Our top 10 places to stay in and around Ko Lipe
Budget beachfront shacks
Daya’s big blue-and-white pavilion is one of the oldest structures on Pattaya Beach and while the bungalows have also been here years, they’re still worth considering if you’re on a budget.
Just beyond a string of upscale resorts at Pattaya Beach’s quiet western corner, Daya’s location is a big selling point. The beachfront here is marvellous and you can quickly stroll over a footbridge to the isolated Sanom Beach, or take the trail inland to an Urak Lawoi village, Sunset Beach and the western coves.
Bungalows sport bright stripes in various colours that make them look like candy wrappers. Inside you’ll find worn beds set above linoleum floors along with bucket-flush toilets in the cold-water bathrooms. Decoration is limited to cartoonish stickers but, for the price, it’s tough to argue with the porches shaded by umbrella trees. Most rooms are fan-cooled but a few of the beachfront editions come with air-con.
You can save cash by opting for an identical bungalow facing inland or a room in a concrete motel-style building at the rear of the property. If you prefer a broader vista and more secluded setting, opt for one of Daya’s larger wooden bungalow set atop the headland on the other side of Pattaya Song Resort, which has some rundown hilltop concrete bungalows of its own.
A big group of islanders manage Daya and it always takes some effort to figure out who’s working and who’s just hanging around. While we’ve had mixed experiences with staffers over the years, the young man who most recently greeted us was polite and quick to show us as many rooms as we liked. WiFi is available but we wouldn’t expect much from it.
Address: Western Pattaya Beach, Ko Lipe
T: (081) 542 9866;
Coordinates (for GPS): 99º17'55.58" E, 6º29'14.18" 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.
| Dbl fan private bathroom In concrete longhouse. | 600 baht | 800 baht |
| Bungalow fan private bathroom Plus 200 baht for sea view. | 800 baht | 1,000 baht |
| Family room Fan-cooled. Plus 1,000 baht for air-con. | 1,600 baht | 2,000 baht |
| Bungalow air-con private bathroom | 2,000 baht | 3,000 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 Lipe
