Thailand Hotels and Resorts

Bangkok

Located in the heart of Southeast Asia, Bangkok attracts millions of visitors each year, including tourists and business travelers. To cater to such a diverse multitude of guests, Bangkok features the widest variety and quality of places to stay in Thailand, if not the entire world. The vast range of accommodation in Bangkok includes some of worlds most acclaimed hotels as well as entire neighborhoods of budget backpacker hostels and guesthouses. While many luxury hotels line the Chao Phraya riverside, where rooms and restaurants overlook the river, the sprawling city features numerous centers of commerce and areas dense with sightseeing attractions and a full range of accommodation options exists near each one. The districts of Siam, Silom, Sukhumvit, and historic Rattakosin each contain five star hotels, family-friendly mid-range accommodation, and a number of budget guesthouses. With a reputation for courteous service with a smile, Bangkok's hotel staff will make you feel at home no matter what accommodation you choose, and the city's efficient transportation infrastructure will make it easy to shop, dine, or sightsee from whichever area of the city you wish to lodge.

Pattaya

As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, Pattaya features the entire spectrum of accommodation options including hotels, resorts, apartments, condominiums, and villas. Rooms are available for as little as 400 baht a night for air-conditioning, cable TV, and hot shower or as much as 30,000 baht a month for three bedroom villas ideal for families. There are international chain hotels, such as the Hard Rock and Marriott, as well as locally owned guesthouses. It should be noted that high season dates vary from hotel to hotel, but prices go up considerably at all Pattaya hotels during the Christmas-New Years period, when guests are typically required to pay for "Compulsory Gala Dinners" on the two celebratory eves. Otherwise, long holiday weekends and Songkran (Thai new years) cause hotels to fill up well in advance, so it is best to reserve early if your visit coincides with a local holiday.

Koh Chang

Most of the Koh Chang hotel and guesthouse options are located on the beaches along the west coast of the island, namely Haad Sai Khao (White Sands), Klong Prao, Kai Bae, Bailan, Lonely Beach, and Bang Bao towns and beaches. There are a wide variety of accommodation options to choose from, including budget beach bungalows and luxury spa resorts.

Hua Hin

Hua Hin hotels range from five star to budget backpacker, from modern and luxurious to quaint and rustic. There are international five-star resort-spas located along the powdery sands of Hua Hin beach as well as mid-range options built upon piers extending over the waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Resorts near the city center cater to families with children and those looking for a little nightlife, while those farther from town are ideal for visitors looking to get away from it all or have a romantic rendezvous.

Cha Am

Cha-am has a wide array of accommodation options. There are five-star luxury spas; international chain hotels with western amenities, such as air conditioning and room service; boutique hotels ideal for romantic getaways; and family friendly guest houses. Nearly all resorts and hotels are a short walk from the beach, located along roads running away from the sea. Despite its quiet atmosphere, Cha-am has a surprising variety of hotel and guest house options.

Phang Nga

The accommodation options in Phang Nga are arguably greater than any other province in Thailand, including camping, live aboard dive boats and luxury schooners, village home stays, budget beach bungalows, boutique resorts, and luxurious five-star hotels.

Mae Hong Son

As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, Mae Hong Son has a variety of accommodation options from hostels and home stays to romantic boutique resorts and luxury spa retreats.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai features an amazing array of accommodation choices, including dozens of mom-and-pop guesthouses, mid-range hotels, and some of the finest luxury resorts in Thailand.

Phuket

Phuket features a dizzying array of accommodation options ranging from luxury hotels to family friendly beach resorts, secluded island villas to budget hotels. With so many types of accommodation available in Phuket, you may actually have a challenging time trying to decide which is the best to suit your needs; it may be helpful to learn about the attractions (or lack thereof) near each of the beaches in Phuket and then narrow your search once you have a couple different beaches in mind.

Krabi

Krabi Town has a number of budget and mid range hotels while Ao Nang Beach has a wide selection of accommodation options from budget guesthouses to boutique bungalows and spa-resorts both along the sea and on the hillside overlooking the nearby islands. The spectacular Ao Nang Cape, where Railey Beach is located, features budget bungalows for backpackers, a variety of mid-range hotels and resorts, and one of the finest retreats in Thailand, the Rayavadee Resort.

Koh Lanta

One of the great qualities of Koh Lanta is the diversity of accommodation it has to offer, including five-star luxury spa retreats, family friendly three star hotels, and rustic, budget, beach bungalows. The highest concentrations of resorts and hotels on Koh Lanta are on the two most northerly beaches, Klong Dao and Long Beach (Phra Ae). Resorts and hotels farther south often arrange to pick passengers up from the boat pier at Saladan, though visitors arriving without accommodation pre-arranged can get a car or motorbike rental from Saladan and then explore the island to look for accommodation on their own. There are also touts offering accommodation around the boat pier, but without knowing what the particular beaches are like it may be better to explore on your own if it's convenient for you to do so. Finding accommodation shouldn't be difficult even in the high season as there are so many options, though in the peak and low seasons there are special issues to consider. In the peak season many resorts are full and during the low season many resorts outside the most popular beaches shut down for a number of months.

Koh Samed

While all 14 of Koh Samet's beaches feature accommodation, the majority of the island's hotels, resorts, and bungalows are located on the east coast, which features accommodation for a range of budgets from budget to luxury, while the quieter west coast has fewer resorts, all of which are all more upscale and expensive than those on the east. During peak seasons and over Thai holiday weekends booking in advance is essential and rates are much higher than during the remainder of the year. The northern-most beaches of the east coast, Haad Sai Keaw and Ao Hin Kok, have the most basic, budget bungalows, though there are a few nicer resorts on the far northern end of the east coast. If you have arrived on the island without making a pre-arranged booking, touts at the pier in Nadan will descend upon you to pitch their resorts. Always ask to see the room before agreeing to take it. Many budget rooms will have minimal bedding, and towels and toiletries may not be provided.

Koh Samui

With nearly 500 hotels and almost 60,000 rooms, including beach bungalows, condominiums, and private villas, finding a place to stay on Koh Samui is hardly a challenge. The trick is finding the right area of the island to suit your needs. Chaweng Beach offers the most variety of accommodation options as well as the most activities, while Mae Nam Beach is more suitable for those looking for quiet, sedentary relaxation. While Samui was once a haven for backpackers who were content with thatch roof, budget bungalows, these have generally all been replaced by mid-range, air conditioned, concrete bungalows and luxurious spa resorts. Regardless, there are still a few budget options to be found, and with so many choices it would be impossible not to find some accommodation that fits your budget and provides the ideal beach environment for your Koh Samui holiday. As one of the premier tourist destinations in Thailand, Koh Samui has innumerable attractions, ensuring that visitors with any interest will find something to keep them entertained on their Koh Samui holiday. The following are some of the most popular attractions on Koh Samui:

Koh Phangan

There are more than 250 resorts on Koh Phangan ranging from five-star luxury resorts to budget beach bungalows and nearly everything in between. Immediately upon arrival, visitors are typically greeted by dozens of touts offering rooms, though if you book ahead you can simply find the one promoting your resort and get a free ride from the pier to your hotel. While Haad Rin is the most popular beach on the island, there are dozens of beaches to choose from, each with their own distinctive characteristic. Generally speaking, the farther you go from Haad Rin, the quieter the beach. Around the time of the full moon party, the hotels and guest houses around Haad Rin are filled with young partiers awaiting the big event. If you are planning to visit Koh Phangan around the full moon, you should book ahead, and if you are looking for peace and quiet, avoid Haad Rin altogether.