Bangsrai Cottage

The rooms at Bangsrai Cottage are villas and bungalows, sleeping between two and four guests. Some overlook the river and others the garden, and the beds include double and king beds.

Rooms can have air conditioning, blackout curtains, a mosquito net, a mini bar and a refrigerator, and some have a private bathroom with a shower and toiletries. The villas and bungalows are set within the grounds, which include a garden and an indoor swimming pool.

The hotel has an indoor swimming pool and a garden, and its spa offers massage, a sauna and a steam room. A shared lounge/TV area and an elevator are also part of the building, and a terrace and the garden give guests outdoor space to relax.

For meals, there is a restaurant, buffet breakfast and continental breakfast, plus BBQ facilities and food delivery. Canoeing, fishing and bicycles are also offered, tours are available, and pets are allowed, though charges may apply.

Practical services include an airport transfer, car hire, a shuttle service, daily housekeeping, laundry service, luggage storage, ticket services and currency exchange, so most everyday needs can be handled at the hotel.

Bangsrai Cottage is in Bangsrai, a subdistrict of Surat Thani, the provincial capital in southern Thailand on the Tapee River. The area is a working Thai town rather than a beach resort, with busy markets and temples close by. It appeals to travellers who want to see daily life on the mainland before heading out to the islands of the Gulf of Thailand.

Wat Phathanaram, a pagoda temple, is 4.5 km away, and the Surat Thani Night Market, 5.7 km away, comes to life in the evening with food stalls and local goods. Ko Lamphu Park is a public park for a walk, and the Tapee River Viewpoint offers a view over the water. The town is a common starting point for the Gulf islands, and the ferry terminal for the night boat to Koh Tao is 4.8 km away. Surat Thani Airport is 19.2 km away, and getting around the town is by road rather than by boat.

A good day could begin with the temples around town, then head to the night market in the evening for street food and local goods, and the Tapee River Viewpoint makes a simple stop before dinner. For a longer excursion, Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya Worawihan, a historic temple in Chaiya, is 26.1 km away.