Surat Thani

Budget

Budget
$
Thaireungruang Hotel
Fan single from 280 baht, aircon double 450 baht
a block or two from the old bus station in the middle of town

Business hotel. Relatively nice, quiet, clean and good-sized rooms. Some have TV and hot water probably just the AC rooms. Wifi available via username and password for 100 Baht/24 hr. The hotel staff are very helpful and polite and speak enough English to answer your questions. This hotel also has a free shuttle service to the bar Chilling Out.

Budget
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Phangan Guesthouse & Hotel
Talad Mai 27, Talat, Mueang Surat Thani, Surat Thani 84000

402/7 taladmai rd. 27 muang suratthani 077-205799. clean and convenient, near the minibus station and between the two bus stations. basic and friendly. fan for 300 baht, ac room for 400 baht. the owner is really nice. each room is named after a surat thani provincial city. located near the corner of taladmai and taladmai rd. 27

Budget
$
Tapee Hotel

(http://www.tapeehotel.com) is a mid-range priced hotel at 450-550 baht. the price differences range from fan to a/c and i think view, but i'm not sure. as a woman traveling alone i liked the bright entrance, manned desk and short distance to the market and bus stations. the rooms were older, very clean and the a/c worked quietly. there are two english-language channels on the tv al jazeera and star movies, one spanish and one cantonese, in addition to local channels. and it had a hot water shower. located on chonkasem road, it's about a 10 minute walk from the two bus stations and five from the waterfront and night market, which you should not miss. turn left from the lobby, right at the next main road and follow your nose. the walk home later in the evening is interesting, as many of the 'short time' hotels have their ladies out, but the area is safe.

Budget
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Chayo Bar

Is on the riverfront, opposite ban don pier where the night boats leave for the islands. free accommodation in a limited number of rooms, but do not expect anything special: mattress-on-floor rooms, fans and shared bathrooms. run by chayo and toto who will look after you well but do not suffer fools gladly. also serves food. notice: chayo and toto have since moved due the the rising rents near the pier. their new shop is on talad mai road near the entrance talad kaset 2 bus station.

Budget
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Ban Don Hotel

Is a place for really cheap and clean rooms, but for 300 baht, don't expect anything fancy. most rooms don't have air-con or hot water and the entrance is through a shady looking restaurant. but, if you're looking for a place just to stay a night while passing through, it's pretty good for the price. located close to ban don road and na mueang road.

Midrange

Midrange
$$
Princess Park Hotel
19/19 Leangmuang Road
077405989-92
650 - 900 baht
Midrange
$$
 

, many travel agents willing to show high class hotels and places to travel to.

Midrange
$$
100 Islands Resort and Spa
19/6 Moo 3 Bypass Rd

(http://www.roikoh.com) - 770 to 1200 baht a night. clean, spacious rooms. wide range of facilities and amenities including air conditioning, minifridge in the room, a pool, spa and restaurant on site. it's located slightly outside the city centre. if your taxi driver doesn't know where it is, they should know where tesco-lotus is, the hotel is near there. to reach the city centre, there are 20 baht tuk tuks driving past the hotel every few minutes.

$$$
Top end

The Diamond Plaza hotel is the best hotel in town. It's on the outer edge as you enter from Phun Phin station. You can take any of the orange train station buses to get there.