Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [516]
SAIREE BEACH (HAT SAI RI)
Giant Sairee Beach is the longest and most developed strip on the island, with a string of dive operations, bungalows, travel agencies, superettes and internet cafes. The narrow ‘yellow brick road’ stretches the entire length of beach (watch out for motorcycles).
Budget
Blue Wind ( Map; 0 7745 6116, 0 7745 6015; bluewind_wa@yahoo.com; bungalows 300-900B; ) Hidden within a clump of bodacious lodging options, Blue Wind offers a breath of fresh air from the high-intensity dive resorts strung along Sairee Beach. Sturdy bamboo huts are peppered along a dirt trail behind the beachside bakery. Large, tiled air-conditioned cabins are also available, boasting hot showers and TVs.
Big Blue Resort ( Map; 0 7745 6050; www.bigbluediving.com; r 200-1000B; ai) This scuba-centric resort has a summer-camp vibe – diving classes dominate the daytime, while evenings are spent en masse, grabbing dinner or watching fire-twirling. Both the basic fan bungalows and motel-style air-con rooms offer little when it comes to views, but who has the time to relax when there’s an ocean out there to explore?
In Touch ( Map; 0 7745 6514; bungalows 500-1200B) Older bungalows are a mishmash of bamboo and dark wood, while several rounded air-con rooms have a cave theme – it’s all very Flintstones, except the shower nozzle hasn’t been replaced with the trunk of an elephant.
Sairee Cottage ( Map; 0 7745 6126, 0 7745 6374; saireecottage@hotmail.com; bungalows 400-1500B; ) The air-con bungalows are hard to miss since they’ve been painted in various hues of fuchsia. Low prices means low vacancy – so arrive early to score one of the brick huts facing out onto a grassy knoll.
Midrange
Pranee’s ( Map; 0 7745 6080; bungalows 500-2000B) Tidy budget bungalows, made of wood and rattan-woven walls, are shaded by coconut-wielding palms. A new fleet of air-con options are an uninspiring mix of white and blue, but some still have that new car smell.
Ban’s Diving Resort ( Map; 0 7745 6466, 0 7745 6061; www.amazingkohtao.com; r 400-3000; ais) This dive-centric party palace offers a wide range of quality accommodation, from basic backpacker digs to sleek hillside villas. Post-scuba chill sessions happen on Ban’s prime slice of beach, or at one of the two swimming pools tucked within the strip of jungle between the two motel-like structures. Evenings are spent at the bar downing international cuisine and ‘buckets’ in equal measure.
Seashell Resort ( Map; 0 7745 6299; www.seashell-resort.com; bungalows 450-3800B; ) Several bungalows have ocean views from their porches (a rarity in Sairee), while others sit in a well-maintained garden of colourful vegetation and thin palm trunks. Seashell welcomes divers and non-divers alike.
Sunset Buri Resort ( Map; 0 7745 6266; bungalows 700-2500B; ais) A long beach-bound path is studded with beautiful white bungalows featuring enormous windows and flamboyant temple-like roofing. The kidney-shaped pool is a big hit, as are the large beach recliners sprinkled around the resort.
Top End
Ko Tao Cabana ( Map; 0 7745 6250; www.kohtaocabana.com; bungalows 3000-6300B; ) This prime piece of beachside property offers timber-framed villas and crinkled white adobe huts dotted along the boulder-strewn. Bric-a-brac cheers the colourful bungalows – stone gnomes greet you with a naughty smirk as you shower in the roofless bathrooms.
Koh Tao Coral Grand Resort ( Map; 0 7745 6431; www.kohtaocoral.com; bungalows 3200-4500B; as) The plethora of pink facades at this family-friendly option feels a bit like Barbie’s dream Thai beach-house. Cottage interiors are coated in cheery primary colours framed by white truncated beams while pricier digs have a more distinctive Thai flavour, boasting dark lacquered mouldings and gold-foiled art. Guests can participate in an array of organised off-site