Over the years I’ve spent months exploring Koh Tao, it’s one of those islands I just keep coming back to – and I’ve stayed in my fair share of hotels across the island. From knowing the best areas to stay in, to finding something for every budget, this guide will help you plan where to stay in Koh Tao.
Use this post to plan the perfect trip to one of my favorite islands in Thailand.
A quick note: The goal of this guide is to share hotels that I’ve personally stayed at, or that I know someone who has stayed at. A couple of these are bucket list stays for me, and one is a beautiful hotel that my friend stayed at. You won’t find any hostels on this list (mainly because I’ve never stayed in a hostel in Koh Tao). The only one I can recommend is Summer Hostel, where my cousin stayed when he visited.
Also, if you’re looking for long-term accommodation, I talk about that more in my digital nomad guide to Koh Tao.
Alright, now that’s out of the way, let’s plan where you’re going to stay in Koh Tao!
Justyn’s Quick Koh Tao Recommendations:
🛵 For convenience: If you don’t want to rent a scooter, stay close to Sairee Beach.
🌴My favorite hotel in Koh Tao: For a bit of peace and quiet, book a room at Big Tree Boutique Hotel.
🤿 If you’re scuba diving: Go with Roctopus (they’re amazing!), tell them Justyn sent you 🤍
🇹🇭Travel tip: Get connected fast with a Thailand eSim.
Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting my blog!
Where to Stay in Koh Tao
Budget Stays in Koh Tao
Photos courtesy of Save Bungalows on Booking.com
Save Bungalows (7.3 ⭐️)
If you’re looking for somewhere that’s very budget-friendly in Koh Tao, make sure to check out Save Bungalows. I’ve spent a couple of nights at Save Bungalows, thanks to their cheap prices and convenient location (they’re right near the pier.)
Save Bungalows are extremely basic, but they’re walking distance to beaches, restaurants, bars and the pier. They offer fan rooms, scooter rental and laundry. I wouldn’t recommend them for a long stay, but if you need a night or two close to their pier, they’re a great option.
If Save Bungalows are fully booked and you need a good option near the pier, check out Bro and Sis Place or Sunrise Koh Tao (my next recommendation!)
Sunrise Koh Tao (8.3 ⭐️)
Sunrise Koh Tao is another option located around Mae Head pier. Yes, they’re more expensive than Save Bungalows, but their rooms are much nicer and offer A/C. They’re also located just 300 meters from Mae Head beach (where you can go snorkeling to see the occasional eagle ray!)
Each room has a desk and private bathroom – two of my requirements as a traveling digital nomad. They’ve also highly rated for their wi-fi and are just steps away from restaurants and bars. If you’re staying there, make sure to get breakfast at Coconut Monkey and try the Khao Soi Sunset View Restaurant.
Life Koh Tao Resort (9.0 ⭐️)
Life Koh Tao Resort is one of my favorite hotels on the island. The staff are amazing, the rooms are spacious and clean, and it’s one of the only hotels in this range offering free breakfast. The location is OK, close enough that you could walk to Sairee Beach, but you’ll probably want to rent a scooter. You’ll also have a small seaview off your balcony.
We stayed here for the first week of our 4 month stay in Koh Tao. Occasionally we would see the staff around the island and they always remembered us! This hotel deserves 10 stars, and I would definitely recommend staying here during your trip to Koh Tao.
Photos courtesy of Tree House Bungalows on Booking.com
Tree House Bungalows Koh Tao (8.8 ⭐️)
I’m going to preface this one by saying you will need a scooter if you stay here! So if you’re not comfortable riding a scooter, especially on a busy island like Koh Tao, you will be very isolated here. That being said, the value for money at Tree House Bungalows is amazing. You’ll also be away from the noise of the island – which is something that I value a lot.
The views are amazing, especially if you book one of their rooms with wrap-around windows, or if you have the budget, their junior suite (which is cheaper than you’d think). Best views and the best people!
Mid-Range Stays in Koh Tao
Big Tree Boutique Hotel (8.9 ⭐️)
I stayed at Big Tree Boutique Hotel on my second trip to Koh Tao and absolutely loved it. It’s one of my favorite hotels on the island – with the best cafe downstairs. I’ve eaten almost everything (vegetarian) on the menu, and you get a discount if you’re their guest.
The rooms are beautifully furnished, with everything you need from *actually nice* toiletries to a robe, kettle and coffee. The location is a bit far from the beaches, so you’ll want a scooter to explore. But you will be walking distance to restaurants and across the street from a 7-11.
Plus they have the cutest dogs on the island!
Photos courtsey of Koh Tao Heritage Hideaway on Booking.com
Koh Tao Heritage Hideaway (8.6 ⭐️)
I honestly can’t believe how affordable the bungalows at Koh Tao Heritage Hideaway are! Located on a cliff, this hotel’s pool probably has the best sunset view on the island. Even if you book their cheapest room you’ll be surrounded by nature, have a beautiful balcony and each room as a desk (perfect for my digital nomads).
With a really comfy bed, beautiful view and A/C, you’ll never want to leave.
Photos courtsey of Budchui Village 2 on Booking.com
Budchui Village 2 (8.2 ⭐️)
Budchui Village is a more affordable hotel located just 600 meters from Sairee Beach (which means you’ll be walking distance to some of the best restaurants and bars on the island). The rooms are a bit more basic, but they’re clean with large balconies and lovely views. Make sure to book their double room with a balcony if you have a mid-range budget in Koh Tao.
The hotel’s pool is one of the highlights – as you won’t find many hotels at this price with a pool in Koh Tao.
Photos courtesy of Chintakiri Resort on Booking.com
Chintakiri Resort (8.8 ⭐️)
Chintakiri is located in Chalok, which is the much quieter side of Koh Tao. Being on this side of the island also means that you can stay somewhere a bit nicer for your budget. Chintakiri is definitely one of those places.
They have A/C rooms with private bathrooms, desks and beautiful views. Each room has free breakfast and they also have a coffee shop and bar onsite. But my favorite thing about Chintakiri Resort is the pool overlooking the ocean.
Luxury Stays in Koh Tao
The Tarna Resort (8.0 ⭐️)
I’m actually surprised this hotel doesn’t have better reviews on booking! It was by far one of my favorite places that we stayed in Koh Tao. We booked one of their Sea View Villas – though I wish we could have splashed out on one of their pool villas which looked amazing.
While we didn’t have our own private pool, we did have the resort pool all to ourselves for a full day – and sunset! They have a great happy hour, beautiful view and the rooms are extremely comfortable. It was the most comfortable bed we slept in during our 4-month stay in Koh Tao.
I would 100% stay here again! And as far as luxury stays go, it’s definitely the most affordable one on this list!
Photos courtesy of View Point Resort on Booking.com
View Point Resort (9.1 ⭐️)
View Point Resort is also located in Chalok, with one of the best locations on the island (in my opinion). Far away from the noise, but still close enough to the restaurants and bars of Chalok. Plus their pool and most of their villas overlook the sea. If you’re really looking for a luxury stay in Koh Tao, make sure to book one of their pool villas – you will not regret it! Even if you’re just spoiling yourself for a night or two (which is what I usually do).
They have comfortable, gorgeous rooms with outdoor bathrooms surrounded by nature. This is one of my favorite finds in Koh Tao and it definitely deserves the high praise on booking.
Photos courtesy of Over the Moon Luxury Pool Villas on Booking.com
Over The Moon Luxury Pool Villas (9.3 ⭐️)
I haven’t had the chance to stay here yet… It is on the top of my hotel bucket list for Koh Tao. People love the location, saying how quiet and private it feels (often hard to find in Koh Tao) and the views are incredible. I’m a sucker for a private pool and next time I’m in Koh Tao, I’ll definitely be booking at least 2 nights of luxury at Over the Moon Luxury Pool Villas.
If you plan in advance and travel in the off-season, you can stay in one of these luxury villas for less than $200 a night!
Interior shot courtesy of Koh Tao Heights Pool Villas on Booking.com (view from the villa is my photo)
Koh Tao Heights Pool Villas (9.1 ⭐️)
Koh Tao Heights Pool Villas is the last luxury hotel that I’m going to share with you today. I didn’t actually stay here, but I have a friend who did and he was kind enough to invite us all around to hangout. The villa was amazing – and we basically never left the pool. This villa has so much space, and the staff go above and beyond to make your stay special.
It’s a little hard to get to, but the views are so worth it. If you have the budget, I highly recommend staying here in Koh Tao.
Koh Tao is a busy island, but there are plenty of incredible hotels around the island to choose from. I hope this guide has helped you better plan your trip. My biggest piece of advice for Koh Tao is to book your room in advance.
Normally I don’t plan anything in advance… we usually arrive with just a few nights booked. But with how busy Koh Tao is, you’ll get a much better deal with a little planning. And you could stay in some of these incredible hotels for a fraction of the cost!
Koh Tao Travel Essentials
I’ve been to Koh Tao at least 4 times in the last 4 years, sometimes staying for months at a time. It’s one of my favorite Thai islands. Use these resources to help plan your trip to Koh Tao and Thailand in general.
Flights: Find affordable flights to Bangkok on Kiwi. You can then travel overland to Koh Tao. Book your transport with ease on 12GoAsia.
Visas: If you’re traveling from the US or Europe, you don’t need a visa to enter Thailand! And as of last year, they’ve extended the time you can stay in Thailand to 60 days. That means no more visa extensions for 60 days trips!
Travel Insurance: I never travel without travel insurance! As a full-time digital nomad, I highly recommend SafetyWing. Learn more and get insured here.
Thailand Guidebook: Get your copy of the new Lonely Planet Thailand travel book. I love how these books detail the various regions to inspire you to get off the beaten track.
5 Things to Pack for Thailand
Walking shoes. If you’re on the islands, you probably won’t ever wear your walking shoes! But Thailand is home to many incredible national parks, hikes and temples – so it’s important to have a comfortable pair of shoes for exploring.
Modest, lightweight clothing and a scarf for visiting the temples and memorials. You’ll need to dress modestly when you’re visiting any palaces or temples in Thailand. You are going to want flowy, lightweight pants, lightweight tops with sleeves, and a scarf that you can use to cover your shoulders. Keep in mind that for some temples, simply covering your shoulders with a scarf won’t be enough. You’ll need to wear modest clothing.
A reusable water bottle. Thailand definitely suffers from plastic pollution, but more and more places are offering filtered water refills for around 5 THB a bottle. Make sure that you bring a reusable water bottle. I love this water bottle because it comes with a lid for coffee or a smoothie, which means you can get smoothies without the excessive plastic cup, straw and bag!
Entertainment for long travel days. It’s usually 50/50 if I’m going to get motion sick on a long bus or ferry ride. Luckily, I always travel with motion sickness drops and tablets so that I can spend long journeys reading. My Kindle has explored more countries than most adults. I love using the Libby App to borrow Kindle books even while I’m abroad.
Wet wipes and tissues. Bathrooms across Southeast Asia don’t usually have toilet paper, so I like to keep wet wipes and tissues in my purse. It also doesn’t hurt to carry hand sanitizer.
If you’re traveling around Southeast Asia, make sure to check out some of my other guides when planning your trip.
- The Perfect 3-Day Hanoi Itinerary
- How to Spend 48-Hours in Bangkok
- Steal my Ideal 4-Day Siem Reap Itinerary
- How to Spend 48-Hours in Phnom Penh
- How to Spend a Week in Koh Samui
- 10-Day Cambodia Itinerary
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