Best area to stay?

What is the best area to stay in? We cant access to bars and places to eat as well as a beach. Thanks.

Best area to stay?

Hi Carla - This is exactly what I want to know too! From the research I have done Phanganburi Resort looks to be the best option. I am visiting Phangan for two nights (not during full moon party) and want to be able to access restaurants and bars and walk home. I think Haad Rin is the area that offers the most. Has anyone stayed here?

Best area to stay?

I stayed at Had Rin beach on ko Phangan recently. Phangan Buri resort i visited but didnt stay. The beach there really isnt nice and if you do stay there you will probably want to go to the other beach(sunrise beach) during the day as it is beautiful.

Sunrise beach is also the one with easy access to lots of bars and restaurants.

We stayed at a bungalow development at the quiet end of sunrise beach. Its called Palita lodge and used to be a very inexpensive backpacker huts. But the lovely owner Su has built about 8 stunning new bungalows (www.palitalodge.com). There is ongoing %26#39;quiet%26#39; development there, i beleive they are building a pool at the moment. But i must say the villas are stunning with huge outdoor baths. Breakfast is excellent and the staff lovely on a beautiful stretch of beach.

I also visited delight resort and neptunes villa, both ok, not great.

If the new villas at Palita are out of your budget, try Seaview bungalows nearby. The simple,clean bungalows especially the ones with direct beachfront have big balconies. Although no swimming pool, you really dont need one as the sea in front of you is clean, beautiful and suitable for swimming. Hope this helps you.

Paul,

Palita looks beautiful! Are the bungalows actually on the beach itself?

Also, how strictly is the 7 night minimum stay enforced? I%26#39;d probably only want 4 or 5 nights.

Thanks :-)

Palita Lodge would not take my 5 night booking unless I paid for 7 nights!

Just to add have had negative reviews on other sites about this play and its owners. The pool is now fully operational.

Just to add have had negative reviews on other sites about this place and its owners. The pool is now fully operational.

Hmmm....that doesn%26#39;t sound too encouraging.

I am also looking at Central Cottage Resort. Has anyone got any opinions or feedback?

Hua hin bound, the new villas are off the beach (1 min walk), the main restaurant/reception which serves very good food is beachfront, but is not fancy (yet).

Carla, I only met Su, one half of the owners/partners. She was a delight to deal with, did her absolute best to make sure our visit was as comfortable as possible and made sure staff took our bags to the rooms (which i would have done happily, but as we were a group ranging from young children to my septugenarian parents, it was appreciated).

I am recommending this place to many people on many sites and I must say I am quite demanding but allowed for the fact that this small place is in development.

Im hoping to return in %26#39;07.

Paul

We only stayed three nights last time at Palita and there was no problem with it.

The 7 night minimum is around the full moon party period only (as per their website), this is a problem with Ko Phangan, especially at Had Rin beach where the party is held. most resorts (and simple huts) put up their prices or/and require a minimum stay at the party time. Personally I%26#39;d avoid the party night/period but hey those of you young enough and with the energy, enjoy!!!

I really like Ko Phangan and Palita is my choice for Had Rin. If you are travelling around Phangan, there are many other beautiful beaches, Ao thong nai pan is particularly beautiful. But they are developing fast and many previously beautiful inexpensive huts are becoming luxury resorts or medium priced hotels.

Hope this is of some help to you, Ko Phangan is changing fast so the more recent your visit the more we can all gain from your knowledge.

Paul

I am glad you had a good experience. A journalist wrote an article about staying away from Palita Lodge that I found in a google search about accommodation on koh Phangan. Places can%26#39;t be good all the time.