Baan Suay

I cannot say enough good things about Baan Suay. I spent a week there in May of 2008 and it was a great place to stay. The hotel is owned and operated by a British expatriate and his Thai wife. They and their modest staff are not only extremely friendly but very helpful when providing tips on things to do.

You should not check into this hotel if you are expecting lavish 5-star treatment. While the rooms are very comfortable and very clean it definitely has the feel of a small family owned operation - which I personally really enjoyed. Their children will usually be running around or playing with other local kids from nearby and the staff lend a hand in keeping track of them. It's an incredibly chill, laid back atmosphere and I frequently found myself happily falling asleep on a couch in the main lobby/bar area.

The food is amazing (try the padthai) and they by far have the best fruit smoothies I had in Thailand. If you're into diving I highly recommend staying at this place as the owner himself is a dive instructor and can provide excellent suggestions on dive sites. Most of the clientele seemed to be either divers or backpackers.

Baan Suay also provides motor bike rentals and is about a minute away from the gorgeous Karon Beach. The crazy nightlife of Patong is about 15-20 minutes away and the quiet serenity of Katta Beach is about 5 minutes away.