The Palace Aonang Resort (SHA Plus+)

The reception ladies were the highlight, so friendly and helpful. We had a good stay for the price and for what we wanted to do: take trips, eat out, have a few drinks, and relax. The location makes everything walkable, and the pool and bar were clean and enjoyable. Our front room could get busy, so we used the supplied earplugs one night. The superior room had been updated in places, but the bathroom and some furniture still felt dated. Beds were comfy and the room was clean. I wouldn’t call it superior, but if the price is right I’d recommend it.

The setting and scenery are lovely, and the pool and small restaurant give the place a great vibe. The owner was humble and good. But during my stay last New Year's Eve, the water was off for repairs, and nobody mentioned it when taking the reservation. That made basic toilet and water use really difficult. The furniture was also a bit old. It was a bittersweet stay, but the room and amenities, especially the water problem, made it a horrible experience overall. I wouldn't stay again unless I first confirmed the water was working.

The pool was out of service and didn't look inviting. We stayed two nights at the Palace Aonang Resort, which worked well as a short-stay base: the beach, shops, and restaurants are a short walk away. Our fourth-floor room facing the main street was clean, functional, and had what we needed. There’s no lift, so getting upstairs may be difficult for anyone with mobility issues. Decent value and convenient for seeing Aonang.

I wouldn’t return to The Palace Ao Nang. I stayed six nights in late October 2025 after seeing the “recently renovated” claim and overlooking the 10% of bad reviews. The next day I moved to another hotel on a nicer island for the same rate, and the difference in standards was obvious. I’d written this off as budget-hotel reality, but that comparison made the gap stark. The room was dirty and unlike the photos. There was grime in the corners and along the baseboards, a stained toilet, visible bathroom mold, and stains on the bed. Bugs were on the bed the first night, and insects and spiders kept appearing around the room all week. I got no apology or useful fix until I specifically asked for fresh sheets. The shower was so dirty I wore shower shoes; the water was cold, not even lukewarm, and the pressure sputtered. The soap and shower gel were empty when I arrived and only refilled on the last day after I reminded them. After housekeeping, I found my toothbrush face down on grimy sink grout. The bidet sprayer was rusty. Other basics were poor too. The in-room safe didn’t work, and dirty standing water in the mini-fridge meant I couldn’t store food in it. My supposed mountain view was an active construction site, never mentioned at booking, with daytime construction noise. Thin walls also let hallway and door sounds carry. Desk coverage was inconsistent. It was often unstaffed at night, and one night the attendant was asleep there. The listings suggest 24-hour reception, but that wasn’t my experience, so plan arrivals accordingly. Language differences weren’t the issue. What bothered me was the smiling but unhelpful response and the failure to fix basic problems. When I reported bugs in the bed, I was essentially told they’d make the bed, and that was all. The pricing and checkout also felt hostile. When I asked to extend, they quoted more than Agoda and said there was a discount, but it never appeared. The same higher rate was quoted for each of the next five days. On checkout day they knocked exactly at checkout time, despite the hotel looking empty, then charged ฿400 for a two-hour late checkout. It felt like a pattern of squeezing guests, with no appreciation for a six-night stay. The place felt dirty, poorly maintained, and indifferent. If you’re considering it, inspect the room before paying, test the safe, check the fridge and soap dispensers, run the shower for heat and pressure, and confirm the view from the window. Photograph everything at check-in. I should have booked elsewhere.