Khanom Golden Beach Hotel

We meant to stay a week, extended by another week, then extended again. In the end, we were here for three weeks as a couple, which probably says plenty. The hotel is literally on the beach, and the stretch of sand is huge and mostly empty. Even in high season it didn't feel crowded, though there were a few more people on weekends. We could walk for ages, swim, play in the waves, or just sit and watch them. Breakfast had lots of variety and pretty much everything you'd expect, plus more. There's a nice pool and a proper gym downstairs, the kind that feels like a real gym people would pay to join. Nearby there's a bar and restaurant, and a little farther along, another nice restaurant, some convenience stores, and a coffee shop. By scooter, the town crossroads is about five minutes away, with restaurants, two 7-Elevens, a Lotus’s store, a pharmacy, and more. It feels peaceful without being isolated. The hotel is a little old, but clearly well cared for and remarkably clean. I didn't see a single insect in our room during the whole three weeks. Staff look after the place well. There's room service, 24 hour reception, and attentive service. The room had a hairdryer, fridge, kettle, daily water, coffee sticks, toiletries, a small desk area for working or reading, and a little lounge corner. The sea view balcony was fantastic, close enough to hear the waves all the time. The beds were comfortable, there were plenty of towels, and everything worked. For what you get, the price is very good and hard to beat. A couple of drawbacks: the air conditioning is really old and very noisy, even though it still works. At night, you have to choose between running it or listening to the waves. I got used to it and could sleep, but it might bother some people. There's also no proper drinking water refill option. You get a couple of small bottles a day, which won't last if you drink a lot. You could refill during breakfast, but it's awkward and far from the rooms, and that option goes away when breakfast ends. A refill station would be great. We stayed for three weeks for the location, beach, facilities, and price. That probably says it all.