An adorable pink school doubling as a bare-bones bungalow joint may sound strange, but it’s perfectly normal on Bulon.

The school sits just back from the main beach between Bulon’s two largest resorts (Pansand and Bulone) and rents out half a dozen well-worn bungalows lined up facing the shaggy soccer pitch and basketball court. Sporting bright new paint jobs for our most recent visit, the woven bamboo huts come with metal roofs and a few palms and flower bushes draped over the small porches.

School's in for travellers to Ko Bulon Lae. Photo: David Luekens

Linoleum floors don’t stop crawly things from getting in so you’ll be glad there’s a mosquito net placed over the firm mattresses. Attached bathrooms come with cold showers and Western bucket-flush toilets. Fans are provided, though power gets switched off at some point during the night. While spartan and lacking WiFi, each hut has some decorative touches left by the many travellers who have relaxed in them over the years.

Expect to hear energetic kids gathering in the mornings before shouting out answers to their teacher’s questions and playing soccer or badminton in the afternoons. This being a school, guests should refrain from showing a lot of skin when walking to the beach while otherwise acting responsibly -- head to the Panka Yai side of the island for a cheap hut with more privacy.

School sport time... Photo: David Luekens

As the only real budget option within steps of Bulon’s best stretch of sand, School Bungalows are usually full during high season and you’ll need to track down a teacher to inquire, which often means waiting until class is out.