Samkong Place, Phuket

This modest place is located in Talat Yai, Phuket Town and is within walking distance of two big hospitals; Bangkok Hospital and the Vachira (government) hospital

There's fast wifi in the room with the hotel offering plenty of parking space and around the hotel there are plenty of local eateries. Samkong is a lively place and besides the restaurants, there's plenty of other conveniences around near the hotel, like small mini markets etc.
Very good is that the hotel is located away from the busy main road and there's no traffic noise in the rooms. 

The rooms seem safe, are clean and big and come at a very affordable price.

Booking at Agoda

Booking at Hotels Combined

Guest room

Twin room

Double room

Guest room

Hotel exterior

Green Tree Village, Phuket

Last month we stayed at this lovely bungalow village, which is located near the roundabout of the two heroines in Phuket, the Thao Thep Kasattri (ท้าวเทพกระษัตรี) and Thao Sri Sunthon (ท้าวศรีสุนทร) placing it in a very central location, near to shopping areas, the Laguna, the airport and some beautiful quiet beaches as well.

The bungalows are located at a small lake and far enough away from the busy highway to make for an idyllic and lovely setting you can easily fall in love with. The setting will make up for the lack of a swimming pool but good and fast internet in the room as an up again. Breakfast is served at your balcony which makes for a great start of the day.

If you're looking for a quiet and affordable hide away on Phuket, you just found it here!

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Booking by Hotels Combined

Living room

Kitchenette

Bed room

View on the bungalow

The lake in front of the bungalows

Seetanu Bungalows, Koh Phangan

All the PADI IDC's that I taught so far on Koh Phangan were on Haad Chao Phao and the beach there is just fabulous! It's a nice stretch of almost unspoiled beach in a small bay with just a few resorts and Seetanu is one of them.

The 17 bungalows come in various price rates and there a handful of low budget fan rooms changing into good bungalows at the beach or in their luscious garden.

Just for the beach alone you will love it, sunsets and quietness! Just be aware that once every month there's a party near the beach. That night it's not quiet!
The resort doesn't have a pool but the ocean is directly in front and has shallow water.

The bungalows have a good price and I can recommend the are, plenty of restaurants are nearby in this nice and quiet corner of the island.

Booking by AGODA

Booking by HOTELS COMBINED

The entrance sign

One of the beach bungalows

Garden bungalow

Garden bungalow

View on to the beach

The beach

Thanyapura Sports Hotel, Thalang, Phuket

This hotel, build in 2012, is a dream for a sports person and is build with the mind, body and soul coaching model in mind and just 15 minutes away from the airport.

Besides the 77 rooms, you can find;

• 50-metre Olympic competition standard swimming pool, 25-metre swimming pool
• 900 sq. metre fitness centre with cardio and strength studios, as well as aerobics, spinning, martial arts, Power Plate and yoga studios
• 500-metre cushioned athletics track
• Six Plexicushion competition standard tennis courts (four covered)
• Seven-a-side floodlit Limonta 'Soccer Pro' FIFA approved soccer pitch
• Full-size International Rugby Board standard artificial rugby pitch
• Floodlit beach volleyball court and beach soccer pitch
• Floodlit basketball court
• Thanyapura Integrative Health Center, an on-site clinic on hand to provide members and guests first aid assistance, physiotherapy, therapeutic massage and quantum therapy.

On top of that, many academies are offer; covering tennis, rugby, football, triathlon and aquatics. 

There are also camps for aquatics, tennis and triathlon.

On top of that they have a great restaurant that caters to all your sport nutrition needs.

Don't expect a beach holiday here, it's all about working out and improving your performance. A great concept!

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Booking by Hotels Combined

Guest room

Energy room

Fitness

Tennis

Olympic size pool

The Centrino Serviced Residence, Surat Thani

There are more and more new hotels surfacing in the provincial cities and Surat Thani is no exception. The Centrino is centrally located and is mostly used by travelers on transit to or from the islands (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao).
We use it a lot when we need to be in the Surat Thani town, it's easy, cheap and convenient for us.
There is no elevator, so a room on the top floor may be slightly inconvenient when checking and/or out.

Then hotel has a car park and the internet in the rooms is fast! A basic, simple and straightforward hotel with nice and big enough rooms at a very reasonable price!

Booking by AGODA

Booking by HOTELS COMBINED

Guest room

Guest room

Guest room

Exterior

Entrance

Sensi Paradise Beach Resort, Koh Tao

During my first visit to Koh Tao, I stayed at this resort, but we're talking 1997 or such and a few things have change! Back during my visiting days, it was not the luxury resort it is nowadays!

The location is still the same, about a 5 minute walk from Mae Haad, where the ferries arrive, on a hill overlooking the bay into Mae Haad, with some spectacular views.

There are family houses, romantic suites and beach bungalows catering to all kinds of guests and there's a big pool now.

There are a few big and spectacular boulders lining the small beach in front of the resort. Keep in mind that the resort is build upon a hill, so some walking to the rooms may be involved.

A quiet location but within walking distance to the shops, bars and restaurants of Mae Haad. A nice and relaxed location.

Booking by Agoda

Booking by Hotels Combined

Guest room

Guest room

Guest room

Swimming pool

View from the restaurant

The Color Hotel, Hat Yai

This brand new hotel has just opened in June/July 2012. The rooms are spacious but if you travel with children older than 3 extra charges occur, in contrast to most Thai hotels. 

Fast wifi in the rooms is a plus but the rooms are noisy and not well insulated for noise and there's no breakfast available. That in itself is no big problem, since in Thailand food can be had almost everywhere. The hotel is located within  5 minute walk to the central part of Hat Yai, if you come by car, there's a parking garage under the hotel.

The rooms are fairly priced and considering that the hotel is so new, it may well be a good choice for your stay.

Booking by AGODA

Booking by HOTELS COMBINED

Double room

Twin room

Reception

Lobby

Exterior