More style than most
A short stairway runs from a great stretch of beach up to Starlight Resort, offering brick or bamboo bungalows with more style than most.
The priciest bungalows face a shaded hilltop lawn culminating at a wood deck with sea-view loungers and tables near a restaurant with a book exchange and reception desk. Made of woven bamboo with high metal roofs, most of these have sea views from hammocks on porches built within view of the restaurant.
Within, queen beds are draped in good-quality mosquito nets suspended above wooden floors with clothes-drying racks. Rotating fans were smartly installed beneath the mosquito netting so that you get unobstructed airflow. Bathrooms sport brick walls, tile floors, basin sinks, wide mirrors, modern toilets and cold-water showers set under sun windows.
Walk further back through the grounds to find cheaper brick-and-tile bungalows set up facing one another across a walkway. These have similar amenities to the bamboo versions but come with glass doors and are fully enclosed, representing good value for those who don’t like the thought of critters creeping inside.
Starlight is an American/Thai-managed resort with some Burmese cooks in a kitchen that we’ve heard delivers tasty food. The free WiFi works only in the restaurant. The swimming directly in front of the resort is excellent no matter the tide. If looking for something more basic in this vicinity, check out nearby Sunset, Goldkey or Banana.
Address: North Ao Khao Kwai, Ko Phayam
T: (081) 978 5301 ; (089) 922 5301;
Coordinates (for GPS): 98º24'38.28" E, 9º45'42.08" N
See position in Apple or Google Maps: Apple Maps | Google Maps
Room rates: 600B to 1,500B
What we were quoted as a walk-in.
Bungalow fan private bathroom For a brick bungalow; up to 800/1,000 baht for sea-view bamboo. | 500 baht | 700 baht |
Family room | 800 baht | 1,000 baht |
Reviewed by
David Luekens
David Luekens first came to Thailand in 2005 when Thai friends from his former home of Burlington, Vermont led him on a life-changing trip. Based in Thailand since 2011, he spends much of his time eating in Bangkok street markets and island hopping the Andaman Sea.
Our top 10 places to stay in and around Ko Phayam