Dewa Phuket, Nai Yang Beach

The Dewa Phuket hotel is located at just a stone throw distance from the beach and entrance to the Sirinath National Park. Just viewing the hotel from the outside let's you almost fall in love with the place, it looks great and inviting. Facing the beach, which is just about 300 meters away from the entrance of the hotel, is also a cosey coffee shop that is part of the hotel, the 'Bread & Butter'.

With just under 100 rooms, suites and bungalows, the Dewa is a little bit more expensive than your average budget place, but well worth it and still a better deal in my opinion compared to a similar place in a busy location. The swimming pool is beautiful, there's a kids corner, two restaurants are on the premises and everything else that you would expect in a modern hotel.

About 5 minutes from the airport, a good half hour from the 'happening' places in Phuket, like Patong and located at the fantastic Nai Yang beach. If you're looking for a quiet and relaxed location, this is it!

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Two bedroom residence

Suite

Private pool villa

Swimming pool

Lobby area

Hilton Hotel, Pattaya

Hilton Hotel, Pattaya

The Hilton chain just opened a new hotel in Pattaya and they did it in grand style. This hotel is found on top of the Central Festival Pattaya Beach complex, a big shopping mall that houses among others over 300 international shops and restaurants, a 10-screen cinema, and a bowling alley. Staying here is quite convenient!

You're absolutely in the middle of Pattaya city and the view over the bay is spectacular. The spacious and contemporary one bedroom suites offer floor-to-ceiling windows and the latest in-room multimedia technology and all suites feature a separate living area.

With Edge, Shore, Flare and Drift the hotel also offers 4 excellent restaurant and bar choices, in case one of the many options in the shopping mall don't meet requirements.

If you would like an upscale and luxurious experience in Pattaya, the Hilton offers just what you're looking for.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Deluxe plus

Ocean view suite

Lobby

Drift restaurant

Infinity pool at night

The Andaburi Resort, Khao Lak

The Andaburi Resort, Khao Lak

The resort is now known, as of 2015 as 'The Leaf on The Sand Resort' by Katathani

This resort is in the middle of Khao Lak, near all places of interest and just an hour way from Phuket International airport. Tourist attractions like James Bond island, Khao Sok national park, the Similan islands and Surin islands are all within easy access.

The hotel boasts 39 Superior rooms, 24 Villas and 5 Deluxe Villas at very reasonable prices. A drawback may be that there's no direct access to the beach, although the beach is not far away, maybe a 10 minute walk.

A nice and relaxed location at good prices, the Andaburi in Khao Lak may be your choice.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Room

Guest room

Lobby

Hotel exterior

Pool

Feung Nakorn Balcony, Bangkok

Feung Nakorn Balcony, Bangkok

As big cities go, they have all kind of special, weird and/or different things to offer in many ways. On the hotel scene, the Feung Nakorn Balcony hotel in Bangkok is special indeed!

This medium sized hotel is family run and the hotel is divided in to two sections, The front section is a five story building that boasts a mix of Thai and western designs. Here you’ll find 3 gorgeous suites named after famous gem stones and the hotel's New Road Café, all of which offers stunning views of the famous Rajchabophit Temple across the road. From the rooftop, you can even view the magnificence of the famous Grand Palace and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), two of Bangkok’s most famous temples.

The second section is located a few more steps in from the road and hosts a much larger 4 story building, which has been converted from a local elementary school but retains many of its classic structure and design. Here you can find the main reception area, a cozy open-air restaurant and a peaceful landscaped outdoor garden. There are 4 suites, 30 standard rooms and even 4 shared dorm rooms to accommodate.

Feung Nakorn Balcony is the first and only boutique hotel situated on Feung Nakorn Road, which is one of Thailand’s first roads built during the reign of King Rama 5th. From the past until today, this charming, classic Bangkok road remains unchanged with its abundant jewelry shops, many of which have been in business for over 4 generations. And because many old buildings still remain after all these years, Feung Nakorn Balcony is perfect for tourists searching for a nostalgic experience in old Bangkok. Moreover, it is just a few steps away from many major historical attraction.

These attraction include The Grande Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun, National Museum, Khao San Road and Chinatown, all withing 20 or less minutes walk from the hotel.

Nostalgic and looking for that little bit different in a nice price range, the Feung Nakorn Balcony may exactly offer what you're looking for.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Suite room

Deluxe room

Grande suite room

Dormitory room

Exterior

Castle Howchow Beach Resort Hotel, Khon Kaen

Castle Howchow Beach Resort Hotel, Khon Kaen

This is a special place. A beach resort in Khon Kaen? Yes indeed, the owners of this family style resort have build their own beach near Khon Kaen.

The resort is located in the tranquil countryside of Amphur Kranuan in the District of Khon Kaen, in North East Thailand, or possibly better known as Isaan.

What makes this resort so special is that they have divided the resort in three main areas;

Garden 1. -5 rai, represents the South of Thailand with a beautiful man made beach and a big saltwater chlorinated swimming pool, surrounded by 16 new Luxury Bungalows.

Garden 2. -10 rai represents Central Thailand with its (Klongs) Waterways in its fully matured landscaped surrounding, bridges leading to a lake with , walkways bridges and salas to sit in and relax.

Garden3. -5 rai represents Isaan with its orchard and mature trees. There is also housing in this garden for another 66 persons.

In total the resort boasts 39 Luxury Bungalows in total, plus 4 Suite Rooms and a new block of rooms in Garden 3 with solar heated hot and solar pumped cold water, cable TV, broadband internet connection in every room and air-conditioning.

If you're in for a country side holiday and are looking for something else, this may be exactly what you're looking for. This place is special in many different ways.

Booking by Agoda

Suite chalet

Deluxe chalet

Guest room

Superior pool

Pool

Ocean Breeze Resort, Khao Lak

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

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