Tropical Suite A602 at Viva Patong Condo

The pool sits right by the lounge and bedroom, which made for a great layout, and the place itself was lovely for the price. We got a two-bedroom apartment for what a hotel room would cost. I was a bit concerned after reading the bad reviews, but our stay went really well, and the German couple across from us seemed to be enjoying themselves too. The only real snag was no WiFi. We tried reaching the owner and got pretty much ignored, though it wasn't a big deal for us because we had a data SIM. I'd recommend it, just bring your own internet.

A nice condo near Freedom Beach, though getting there really calls for a car or scooter.

We were in A101, in a building where each apartment is set up differently. The direct pool access from our ground-floor unit was a nice perk, and the building WiFi worked reliably. Laundry was affordable too. There were some basic problems, though. Water pressure was low, the door handles were coming apart, and the kitchen had barely any plates or cutlery. The beds were very uncomfortable, with hard, cheap mattresses and poor pillows. Getting around was also difficult without our own car or motorbike. We paid 12,000 baht a night, which felt far too expensive for what we got. The owner should put some money into improving the property. We can't recommend it and won't be back.

SARA, the owner, was really kind and helpful. Everything was as described, and this was the best stay I've ever had.