Your stay — Ban Fa Sai
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The Property — Ban Fa Sai
Ban Fa Sai is a modest 3-star hotel on the outskirts of Trat, offering clean, minimalist rooms with a small pool and a quiet garden. It feels more like a well-run guesthouse than a hotel: the lobby is uncluttered, with a wooden check-in counter and a few potted plants, and the staff are efficient but not intrusive. It suits budget-conscious travellers stopping over before heading to the islands, or those who prefer a calm base near the main road rather than the town centre. The trade-off is that you'll need a taxi or motorbike to reach Trat's night market and bus station.
Chronicles of Trat
Trat began as a fishing village and trading post under the Ayutthaya kingdom, and was briefly held by the French during the 1904 Franco-Siamese border crisis. Its architecture reflects this mixed history: shophouses with Chinese-style roofs line the streets near the river, alongside tin-roofed wooden houses on stilts. After the Vietnam War, Trat became a transit hub for refugees and later for backpackers heading to Ko Chang. Today the city remains a functional crossroads — its identity lies in the rubber plantations, fruit orchards and the daily ferry traffic that keeps the town ticking.
Best Time to Visit
Full Trat guide →Best months
December and January are ideal: dry, sunny days with temperatures around 28°C and low humidity. February also works well, just before the heat picks up in March.
Peak / festival surge
Peak season runs from mid-December to February, driven by European winter holidays and the cool dry weather. Hotel prices can double, and Ban Fa Sai often sells out by late November. No major local festivals drive this — it's purely weather and island-hopping demand.
Budget shoulder season
March and November offer discounted rates (20–30% less than peak), still decent weather, and far fewer tourists. Rain is possible in November but usually brief.
Weather & packing
Trat has a genuinely wet monsoon from June to October — expect heavy showers most afternoons even on 'dry' days. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket and a travel umbrella; leave denim at home as it takes ages to dry.
Live City Briefing — Trat
- The new Trat bypass road (Route 3156) opened in late 2025, cutting travel time from the bus station to Ban Fa Sai to about 10 minutes — but it's not yet on Google Maps, so ask for directions at the hotel.
- Ko Mak's main pier has been upgraded with a larger waiting area and better toilets, making island ferry connections smoother since March 2026.
- A new night market on Sukhumvit Road (near the clock tower) opened in April 2026, specialising in local seafood and fresh durian — it's cheaper than the old walking street market.
Hotel Facilities — Ban Fa Sai
Free WiFi throughout; typical speed 15 Mbps down/5 Mbps up; no login required (open network)
No lift. Two-storey building with stairs only; ground-floor rooms accessible without steps.
No newspapers. No digital newsstand. Property has a small garden and a pond with ducks; notice the traditional Thai wooden carvings in the lobby.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop (free, but room subject to availability); late check-out until 12:00 (500 THB surcharge, subject to availability)
Free at reception; unsecured rack near lobby
No step-free entrance; a single step at main door. No wheelchair-accessible rooms. Ground-floor rooms are available on request.
Free on-site parking for 15 cars, first-come first-served. Nearest public car park is Wat Thongkhong parking (pay 20 THB/hour, 100 THB/night; 5 mins walk). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; a 1,000 THB cash or card hold for incidentals at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: Wat Chao Po Ko Chang (205 m · ~3 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: Wat Khlong Son (969 m · ~12 min walk)
- Church: โบสถ์ของเซนต์ Sergius ของ Radonezh (1.5 km · ~19 min walk)
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
7-Eleven — 588 m · ~7 min walk
Tha Sapparot Pier — 822 m · ~10 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Thai Baht, THB
Use SuperRich or other exchange kiosks in Trat town for best rates; avoid exchange desks at Trat Airport or in hotels — they give poor rates.
Cards accepted at mid-range hotels, larger shops and some restaurants; many street vendors, markets and smaller places are cash-only. Contactless is growing but unreliable outside chains.
Not expected; round up taxi fares or leave small change (10-20 baht) for good service in restaurants. No need to tip hotel staff.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant or filtered coffee from a roadside stall or 7-Eleven — around 15-25 baht.
Rice or noodle dish from a local food stall or simple shop — 40-60 baht.
Fried rice, pad thai or som tam from a street stall or basic restaurant — 50-80 baht for a main.
Trat town's night market along the riverfront and around the main market (Talad Trat) are the best cheap-eats areas, especially early evening.
Big C and Macro are the main budget supermarkets in Trat town. 7-Eleven and Lotus's Express are everywhere for basics.
Trat's morning market (Talad Trat) and the night market sell cheap casual clothes, but the range is limited. For more choice, head to the weekend market near the clock tower.
Songthaews (shared pickup trucks) are the cheapest way around Trat town and to nearby beaches — up to 50 baht per ride. From Trat Airport, the shared minivan into town is about 150 baht.
Eat at local stalls rather than tourist-facing restaurants. Buy water and snacks at 7-Eleven, not hotel minibars. Book ferries to Koh Chang direct from Trat bus station/port rather than through a tour agency.
Good to know — Trat
Type A/B/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ฿33.41 · THB
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Trat, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Ban Fa Sai
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Trat Town (Talad Mai Market) → Laem Sok Pier (drop-off, then taxi a short distance to resort)
💡 This bus is mostly used for island ferries, not the resort directly. Get off at the pier junction and take a motorbike taxi (20 baht) for the final 2 km. Ask locals to point 'Siam Beach' – it's a well-known bungalow strip.
Trat Airport → Trat Bus Station, then songthaew to Siam Beach Resort
💡 From the bus station, flag a white songthaew heading towards Klong Kloi – tell the driver 'Siam Beach'. Share the fare group-style; don't pay more than 40 baht per person.
Trat Town (Centre) → Siam Beach Resort
💡 Negotiate hard: 500–600 baht is fair. If you’re coming from the ferry pier (e.g. Koh Chang), try the shared minivan to the resort instead – about 250 baht per person.
Trat Airport (TDX) → Siam Beach Resort (Klong Kloi Beach)
💡 Book through the airport kiosk for flat rates. Avoid touts outside; meters are not used on this route. Shared vans cost half but wait for 6–8 passengers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is check-in at Ban Fa Sai?
Check-in at Ban Fa Sai is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Ban Fa Sai have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout; typical speed 15 Mbps down/5 Mbps up; no login required (open network)
Is there a city or tourist tax at Ban Fa Sai?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Ban Fa Sai?
Rice or noodle dish from a local food stall or simple shop — 40-60 baht.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Ban Fa Sai?
Songthaews (shared pickup trucks) are the cheapest way around Trat town and to nearby beaches — up to 50 baht per ride. From Trat Airport, the shared minivan into town is about 150 baht.
When is the best time to visit Trat?
December and January are ideal: dry, sunny days with temperatures around 28°C and low humidity. February also works well, just before the heat picks up in March.
Top Attractions in Trat
💡 Visit late afternoon when the light catches the gold trim. No entry fee, but polite to leave a small donation (20-40 baht) for incense.
💡 Bring insect repellent after dusk – mosquitoes are active. Stop at the floating noodle boat (50 baht) near the end of the promenade.
💡 Go before 7am for the best dried squid and durian chips. Bring small change – stallholders rarely accept cards.
💡 Ring the bell once for luck – locals say it brings safe travel. Temple dogs are friendly but ignore them if they bark.
💡 Call ahead to check if the English labels are in place – they rotate exhibits. The garden has a free map of local waterfalls.