Buri Beach Resort

Previously the Best Western Phanganburi Resort, this hotel has a nice facade, with balconies across the front of the three-story main building.The grounds are well-landscaped with gardens blooming with orchids and other tropical flowers. Guests drive up to the porte cochere and climb three steps to enter the lobby through fancy carved Thai doors. Inside, it's clear that while things are generally well-kept, this resort hasn't seen much of a design change since its days as a chain property. The lobby is filled with Thai artwork and decorative items such as goddess and dragon statues. Crystal chandeliers hang overhead, and cushioned wooden benches and chairs provide spots where guests can hang out. This place is most appealing to young couples and groups of friends who want to be close to the action in Hat Rin, though it's at enough of a remove that it proves a pleasant beach escape.

The resort is located on a quiet beach on the beautiful island of Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand. It is surrounded by other hotels, shops, and restaurants and is about a seven-minute walk from Hat Rin, where the popular Full Moon Party takes place each month. Than Sadet Waterfall National Park is about a 30-minute drive from the hotel. Most guests arrive on the island by taking a ferry or speed boat from neighboring Koh Samui. The hotel provides transportation from any ferry terminal on the island. 

The hotel offers guest rooms in three separate buildings, as well as cottages. All come with one large bed or two twins, and all have a balcony or terrace. Guest rooms are decorated in old-school Thai style, with tile floors, wooden furniture, rich red or green accent walls, and patterned bed toppers. Outdated floral artwork hangs on the walls, and towels sculpted into shapes such as swans or elephants greet guests when they check in. While everything is in decent condition, some of the furniture we saw has seen better days, and the look has a dated vibe overall (with brass fixtures, heavy lace, and light-wood pieces among the decor). 

All rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, tea/coffee makers, air-conditioning, safes, and stocked mini-fridges. Bathrooms are small and come with toiletries in large eco-friendly bottles, hairdryers, and slippers. Some have walk-in showers, and others have tub/shower combos. Some of the bathrooms look dated -- with 1990s era tiling -- and could use a refresh. Cottages aren't much different from the rooms. They are just separated in little cabins, and they have wood panel accent walls. Beach-Side Cottages have four-poster canopy beds and side views of the sea. The Corner Suite has a separate living space with a sofa and chairs and a small TV. 

Like most of the beachside hotels in the area, there are a number of standard features on offer here, some of which shine a bit more than others. Dining takes place at the Terrace, which serves Thai and western fare for all meals. Guests can dine under shelter in an open-air space or alfresco by the pool and beach. Food gets solid marks from guests and is reasonably priced, not always the case on Thailand's islands.

The free-form beachfront swimming pool has a few lounge chairs and umbrellas for relaxing poolside, and there are more chairs on the beach. The one nearest the beach provides excellent sunset views. A second pool, the garden pool, is surrounded by frangipani trees and lounge chairs. 

In addition to treatment rooms, the Buriya Spa has a relaxation area and a sauna. Treatments include massage, reflexology, body scrubs, and special baths. A small fitness center has two treadmills, an elliptical machine, free weights, and exercise balls. There's also a pool table, and an internet corner in the lobby provides a computer and printer for guests to use. A meeting room can accommodate up to 120 people for cocktails.