Bangsaen Royal Beach by Preyaluk

The Agoda booking cost about 1,093 baht without breakfast, which felt expensive. I think 500-600 baht would be more reasonable. The building feels like a condo over 30 years old, with both permanent residents and daily rentals. No one helps with luggage, and they require a 100 baht deposit for a basic key that could easily be copied, which made security questionable. The parking area is dirty, hallway tiles are damaged, and unused items are piled up. My room smelled of cigarettes, the floor felt dusty, the ceiling was low, and there were lots of mosquitoes. I could hear noises and banging even after 10 p.m. Supplies were limited to two bottles of water, two bars of soap, and one roll of toilet paper that had water damage. There was no hairdryer or tea and coffee. The 32-inch TV was broken, its remote unusable, and the antenna was hung on a picture frame. The wardrobe smelled so musty I had to hold my breath when opening it. The two-seater sofa wasn’t a sofa bed, had torn fabric, and a sagging cushion. The electrical supply seemed inadequate because the lights flickered when the water heater was on. At first I thought it was haunted. Water pressure was low, and the bath mat was old and dirty.

The room I had was nice, with beautiful ocean views. The building needs a lot of repairs, and the pool didn’t look inviting for a swim.

We rented rooms listed as “I Sea View Bangsaen Royal Beach,” which worked well for a family of three or four, though the listing was a bit confusing on Google Maps. Beds were decent, internet was fast, and entry was keyless, with instructions sent through the Naver LINE app, which is a necessity in Thailand. The place seems split between a hotel and Airbnb-style rooms listed under different names online. It has a shared lobby, a small minimart, and staffed parking. There are probably rooms facing different directions. Just next door is a Khao tom shop with an adjoining cafe serving decent coffee, and there’s a 7-11 a couple hundred meters down the street. Check-in is a strict 1 pm, as noted in the Agoda details. The beach starts a short walk down the coast, so there’s no sand directly in front. It’s a bit dated, but relaxed and cheap, with helpful staff. It also had the only family rooms in the area. The unspoiled view alone is worth recommending, and rivals views from some much pricier rooms in touristy places like Hua Hin. We’d definitely stay again, especially if traveling by car.

There are breakfast restaurants downstairs, a great drinks shop, and tasty seafood places across the boulevard. A 7/11 is along the street too. The big Bangsaen beach is to the left, and you can walk there or take a Grab, like Uber, to other parts of Bangsaen. Our room had a beautiful ocean view, and the hotel was lovely and clean. Staff were very nice and helpful. The clean swimming pool is on the second floor.