Runa Runa Guesthouse

We had a really enjoyable stay at this budget spot on Samet, and I was glad to meet more lovely Thai people at Runa Runa. There’s a terraced seating area where you can meet other travellers, plus free tea and coffee and very good WiFi. The rooms stay cool with strong fans or AC, and the staff are cheerful and do their best to make you comfortable.

It’s a genuine, friendly place within easy walking distance of everything, yet far enough from the traffic noise. Just rating my experience here, of course it isn’t a five-star hotel.

The location worked really well for us, about five minutes on foot from the ferry port, a few minutes from convenience shops and bars, and around 7-8 minutes from the beach. My partner and I stayed four nights and were very happy here. The room was small but snug and had what we needed: a double bed, fridge, TV, shower and toilet, and Aircon. The price was great too, and I’d gladly come back. Highly recommend it.

The location is excellent, and the WiFi worked fine, though it wasn’t especially fast. We found the room clean, with freshly painted walls, and the bathroom was okay: hot water and a working flush. The blankets had a few marks but were clean; they could use some bleach. The TV is old, though I’m not sure why you’d want to watch it anyway. There was some rubbish around the grounds and the bathroom door lock was broken, but those things didn’t really spoil our stay. The room is in the woods, so avoid eating inside or ants may show up. We did see a few mosquitoes, which makes sense with the front door opening onto the street, but repellent from the 7/11 took care of them. The walls are thin, so you can hear the neighbors, though ours were quiet and we tried to be considerate too. The street itself wasn’t loud. Overall, it was a good place, and your own mood is up to you.