From the beach, Palita Lodge looks far more backpacker style than it really is, with some very smart rooms and a great swimming pool running back from the beach. The grounds are shady and cool, offering a respite from the heat and the low key backpackery restaurant lets you squelch your feet in the sand while you have breakfast.

The vast majority of the rooms here are off the beach, running a long way back from reception, the restaurant and the swimming pool, but the grounds are spacious and well tended. Going by the number of sand buckets and shovels we saw dotting the room verandas, this is a hit with families with young kids, and with the calm stretch of shady beach out front it is easy to see why.

Bungalow views to the restaurant and beach beyond. Photo: Stuart McDonald

Located on the far side of Tommy, you’re getting a more comfortable distance from the epicentre of the party here (though you will absolutely still hear it). We were shown one of the rooms just off of the beach, a single story chalet which had a large front deck with natural shading and bright yellow chairs which really did not look all that comfortable. Inside the floor was bouncier than the bed, but the room was otherwise well presented with a bright red recliner lounge by the windows.

The polished concrete bathroom seemed far more modern than the rest of the room and we wonder if perhaps the room had been partially renovated, but that aside, the room was comfortable. The rooms near the front are glass fronted so bear in mind that when you open the blinds you’ll be looking straight across to the restaurant and them to you – we’d opt for one of the other elevated rooms a little further back for a bit more privacy.

The beach out front is excellent. Photo: Stuart McDonald

We really liked the swimming pool here – it isn’t fantastically large or anything, but the colours were just great and the plentiful shade overhead means you can stay in the pool for longer without burning to a crisp. Overall, this is a quieter option than say Phangan Bayshore and the beach out front is great, making it a good option for travelling families looking for some downtime. People looking for something more traveller style should continue down the beach to Seaview Sunrise whose beachfront bungalows, while quite rundown, are still great value.

Palita Lodge offer significant discounts for direct bookings through their website, be sure to check there when shopping around.