On the north west coast of Koh Kood, the lovely beach at Ao Tapao is home to 4 excellent resorts, Meedee, Seafar, Paradise Beach and Shantaa.
Combined with them, you’ll also find a handful of bungalows and homestays in and around the nearby main road in the central administrative area known as Hin Dam.
Put all those options together and it’s easy to see why the Ao Tapao has developed into one of Koh Kood’s most popular areas to stay.
Prices given are for peak season (but not the Xmas/New Year period) via booking sites, not the hotel websites. They are intended as guides only.
You can jump straight to each section:-
Ao Tapao Resorts – On The Beach
Continuing up the island away from Ao Noi, you pass a few shops, restaurants and the odd Thai small bungalow resort such as Sangtong, before you reach the central administrative areas of the island, home to the police station, hospital and town hall. Opposite the police station – look out for the football pitch – you will also find the turning down to Ao Tapao.
Following the wide paved road for a good couple of kilometres, you pass Little 9 Cafe and then arrive at Koh Kood Chalet and the handful of rooms at The Lodge. Prices here range from 1,500bt to 2,500bt a night respectively. Neither has a restaurant. At the end, you finally emerge out on the beach at the two 3 star resorts, Seafar and Meedee.
These two resorts offer a wide selection of bungalows running back from the sand, with swimming pools towards the rear. Expect prices from 4,000bt to 5,000bt at Meedee, with the family option at 11,900bt and 3,200bt to 8,400bt for Seafar (garden view to seafront).
Next door to Meedee – there’s a new connecting road behind – Koh Kood Cabana, once popular with Thai weekenders, ranks as one of the island’s oldest resorts and it is unfortunately showing its age. The resort has no easy online booking, so in truth, you are unlikely to stay here unless on a walk-in.
Located alongside Koh Kood Cabana, Koh Kood Paradise Beach, complete with its eye-catching bright red swimming pool, offers rooms from 3,250bt in its 2 storey hotel block at the back and villas in the garden or on the sand from 4,000bt to 5,000bt, pool villa at 9,500bt and family at 11,750bt.
On the Hill
Perched up on the the hill above the pier, the romantic getaway of Shantaa, has a prime spot looking out over the ocean. One of the best resorts on the island, the villas go from 5,700bt to 7,000bt with the family options (sofa bed or double bed + twins) at 9,000bt or 16,700bt – minimum 2 night stay in Xmas period.
You can also get to this end of Ao Tapao by shooting on past the hospital all the way to the crossroads and then following the signs to the left for Nam Luek Pier. You circumvent the temple just before you drop down to the back of Koh Kood Paradise Beach.
At the beach end of the temple, the much cheaper homestay, Mateoasis is hidden away at the far end of the small lane. With on-site restauarant too, it has just a couple of rooms at 850bt a night, ensuite and a/c and even a tent (double futon bed) at 550bt a night.
Pricing Code/Per night in Baht (B):
B= under 500; BB= 500 to 1,500; BBB= 1,500 to 3,000; BBBB= over 3,000;
Shantaa
Per Night: BBBB
Hill above the beach
Above Nam Luek Pier on the hill overlooking the bay, this peaceful,boutique affair is one of the very best Ao Tapao resorts. A mixture of chic understated (think varnished floors, white linens) a/c villas and suites, with rain showers, open air bathrooms, terraces.
Restaurant with seaviews, small bar and beach by the pier. Another small beach at rear of the property together with Gathi Cafe, both overlooked by feature infinity pool. Salas and sunset deck, reading room, own speedboat pier. Popular with wedding parties and couples. No TV’s policy. WiFi.
Paradise Beach Resort
Per Night: BBB – BBB
By the Ocean
Sister resort to Koh Chang Paradise, another large resort with Lanna style roofed villas in rows, all joined by raised wooden walkways. 2nd hotel style block at the rear with garden view rooms and balconies. Central reception area, restaurant and swimming pool, just steps from the sand and sea.
Seafar Resort
Per Night: BBB – BBB
By the Ocean
Ever expanding number of bungalows at the back and on the creek combined with their brightly painted converted portacabins (from Soneva’s former construction site no less) located on the sand, all a/c. Swimming pool. Restaurant, motorbike hire, a peaceful spot. WiFi.
Meedee Resort
Per Night: BBB – BBB
By the Ocean
Literally next door to Seafar, another very chilled out spot on the sand offering brushed concrete style, a/c ensuite bungalows in rows back from the sea. Restaurant, beach bar, swimming pool at the rear. Motorbikes available. WiFi.
Other Ao Tapao Beach Resorts and Guesthouses
Koh Kood Cabana
Per Night: BB
On the sand next to Meedee Resort, very ageing resort used mainly by Thai packages. Accommodation comprises wooden cabins, either standalone or split into doubles. Restaurant, beach bar. WiFi. Water sports club.
For Sale (contact us directly)
The Lodge
Per Night: BB
Handful of standard a/c ensuite double rooms or bungalows on the back road. 5 minutes walk to the beach for restaurants or head up to the main street. WiFi. Having your own motorbike makes your stay much easier.
Koh Kood Chalet
Per Night: BB
Next door to The Lodge and slightly cheaper. Double a/c ensuite rooms laid out in a basic garden setting. No restaurant so you walk the 500 metres to the beach for the choices there or back to the main road. WiFi.
Hin Dam (Central Area) – Ao Tapao Resorts, Bungalows
In the central area known locally as Hin Dam, there are a few more options, but to stay here, you will be get the most out of your stay by renting a motorbike.
Opposite the hospital, Dara Homestay offers rooms at 2,600bt to 2,800bt a night and has now added a unique pool villa (double bed) for 10,000bt. There is a small cafe on site.
From the central area by the electricity centre, you can pick up a shortcut road, which takes you in a loop to the main road for Ao Salad, the fishing village on the north east of the island.
At the start, set back in the forest down a track on the right, Delight: Natural Bungalows took over the old Mermaid B & B which itself took over Koh Kood Garden View in Klong Chao. Delight has changed nothing, so you can still rent a traditional bamboo thatch bungalow in the garden at around 1,000bt to 1,500bt a night – very peaceful, contact via Instagram.
Continue to the end and Kama Siri is long running homestay style accommodation, with an eclectic set of bungalows and family rooms, prices for a double fan starting at 1,500bt a night. Contact in Facebook.
Emerging out the shortcut to the right, you find yourself on the main road towards Ao Salad. Along here, you’ll pass firstly the bungalows of Ton Tawan Resort, very much aimed at Thai weekenders but a good fallback with long stay options too. Prices start from 800bt in low season, 1,900bt in high. Further on, you reach Koh Kood Little Hut, a compact resort with a lovely garden where their fan rooms go from 800bt, a/c at 1,500bt.
One other almost unknown option is the delightful homestay at Nam Huang Keaw Waterfall. Absolutely at one with nature, it has just a handful of basic bungalows from 500bt a night. Note there is no electricity but the mobile (data, not WiFi) internet works very well. Food and coffee are available too.
Dara Homestay
Per Night: BB – BBB
Opposite the hospital in the central area of the island, 6 or so a/c ensuite bungalows styled in brushed concrete. New pool villa too added in 23/24 season. No real garden but practical and clean. Breakfast available. Best with your own transport, but can walk to Ao Tapao Beach. WiFi.
Delight: Natural Bungalows
Per Night: BB
Set back in the forest on the shortcut road by the electricity station, collection of wooden, bamboo thatch roofs old style a/c ensuite bungalows in a pretty garden setting. Breakfast available. Quiet and peaceful, can reach beach and shops easily with motorbike, rental on site. WiFi.
Kama Siri Guesthouse
Per Night: BB – BBB
Guesthouse located at the far end of the central shortcut road, offering a simple selection of 2 fan with ensuite, 1 a/c room and a double family chalet, both ensuite and a/c. Tent too. WiFi. Food available, motorbikes for rent. WiFi.
Koh Kood Little Hut
Per Night: BB – BBB
On the road heading towards Ao Salad, 10 wooden cabins of varying shapes and sizes, all a/c, in mature garden setting. Breakfast included. Again, having your own transport is best so as not to feel too isolated. WiFi.
UPDATED July 24 for 24/25 Season
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