89 Best Hotels in The Gulf Coast Beaches, Thailand

Set against a mountain backdrop and surrounded by a lush garden, this eco-friendly resort 4 km (2.5 miles) from Sairee Beach has 19 wooden bungalows with spectacular views of the turquoise ocean. Because the resort, near Chalok Baan Kao village, is up a hill, the bungalows enjoy a full breeze. The beach is a short walk away.

This serene hotel is on the beach but with easy access to the rest of Hua Hin. The accommodations range from clean and simple standard rooms to expansive sea-view duplexes. The feel of the place is distinctly modern—minimalist but comfortable. There are two pools, one with a poolside bar, and the restaurant is decent. Facilities at this family-friendly property include a game room and a playroom.

This resort is on mellow Haad Sarikantang, a five-minute walk from Haad Rin West. Rooms range from cute air-conditioned clapboard bungalows on the beachfront to less expensive digs with shared baths in a large wood-and-concrete building. The bungalows away from the beach are connected by a boardwalk and have ladders leading up to tiny lofts; newer bungalows on the hill have high ceilings and banks of windows opening up to impressive ocean views. The resort provides a slew of services and amenities, including beach volleyball, rafts, and kayaks to keep you busy during the low tide, when the water is too shallow for swimming.

Cascading down a jungle-clad hillside at the southern end of Haad Salad, Cookies Salad offers something for everyone. In the budget category, basic rooms in a modern block have amazing views and outside hammocks. Family cottages are more luxurious with king-sized beds and chic outdoor areas. A lovely swimming pool puts the icing on the cake. 

At the northern end of Pattaya Beach, this sprawling hotel has superb bay views and several pools, including one with a swim-up bar. The rooms themselves also have comfortable seating areas and private balconies, and the lobby that leads to them is a light-soaked atrium complete with waterfalls. Not to be outdone, the resort's restaurants have expansive views, and the Devarana Spa is a luxurious, cutting-edge facility.

On a pier that juts out over the water, this guesthouse is unlike any other in Hua Hin. The Cape Cod–blue planks of the pier match the color of the trim around the whitewashed walls. Rooms have kitschy (or tacky, depending on your taste) touches like seashell-framed mirrors and sand-encrusted lamps. Two large houses claim prime real estate toward the end of the pier, with private decks ideal for sipping afternoon drinks or watching the sun rise.

Despite a somewhat odd African theme, The Gem's Mining is one of Pattaya's classiest new luxury properties. Fabulous landscaping means that each of its 98 rooms and villas feel wonderfully secluded, even though the hotel is next to the main Bangkok-Pattaya motorway. The pick of the accommodations are the Ruby three-bedroom pool villas, which have a private pool and access to a larger lagoon pool.

In the liveliest part of town, the Hilton is perfect for fun-and-sun enthusiasts who want to be close to the action. Towering over Hua Hin, the 17-story hotel has rooms that are spacious, functional, and outfitted with the modern amenities one expects from this chain. A lagoonlike pool dominates the garden. The beach in front of the resort is next to the public accessway, making it popular with vendors and tourists from other hotels. The Hua-Hin Brewing Company, a popular bar, restaurant, and people-watching venue, is part of the Hilton complex.

In the middle of the beach yet convenient to much of Pattaya—especially the shopping mall it looms over—the Hilton serves up no-fuss luxury. The hotel also makes an effort to deliver a vacation feel, with relaxed sea themes and chic furnishings. All the amenities, including the rooftop pool, fitness facilities, and a lavish spa, encourage guests to pamper themselves. Even standard rooms have great views and offer excellent value for the money, and some of the suites have Jacuzzis on their balconies.

Formerly the Lamai Wanta, this resort has emerged refreshed and renovated under its new name. Rooms have king-size beds and many tall, thin windows with interior shutters. Another highlight is an infinity pool surrounded by beach chairs, a bar, and a restaurant.  There is a 3% credit card surcharge at this property.

Families with kids will love this Holiday Inn, which is located just north of Takiab Beach on the way to Hua Hin, especially since it's attached to the Vana Nava water park, which—with its array of fun slides—counts among the best in Thailand. The hotel is also a winner with features such as an elevated infinity pool and rooftop sky bar complementing its comfortable rooms and suites.  Two-day access to Vana Nava water park is included in the room rate.

These simple wooden huts directly on the beach at the "quieter" northern end of Haad Rin East are the best deal in the area—for the best location. Opt for one of the beachfront bungalows and request hammocks for the porch.

A massive lobby area makes a striking first impression while guest rooms are as opulent as one might expect, with many offering direct access to a pool that loops around the verdant tropical grounds and joins with the bigger, lagoon-style, family pool. Dining options are equally generous. Try Big Fish, the resort's casual beachfront grill, for a seafood platter groaning with giant prawns, juicy scallops, and lobster claws packed with tender meat. 

Most of the rooms at this outstanding resort are built into a 200-foot cliff, and the beachside villas are even more amazing. The swimming pool is a magnificent trompe l'oeil, looking as if it's part of the ocean far below. There's a second pool by the beach, too, where you'll find an activities center. The southeast corner of the island is also closest to the Angthong National Marine Park, making this the best base for exploring that island chain. You can dine on sumptuous Asian fare at Amber, with a perch looking over the ocean; seafood and prime cuts are grilled to perfection at the more casual Flames.

On one of the main streets leading to the public entrance to Hua Hin Beach, Jed Pee Nong has bungalows clustered around a swimming pool and standard rooms in a high-rise building. Rooms have huge beds and not much else, but the price is hard to beat. The terrace restaurant facing the street stays open late.

The rooms at this resort are tucked inside two-story structures that were designed to resemble seashells but actually look more like mushrooms. The spacious, round rooms have white walls and pale wooden floors and are filled with natural light. A small pool and soft grass run the beach. The open-air restaurant serves tasty Thai food.

There are many strings of bungalows on Kai Bae Beach, but this property is the most established and reliable. Very simply furnished, the one-room bungalows here all have air-conditioning. Some of the resort's rooms are in the adjacent building, and the bungalows are closer to the beach. Plenty of restaurants are within an easy stroll.

In our stressful world respite is often necessary, and this well-regarded wellness and spa resort on the paradise island of Koh Samui provides it. While Kamalaya’s programs have been specifically designed to aid mind, body, and soul, the contemporary design of the resort, as well as its immaculate location, are equally inspiring. Stylish suites and vast villas sit amongst the tropical undergrowth alongside steam rooms, rock pools, and yoga pavilions. There’s even a monk’s cave for meditation purposes.

The bungalows here range from fan-cooled huts to spacious, amenities-laden suites; some of the best accommodations are right on the beach. This is the first hotel you see on the west side of the island as you drive into town, and its location near a jungle-covered hill is certainly a plus.

With all the amenities of a big-city hotel, these spacious bungalows have private porches for enjoying the breeze. The accommodations are simply furnished, with a few wood accents that offset the white walls and fabrics. The pool is beachside, and some trees along the beach have swings attached to them—at high tide you can swing out over the surf. 

On the far northern end of Sairee Beach, this is one of Koh Tao's few boutique resorts. Choose between the circular, thatched-roof villas or Mediterranean-style with tile and wood floors, four-poster beds, and panoramic windows. The wooden cottages, which are farther up the hill and away from the beach, have bamboo-frame beds, native art, and decks that face south toward Sairee Beach. Rooms on the hill have stairs leading down to a snorkeling spot. The stylish restaurant, just above the water, is open for dinner.

On the quieter northern end of Sairee Beach, this resort is a good place to get your scuba certification. The colorfully painted, traditional beach huts made of bamboo and coconut timber were built to 21st-century standards, including spacious sunken bathrooms with stone floors. Deluxe rooms have amenities like phones and minibars. Much cheaper and more basic fan rooms are also available. (Note: Rooms 304 and 403 are adjacent to the sometimes noisy restaurant and beach bar.) Guests at neighboring resorts, including Koh Tao Cabana, are welcome to take scuba courses here as well.

Inspired by travelers reading books on the beach, this bungalow resort turned five-star palace is worth a visit for its amusingly hip decor alone. Check out the white figures reading books on the lawn, inviting you to lounge as well. Rooms have modern furniture like long, low tables, and are quite comfortable. The beachside pool has a red tile base, making it fit in perfectly with the red, black, and white theme so prevalent here. Whether you're staying here or not, The Page restaurant merits a trip.

The bungalows and restaurant at this well-landscaped resort in northern Koh Phangan are built of wood, thatch, and bamboo in traditional southern Thai style. The bungalows, each with a private balcony, sit amid lush tropical gardens shaded by coconut and other trees. Popular with travelers wanting to laze away soaking up the sun, casual Longtail is right on Haad Thong Nai Pan Yai.

An ocean-view room with a hot tub and private balcony—or if not that, a poolside beachfront bungalow—is the way to go at the Mac. This is a friendly place, and there's a nightly barbecue on the beach.

Two rows of charming bungalows line the path leading to the beach at this comfortable six-building resort. Each one has a private patio surrounded by tropical foliage. Rooms are furnished in a spare yet cozy style. Penthouses in an adjacent building provide more luxurious accommodations, with separate living and dining rooms.

Lodging options are few in Chumphon, but this centrally located hotel has comfortable rooms and provides a reasonable level of service. Only a short walk from the night market, the Morakot Twin has rates among the lowest in town.

At this tranquil, Thai-style resort with a parked samlor in the lobby, a meandering garden path with small bridges and stepping-stones crosses a flowing, fish-filled stream. Brick walls instead of standard concrete provide an atmosphere reminiscent of ancient Ayutthaya. The Royal Suite has two hot tubs—one indoor, one outdoor. Other guests must settle for lavishly decorated Junior Suites with teak floors and elaborate carved headboards. Even the swimming pool blends perfectly into its surroundings, with a waterfall and grassy, palm-tree islands within its waters.

This three-story hotel in a quiet alley near the night market is an excellent deal, with spacious rooms that feature amenities like hot showers, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and silent air-conditioning. Some rooms have balconies. The atmosphere is chatty in the tastefully decorated lobby featuring Buddha statues, paintings of flowers, chandeliers, and natural stone.

Vaguely Balinese in design, this classy boutique hotel makes use of dark woods—often as a stunning contrast against stark white or shimmering gold. A lotus pond on the grounds doesn't feel the least bit out of place, and the beachside pool almost makes up for the fact that only two rooms have sea views.