70 Best Hotels in The Gulf Coast Beaches, Thailand

A landscaped terrace leads down to a private beach at this resort on the less crowded southern end of Chawaeng Noi. If you want to do more than catch rays, this is the place for you—the Sheraton offers every kind of beach activity imaginable. In addition, one of the two pools is filled with saltwater, a rare luxury on Koh Samui. The Long Talay beachside restaurant serves international and Thai dishes. The recently renovated rooms, some on two levels, have polished teak floors and are furnished in a distinctly contemporary fashion.

Of the guesthouses on northern Koh Phangan's Haad Kuat (Bottle Beach), this one on the beach's western end is the best, though it lacks most amenities besides a restaurant. Huts are on the hillside and have large wooden decks overlooking the water. The bungalows higher up the hill, duplexes, have the best views. The restaurant has comfortable seating, either at standard-height wooden tables or low tables surrounded by triangular pillows. The staff frequently hangs out with the guests in the evening, when the music is turned up, the lights are turned down, and cards and beer bottles cover the tables. The beach is great for swimming.

The resort, formerly the Hotel De La Paix, has preserved the design flair that characterized its previous guise while adding other flamboyant touches that enhance the property’s strong air of fabulousity, a trait underscored by regular DJ parties on the beach. Top facilities include a jacuzzi pool and an adults-only solarium pool.

Located at the far end of the beach, this resort is quieter than most at Kai Bae. Choose between luxe pool villas and rooms in a building looming over the strand. The grounds include a big beachside pool, a cliffside pool, and an attractive terrace restaurant. At the spa, you can indulge yourself with body massages and facials or sweat in the steam room sauna.

Spend your days flitting between a spacious beach villa, a magical pool area (which even has its own secluded waterfall), and the beach itself with its crystal blue waters. The name Vana Belle is a combination of the Thai word for forest and the French word for beautiful. But that only goes a little way towards describing the visual manna on offer at this lovely property. Other highlights of the resort include amazing, gracious service from all the staff. 

This resort has the best bungalows on Ao Vong Duan Beach and is near much of the island's activity. The best rooms are the superior ones; the other bungalows are smaller but otherwise provide the same amenities.

Oozing flashy flair, the W Retreat Koh Samui is most definitely a place to see and be seen. Public areas are adorned with graffiti art, DJs supply cool beach beats, while a main infinity pool and the resort's sugary beach offer ample scope for the beautiful people who favor the brand to strut their stuff. The property walks the walk while talking the talk. Its pool villas are by far the most stylish on the island, featuring vaulted ceilings and blonde woods, gorgeous outdoor decks, and ample private pools. For sustenance, try Namu Japanese restaurant, which is famous for its superfresh sashimi and signature lobster udon. 

Formerly Blue Lotus, this boutique resort is located on a quiet beach in Pranburi, about 20 minutes south of Hua Hin. It has newly renovated guest rooms and pool villas offering light designs to create a natural ambience. There's a good restaurant and a gorgeous beachside swimming pool. Daily activities include sports like archery.

Minimalist Bali style makes this hotel a refreshing change of pace, especially if you've been in Thailand for a while. Low-slung beds, brilliant red accents, and panoramic windows are signature elements of the rooms, and bungalows have sliding doors so you can enjoy the breezes. It's peaceful and relaxing here, especially near the water: the pool is striking at night and beautifully lighted, and rows of comfortable chairs line the beach.

If you want to be lulled to asleep by the sound of the surf, stay in one of this trio of boats that have been converted into bungalows. They're air-conditioned and sit on the beach overlooking the rocky coast. The resort also has standard rooms, but these are rather bare-bones and not as comfortable or as novel as those in the boats.