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Region: Southern Thailand> Province: Surat Thani> Location: Ko Pha Ngan/Ko Pha Ngan North Coast
Smile Bungalows
Cool hillside spot
Haad Khuad, Ko Pha Ngan
Surat Thani Province
Tel: (081) 9563 133, (089) 9693 83
Description
Smile Beach's bungalows are not actually on the beach but staggered at various elevations up a rocky hillside at Bottle Beach's western end. Yet another relaxing spot, Smile's rooms are cheap but not the most comfortable on the beach. The yellow bungalows are relatively solid and mostly clean but not in the best shape overall, though some provide excellent views, while plentiful tree cover and the hillside breeze help keep things cool. The small restaurant is very laid-back and intimate, offering an extensive selection of well-priced cocktails, although the food is priced above average, particularly the fish and western food. While Smile has a more chilled out vibe than some of Bottle Beach's other offerings, the huts are not the best-located nor the best value.
Total rooms: 27
Deluxe bungalow
500 THB (low season)
500 THB (high season)
Upto 600B
Bungalow fan private b'room
350 THB (low season)
350 THB (high season)
Added to Travelfish on: 31st March, 2004
Last visited or updated on: 2nd June, 2007
Guest feedback
Smile is awesome. - 
By Babb ( total comments: 2 
) Stayed here 7/2007
I'm very surprised that people have found the staff at smile to be unfriendly. They are some of the most wonderful people I've met on my travels. I guess the moral of the story is that you get out what you put in. The staff are friendly, funny and if you build a relationship with them, rather than being an arrogant western tourist, they can't do enough for you.
I intended to stay at smile for 5 days and ended up staying two weeks. I'm also going back there in a couple of weeks, because I loved the place so much.
With regards to the review of the accommodation, I think it's a complete misrepresentation. My room at smile was the nicest that I've stayed in, in Thailand. I had one of the split level huts up the hill and it was great for watching the sunset etc.
If you don't get smile, you don't get Bottle Beach in my opinion.
Perfect -
By fleurtje ( total comments: 1 ) Stayed here 1/2006
Last month I stayed for two weeks on Bottle Beach/Smile, for the second time. It is the best place ever, I really love it. The staff is great and very funny and full of humor. If you don't like Smile for whatever reason: please stay away and go to Hat Rhin or Hat Chaweg on Samui, places that fits you better. Or even better: go to Pattaya.
For the people who do like BB: please don't tell anybody, as Richard says in The Beach: 'cause than it's countdwon to dooms day.
perfect beach ruined by demanding humourless travellers - 
By anon ( total comments: 15 ) Stayed here 2/2005
some people simply set themselves up to be mocked, and it's great to see a decent representation of this group has checked in to give the smile staff a bagging. the more you and yours continue to broadcast the injustice of a remote beach with unreliable electricity, the extra $2 per night they extorted out of you, or the staff neglecting to coordinate their 16 hour day around your personal requirements........ the better. i spent 10 fantastic days there, and my next visit will be even better if you can persuade your similar-minded brethren not to attend. because smile was brilliant. the staff love a good laugh, and poke fun all the time, but receive it just as well. we made friends with heaps of different nationailites over a few beers every night (sweet, sweet Chang), often with the staff. beautiful place for a relaxing time and a few laughes. but don't tell anyone.....
perfect beach ruined by obnoxious staff - 
By kelseyrush17 ( total comments: 1 ) Stayed here 10/2005
unfortunately for smile bungalows, a perfect beach side paradise was ruined by unfriendly and unaccomadating staff. the rooms were great, food good and location perfect, but all was ruined a the people who worked there! Dont get me wrong i am not a demanding traveller, all i expect is the odd smile and when i say thank you not to be scoffed at. I felt like they were permanently mocking us, that is if they could take their eyes away from whatever card games they were playing. Stay there, just prepare yourself to be annoyed.
No Wonder -
By kjh ( total comments: 1 ) Stayed here 7/2003
I am not surprised that a few of the comments were negative. This is what happens when a private, chilled out place gets overrun by people heading to the full moon party. Staff get less than friendly because some westerners think they can be loud and obnoxious and leave a mess on the beach. These people work around the clock, 7 days a week, for less than most of us make in a day. Give them a break. Be polite...don't expect big city service, clean up after yourselves, and don't send people to Bottle Beach. Thank you. BTW...comments were not intended specifically for the people who left the comments. Thanks.
rude!! - No rating given
By tannedpouch ( total comments: 1 ) Stayed here 10/2005
I'd have to agree with Hugh65. I stayed there a few nights ago and they have got to be the most rude and unfriendly people I've come across in Thailand. Either that, or they must have been eating too many herbs! The rooms were ok, we got a deluxe room and seems there was some confusion with the ''SPECIAL OFFER'' that the first guy gave us of 400THB cos it ended up being 450.. but whatever. After that our electricity wasnt turned on and one of the guys seem very frustrated that he had a job to do but silly me, i had to interrupt his game of UNO.
I will never EVER stay at this bungalow... my first and last visit to bottle beach was spoilt by their ''wonderful'' jokes and smiles.. NOT!
A good place but unfriendly staff - 
By Hugh65 ( total comments: 3 ) Stayed here 8/2005
I can't really understand people telling that this place is run by a ''wonderful staff''... they are the most unfriendly people I've ever met in Thailand: no smiles, no thanks, no apologies. Moreover the restaurant is just ordinary: good shakes and juices, insufficient thai dishes quality. The bungalow was OK with very nice views but I think the place is a bit overpriced even if in the end it's probably the most attractive on the beach. The beach is very nice, one of the most pleasant on Pha Ngan.
Little piece of paradise -
By sushi_sarah ( total comments: 1 ) Stayed here 5/2005
Beautiful bungalows and wonderful staff!! It had a paradise "home away from home" feel to it. A place you can return to time and time again.
Perfect Endings - 
By supersaru79 ( total comments: 1 ) Stayed here 5/2005
In search of a perfect beach and a paradise ending to a great holiday we stumbled upon Smile Bungalows and boy what a find!!! Service with a smile and a joke, peace and quiet when needed and lively atmosphere other times. The bungalows were great, mine a stone throws from the beach. I would have happily stayed forever.
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