Stay Lifehacks

If you’re willing to splash out, booking one of the ‘Pool Access’ rooms is worth it. It’s the hotel’s signature offering and really does elevate the holiday experience. Very convenient luxury to stay open your terrace door and step right from your private balcony into this massive lagoon-style swimming pool, for a morning swim or a late-night dip.

For the best of local food at great prices, walk 10 minutes to Chaweng Walking Street (night market). It is an amazing place to “graze,” sampling many varieties of delicious and authentic Thai street food – fresh seafood skewers, pad thai, mango sticky rice… all for a fraction of what it would cost in a sit-down restaurant.

For a splurge of culture, hop in a ‘songthaew’ and head to Wat Khao Hua Jook nearby. It’s a cool temple to check out situated on a hill that looks over the Chaweng Lake and the airport. The climb up the steps isn’t too bad and is well worth it for a golden chedi, a replica of the Buddha’s footprint, and most impressively, one of the best panoramic views of the whole Chaweng area and the northern coastline of the island.

Thirdly, Chaweng Beach is nice. It is advisable to ride in a songthaew for about 15-20 minutes over the hill to Lamai Beach, which lies next. Lamai is slightly more laid-back and less crowded but shares its fair number of attractions-like the intriguing ‘Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks’ (Hin Ta and Hin Yai). This makes a very easy and pleasant half-day excursion in order to have another view of the island.