Mai Pen Rai Bungalows
Than Sadet Beach, Ko Pha-Ngan 84280 Thailand
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About
#33 of 554 Specialty lodging in Ko Pha-Ngan
Location
4.4
Cleanliness
3.8
Service
4.0
Value
4.4
Welcome to Mai Pen Rai Bungalows, one of the oldest resorts on Koh Phangan - the place of pleasure for nature lovers and Artists. For an experience of the old Koh Phangan, this is the place to come away and forget all the stresses of the outside world. Mai Pen Rai is situated in a paradise infringed with swaying palms, and green turquoise waters. Here at Than Sadet the bungalows are built in harmony with the nature around with prices to suit travellers and back packers.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Restaurant
Beach
Laundry service
Room features
Private balcony
Room types
Ocean view
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Hidden Gem
Great View
Languages Spoken
English, Thai
Location
Than Sadet Beach, Ko Pha-Ngan 84280 Thailand
Name/address in local language
Getting there
Rental CarsSee rental cars from $30/day
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People were saying, it is worth a day trip to the beach. So rode my motorbike to the national park, expecting a place in paradise. The frustration was high. Entering the park, driving to the beach you see left and right tons of trash in the middle of the nature; plastics, old boats, anything you can imagine. From my point of you a catastrophe for the nature. The restaurant itself was ok, the food eatable but not outstanding. The restrooms were shocking - dirty - can’t find the right wording for that. Don’t visit the place.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
If you want to be a castaway and escape the rat race this could be the place for you, but it’s basic as that’s part of its appeal. We had a beach bungalow and got up to see the dawn at 5,30 it was beautiful. The location is amazing and if you are searching for THE beach this is probably it. You are close to nature so you may have a lizard visit but there are mosquito nets around the beds. There is a little bar and restaurant and in the evening you get the place to your self when all the day trippers leave. The staff lit a fire pit in the evening so you can kick back under the stars. We did love it but it is basic so it’s not for everyone.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Well, you have some options here: go to Than Sadet on day trip, and sleep elsewhere. It’s pretty, but can also be rough and windy at times. The Mai Pen Rai Bungalows on the rocks are truely spectacular, but worn and need refurbishing. They got the basics you need though. Some of Plaa’s bungalows seemed better off. The bar at the beach is overpriced and you get tired of reggae. The two other retaurants have better food. Don’t forget to buy the homemade banana chips at the Silver Cliff Restaurant! And do some hiking. Go see the waterfalls or hike to Thang Noi Pan and visit the cool Hide on High bar for a great view of the coast and sea on the way.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
We spent 6 days in a hut high above the small beach - a wonderful spot, right in nature, with a river and waterfall nearby. Lovely family run place, restaurant right on the beach, quiet, individualistic, to be remembered well. A pet pig is a beloved member of the house! Simple life though, you need to like it.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from ThanSadet, Owner at Mai Pen Rai Bungalows
Responded Feb 23, 2020
Thank you for your comments on Mai Pen Rai. I hope we can welcome you back another time.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Back after 11 years and things have changed a lot. I can't agree with another recent review that little has changed. At a glance, yes, but after a week.... Than Sadet is now a protected area apparently, so you'll be relieved of 100 baht each on the way in. No big deal. What is a big deal is the road. You can get to Mai Pen Rai all the way by modern road now. No more 45mins off road in a 4x4 taxi. This means it is no longer a mostly cut-off sanctuary. You get day trippers, LOTS of them. The beach is no longer tranquil. Full of hectic holiday makers and screaming kids. The mass arrival happens around lunchtime and clears at around 5 so things do return to normal. The bar has moved to the middle now. The old middle bar & shop has gone. The restaurant on the entrance side is now derelict. So only one beach at now, instead of three. The reggae is no longer played, infact, music is rarely played. The female staff seem indifferent at times, and service can be glacial at lunchtime due to sheer numbers, and a very very laid back waiting style. No hammocks or lounging area. It's just a bar now. We used it rarely. It was almost empty most evenings. When we did eat there at night it felt a lot like they were waiting for us to leave (put some music on!). After 9pm they clear up all the table candles as people leave, then sit watching videos on thier phones at full volume ( I watched customers moving to get away) clearly waiting to go home . On our last night we tried the bar in earnest . Had one drink. After that no one offered another. All on their phones. We gave up at 9.15 They also have a limited lunch menu, with it returning to normal in the evenings. Not seen this in Thailand before. I want no-name for lunch, and at their prices, I kinda expect it. We ate almost exclusively up the cliff side, mostly at Plaas, and often at Silvercliff restaurant. It's a schlepp up the hill but worth it. Much much better value food and beer. It's a shame because I've spent at least a month here in the past and never felt the need to eat up the hill. The "secret beach" is fenced off but still easy to get to. Our cliff side rocks family bungalow was great, and they now have a gas heated shower which was a joy to discover on the 3rd day ( you had to turn it on and off a load to get it to ignite). Progress and the road are not their fault, along with the crowds of day trippers that brings, so I'll still mark high at 4 stars. But it's not the paradise I once knew any more. And the staff have some odd ways of dealing with people. We noticed it often. Nonchalant would be the word I'd use. Would I return ? No. Would I recommend it, absolutely, as long as you are not expecting serene peace all day long ( there is some construction going on behind all day too, and often in the bar itself. Chainsaw for breakfast?) or attentive service. Edit. 3 stars now. They totally messed up our ferry and bus booking to Krabi. They forgot to book it. We were then told they had booked it on a different service. It was supposed to be high speed ferry, then bus to Krabi by 17.30. It was actually a car ferry, an old bus, and now, instead of a minivan we are being put on a local bus at 6pm that takes nearly 4 hours so we will end up in Krabi around 10pm. Not happy at all. 12 hours of travelling and I paid far too much for it. My partner gets travel sick on long coach journies so we now have that too look forward to.…
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Date of stay: January 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
The key with this place is to know what you are getting. Basically a wooden hut in paradise, think camping and add a bed and mosquito net and you are about there. If you are ok with that and happy to leave 5 star pampering behind then you'll love it. True beach bum territory and completely authentic. Having read some of the other reviews I think they didn't really understand what they were getting into. The weather is clearly important as this is very basic accomodation on a beach, so pick your time accordingly. Also in my opinion it's well worth going for the bungalows on the beach if you can. You are in the wild so will get creatures in your bathroom so be prepared for that too!! The beach is amazingly beautiful...a small private cove and you step from the beach bungalows right onto the sand. A fab little funky restaurant with great value food and drink considering the location and friendly staff. Also I'd expected the electricity to only be available at certain times but that wasn't the case for us...we had it for 24 hours. Go with the knowledge of what to expect and enjoy!!…
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Date of stay: September 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
I gave this accommodation a 4 star because of the location and it's beauty and specifically for the friendliness and hospitality of the staff / owners. They were always laughing at / with us and made sure we had everything we need. The accomodation is very basic, but an experience within itself. Don't expect luxury in your room - rather marvel at the gorgeous surroundings and how lucky you are to be at this wonderful place. Thank you Mai Pen Rai Bungalows for a wonderful stay!
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Date of stay: August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
We arrived at the restaurant asking for a bungalow ( two days before.. Wich was the 5th of july we visited and they said that the price was 350 b per night) the lady at the reception did not pay attention to us , she was talking in thai and laughing at us ... Wich was very annoying: she said that from the 1st of July the prices were 650b .. I couldn't understand and I kept asking her why...I did not even had the time to talk with her that the owner came screaming at me out of the blue and I could see he wanted to hurt me ... My boyfriend got in the way and the owner tried to scare him too pretending to hit him ... Not happy he took his rice and threw it at us .. together with some sand ... I mean not even kids or animals do this ... And he is supposed to be an adult.. the customers in the beach were all watching and I could see they couldn't understand why he would do something like this for no reason at all.. later on they told us they were worried he could do something to them too.. it was so unexpected and there was really so not a good reason to do something like this ... We left before he could really hurt us . But we were so mad we had to go back and say we wanted them to apologize . The husband was such a baby he didn't want to speak ... And the wife sat comfortably like everything was normal .... Is it ? She said I came in their house pushing for a cheaper room, that I was disrespectful and she behaved like nothing happened ... You know what I might have pushed for a cheaper room when I was told the price at the beginning and I might look stupid with my backpack and all sweaty from the humidity .. but for no reason at all, in all the world you are allowed to treat someone else like this . I hope for you this is not normality (but reading your rewiews I can see you guys are not number 1 in hospitality ...) I hope it was just a bad day for you and I was the trigger that blew you up ... I hope no one else will be treated like I was treated today ... I hope you won't be treated like I was treated today . I hope this horrendous man does not hurt his kids..today I saw a beast in his eyes.. Stop caring so much for the environment and start being a little happier, only than you will be able to fix why is around you... You live in a beautiful place and still you are stressed and don't appreciate it... You have some serious issues and I hope you can fix it before I visit this beautiful beach again ...…
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Date of stay: July 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from ThanSadet, Guest Relations Manager at Mai Pen Rai Bungalows
Responded Jul 12, 2019
Thank you for your comments and your commentary to the event that took place. Firstly, when a room rate does not exist, and the staff have continued to respond politely for a duration of about 20 minutes that it does not exist, most people would have taken this as reality and accepted that if they weren't happy to pay the new high season rates, then they should just walk on and find somewhere else where they can afford the cheaper rates - this is exactly what your boyfriend did. Secondly, if you had given the receptionist a chance to actually finish her sentence and reason with you that the prices had been raised due to the high season, you may have had a chance to take a breath and see the situation as it was. But the poor receptionist was not allowed by you to string a sentence together. The receptionist didn't know how else to respond to your aggression, which they have not experienced before and then when you came to the owners table who was eating peacefully with his family, he had heard enough and told you to get out! You are right that he shouldn't have lost his temper and thrown his rice at you, but nor should you, who had already lost face by yelling and swearing and continuing to argue - I mean honestly do you think that if you had got the price that you were adamant about, do you think that you yourself would have felt happy being in a restaurant where you had got so cross with the staff who are there to look after you, or vice versa!! and then do you think standing there goading someone to hit you, because he had shouted at you to leave his home, that you are not going to make them more and more angry. Yes, this is a place that looks after and cares for the environment around and this is why is it is so beautiful and peaceful, and this is exactly why the team here appreciate it so much. They are not used to being treated with anger like this. Normally, people come in so peacefully and the team will bargain a room to suit their needs, and this could have been so different with regards to you and your boyfriend, and for that we are very sorry that it didn't turn out in a happy outcome for everyone involved. ~It wasn't the owner who was stressed, it was your behavior that stressed and provoked everyone.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I booked at a discounted price on agoda so i was given the worst wooden beach bungalows there was: it s so ugly they hide it behind plants (see picture), the door don t totally close, the mosquito nets have holes all over... When i asked for the wooden bungalow next to mine i was told it s more expensive even so it s not mentioned on agoda neither on the mai pen rai website (wooden bungalow on the beach are "officially" all the same price). The restaurant is expensive, the food quite blend. I wanted to stay for one week or more but i am glad i only booked one night. If the beach is lovely and has kept her charming soul the Mai pen rai hasn t. I wouldn t trust their system of paying food at the end of the holiday for a second!
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Date of stay: June 2019Trip type: Traveled solo
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: n51 looked fine but don t expect to get it if you book via agoda
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from ThanSadet, Manager at Mai Pen Rai Bungalows
Responded Jul 7, 2019
thank you for your comments, but the prices were clearly clarified with you on facebook messenger before you booked with Agoda. The price was a low season rate until the 1st July and you stayed one night at low season rate, and wanted to stay one night longer but the rates had gone up online and at the reception, which you weren't happy about, and stated that we were not fair when this had already been pointed out to you on messenger. We are very sorry that you did not understand this fully. This resort has been running for more than 30 years and has an honest reputation, which is why we still have this system of writing down the food to a book, which is why so many people return again and again.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The moment we arrived I felt overwhelmed by the beauty of this place. It is so relaxing und unreal. A lot of beautiful animals, the food and the drinks are amazing. You Can see. The bioluminescent plancton and the sunrise... Here you can forget about all the worries in the world. The bungalows are also a dream
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Date of stay: May 2019Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from ThanSadet, Manager at Mai Pen Rai Bungalows
Responded Jul 17, 2019
Thank you for your nice comments. I hope we can welcome you back again.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PRICE RANGE
$14 - $20 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
mai pen rai bungalows hotel koh phangan
LOCATION
ThailandSurat Thani ProvinceKo Pha-Ngan
NUMBER OF ROOMS
50
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Frequently Asked Questions about Mai Pen Rai Bungalows
Which popular attractions are close to Mai Pen Rai Bungalows?
Nearby attractions include Thong Nai Pan Noi (1.8 miles), Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach (1.8 miles), and Bottle Beach (4.0 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Mai Pen Rai Bungalows?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include an on-site restaurant, free parking, and laundry service.
What food & drink options are available at Mai Pen Rai Bungalows?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant during their stay.
Is parking available at Mai Pen Rai Bungalows?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Mai Pen Rai Bungalows?
Conveniently located restaurants include Chantara Restaurant, Restaurant Ratatouille Koh Phangan, and Friends Cafe.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Mai Pen Rai Bungalows?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Thai.
Does Mai Pen Rai Bungalows have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.