Ploen Chaweng
Stylish flashpacker hotel
More on Ko Samui
Looking sharp among a cluster of mostly cheaper guesthouses and hostels on an inland lane in Chaweng’s southern reaches, Ploen has a cool flashpacker style to go with cushy rooms featuring a few extras that we wouldn’t expect for the price.
Travelfish says:
A professional receptionist explained the room options in excellent English before tapping a keycard to lead us upstairs in the small lift to check out a room. We felt like kicking back on the soft bed with good-quality linens and six pillows topped by a black-and-white painting of monkeys perched on tree branches, to cheer up the dark-grey walls.
Accessed through wood doors painted amber yellow, the spacious bathrooms are equipped with modern appliances and a hot-water shower in a glass nook. There’s also recessed lighting, a little balcony, hot-water kettle, microwave and kitchen sink. You could have a meal on a marble-top round table with rattan chairs, or set yourself up with the free WiFi. The ground-floor restaurant has classy patterned tiles and wood tables next to a plunge pool with a fountain. A second, similarly tiny pool is found on the top floor of the four-storey building.
Though Ploen is not on the beach, it’s only a 200-metre walk and is good value considering the standard. Directly across the lane, the Mercure Samui Chaweng Tara is a slightly larger hotel for a bit more cash. There’s also the cheaper Chaweng Budget Hotel, which is operated by the management of Chaweng Cove Beach Resort and offers guests use of the pool and other facilities at the larger property.
Contact details for Ploen Chaweng
Address: 37/90 Moo 3, South Chaweng, Ko Samui
T: (077) 414 322; (077) 414 323;
Email: book.psm@ploenhotels.com
Web: http://www.ploenhotels.com/samui
Coordinates (for GPS): 100º3'21.29" E, 9º31'4.74" N
See position in Apple or Google Maps: Apple Maps | Google Maps
Room rates: 600B to 1,500B
Room rates
What we were quoted as a walk-in.
| Dbl air-con private bathroom Add 200 baht for a twin room | 1,390 baht | 1,500 baht |
| Triple air-con private bathroom | 2,500 baht | 3,290 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.