Ban Phe
Where to lay your head
Where to lay your head
While just about everyone is just transiting through town to get to Ko Samet, if you get waylaid, there is an adequate range of options in Ban Phe itself. A homestay in Pak Khlong, a couple of kilometres southwest of downtown Ban Phe near Rayong Aquarium, will appeal to those looking for something a bit different. Nature lovers may prefer camping or a bungalow at Khao Laem Ya - Mu Ko Samet National Park.
A few reasonable budget-to-flashpacker range options are located within easy walking distance of the piers in downtown Ban Phe.
Ban Phe’s older guesthouses and hotels should be shaking in their concrete boots after the 2016 opening of I Na Seaview Hostel, the only accommodation option in town that’s built directly onto the coastal docks. The exceptionally spacious property offers a range of polished private rooms to go with dorms overlooking the sea. Get past the warehouse-like entrance and you’ll find a huge... Read our full review of I Na Seaview Hostel.
Impossible to miss if you’re strolling the main drag near the piers, Christie’s is a long-running pub servicing the beer and soccer needs of expats and travellers. While the bar is a lot of fun and the kitchen cooks up good food, the half-dozen budget air-con rooms don’t get quite as much attention. Situated up a dark stairway accessed via a sometimes-locked door between Christie’s... Read our full review of Christie's.
The easy-to-find Diamond Phe Hotel should do the trick if you’re after a dirt-cheap private room that might even bag you a sea view. We wouldn't quite call it a “diamond in the rough,” but for the price it's a smidge better than you might expect. Rooms show some wear and are totally lacking character, with ancient furnishings and threadbare linens on firm beds. Even so, all rooms come... Read our full review of Diamond Hotel.
A couple of kilometres southwest of downtown Ban Phe, Pak Khlong is a more relaxing seaside village within walking distance of Rayong Aquarium. Travellers seeking something different could try a homestay with an old-style Thai theme.
A small homestay with a mouthful of a name, Baan Khun Yaai Mai Khun Ta occupies a beautifully restored wood house on a quiet street. Though not a great option for travellers looking to catch an early boat, it might interest those who have the time to kick back and explore the area. Located above the coffee shop, three large rooms come with high ceilings, soft queen mattresses draped in mosquito... Read our full review of Baan Khun Yaai Mai Khun Ta.
The mainland section of Khao Laem Ya - Mu Ko Samet National Park has bungalows and a beachfront campground set on a scenic cape.
The picturesque Khao Laem Ya peninsula has a handful of park-maintained fan bungalows to go with a campground overlooking a beach with views to Ko Samet. Consider spending a night or 10 here if you could use some peace and quiet. Bungalows are set on a wooded stretch of land that’s well hidden from the main road, just up the hill from the beach and close to the nature trail. Equipped with... Read our full review of National park accommodation.
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