Ao Nang Orchid Resort: Pictures, Reviews and Rates

Wow! is all we can say to the all new Ao Nang Orchid Resort. In a little less than a year, this Ao Nang family have torn down their nice, but ageing backpacker bungalows and built a brand new, high quality, modern resort in its place. Those of you looking for the old style bungalows are advised to try Ao Nang Village, or Me Mee Bungalows down the road instead. However, if you are looking for a good value, comfortable pool resort near to the beach, then look no further.

The resort has been designed so that all the rooms and swimming pool are set back from the main road. Rooms are divided into a 3 storey hotel block, and a handful of (less value for money) "villas" set around the freeform swimming pool, with direct access to the water from the terrace.

Let's talk about the pool first, as it seems a lot of thought has gone into this. With villas on two sides, there is not a lot of room left for sun loungers for the guests staying in the hotel rooms. The solution? Build an island in the middle of the pool, with a bridge to get to it. Other features around this area include several water jets (sprayed from the trunks of the elephant statues around the pool), a "waterfall" and a large spillover children's pool. All in all, there is plenty to keep guests entertained - and cool.

Rooms:The Grand Deluxe Villas, set around the pool, are Ao Nang Orchid's most expensive - we think slightly overpriced - rooms. Though the in-room amenities - Jacuzzi bathtub; walk-in rain shower; plasma TV and DVD player; plus the usual hot water kettle, hairdryer, fridge, telephone, personal safe - are certainly worthy of a high price tag, the rest of the resort unfortunately does not offer the type of facilities that would justify this kind of rate.

The Grand Deluxe Villas are accessed from the back, as the pool access terrace overhangs the water. The interior has teakwood floors and a vaulted ceiling and has been furnished to a very high standard, with quality wood and linens. Tones are muted and the vast bathroom is cool and dark. Sliding glass doors open onto the terrace and the steps leading down to the pool.

The rest of the rooms, also called "Grand Deluxe" are located in the hotel building. They are further divided into two categories, the road-facing "City View" rooms and the cliff-and-sea-facing "Pool View" rooms. Other than their orientation, both types of rooms are identical.

Twin or double rooms are tiled with attractive polished terracotta and are reasonably sized. They offer a fridge / minibar, large flat screen TV, telephone, personal digital safe and large built in wardrobes. Bathrooms are large and colourful and offer a bathtub with overhead shower. Triple rooms (a double supplied with an extra bed) have teakwood floors. Interconnecting triple rooms are available for large families or groups.

All the accommodation offers an outdoor balcony or terrace, air conditioning and hot water. Grand Deluxe Pool View rooms on the top floor offer a glimpse of the sea over the rooftops - but too little to constitute a real "sea view".

There is little outdoor space in the resort, other than around the pool, though there is enough landscaping to give the place a green feel. The restaurant, where breakfast is taken, offers both outdoor seating and an indoor, air conditioned dining room. As the resort is very centrally located (about 100m from the beach, and well within the commercial area of shops, bars and restaurants), there will be no need to take other meals here, unless you wish to. Ao Nang Orchid also has its own speedboat and tour service for guests. Off street car parking is available.