New Hut Bungalows in Lamai are, as the name implies, a collection of huts, though these days they are not so new. They are little thatched A-frame structures with a small overhang in front, and little more than that, but make for great backpacker digs if you can put up with a little bit of grumpiness from the staff.

Just that. Huts.

Located right on the beach, set into the sand on the northern part of Lamai Beach, there are three categories of accommodation. For 350 to 400 baht you get a hut with an outside shared toilet and shower. For 500 to 600 baht, you’ll get your own bathroom, but with cold water. And splashing out 700 to 800 baht, you’ll have hot water in your own bathroom.

What you see is what you get.

Inside, all you’ll find is a double bed, or two singles, mattresses right on the floor, with a mosquito net, a light, a wall fan and an electric plug point. That’s it. The huts are set rather close together, so according to a few residents we chatted to, there’s a fair amount of noise at night – but hey, at an average of 500 baht per night, there’s not much use complaining, and again according to these residents, the staff are rather unfriendly. We noticed this too when we asked the receptionist to see inside a bungalow; she told us abruptly to just look inside the one next door without even looking up.

Even the sign is not so friendly.

That aside, you can’t get closer to the sea and the on-site restaurant is pretty good and cheap. Breakfasts start at just 15 baht for a slice of toast to peanut butter and banana on toast for 40 baht, through to around 60 baht for something a bit more substantial again. The menu is extensive, offering both Thai and Western dishes, and the kitchen’s open from 07:00 to 23:00.

A good selection of food and goodies for sale.

A 10-minute walk will get you to the start of Lamai’s main bar strip, but there are several restaurants and bars closer. The beach in front is good for swimming, the sand is soft and white, and there are several deck chairs as well as a massage sala out front. Entering from the main road, you’ll need to cross a precarious bridge over a dirty river, and enter via the restaurant and shop where the reception counter is located.

Another mark down is the fact that the free WiFi is only available from 07:00 until 23:00 (the restaurant’s hours), which is not ideal when taking time zones into account and you’re in need of a late-night Skype session.

Not a bad spot to hang your hammock for a while.

If you choose to stay at the affordable (but somewhat grumpy) New Hut Bungalows, be sure to try the Radiance Restaurant at The Spa Resort nearby for cheap, wholesome (but not only) vegetarian food. They have cheap huts too, although not quite as cheap as New Hut.

New Hut Bungalows
Lamai Ring Road, just after Buddy Resort, on the sea side of the road if coming from Chaweng
T: (077) 230 437; (081) 467 1343
newhutlamai@yahoo.co.th

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