Cheap Bungalows on Bophut Beach
Bophut Beach, on the Northern coast of Samui, is a popular beach but nowhere near as crowded as Chaweng. While the selection of cheap bungalows isn't as good as you'll find on Maenam Beach, which traditionally been a good budget beach, there are some very inexpensive places to stay here if you're willing to trade some amenities, some style or some convenience. If you want some higher-end amenities or can't live without air conditioning but don't have a big budget, consider one of the resorts up in the hills around Bophut. A couple are listed below and offer some great values. Like the list of Maenam Beach's cheap bungalows, most of these properties are 600 baht per night (just $20 at current exchange rates), or less, even during high season. A few are 1,000 baht per night ($35).
Samui Heritage Resort has a variety of room types, including smaller one bedroom suites that are an amazing bargain. The resort is more flash packer than either super cheap or luxurious, though if you get lucky you'll be able to book a room at the former price. In terms of style, it's one of the few options in this price range that actually has any! The resort's design is modern Thai, the landscaping is nicely done and there care even trendy decor details in the rooms. The restaurant is a bit pricey (and the cheapest rooms do not include breakfast) but you're not too far from other options. There's a nice, but small, swimming pool on the premises. The only drawback: the resort is about 1/4 mile from the beach and fisherman's village.
These old fashioned cottages just steps from Bophut Beach are about as cheap as you'll find on Samui! The cheapest rooms (Free House Bungalow calls them "cottages" and the more expensive ones "bungalows" but they're probably better characterized as "huts") are very small and basic, but if you just need a bed, a fan and a bathroom they'll be more than enough. Fan-cooled rooms come with mosquito netting over the bed, a necessity that many other properties skimp on, and there are even hammocks outside. Free House adjacent to the beach, though the huts are farthest from the water. There's an on-premises restaurant right on the beach and bar with a great view.
Fancy in the front, business in the back is how you might characterize the Sundays Sanctuary Resort, which, as the name implies, aspires to be more of a full-service resort than a bunch of cheap huts thrown up on the beach. The property made it onto this list because prices are such a good value for the amenities and because they do offer some super-cheap rooms, which they call "standard rooms." These are furnished with king-sized beds, modern bathrooms, TVs and air conditioning, which is much, much more than you'd typically get for the price. The pool, spa and restaurant are lovely and take advantage of the jungle-like environment, which leads us to the main drawbacks: the Sundays Sanctuary Resort is about 1 mile from the beach up in the hills surrounding Bophut.
This pretty resort on Bophut Beach has lots of amenities you don't usually find in this price category: a swimming pool, a beach-front restaurant, a business center and a playground for little kids. The gardens and surrounding grounds are lush and well kept. Cheaper, smaller rooms are well maintained and have all the basic necessities; more expensive bungalows are decorated with lovely Thai furnishings and some fun colors and are significantly bigger. This resort is very family friendly and although prices are amazingly cheap, service is friendly and good. If you want to stay on Bophut you cannot go wrong with this resort.
This pretty resort on Bophut Beach has lots of amenities you don't usually find in this price category: a swimming pool, a beach-front restaurant, a business center and a playground for little kids. The gardens and surrounding grounds are lush and well kept. Cheaper, smaller rooms are well maintained and have all the basic necessities; more expensive bungalows are decorated with lovely Thai furnishings and some fun colors and are significantly bigger. This resort is very family friendly and although prices are amazingly cheap, service is friendly and good. If you want to stay on Bophut you cannot go wrong with this resort.
Though the Kinaree Resort paints itself as a higher-end resort, at best it's a nicer version of typical backpacker digs. The cheapest rooms, called "standard" rooms, are small and very basic. That said, the resort is right on the beach and rooms are air conditioned and have decent bathrooms. The restaurant, which serves Thai and Western food, is good and the service is friendly, too. Overall, this is a fine choice if you're getting cheap rate and you're not too picky.
This new, modern hostel is a bit far from the beach (about 1 mile from Bophut) but if you want something super cheap, clean and cheerful, it's the best choice in the area. For $10 you get a bunk bed in a super clean dorm room and access to the kitchen and common areas. There are women only and mixed dorms. Not everyone loves the hostel experience but if you do, or cash is really tight, it's a great option.
Sunset Resort Samui is typical of inexpensive bungalow properties on the island. The cheapest fan-cooled bungalows are characterized by mismatched furnishings, old (but clean) linens and a run-down, tattered feeling that permeates everything from the lumpy pillows to the bathroom bin. They are, however, under $15/ night and just steps from the beach so it's tough to complain. There is a restaurant and bar on the premises but be warned that some of the surrounding bars stay open very late and can be very loud. If the thought of hearing music at 3 a.m. makes you cringe, this is not the place for you. If you're the type to be out dancing at 3 a.m. and just need a place to crash on the beach, it's perfect.
This property is more like a motel (think big boxy building with rows of rooms) than a charming island hotel and it's not right on the beach (it's a few blocks away) but in exchange for those negatives you get big, nice rooms for very little money. Bathrooms are super clean and although the rooms feel a little sterile, they also seem well maintained. Air conditioned rooms are spacious and all include a small table and chairs and a mini refrigerator so you'll be able to sit and eat a meal. There's also a television in every room in case it's raining. There's no restaurant on the premises but there are places to eat (including street food stalls) around the hotel.
Samui Heritage Resort
Samui Heritage Resort has a variety of room types, including smaller one bedroom suites that are an amazing bargain. The resort is more flash packer than either super cheap or luxurious, though if you get lucky you'll be able to book a room at the former price. In terms of style, it's one of the few options in this price range that actually has any! The resort's design is modern Thai, the landscaping is nicely done and there care even trendy decor details in the rooms. The restaurant is a bit pricey (and the cheapest rooms do not include breakfast) but you're not too far from other options. There's a nice, but small, swimming pool on the premises. The only drawback: the resort is about 1/4 mile from the beach and fisherman's village.
- Price: from 700 baht (about $24) for a double with breakfast.
Free House Bungalows
These old fashioned cottages just steps from Bophut Beach are about as cheap as you'll find on Samui! The cheapest rooms (Free House Bungalow calls them "cottages" and the more expensive ones "bungalows" but they're probably better characterized as "huts") are very small and basic, but if you just need a bed, a fan and a bathroom they'll be more than enough. Fan-cooled rooms come with mosquito netting over the bed, a necessity that many other properties skimp on, and there are even hammocks outside. Free House adjacent to the beach, though the huts are farthest from the water. There's an on-premises restaurant right on the beach and bar with a great view.
- Price: from 350 baht (about $12) for a double room.
The Sundays Sanctuary Resort
Fancy in the front, business in the back is how you might characterize the Sundays Sanctuary Resort, which, as the name implies, aspires to be more of a full-service resort than a bunch of cheap huts thrown up on the beach. The property made it onto this list because prices are such a good value for the amenities and because they do offer some super-cheap rooms, which they call "standard rooms." These are furnished with king-sized beds, modern bathrooms, TVs and air conditioning, which is much, much more than you'd typically get for the price. The pool, spa and restaurant are lovely and take advantage of the jungle-like environment, which leads us to the main drawbacks: the Sundays Sanctuary Resort is about 1 mile from the beach up in the hills surrounding Bophut.
- Price: from 600 (about $20) for a double.
Lawana Resort
This pretty resort on Bophut Beach has lots of amenities you don't usually find in this price category: a swimming pool, a beach-front restaurant, a business center and a playground for little kids. The gardens and surrounding grounds are lush and well kept. Cheaper, smaller rooms are well maintained and have all the basic necessities; more expensive bungalows are decorated with lovely Thai furnishings and some fun colors and are significantly bigger. This resort is very family friendly and although prices are amazingly cheap, service is friendly and good. If you want to stay on Bophut you cannot go wrong with this resort.
- Price: from 700 (about $24) for a double.
Maya Inn
This pretty resort on Bophut Beach has lots of amenities you don't usually find in this price category: a swimming pool, a beach-front restaurant, a business center and a playground for little kids. The gardens and surrounding grounds are lush and well kept. Cheaper, smaller rooms are well maintained and have all the basic necessities; more expensive bungalows are decorated with lovely Thai furnishings and some fun colors and are significantly bigger. This resort is very family friendly and although prices are amazingly cheap, service is friendly and good. If you want to stay on Bophut you cannot go wrong with this resort.
- Price: from 700 (about $24) for a double.
- Telephone: 07/7 484 656
Kinaree Resort
Though the Kinaree Resort paints itself as a higher-end resort, at best it's a nicer version of typical backpacker digs. The cheapest rooms, called "standard" rooms, are small and very basic. That said, the resort is right on the beach and rooms are air conditioned and have decent bathrooms. The restaurant, which serves Thai and Western food, is good and the service is friendly, too. Overall, this is a fine choice if you're getting cheap rate and you're not too picky.
- Price: from 600 (about $20) for a double.
The Lounge Hostel
This new, modern hostel is a bit far from the beach (about 1 mile from Bophut) but if you want something super cheap, clean and cheerful, it's the best choice in the area. For $10 you get a bunk bed in a super clean dorm room and access to the kitchen and common areas. There are women only and mixed dorms. Not everyone loves the hostel experience but if you do, or cash is really tight, it's a great option.
- Price: from 350 (about $10) for a bed in a shared room.
- Telephone: 08/3 389 2314
Sunset Resort Samui
Sunset Resort Samui is typical of inexpensive bungalow properties on the island. The cheapest fan-cooled bungalows are characterized by mismatched furnishings, old (but clean) linens and a run-down, tattered feeling that permeates everything from the lumpy pillows to the bathroom bin. They are, however, under $15/ night and just steps from the beach so it's tough to complain. There is a restaurant and bar on the premises but be warned that some of the surrounding bars stay open very late and can be very loud. If the thought of hearing music at 3 a.m. makes you cringe, this is not the place for you. If you're the type to be out dancing at 3 a.m. and just need a place to crash on the beach, it's perfect.
- Price: from 450 (about $15) for a bed in a shared room.
Rak Residence Samui
This property is more like a motel (think big boxy building with rows of rooms) than a charming island hotel and it's not right on the beach (it's a few blocks away) but in exchange for those negatives you get big, nice rooms for very little money. Bathrooms are super clean and although the rooms feel a little sterile, they also seem well maintained. Air conditioned rooms are spacious and all include a small table and chairs and a mini refrigerator so you'll be able to sit and eat a meal. There's also a television in every room in case it's raining. There's no restaurant on the premises but there are places to eat (including street food stalls) around the hotel.
- Price: from 600 (about $20) for a double.
- Telephone: 07/7 427 264
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