Ko Pha-ngan, Surat Thani Province hotel rooms at the Independent

"Everything was great"

"I’d recommend this place!! It’s not that far of a scooter ride to any beach on the island from here. It was very quiet and secluded at the hotel. But walk 3 minutes and you’re on a street with lots of restaurants and stuff. They have it all..restaurant at the hotel, drinks, nice view off balcony. You can book taxi service and scooter rental at front desk, they’ll arrange person to come. "

"Amazing resort. Such friendly staff, beautiful pool and great food/drinks. The resort is on a steep hill, so walking to the beach definitely takes longer than 3 minutes. But the hotel offers free shuttles or help with renting a scooter. They're also extremely helpful on whatsapp during your stay. The gym is very basic though, don't expect too much from it. "

"We have travelled extensively, and this is by far one of the nicest resorts we have ever been to. We had an ocean view room that was extremely spacious. The bathroom was huge. And the view was absolutely spectacular. The service at this resort is second to none. Though many of the staff speak very broken English, they try very hard to understand and accommodate your every need. We absolutely adored them. The breakfast was the best we had in Thailand just a massive selection and so fresh. One of our favourite activities was at the restaurant beds overlooking the ocean. Just enjoying a beer and Thai meal in the evening was perfection. The lounge chairs by the beach were quiet and peaceful. And the pool is stunning. Unfortunately, while we were there, there was an obnoxiously loud group of adults that basically took over the pool area, smoking and yelling at one another across the pool while we were there. It pretty much chased everyone out out of the pool area because they were so annoying. The staff would kindly ask them to stop smoking and they would just go and do it anyway. Not a big deal though as everyone just found other beautiful spots to hang out. The bathrooms are open air. At least the one we were in was- expect a few bits of nature appearing on the floors - leaves and such. It was an easy trade-off though because the open air shower it was divine. Also, if you are a light sleeper, make sure you have your plugs. The birds are up early! Also, the gym was great. "

"Really accessible area in Haad Rin but just off the main area. Large bungalows with super comfy beds and AC. The bathrooms are slightly dated with my shower head occasionally slipping off but overall was still good. Service was great. "

"I had a great stay at this Hotel, Location was ideal, Lovely staff, very friendly and polite. Would highly recommend. "

"We loved our short stay at Buri Rasa. Such a special place in Koh Phangan. We visited and stayed all over the island and this resort is by far the classiest. Having said that, this is ‘sanitised’ Koh Phangan (only ONE cannabis shop we spied in the village, as opposed to the customary ‘every other shop’ experience!) and we absolutely loved our very different, more authentic stay just before at Secret Beach Bungalows. But Buri Rasa is delightful on lots of levels (staff, stylish rooms, nice breakfast, great happy hour with fabulous cocktail waiters)…and a great choice for families with children. We came with our 16 year old and were glad to escape the cannabis shops for a few days! Fabulous resort "

" Hansar Resort: The Crown Jewel of Koh Samui We left Hansar regretfully early, only to check into a competing resort that cost nearly double and delivered half the value. From start to finish, Hansar exceeded expectations. The staff are a highlight—always cheerful, endlessly accommodating, and genuinely warm. Every interaction is met with a smile, and you truly feel like a welcomed guest rather than just a booking. The breakfast spread is phenomenal, covering flavors from three continents, and the bar is an absolute gem. It's so lively and inviting that even non-guests find themselves wandering in for a drink and a laugh. The rooms? Spacious and serene. Picture this: you're soaking in a massive bathtub, gazing out through floor-to-ceiling windows as sailboats and catamarans drift by—all from the comfort of your bedroom. It’s the kind of place that makes you question why you’d ever leave."