to suit every budget ranging from deluxe rooms to suites and all are equipped with cable TV and private balcony. The restaurant serves authentic Thai cuisine and the poolside bar is a nice place to relax.
The pool is gorgeous but you may find a few divers in it, as they are hard to avoid anywhere on Koh Tao.

If that's not enough, within a few minutes walks the Mae Haad and Sairee beaches offer plenty of excellent food options, covering a wide range of tastes and budgets.

At the moment of writing this review, the Montra Resort has a special offer which is very tempting. If you're looking for comfort and some luxury in a central location, the Montra offers just that.

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Deluxe room

Deluxe room

Superior room

Exterior view

Relaxing at the pool with a view on the beach

Panviman Resort, Thong Nai Pan beach, Koh Phangan

2009-05-17T10:02:00.005+07:00

Panviman Resort, Thong Nai Pan beach, Koh Phangan

Panviman Resort is highly recommended if you are looking for an idyllic romantic setting for two. Set on a steep hillside overlooking Thong Nai Pan beach, the luxurious Panviman Resort gives you the most incredible views of the beautiful Thong Nai Pan beach. The resort is most suitable for honeymooners, couples, and young families who want to enjoy a luxury holiday, away from the noisy beach crowds. The premium villas and cottages come with a private second floor terrace, complete with sun loungers and even an outdoor bathtub! A handful of beach side restaurants and bars within walking distance from the resort offer fresh seafood and fantastic value cocktails.

Be aware however that the resort is located in a real far away location, it's fairly remote and shuttle transfers are not easily available and taxi rides can be expensive around Koh Phangan. Another thing to consider is that the resort is build on a hill, so reaching your room can be a bit of a timely exercise.

The resort boosts 10 Superior Cottages, 26 Deluxe Cottages, 10 Deluxe hotel rooms, 4 Family cottages, 3 Spa Villas and a Presidential suite.

The swimming pool is massive and spread out over various layers and a real treat to use.

Room features Air – Conditioning, private bathroom with hot and cold shower, private bathroom with bathtub & hot and cold shower, bathtub with Jacuzzi in the open – air terrace, mini-bar & refrigerator, tea & coffee facilities, satellite TV in room, individual VCD, IDD telephone in the rooms, electronic safe in all rooms, beach sandals, towels and umbrellas in the rooms and daily make-up of the room.

The resorts has two restaurants, the Pan Sea and Stone Beach restaurants but there's also good food available in the nearby village.

A very nice and luxurious retreat almost in the jungle with a fair price tag, not cheap but affordable in the medium to higher end price range.

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Superior Cottage

Superior Hotel room

Family Cottage

Stone Beach Restaurant

Swimming pool

Lanta Nakara Resort, Koh Lanta, Krabi

2009-04-29T18:20:00.009+07:00

Lanta Nakara Resort, Koh Lanta, Krabi

Lanta Nakara Resort is a beautifully landscaped tropical resort offering a relaxed atmosphere. of Long Beach, the longest beach on Koh Lanta. Located only 70 kilometers from Krabi, the family-operated, beach side Lanta Nakara Resort offers complete relaxation in beautiful surroundings.

Dining options include a restaurant featuring the chef who helped make Relax Bay Tropicana famous.

Water temperature remains at 28-30 degrees all year and the three kilometer beach invites long lazy walks.There is excellent swimming and a rock reef for snorkeling five minutes walk away.

Nakara Resort offers 3 types of guest rooms with a total of 74 rooms; 8 Beachfront bungalows, 32 Luxury bungalows, 19 Deluxe bungalows and 15 Superior Bungalows.

A medium ranged priced resort, well worth visiting on a long stretching beach of lovely Koh Lanta.

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Deluxe bungalow

Luxury Bungalow Bedroom

Swimming Pool

Koh Lanta scenery

Long Beach

The Centric Ratchada Hotel, Bangkok

2009-04-09T21:49:00.007+07:00

The Centric Ratchada Hotel, Bangkok

Stayed in this hotel in Bangkok since it was conveniently located for me during that specific trip. It is around the corner of the Fortune Tower IT Mall and it's located within a 5 minute walk from Rama 9 MRTA subway station.
Being located at the corner of Ratchadapisek and Ding Daen and very near Asoke junction on Sukhumvit, the location is central and very good.
It's also close to Bangkok's Suvarnabumi airport, it took me 30 minutes during the day time from the hotel to the airport.

The staff was very friendly, helpful and accommodating. Upon arrival I was transferred to 3 different rooms before I finally had a room with wifi connection. Only certain floors have wifi, so make sure you get on to the right floor, the 8th floor is one of those floors that supports wifi. At the reception cards can be purchased.

The hotel seems to be popular with Asian travel parties, Chinese mainly but there were plenty of other Asian travellers in the hotel when I was there.

Breakfast was very Asian but had also toast and eggs to offer, a bit meagre on the Western side.

The rooms were ok but all 3 rooms that I got to see smelled very strongly of tobacco, a typical Asian feat it seems.
The rooms itself were pretty non descript although rather spacious with a separated shower/bathroom/wardrobe (with safety box) area.

The lobby was big but lacked atmosphere.

The hotel is located in a small soi which may be hard to find, although Bangkok taxi drivers tend to know it. The soi has a few interesting small shops and restaurants to show.

The room rate was good, just below 1.500,-THB including breakfast and all taxes.

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Mango Bay Grand Resort, Koh Tao

2009-03-22T10:20:00.003+07:00

Mango Bay Grand Resort, Koh Tao

As a diver living on Koh Samui, see my dive blog for my dive adventures, I've been diving Mango Bay and Koh Tao since I arrived on these shores, in 1999. Mango Bay was a popular spot for it's shallow but beautiful waters. It's always been a snorkelers paradise and for entry level dives it's an excellent training location.

Over the years this beautiful bay on Koh Tao has seen a bit of development and one of the results is Mango Bay Grand Resort. The bay can be reached by long tail boat by means of a free shuttle service or when weather conditions won't allow this, by an unpaved road and from the parking lot it's just 400 steps down to the resort!

Similar to the resort, all building materials had to be brought in by boat!

The views here are spectacular and you can literally drop from the mooring point into the clear water.
Things to keep in mind that it is very isolated, so bring all you need (cash, books etc) and electricity is only available from 6 pm to midnight, so it can get very hot and sweaty in your room. Back to the basics on Koh Tao!

Rooms are fairly priced and if you're looking for a (very) quiet and relaxing environment, this may be it!

Note that the resort is closed 1st October to 20th December.

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Room with fan

Bungalow with aircon

Bungalow on the slopes

Sea view

Sea Lodge, Koh Tao

2009-03-07T08:41:00.004+07:00

Sea Lodge, Koh Tao

This is the place where I usually stay when I'm on Koh Tao and I'm there quite a lot, for work when I accompany my IDC candidates for moral and logistical support for their their PADI IE's. Possibly I'm there 5 or 6 times a year at least. After Koh Samui where I live since 1999, this must be the place in Thailand where I spend a lot of time.

The Sea Lodge only has 4 rooms, a family room with 3 beds, accommodating 4 people, a room with 2 beds and 2 rooms accommodating two people, one room with a twin and one room with a double bed.
Breakfast is optional but all rooms are fitted with air conditioning and ceiling fans, hot water shower, mini bar, 40 channel satellite TV and free wifi.

The location is excellent! Coming off the Seatran ferry, it's straight ahead, 50 meters from the pier, the building you will be facing walking off the ferry, smack downtown Mae Haad, so to speak. Plenty of good restaurants in walking distance and all dive boats leave within a 100 meters from the Sea Lodge.

Convenient and easy if you're diving on Koh Tao or just for a couple of days on business or a short breakaway.

The family room

Sunset on Koh Tao viewed from the Sea Lodge

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Novotel Centara, Hat Yai

2009-02-06T21:49:00.007+07:00

Novotel Centara, Hat Yai

The Novotel Centara Hat Yai Hotel, is in the heart of the city's commercial and shopping districts, within easy reach of the airport, connections to Bangkok, and the Malaysian border.
With this in mind, it's ideally located if you're doing a visa/border run or if you're just visiting this bustling Southern Thai city.

With five meeting rooms able to accommodate up to 300 people, the Novotel Centara Hat Yai Hotel offers an ideal venue for business and social gatherings of every kind. The business center provides Internet access, fax/photocopying services, translation facilities, and secretarial services. The four restaurants and the bar at the Novotel Centara Hat Yai Hotel serve a variety of different cuisines. The 237 well-appointed guestrooms and suites offer a range of amenities to ensure a relaxing stay. Recreational facilities include a swimming pool, a fully equipped fitness center, a sauna, and traditional Thai massage treatments.

If you don't want to try out some excellent restaurants, lining the bustling city streets, you can try one of these indoor restaurants;

Lobby Lounge Enjoy cocktails and live music. Opening hours: 4pm-1am on weekdays, 4pm-2am on weekends.

Cappuccino Corner Relax with coffee, tea, fruit juice or delicious baked goods. Opening hours: 9am-9.30pm.

Saneha Cafe Restaurant Authentic Thai and selected international cuisine. Open hours: 6.30am-11.30pm.

Hagi Japanese Corner Fine Japanese cuisine. Opening hours: 11.30am – 9.30pm.

Ginger Authentic Thai, Japanese and Chinese cuisine with a wine bar and live music. Opening hours: 11.30am - 2pm for lunch and 6pm to 11pm for dinner.

Good rates and great location, if in Hat Yai, definitely worth wile looking into with affordable rates.

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Deluxe room

Dynasty Club Room; Spacious 36 sqm. room featuring air-conditioning, private bathroom bath/shower, Satellite TV/ Movies, Minibar, In-room safe, Internet Access, etc. Dynasty Club lounge and benefits included.

One of the restaurants

Exterior view of the Novotel Centara Hotel in Hat Yai.

Xen Suites, Don Muang, Bangkok

2009-01-11T00:08:00.007+07:00

Xen Suites, Don Muang, Bangkok

My parents stayed here during the airport closures in Bangkok at the end of 2008 in November for two nights, during the protests that made world wide news.

The hotel is very conveniently located near Bangkok's domestic Don Muang airport and the Impact Exhibition & Convention center, the largest exhibition and convention center in Thailand.
An IT center is also within walking distance and two big shopping malls are within easy taxi reach at Chaeng Wattana, a well known road in Bangkok.

Xen Suites is formerly and probably better known by taxi drives as Quality Suites.

The price and quality of the rooms are good and if you need to be in this area, it's excellent value for money.

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Imperial Queen's Park Hotel, Bangkok

2009-01-01T11:26:00.006+07:00

Imperial Queen's Park Hotel, Bangkok

Imperial Queen's Park is the only hotel in Bangkok with direct access to a park. Fresh-air, lush gardens, ponds, badminton, and a playground are, just down the steps from the Parkview Restaurant, in Benjasiri Park. Nearby find a driving range and tennis courts. Imperial Queen's Park is located on Soi 22, in the middle of the bustling Sukhumvit restaurant and entertainment district. Prom Phong BTS Skytrain stop, Emporium Shopping Center and the famous Queen Sirikit Conference Center are all a few minutes walk away. Designed to appeal to all guests, one pool will be in the shade while the other is in the sun, there are pools on the 4th and the 9th floor.
A magnificent 37-storey, twin tower hotel, The Imperial Queen's Park Hotel dominantly graces Bangkok's beautiful skyline, from its downtown Sukhumvit Road location. With its outstanding first-class facilities and services, this grand hotel is destined for legendary status.

Everything in this 1,400 guest room hotel is on a grand scale; The 1,600 square metre bobby is four times the size of those in ordinary hotels; deluxe rooms are a spacious 38 to 40 sq.m. and a grand 700 sq.m. Penthouse; luxury suites range in size from 240 to 350 sq.m.: there are over 2,500 sq.m. of convention space; two swimming pools set in roof-top gardens; and six exquisitely designed restaurants specializing in Thai, Japanese, Chinese Continental, Vietnamese cuisines which have numerous private rooms for business functions and intimate dining.

It's also part of the Imperial group that houses the Imperial Boathouse and Imperial Samui on Koh Samui.

Although this is a top end hotel, I find the rates rather affordable and excellent value for money.

The hotel supports also various restaurants;

Parkview Restaurant
Located on the ground floor with direct access to Benjasiri Park, this round-the-clock restaurant offers a wide selection of meals. From 6am-10am a buffet breakfast which features Western and Oriental favorites is available. Lunch and dinner buffets have carving stations and dessert counters.

Lai Thong Thai Restaurant
Lai Thong Thai Restaurant is located on the lobby level and offers Royal Thai Cuisine in a modern Thai setting. The restaurant features a wide selection of entrees as well as set menus on special occasions. Open for dinner only from 6pm-10pm. lobby level

Les Nymphéas French Restaurant
Located on the 4th floor overlooking the pool, 'Les Nymphéas' delights guests with authentic French cuisine and large Monet reproductions. Open for lunch 11:30am-2pm and dinner 6pm-10pm.

The Uncle Ho Vietnamese Restaurant
Located on the 4th floor, this well known and popular restaurant serves Vietnamese meals in a relaxed atmosphere. Lunch 11.30-2pm, dinner 6-10pm.

Shabu-Shabu
Located on the 9th floor, this is a favorite restaurant for those who enjoy the traditional Japanese experience of cooking raw ingredients at the table in a shabu-shabu or crockpot. A lot of fun for youngsters as well as grown-ups. Open 6-10pm.

Kacho Japanese Restaurant
Located on the top (37th) floor, Kacho offers lunch and dinner guests a spectacular view of Bangkok in elegant high-end surroundings. For a traditional Japanese experience try one of the seven private dining rooms. Lunch 11:30am-2pm, dinner 6-10pm.

The Lobby Lounge
You can sit leisurely or order snacks and drinks all day. In the afternoon there is an elaborate tea set up and a pianist to lend a pleasant sound to your mood. Open daily 10.30am-10.30pm.

The Sundowner's Jazz Club
Meet friends and business associates while listening to the eclectic sounds of a live band. The Sundowner's Jazz Bar is a pleasurable venue to meet at. Open Daily 5pm-2am.

The Imperial China Chinese Restaurant
Also situated on the 4th floor, this restaurant serves Cantonese cuisine in a luxurious setting. There are eight private rooms as well as a special room for a private party of up to 120. As well as the popular a la carte favorites, Dim Sum is served at lunchtimes.

Great location in Bangkok and excellent value for money thus receiving my recommendation.

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Amari Nova Platinum, Pattaya

2008-09-09T22:12:00.006+07:00

Amari Nova Platinum, Pattaya

Is located very conveniently on Pratamnal Road which is just a few minutes walking distance from famous Walking Street and near the road leading to Jomtien.

More importantly for me was the location near the Bali Hai pier, where the dive shop is located that I used for my wreck dive trips to Pattaya but also the close proximity to all other locations that I use for diving makes it very convenient.

The hotel has been freshly renovated in 2008 and is slightly more expensive than the average 1.000,-THB per night room that can be had in Pattaya. The Amari Nova Platinum starts around 2.000,-THB per night pending on special offers that can make the room slightly cheaper. Breakfast is not included though! On a recent stay in May 2010 the rooms were around 1.200,-THB per night + 10% service charge + 7% tax.

This Pattaya hotel has 78 guestrooms, featuring a 32” flatscreen television, a DVD player, free wireless Internet access and an array of modern facilities. Guests will enjoy a tropical garden, a large swimming pool, a jacuzzi and waterslide. The hotel offers all-day dining at Zia Restaurant, serving a great selection of delicious Mediterranean and Asian favourites. The pool bar also provides guests with refreshing tropical drinks and snacks.

I can recommend this hotel for your stays in Pattaya and the latest update after my stay in October 2009 is that there is construction under way which will see more rooms. That construction is almost finished, a new building has been completed already and by August 2010 a third building should be completed, where each room will have it's own PC.

Great location and excellent value.

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Entrance

Swimming Pool

Lobby

Standard room

Diamond Plaza, Surat Thani town

2008-08-05T22:13:00.006+07:00

Diamond Plaza, Surat Thani town

Whenever we travel to the main land and we end up in Surat Thani for a night, we stay at this hotel, near the center of Surat Thani town.

The Diamond Plaza is fairly no nonsense hotel, but it has clean rooms, over 400 deluxe and suite guestrooms and they have wifi on most floors. Very convenient.

Their American breakfast is nothing special but has the basics but there's a wide selection of Asian breaky food.

The hotel further supports a gym and a swimming pool and is very popular during the week for business meetings and in the weekends for weddings.

Excellent value for money but not very charming.

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Centara Kata Resort, Phuket

2008-07-25T16:53:00.007+07:00

Centara Kata Resort, Phuket

My family and me stayed a few times in this resort during our almost yearly Phuket holidays and although it has no beach location, we really liked a lot. We prefer quiet Kata Beach over busy Patong in Phuket, so that made it also an easy choice. Since we always visit Phuket during their rainy season, the Resort has very good deals during that time frame! You may also want to check out the Centara Karon Resort by the same Centara Chain.

The Resort has a big pool with a slide and Jacuzzi's, which the children loved a lot and the breakfast is very good as well, with a good mix between Thai (Asian) and Western food.

We stayed in Deluxe rooms with baby cots and there was still plenty of room and we also stayed in the Family Suites, which was excellent. The children slept in the living room and we in the 'masters' bedroom.

Centara Kata Resort Phuket is located in the tranquil heart of Kata Beach, set in its own tropical gardens. Centara Kata Resort is functional and tastefully decorated in contemporary style, creating a relaxed atmosphere. Centara Kata Resort offers 158 large guestrooms, suites and apartments, all of which have a private balcony or terrace overlooking the pool areas or the garden. Centara Kata Resort also provides a restaurant and bar for fine dining and a drink. Recreational facilities at Centara Kata Resort include three magnificent pools and sundecks, a small spa and fitness room.

The resort comprises 158 rooms and suites spread out in a cluster of 2 and 3 storey low-rise buildings. All units are very spacious, comfortable, functional and tastefully decorated in traditional Thai and contemporary style architecture to create a family friendly resort.

If you travel with children, I can highly recommend this Resort in quiet and relaxed Kata Beach.

Prices range drastically from season to season as everything and everywhere in Phuket does, during low season it's very affordable but in high season it's priced in the medium range.

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The pool

The slide at the big pool

The restaurant overlooking the big pool

Deluxe room

Family suite

Charoensri Grand Royal Hotel, Udon Thani

2008-07-11T21:00:00.003+07:00

Charoensri Grand Royal Hotel, Udon Thani

Is one of those classic hotels that breath that 'old style' grandeur. Also, once in Udon, there's not that much choice and the Charoensri is conveniently located in the thickst of it all, next to a big shopping mall with cafes, restaurants and various shops.
It's located in absolutely the middle of downtown Udon.

One of the other nice features of this hotel is that it's reasonably cheap for what it offers, big enough rooms with all amenities.

The Charoensri offers 234 Deluxe rooms and 18 Senior suites for very reasonable rates.

All rooms are air-conditioned and are equipped with individual thermostat controls.
Baby sitting service is available - We take good care of important little guest with kind and gentle care and Baby cots are available free of charge.
Charoensri Complex Shopping Mall - The mall, the largest one of the northeastern, is only one minute walk from the hotel with over 200 shops, Robinson Department store, Food center, Major Cineplex & Major Bowl.
Television Entertainment - The hotel provides you with a wide range of local and satellite channels.

During a trip earlier this year we went to Udon Thani and had a grand time there.

Booking by Hotels Combined

Booking by Agoda

Booking by R24

City Lodge, Sukhumvit, Soi 19, Bangkok

2008-06-27T13:25:00.003+07:00

City Lodge, Sukhumvit, Soi 19, Bangkok

Is one of two City Lodge's on Sukhumvit, one in Soi 9 and this one on Soi 19.

I've stayed in this superior hotel in the heart of Bangkok's Sukhumvit area, City Lodge Soi 19, on Sukhumvit Soi 19 which has a very convenient location offering within walking distance both ‘Asok’ BTS skytrain and ‘Sukhumvit’ MRTA Subway stations, almost on the hotels door step.

In the middle of Bangkok's most exciting commercial, embassy, shopping, dining and entertainment district, this Bangkok city centre hotel enables guests to explore the vibrant city and its multiple options – all within easy reach.

City Lodge Soi 19 provides well-appointed guest rooms with modern amenities and personalised service for a relaxing stay. The hotel offers great dining at La Gritta Italian Restaurant with superb authentic Italian delicacies.

The hotel offers 23 Superior rooms of approx. 30 square meters, 5 Deluxe rooms of approx. 36 square meters and 6 Deluxe corner rooms of approx. 45 square meters.

City Lodge Soi 19 is fully equipped for a comfortable stay and offers;

-Broadband internet access
-Room service
-Medical service (on call)
-Laundry and pressing
-Currency exchange
-Limousine service
-Parking

This medium ranged hotel offers excellent location and good rooms.

Booking by Hotels Combined

Booking by Agoda

Booking by R24

List of recommended Thailand hotels

2008-06-24T23:33:00.084+07:00

List of recommended Thailand hotels

This is a growing list of recommended hotels throughout Thailand. Having lived on Koh Samui since the end of 1999, I feel that I can give an honest and true report on many hotels around Thailand that I visited ever since.

It's not just a recommendation but also a reason why I like it or recommend it, like those many times I get asked about accommodation around Thailand.

For booking purposes, I use the following sites;

Hotels Combined since they give you the best deals from various search engines combined and without a big effort you get the best deal(s) available on either Koh Samui or Thailand.

Agoda, since they have good rates, a wide choice and have easy to use websites . They also have an excellent reward programs.

Another program to look at with favorable rates is the R24 site also known as Sawasdee dot com.

More booking sites may be added in due time.

This list, that will keep growing over time, are the hotels that I recommend, click on each link for more information and booking links.
Each hotel link will have various links for reservations and rates so you can compare prices;

Bangkok hotels;

Bandara Suites Hotel, Silom
Centric Ratchada, Ratchadapisek/Din Deang
City Lodge, Sukhumvit Soi 19

Convenient Resort, Bang Na/Suvarnabhumi Airport
Dynasty Inn Grande, Sukhumvit Soi 6
Imperial Queen's Park Hotel, Sukhumvit Soi 22
Lebua at State Tower, Silom Riverside
Legacy Suites, Sukhumvit Soi 29

Mystic Place, Saphan Kwai

Paragon Inn, Bang Na/Suvarnabhumi Airport
Regency Park Hotel, Sukhumvit Soi 22

S31 Sukhumvit Hotel, Sukhumvit Soi 31

Silver Gold Garden Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel, Bang Na/Suvarnabhumi Airport
Twin Towers Hotel, Rama VI road, Pratunam/Siam

Windsor Suites Hotel, Sukhumvit Soi 20
Xen Suites, Chaeng Wattana near Don Muang

Chaam Hotels;

Bann Pantai Resort

Chiang Mai Hotels;

Centara Duangtawan

Four Seasons Resort

Hat Yai hotels;

Hat Yai Golden Crown Hotel
Novotel Centara

Hua Hin hotels;

Imperial Hua Hin Beach Resort

Kao Lak hotels;

JW Marriott Kao Lak Resort & Spa, Khuk Kak Beach

Kao Lak Youth Club

Ocean Breeze Resort

Khon Kaen hotels;

Rachawadee Hotel and Resort

Koh Lanta, Krabi hotels;

Ananda Lanta Resort, Klong Dao Beach

Baan Lanta Resort and Spa, Baan Kan Tiang Bay and Beach

Kaw Kwang Beach Resort, Koh Lanta, Krabi, Klong Kao Beach
Lanta Nakara Resort, Koh Lanta, Krabi , Long Beach

Narima, Baan Kan Tiang Bay

Pimalai Resort & Spa, Baan Kan Tiang Bay and Beach

Rawi Warin Resort and Spa, Klong Tob Bay

Royal Resort & Spa, Klong Dao Beach

The Heart Inn, Saladan

Koh Phangan hotels;

B52 Beach Resort, Bantai near Thongsala

Haad Son Resort, Haad Son
Haad Yao Bay View Resort, Haad Yao Beach
Milky Bay Resort, Ao Ban Tai

Panviman Resort, Thong Nai Pan beach

Rasananda Resort, Thong Nai Pan Noi Beach

Salad Buri Resort & Spa, Haad Salad

Tharathip Resort, Wok Tom Bay near Thongsala

Koh Phi Phi hotels;

Holiday Inn Resort, Laem Tong Beach

Koh Tao hotels;

Charm Churee Villa Rustic Resort, Jansom Bay

Dusit Buncha Resort, near Mango Bay

Jamahkiri Resort & Spa, Ao Luek Bay
Mango Bay Grand Resort, Mango Bay
Montra Resort & Spa, Mae Haad
Sea Lodge, Mae Haad

Nakhon Ratchasima/Korat hotels;

Rachaphurk Grand Hotel

Nakhon Si Thammarat hotels;

Supar Royal Beach Hotel, Khanom, Nai Phao Bay

Pattaya hotels;

Amari Nova Platinum, South Pattaya

Amari Nova Suites, North Pattaya

Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort, North Pattaya
Jomtien Garden Hotel & Resort, Jomtien beach
LK Metropole, Central Pattaya
Sawasdee Sea View Hotel, Central Pattaya

Phuket hotels;

Airport Resort & Spa, Airport area
Casa E Mare, Kata beach
Centara Karon Resort, Karon beach
Centara Kata Resort, Kata beach

Kasalong Phuket Resort, Nai Yan beach
Kata Beach Resort & Spa, Kata beach
Mom Tri's Villa Royale Hotel, Kata beach

Phuket Airport Hotel, Airport area
Tinidee Hotel, Kathu

Songkla hotels;

Rajamangala Pavilion Beach Resort, Songkhla

Surat Thani hotels;

Diamond Plaza, Surat Thani town

Kaew Samui Resort, Surat Thani

Udon Thani hotels;

Charoensri Grand Royal Hotel