Saturday 16 May 2015

Accommodation On Haad Rin Sunrise Beach

Two top rated resorts, a hostel and a cheaper option.


Haad Rin Sunrise Beach.  Home to the Full Moon Party,
but also home to some top rated accommodation.
Haad Rin Sunrise Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Koh Phangan, so if you're a beach lover then a room or bungalow here is ideal.  The northern end of the beach is generally the sunbathing end of the beach, and at night the beach next to Drop In Bar and Cactus Bar is the party end of the beach, so bear this in mind when deciding where to stay.

The first time I came to Haad Rin I found a place to stay right on Sunrise Beach for only 150 baht per night.  That was almost fifteen years ago and admittedly as far as accommodation goes it was a very basic room, but I was just looking for a bed to sleep and little more, so I was very happy with this bargain.

However, since those early days pretty much all of the resorts directly on the beach have invested in more upmarket rooms with more upmarket prices to go with them.  Nowadays therefore most of the resorts directly on Sunrise Beach are aimed more at deep pocketed tourists rather than backpackers on a budget.  There are a couple of reasonably priced options still available on Sunrise Beach though, and if you’re visiting outside of the Full Moon period then the prices become a little more affordable.

This week I take a look at two of the highest rated properties on Haad Rin Sunrise Beach (Palita Lodge and Tommy Resort) based on reviews and ratings found on various hotel booking websites.  For backpackers on a more limited budget, I also feature a more moderately priced option (Anan Resotel) and a hostel (The Ship Hostel).

N.B. Please be aware that room rates can vary from one month to the next, so any prices should be taken as no more than a very approximate guide line.  

Palita Lodge


Palita Lodge is located on a lovely stretch of beach.
Contact Details:
Website: www.palitalodge.com
Email: palitalodge@hotmail.com
Tel: 077 375170, 077 375171, 077 375172
Facebook: www.facebook.com/palitalodge

Palita Lodge was the first place I ever stayed in Haad Rin, and although the standard of the accommodation has improved massively over the years, the staff are still as friendly and welcoming as ever.  It’s located on a nice stretch of beach (at the sunbathing end of Sunrise Beach), and gets excellent reviews from very satisfied guests.  It's probably out of the price range of most budget backpackers, but if you’re lucky you can find the occasional special deal online, so if you’re booking well in advance then it’s definitely worth checking out.

Approximate five night price range (Full Moon period):
Twin/Double - 19300 to 54100 baht (1930 to 5410 baht per person per night)

Approximate price range (outside of Full Moon):
Twin/Double - 1250 to 2950 baht p.p.p.n.

N.B. In early May, Palita Lodge were currently offering special deals through Agoda and Booking, so if you book up quick you may be able to find better rates than those shown above.

Online booking:
Agoda.com, Booking.com



Tommy Resort


Tommy Resort hosts the Full Moon Beach Soccer Tournament.
Contact Details:
Website: www.tommyresort.com
Email: info@tommyresort.com
Tel: 077 375216
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TommyResort

Tommy Resort is a nicely designed resort located on a pleasant stretch of Sunrise Beach and is run by a helpful manager who always has a smile on his face.  There’s an appealing pool and Tommy Resort gets good reviews and is worth considering for anyone on a bigger budget.  Tommy Resort hosts the monthly Haad Rin Beach Soccer Tournament each Full Moon, so there’s a lively atmosphere during the days leading up to Full Moon.  They also offer a free transfer from all piers on Koh Phangan.

Approximate five night price range (Full Moon period):
Twin/Double - 17500 to 37500 baht (1750 to 3750 baht p.p.p.n.)
Triple - 20000 to 25000 baht (1333 to 1667 baht p.p.p.n.)

Approximate price range (outside of Full Moon):
Twin/Double - 1500 to 3750 baht p.p.p.n.
Triple - 1333 to 1667 baht p.p.p.n.

N.B. During Full Moon periods, the most popular rooms at Tommy Resort often get booked out well in advance, so if you want to stay at Tommy Resort then early booking is recommended.

Online booking:
Booking.com



The Ship Hostel


The Ship Hostel (part of Tommy Resort)
Contact Details:
Part of Tommy Resort (see above)

If you fancy something a bit different then The Ship Hostel provides a unique experience, because as the name suggests the hostel is designed in the shape of a ship.  There’s a bar at the front of the ship and also a deck on top which is handy for socialising with the other hostel guests.  The Ship is part of Tommy Resort so you also have access to Tommy Resort swimming pool and once you get to the reception area of Tommy’s you can’t miss it (just look across the road for the big ship!).

Approximate five night price range (Full Moon period):
Dorm Bed (34 Bed Dorm) - 3000 baht (600 baht p.p.p.n.)

Approximate price range (outside of Full Moon):
Dorm bed (34 Bed Dorm) - 400 baht p.p.p.n.

Online booking:
Booking.com, Hostelworld.com



Anan Resotel


Anan Resotel offers basic rooms.
Contact Details:
Email: na_kohkaew@hotmail.com
Tel: 089 8106970

The prices at Anan Resotel have crept up in recent years, and although it's still cheaper than some of the accommodation options on Sunrise Beach, things here are very basic.  I've stayed here a few times in years gone by (when it was cheaper!), and Anan is more suited for backpackers who are used to no-frills accommodation, and just want a place to crash and dump their stuff.  Anan Resotel is located between Cactus Bar and Drop In Bar, so if you’re a light sleeper then you’ll find the music loud, and it's more for people who are here to party.  Most of the rooms have mirrored walls, and the rooms are arranged in two rows of corridors, with a balcony overlooking Sunrise Beach at the end of the corridors.

Approximate five night price range (Full Moon period):
Twin/Double - 7455 to 9941 baht (746 to 994 baht p.p.p.n.)
Triple - 8946 to 12426 baht (596 to 828 baht p.p.p.n.)
5 Person Room - 12425 to 14911 baht (497 to 596 baht p.p.p.n.)

Approximate price range (outside of Full Moon):
Twin/Double - 400 to 600 baht p.p.p.n.
Triple - 300 to 500 baht p.p.p.n.
5 Person Room - 300 to 400 baht p.p.p.n.

Online booking:
Not available.

. . . . . . . .

There are several other resorts on Haad Rin Sunrise Beach, and of course if you're not bothered about being right on the beach then there are also many other places to stay within reasonable walking distance of Sunrise Beach, such as Haad Rin Village, Sunset Beach, Leela Beach, Haad Rin Hill, etc.


For a more comprehensive guide to accommodation in Haad Rin, check out the Haad Rin Guide Book.  The guide is available for kindle from Amazon and features detailed sections on hotels (with maps and photos), hostels, bars, restaurants, day tours, getting to/from Koh Phangan, and more.
Haad Rin Guide Book for kindle

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