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The location will be a turn off for some—a solid two kilometres east of the night market and bus station—and if you don’t have your own transport be prepared to spend a bit on tuk tuks and taxis. Rental bicycles and motorbikes are available but regardless of whatever means you do employ to get into town make sure you take a business card with you as we found it very difficult to find amid a maze of suburban streets and tuk tuk drivers won’t necessarily know it either. That they get away with charging the rates they do, bearing in mind their out of the way location, is a good sign and the resort certainly does fit perfectly into that urban oasis cliché.

Smart rooms within. Photo: Mark Ord

Baan Soontree appears to have been built in two stages so on the left side of their small parking area are some individual wood-faced and balcony-fronted chalets in a kind of generic, late 90s, Koh Whatever-style while to the right and rear of their centrally located little pool are some smart 2-storey villas of a more recent design. These buildings are concrete but come with classy, wood interiors as well as private balconies. Decor is simple aside from the varnished parquet and wall panelling but rooms are spacious and family versions are actually two-room suites.

Beds are wide and bathrooms equally roomy and come with a separate changing room/utility area with counter, fridge and kettle. Bedrooms contain a desk, WiFi, cable TV, air-con and (an often overlooked detail) plenty of plug sockets.

A cute little oasis. Photo: Mark Ord

There’s also a surprisingly well-equipped fitness centre and dining area where complimentary buffet breakfast is served and there’s seating around the garden area and pool in addition to the individual balconies. Reception has plenty of travel info and maps as well as the aforementioned bicycle and motorbike rental arrangements. (They don’t actually have their own bikes but they will be delivered to the door.)

Nothing fancy, but for simple comfort, peace and quiet and range of facilities Soontree can’t be faulted. Prices do creep into the mid-range during the peak December and January period but for much of the year remain very good value for money.