Villa Baan Fine Times Mountain View

We had a whole house rather than just a room, with a carport, BBQ grill, nice furniture, a huge smart TV, full kitchen, comfortable bed, and sofa. Housekeeping didn't come for a week, so it got dirty and garbage piled up. You'll want a vehicle, though a seven-minute walk gets you to Lotus, 7, and Thai and international restaurants. The beach is about a ten-minute walk and is beautiful and clean. It's a great spot if you want peace and privacy with everything nearby, and don't mind walking or driving.

The grounds are very large, with lots of different bungalow types and everything you need inside. Prices are reasonable in low season, and rainy season is the best time to visit. In hot season, you'd want to rent a motorbike because daytime walks are too hot. At night there are lots of dogs around the trashy local houses. It's better to buy tickets with pickup service from the island to the hotel. The tuk-tuk drivers are too greedy now, charging prices I've never seen in Thailand. Even transport on Samui is cheaper and more honest.

The location is handy for getting to any part of the island. Without a bike, Chai Chet beach is five minutes away, and there are several fairly cheap cafes nearby as well as 7/11. Our villa was spacious and clean, with a good kitchen that was especially nice to have with children. The staff were helpful and nice, and helped sort out problems.

The owner was genuinely helpful and friendly, and renting a new motorcycle through him cost less than at other rental places. The bungalows are clean and roomy, with useful extras including a fridge, microwave, toaster, plenty of dishes, and lots of places to charge devices. The air conditioning works very well, and the shower was no problem either. There are chairs on the terrace by the entrance. It’s an affordable spot in the middle of the island, so you can get to either end in about 20 minutes. I’d recommend it for the clean rooms, quiet central location, helpful staff, and all those little extras.