...the budget Beach Hotels

7 Budget Beach Hotels

Fri, Sep 2, 2011

By Michele Koh

If you’re planning a short weekend getaway, there is certainly no shortage of beach destinations in Asia to choose from. Regional airfares are usually pretty affordable and so are accommodation options. If you’re willing to forego five star luxuries, then these budget hotels will certainly make you and your pocket happy.

Green Garden Hotel, Kuta, Bali Indonesia

Standard rooms at this friendly family-run hotel costs as little as US$66. Built around the central swimming pool, rooms are clean and decorated in Javanese teak with a warm cream and beige colour scheme. Though only a short walk to Kuta Beach and the main shopping and dining strip, the hotel’s tucked-way location gives it more privacy that other places. However, the breakfast buffet is only mediocre and if you want to enjoy the full spread, you should be at the restaurant early. Jalan Wana Segara, Kuta Beach 80361, Indonesia. +62-36-175-4575, http://www.greenbali.com/

Paradise Inn, Phuket, Thailand

This clean and modern hotel located only five minutes from Karon Beach is a good choice if you want to be in the thick of things as there is plenty of dining, shopping and nightlife options all around. The smallest rooms come with queen sized beds, refrigerator, cable TV and direct dial card phone and cost as little as US$20. All rooms are soundproofed with insulated vinyl windows, but be warned, this is a noisy part of town, so don’t expect much peace or quiet here. 528/7 Patak Road, Karon Beach, Phuket 83100, Thailand. +66-76-286400, www.paradise-inn-phuket.com

Tien Dat Muine – Bluewaves Resort & Spa, Phan Thiet, Vietnam

The lovely resort town of Muine, 200 kilometers east of Ho Chi Minh City is a favourite haunt for windsurfers. There are many relatively cheap accommodations here and one of them is Tien Dat. The cheapest rooms cost about US$40 and are found on the hillside. The gardens and pool here are very pretty. Unfortunately, the cheapest rooms are below ground level, so they do not have a balcony where you can enjoy the nice views. Muine Beach can also get a little choppy at times, so it’s not the best beach for swimming. 94 A Nguyen Dinh Chieu, Ham Tien, Phan Thiet, Vietnam. +84-62-3847-989, http://tiendatresort.com.vn/

Paya Beach Resort, Tioman, Malaysia

Traditional Malay style chalets with private balconies start at US$66 and come with a queen-sized bed and two single pullout beds. If you’re traveling in a larger group or alone, the Paya Lodge double and quad rooms that cost US$53 per room or US$13 per bed is a good budget conscious alternative. The hotel’s unique draws are its adventure safaris, where eco-guides take you along the island’s jungles, mangroves or coral reefs. The downside to this resort is that its beach is too rocky, which makes swimming a little treacherous. Tioman Island, Pahang, Malaysia. +65-6733-4333, http://www.payabeach.com/

Blue Mango Inn, Boracay, Philippines

This hospitable family owned inn is located in the heart of Angol Point at the south end of Boracay’s popular White Beach, an area that is cleaner and quieter than other sections of the island. The rooms here are pretty basic and decorated in traditional Filipino style. There is an on-site dive centre and restaurant that uses mangos in many of their dishes, so you won’t need to travel fare for food or fun. The standard rooms cost US$38 at low season and US$72 at peak season. However, these get snapped up quickly, so it’s best to book them in advance. Also bring some mosquitoes repellent with you, as mosquitoes can be a problem especially if it rains. Sitio Angol, Barangay Manoc, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan, Philippines. 
+63-36-288 5170, http://www.bluemangoinn.com/

Monkey Republic Bungalows, Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Halfway between Thailand and Cambodia, about 185 kilometres from Phnom Penh is the beach resort and port city of Sihanoukville. Here backpackers flock to Monkey Republic Bungalows; a laid back and economical guesthouse that has earned a reputation as a party hotspot. Each straw roofed bungalow sleeps three or four people and cost between US$6-10. There is also a 10-bed dorm room for US$3 per night. The heart of Monkey Republic is the bar, which has cheap happy hours and regular wild parties. This place does not take reservations, so you’ll just have to show up and keep your fingers crossed. The bungalows are centered around a tropical garden on a hill behind Serendipity Beach. +012-490-290, http://monkeyrepublic.info/bungalows-sihanoukville/

Silver Beach Resort, Thandwe, Myanmar

For around US$50 for a room, you’ll have access to Ngapali beach, one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. To get here, take a flight from Yangon to Thandwe airport, and the resort is a short 15 minutes drive from there. The duplex cottage standard rooms all have decks so you can soak up the gorgeous ocean views. While the overall ambience and dining is good, the bathrooms are a little small and the resort does not have a swimming pool. Linn Thar Village, Ngapali, Rakhine State, Myanmar. 
+95-138-1898. http://www.lodgingmyanmar.com/ngapali/silverbeach.html