Your stay — Green Banana
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The Property — Green Banana
The Green Banana is a no-frills 3-star just off Ranong’s main drag, all pale-green paint and a small garden courtyard. It feels more like a clean, quiet boarding house than a hotel — think bare tiled floors, efficient fan-cooled rooms, and a handful of potted plants. Its USP is proximity: a 10-minute walk to the hot springs and the morning market. Suits budget-conscious travellers who want a safe, central base and don’t need a pool or restaurant.
Chronicles of Ranong
Ranong started as a tin-mining and trading port in the 19th century, largely shaped by Thai and Chinese merchants who built shop-houses along the Pak Nam River. The old town’s architecture still shows that Sino-Portuguese mix — faded shophouses with stucco motifs and wooden shutters. Unlike Phuket or Surat Thani, it never grew into a mass tourist hub, staying a workaday provincial capital and a transit point for Myanmar crossings. Today its identity rests on natural hot springs, mangrove forests, and the quiet, rain-soaked pace of Southern Thailand.
Best Time to Visit
Full Ranong guide →Best months
December to February: dry, cooler days (28-30°C) and low rainfall, perfect for the hot springs and Koh Phayam ferry. March also works if you can handle the heat.
Peak / festival surge
July to October: monsoon peaks with daily heavy rain; hotel prices stay low because demand drops, not rises. No major festival inflates rates — Ranong sees only local Songkran (April) and Chinese New Year events, which barely affect prices.
Budget shoulder season
Best budget shoulder: March to April and November. March is hot but dry; November is wet but clearing up fast. Both see half the prices of high season and very few tourists.
Weather & packing
Ranong is one of Thailand’s wettest towns, with rain possible even in ‘dry’ months — the southwest monsoon hits hard from June to September. Pack a lightweight rain jacket and quick-dry sandals; an umbrella alone won’t cut it in the sudden torrents.
Live City Briefing — Ranong
- The new Ranong bus terminal on Phetkasem Road opened last year, replacing the old city-centre stop — taxis to/from the Green Banana now cost around 150 THB.
- Long-tail boat tours to the hot springs on the opposite side of the river have resumed after a 2023 safety suspension; check at the pier for daily departures.
- July is peak wet season: the Pak Nam River can rise quickly, and some road access to Koh Phayam ferries may reduce to one morning trip if weather worsens — book ferry tickets the day before.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Green Banana, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the back of the building. These are high enough to avoid street-level noise from the main road (Ranong runs along a busy route through town) and quieter than lower floors. The back side overlooks the inner courtyard, away from traffic.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors facing the street. Ground-floor rooms near the reception and breakfast area can pick up lobby noise and staff chatter from early morning. Street-facing rooms on these floors get direct road noise from motorbikes and trucks passing by.
Best views
The best view is from upper-floor street-facing rooms (3rd or 4th floor), where you can see the town rooftops and hills in the distance. But trade-off: more street noise. For a calm stay, choose a rear-facing room on 3rd/4th – you lose the view but gain quiet.
Quietest floors
3rd and 4th floors are the quietest, especially rooms at the rear or side of the building.
🔊 Noise notes
Ranong's main road handles local traffic plus long-distance trucks heading to the pier. Morning market noise starts around 6am. The hotel doesn't have double glazing, so street-facing rooms are audible. The lift is older and clunks – rooms next to it hear this.
Insider tips
If you arrive by car, park around the back – spaces fill early. Request a top-floor room at check-in even if you booked a lower floor; they sometimes upgrade if quiet. The breakfast room gets busy from 7:30am, so go before 7 or after 8:30 for a peaceful meal.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Green Banana
Free for all guests; speed adequate for browsing and email, not video streaming; login via room number and surname – no voucher code
One lift serves all three guest floors; no stairs-only sections
No physical newspapers; no digital newsstand
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop allowed from 08:00; late check-out until 12:00 costs 300 THB, after 12:00 charged half-day rate
Free of charge at front desk; must pick up by 20:00 on departure day
Step-free entrance from the car park ramp; the lift is wide enough for a standard wheelchair; no grab rails in bathrooms
Free on-site open parking for cars and motorcycles; no EV charging; nearest public car park is at Ranong Bus Terminal, 1.5 km away, 30 THB per night; no valet
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Non-refundable advance deposit of one night's room rate due at booking; at check-in a refundable incidentals hold of 500 THB is taken by card imprint or cash
5-Minute Radius Essentials
The Best Shop — 93 m · ~1 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Thai Baht, THB
Use bank or gold shop exchange booths in central Ranong; avoid the airport and tourist bureau rates which are poor.
Credit and debit cards accepted at hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets; small street stalls and taxis are cash-only.
Tipping is not expected in local eateries or taxis—rounding up the fare or leaving small change is appreciated but not required. Hotel staff may get 20-50 THB if help is provided.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local kopi from street stalls or 7-Eleven at 25-40 THB.
Single-dish rice or noodle soup from a local shop at 50-80 THB.
Stir-fry or grilled meat with rice at a modest restaurant for 80-120 THB.
Evening market on Ruangrat Road and along the waterfront—grilled meats, som tam, and noodle dishes.
Big C and Tesco Lotus (now 7-Eleven Mini Big C) are common budget supermarkets.
Ranong's morning market (Talad Chao) and the small textile stalls near the bus station for inexpensive basics.
Songthaew shared pickups (10-20 THB per ride within town); from Ranong Airport a shared minibus to town is about 60-80 THB per person.
Eat at markets for the cheapest meals; always carry cash as ATMs charge fees; negotiate for long-tail boat trips but not for food or market goods.
Good to know — Ranong
Type A/B/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ฿33.62 · THB
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Ranong, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Green Banana
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Ranong Airport → Koh Payam Resort (Pier area)
💡 Shared minivans run from airport arrivals to the main pier (Tha Chalom). Tell the driver 'Tha Chalom Pier'. Buy your ferry ticket first at the pier counter; the resort is a 10-minute walk from the pier.
Tha Chalom Pier → Koh Payam Pier (near resort)
💡 The resort is a 5-minute walk from Koh Payam Pier. Catch the morning ferry to avoid afternoon chop. Bring motion sickness tablets if you're prone — the crossing is open sea.
Ranong Town Bus Terminal → Tha Chalom Pier
💡 Flag down a blue songthaew on Ruangrat Road. They go to the pier when full; wait time varies. Ask locals for the right truck — some run to other piers. Exact change helps.
Ranong Airport → Koh Payam Resort (Pier area)
💡 Book a Grab or local taxi via your hotel. Drivers often overcharge outside the airport; confirm the fare before getting in. Avoid unmetered taxis at the rank.
About Ranong
Wikipedia ↗Ranong (Thai: ระนอง) is a town (thesaban mueang) in southern Thailand, capital of the Ranong Province and the Mueang Ranong District. The town covers completely the area of the tambon Khao Niwet (เขานิเวศน์). As of 2024, it had a population of 16,909. Ranong lies 586 kilometres (364 mi) south-southw...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Green Banana?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the back of the building. These are high enough to avoid street-level noise from the main road (Ranong runs along a busy route through town) and quieter than lower floors. The back side overlooks the inner courtyard, away from traffic.
Which rooms should I avoid at Green Banana?
Avoid rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors facing the street. Ground-floor rooms near the reception and breakfast area can pick up lobby noise and staff chatter from early morning. Street-facing rooms on these floors get direct road noise from motorbikes and trucks passing by.
Is Green Banana noisy?
Ranong's main road handles local traffic plus long-distance trucks heading to the pier. Morning market noise starts around 6am. The hotel doesn't have double glazing, so street-facing rooms are audible. The lift is older and clunks – rooms next to it hear this.
Which rooms have the best views at Green Banana?
The best view is from upper-floor street-facing rooms (3rd or 4th floor), where you can see the town rooftops and hills in the distance. But trade-off: more street noise. For a calm stay, choose a rear-facing room on 3rd/4th – you lose the view but gain quiet.
What are insider tips for staying at Green Banana?
If you arrive by car, park around the back – spaces fill early. Request a top-floor room at check-in even if you booked a lower floor; they sometimes upgrade if quiet. The breakfast room gets busy from 7:30am, so go before 7 or after 8:30 for a peaceful meal.
What time is check-in at Green Banana?
Check-in at Green Banana is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Green Banana have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; speed adequate for browsing and email, not video streaming; login via room number and surname – no voucher code
Is there a city or tourist tax at Green Banana?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Green Banana?
Single-dish rice or noodle soup from a local shop at 50-80 THB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Green Banana?
Songthaew shared pickups (10-20 THB per ride within town); from Ranong Airport a shared minibus to town is about 60-80 THB per person.
When is the best time to visit Ranong?
December to February: dry, cooler days (28-30°C) and low rainfall, perfect for the hot springs and Koh Phayam ferry. March also works if you can handle the heat.
Top Attractions in Ranong
💡 Try the fresh roti from the stall at the south entrance. Come before 9am for the best selection.
💡 Check the opening hours before visiting—they sometimes close for maintenance. The English labels are brief but adequate.
💡 Go early (before 7am) for the clearest water and fewer people. Bring a towel and flip-flops; the concrete edges get slippery.
💡 Bring a good torch or headlamp—the cave is unlit. Wear shoes that can get wet if it's been raining. Entrance is free but donations welcome at the temple.
💡 Bring water and sun protection. The nearest shop is 2km back on the main road. Best visited at low tide when the sand is firmer.