Your stay — Bannarin Resort
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The Property — Bannarin Resort
Bannarin Resort is a functional three-star property on Surat Thani's bypass road, offering clean, tiled rooms and a modest pool for travellers who just need a bed before heading to the islands. The lobby feels like a highway motel: air-con hum, laminate floors, a front desk with key tags and tour leaflets. It suits budget-conscious backpackers, families stopping overnight, or anyone catching the morning ferry from Don Sak pier. There is zero frills, but the beds are firm and the Wi-Fi works.
Chronicles of Surat Thani
Surat Thani was originally the small fishing village of Ban Don, but grew rapidly when the Southern Railway reached it in 1916, making it the rail gateway to the Gulf islands. The city was formally renamed Surat Thani ('City of Good People') in 1915 by King Vajiravudh, reflecting its role as an administrative centre. The historic centre clusters around Tapi River and features a mix of Sino-Portuguese shophouses, chedi-topped temples and brutalist Thai government buildings from the 1960s. Today, its identity is pragmatic: a transport hub servicing Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao, with a provincial Chinese-Thai food scene that rarely features in guidebooks.
Best Time to Visit
Full Surat Thani guide →Best months
January, February and March deliver dry, sunny days and lower humidity, with daytime highs around 32°C and minimal rain. Crowds are moderate because most tourists head straight for the islands.
Peak / festival surge
The peak runs from mid-December to mid-January and again during the Songkran water festival in mid-April. Hotel prices can double; rooms in three-star properties often sell out a month ahead. The Loy Krathong festival in November also brings a short surge.
Budget shoulder season
May, June and November are the best budget windows. May starts the wet season but showers are short and heavy, while November is the tail end of the monsoon — both offer 20-30% discounts and far fewer people.
Weather & packing
Surat Thani has a tropical monsoon climate with no true dry season — even in 'dry' months a sudden 20-minute cloudburst is common. Pack a lightweight rain jacket or umbrella that can go in a daypack at all times, plus sandals that dry fast.
Live City Briefing — Surat Thani
- The new double-decker express train service from Bangkok to Surat Thani started in late 2025, cutting journey time to about 10 hours; book a sleeper seat for overnight travel.
- The Tapi River night market expanded to a second lane in early 2026, adding more seafood stalls and a dedicated vegetarian section.
- Heavy monsoon rain in June 2026 caused localised flooding on the bypass road near Bannarin; check road conditions via the provincial Facebook page before driving.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Bannarin Resort, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the pool (south side). These are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough that you can use the stairs easily if the lift is busy. The pool-facing rooms also get more natural light.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor — they often sit directly above the lobby and restaurant, so you’ll hear chairs scraping at breakfast and late-night comings and goings. Also skip rooms facing the main road (north side) as Surat Thani has constant motorbike and truck traffic from early morning.
Best views
South-facing rooms have a pool-and-courtyard view (green and calm). The north side looks onto a busy road and a row of shophouses — not much to see.
Quietest floors
3rd and 4th floors are the quietest. The 2nd floor can suffer from noise bleed from the lobby and restaurant below.
🔊 Noise notes
Surat Thani is a provincial transport hub, so trucks and songthaews (shared taxis) run past the hotel from 5am. The hotel’s own restaurant opens at 6am, so you’ll hear clatter from the kitchen on lower floors. The lift is a single slow car, so doors clunk shut audibly in adjacent rooms.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a pool-facing room when you book — the hotel often upgrades if you mention it’s for a good night’s sleep. 2. Check-in can be slow around 2pm when groups arrive; aim for 1pm or after 4pm for a quicker desk experience.
- 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 — Bannarin Resort
Free Wi-Fi throughout hotel – single SSID, no login password needed, approx. 15 Mbps download, reliable for browsing and email.
No lift; all guest rooms are on ground and first floors accessible only by stairs.
No newspaper service or digital newsstand.
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop check allowed from 10:00 if room ready; late checkout until 13:00 charged THB 500, after 14:00 charged one extra night.
Free storage at reception for same-day arrivals/departures; overnight storage THB 200 per bag.
Step-free access to ground-floor rooms and lobby; main entrance has a ramp. No grab bars in bathrooms, doorways are standard width (80 cm).
Free on-site open-air parking for cars and motorbikes, no valet. Nearest public car park is at CentralPlaza Surat Thani (3 km, 120 THB per 12 hours). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full first-night room charge billed as advance deposit at booking; a refundable THB 1,000 incidental hold on a credit card at check-in.
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 367 m · ~5 min walk
TESCO Lotus express — 378 m · ~5 min walk
? — 147 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Thai Baht, THB
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid exchange counters at Surat Thani airport and tourist bureaux which charge high fees.
Cards accepted at mid-range hotels, big supermarkets and chain restaurants; cash is king at markets, street stalls and local eateries.
Tipping not expected; leave small change (10-20 THB) for good service at restaurants, round up taxi fares, no tip needed for hotel staff.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local iced coffee or instant coffee from a street vendor or 7‑Eleven, around 15–25 THB.
Rice or noodle dish from a food court or local shop, 40–60 THB.
Simple stir-fry or soup with rice at a neighbourhood restaurant or food stall, 50–80 THB for a main.
Night markets near the bus station and along Talat Mai Road offer grilled meats, som tam and noodle bowls from 30–60 THB.
Big C and Lotus's are the main budget supermarkets; also Makro for bulk basics.
Talat Mai market and the area around the city pillar shrine sell cheap T‑shirts, sarongs and casual wear; expect haggling.
Songthaew (shared pickup truck) routes around town cost 10–20 THB per ride; from the airport, a minivan to town is about 100 THB or bus 80 THB.
Eat at local food courts and markets instead of tourist restaurants; use songthaews and local buses rather than taxis; buy fruit and snacks from fresh markets rather than convenience stores.
Good to know — Surat Thani
Type A/B/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ฿33.65 · THB
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Surat Thani, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Bannarin Resort
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 367 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Samui Airport (USM) → Hansar Samui Resort & Spa
💡 Use the official airport taxi counter just outside arrivals to avoid haggling. The resort is only 8km away, so it’s quick.
Chaweng Main Road → Hansar Samui Resort & Spa
💡 Flag one down on the main road near the resort. Drivers charge fixed rates on Samui—confirm 40 baht per person before hopping in, not per bag.
N/A → N/A
💡 Samui has no rail or tram. For beach hopping, rent a scooter (250-300 THB/day) instead—Hansar can arrange one. Wear a helmet.
N/A → N/A
💡 A private car transfer from the resort to Chaweng’s nightlife costs about 200 THB with a local taxi. Book through Hansar’s front desk—they use fixed rates, no surge.
About Surat Thani
Wikipedia ↗
Surat Thani (Thai: สุราษฎร์ธานี, pronounced [sù.râːt tʰāː.nīː]) is a city in Amphoe Mueang Surat Thani, Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand. It lies 651 km (405 mi) south of Bangkok. It is the capital of Surat Thani Province. The city has a population of 132,040 (2019), and an area of 68.97 km2 ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Bannarin Resort?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing the pool (south side). These are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough that you can use the stairs easily if the lift is busy. The pool-facing rooms also get more natural light.
Which rooms should I avoid at Bannarin Resort?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor — they often sit directly above the lobby and restaurant, so you’ll hear chairs scraping at breakfast and late-night comings and goings. Also skip rooms facing the main road (north side) as Surat Thani has constant motorbike and truck traffic from early morning.
Is Bannarin Resort noisy?
Surat Thani is a provincial transport hub, so trucks and songthaews (shared taxis) run past the hotel from 5am. The hotel’s own restaurant opens at 6am, so you’ll hear clatter from the kitchen on lower floors. The lift is a single slow car, so doors clunk shut audibly in adjacent rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at Bannarin Resort?
South-facing rooms have a pool-and-courtyard view (green and calm). The north side looks onto a busy road and a row of shophouses — not much to see.
What are insider tips for staying at Bannarin Resort?
1. Ask for a pool-facing room when you book — the hotel often upgrades if you mention it’s for a good night’s sleep. 2. Check-in can be slow around 2pm when groups arrive; aim for 1pm or after 4pm for a quicker desk experience.
What time is check-in at Bannarin Resort?
Check-in at Bannarin Resort is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Bannarin Resort have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout hotel – single SSID, no login password needed, approx. 15 Mbps download, reliable for browsing and email.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Bannarin Resort?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Bannarin Resort?
Rice or noodle dish from a food court or local shop, 40–60 THB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Bannarin Resort?
Songthaew (shared pickup truck) routes around town cost 10–20 THB per ride; from the airport, a minivan to town is about 100 THB or bus 80 THB.
When is the best time to visit Surat Thani?
January, February and March deliver dry, sunny days and lower humidity, with daytime highs around 32°C and minimal rain. Crowds are moderate because most tourists head straight for the islands.
Top Attractions in Surat Thani
💡 Buy a bag of fresh rambutan or mangosteen for pocket change. Watch your step – floors get slippery from melted ice. Best visited before 10am.
💡 Go at sunset: the light over the river is lovely, and food stalls set up along the path selling grilled meats and sticky rice for under 40 baht.
💡 Try the grilled squid and the coconut pancakes (kanom krok) from the far end – cheap and delicious. Cash only, bring small notes.
💡 Visit early morning before the heat builds and you'll often have the place to yourself. Bring a small donation of incense if you want to make a wish.
💡 The museum is free but closes at 16:00 – get there earlier. The stupa's base has small meditation niches where you can sit in silence.