New Hut Bungalows

New Hut Bungalows are a funky set of colorful backpacker A-frame huts, accessed via a pedestrian bridge that crosses a small canal away from the main road. The property feels secluded, and upon arrival one sees the brightly painted multi-colored huts on one side and the large lobby/reception/restaurant space on the other. The all-in-one public space is filled with an assortment of traditional Thai objects like bamboo parasols -- made in Chiang Mai's Bo Sang umbrella village -- as well as Thai silks and other tapestries. There's plenty of color, making this bare-bones property cheerful and bright, at least when it comes to appearances, but complaints about the staff's attitude are fairly numerous. Amenities are limited in the extreme, and the hotel attracts a mostly young backpacker crowd of friends, solo travelers, and couples on a tight budget. 

New Hut Bungalows are located at the far northern end of Lamai Beach. While the beach here isn't perfect, it does have some white sand areas and is much quieter than the beach in central Lamai. Additionally, the resort is set back from the main road and accessed by walking over a bridge across a small canal, keeping things very quiet. It's a 15- to 20-minute walk into central Lamai depending on the destination, but there are enough restaurants, bars, and shops right outside the resort to keep guests satisfied. Alternatively, it's less than five-minutes to the center of town by car. Expect a 30-minute drive to Chaweng and the Koh Samui Airport.

Heres the thing: So long as expectations are managed, a stay here can be decently pleasant, especially given the rock-bottom rates for a beachfront crash pad. There are 46 A-frame huts in a few categories, though each is exceedingly simple, with bamboo-mat walls and cheap linoleum flooring. Fan Bungalows are the simplest, with nothing beyond two mattresses on the floor, a fan, pillows, a large towel that is to be used as a blanket, and a towel for washing. These digs are pretty cramped and hot, but they do have superlative sea views if one is in the first row of huts (there are several rows lined up behind one another). Fan Bungalows share bathrooms that are clean and brightly painted, if a bit basic, with separate toilets, showers, and urinals. The next category up are the Air-Con Bungalows, which have en-suite wet-room bathrooms, with both air-conditioning and a fan, as well as beds on raised wood or metal frames plus comforters. Other than some soap, shampoo, and toilet paper in the bathroom, there are no other amenities. The largest rooms are the Family Bungalows, which are similar to the Air-Con Bungalows, except that they have slightly more space, with two larger beds instead of one. There is only one Family Bungalow in the beachfront row, so it's best to reserve early for sea views -- the rest are in the back row.

Befitting its backpacker status, the New Hut Bungalows have no facilities other than the large restaurant that sits right on the beach. The restaurant serves food and drinks from early morning until late at night, with a mix of Thai and Western food available. Theres also plenty of beer, soft drinks, and bottled water available. The restaurant has wooden tables, a coconut piece tiled floor, and is filled with Thai bamboo parasols and colorful tapestries which hang from the rafters. There are a few tables on the deck looking out to sea, and it's the only spot in the resort where there's free Wi-Fi. The entrance to the lobby has a small shop filled with sarongs, tie-dyed shirts, and some local souvenirs, and the front desk can arrange just about any kind of tour, onward transport, and other tourist need.