Phayam Friends

The beach location is fantastic for the price, and it's still quiet at night. We stayed more than a week in one of the big tents and loved the stay, the beach, the staff, and the owner. Nicki is a warmhearted, patient, well organized host, and the staff are sweet and attentive cooks. There's a no smoking policy, which I appreciated because there's a lot of smoking elsewhere, including cannabis. WiFi works well in the restaurant, though tents 3 and 4 currently have no WiFi. Bring enough cash to the island. The two ATMs, both at the pier, are unreliable. Another option is to use WISE to pay at Friends at the end. The nearest supermarket is a 10-15 minute walk, and plenty of other restaurants are close. A scooter is the best way to get around. Enjoy Koh Phayam, and remember to wear clothes when you're away from the beach to show respect to locals. The place is Thai/German owned.

My bungalow was in good shape and quiet, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Food was fresh and delicious, and the central spot on Long Beach is very convenient. That said, the resort could be better maintained, and I thought it was a bit expensive for what you get. There wasn't a hammock to relax in either. I was also unhappy that my passport was uploaded to Facebook to be forwarded. That's unacceptable and, as I understand it, not allowed under Thai data protection law.

We had a great four-person bungalow, right on the beach, with a lovely view of the water. It was so peaceful to hear the waves at night. The owner was very helpful. They make good coffee and food, which you can have brought to your bungalow or eat at the small restaurant overlooking the water.

We were craving pizza, but what we got at Friends was bland and tasteless, and it didn't feel like pizza at all. The crust was like a tortilla and some ingredients were missing. We paid a huge amount for a really disappointing meal, so it wasn't a good experience.