Cha Wan Resort

Independent Review

Introduction

Cha Wan Resort is an attractive new resort, built in a Thai style on grounds that are small and intimate, with only 10 rooms arranged in two-storey buildings (with high Thai roofs) around a two level swimming pool. The resort has been beautifully designed, with lots of interesting corners and angles that give different perspectives and views.

The good taste starts as soon as you cross the threshold, which consists of a bridge under which koi carp fish swim lackadaisically around. The eye is then immediately arrested by the 10 sqm carved teak wooden panel behind the smiling receptionist standing to greet you.

Bird song is the loudest sound in the resort, accompanied by the sounds of running water from the many water features and fountains dotted around. There are two modestly-sized pools, one designed for small children, but this isn’t really a resort that can be recommended for children, as it is simply too small and there isn’t anywhere for them to run around. 

The pools aren’t big enough for exercise.  Built in 2007, the resort is only two years old – old enough for the vegetation to have had time to grow up and surround the buildings in tropical finery, but not long enough for the facilities or rooms to have suffered the wear and tear that happens so quickly in this climate. It has a very romantic ambience and is highly recommended for couples. The resort is not particularly well located for access to most of Ao Nang’s amenities, but tuk tuks are easy and cheap to obtain, and fun to ride around in. Click here for a map. There is free wifi throughout the resort.

Restaurant

There is a small restaurant and bar area, though you are unlikely to eat more than breakfast here. The breakfast bread may disappoint some visitors. If you book through us, we’ll supply you with a complimentary quality baker’s brown or granary loaf on arrival, plus hopefully an unbeatable price.

There are several good restaurants within a 150m walk, and even more if you carry on down to the beachfront into Ao Nang (a further 400m or so).

Accommodation

The rooms - or suites as they are called - are huge: the bathroom alone is 15sqm.  Somewhat strangely, there is only one sink in all this space, though the wide counter seems to be crying out for two. All bathrooms feature a bathtub and a walk-in rain shower. The floors and counters are all made of marble. A nice touch is that there is an entirely separate room for the toilet, which means it is available when your room-mate is taking a shower. The huge bedrooms are very high quality, with gleaming teakwood floors, walls covered with costly-looking and attractive inlaid wooden panels, and plenty of amenities. The rooms are all fairly similar, though they have a slightly different layout depending on which floor they are on.

The ground floor rooms have one large terrace equipped with a dining table (breakfast can be taken in room) and lounge chairs that overlook a semi-private garden area with lotus pool. The upper floor rooms have the same terrace, plus one more balcony leading off the bedroom. Some of the rooms’ balconies are private – if this is important to you, please mention this when you contact us and we’ll check out whether one of these more desirable rooms (at the same price as the standard rooms) is available. This is easy for us to do as the resort is only 2 minutes’ bike ride from our office, meaning we can offer you this service (unavailable through any other company) completely free, and accompanied by a hopefully unbeatable price.

Prices

The above rates are net per room per night and inclusive of service charge and breakfast for 2 people.

Special offer low season (1 May.-31 Oct. 10)

• Minimum stay 3 nights get free 1 thai set dinner for 2 people.
• Consecutive stay 5 nights get free 1 hour of aromatherapy massage for 2 people.
• Consecutive stay 7 nights pay 6 nights and free breakfast on bonus night.

In addition, on this site we offer the following free benefits:

• Airport transfers at only THB 500 for a taxi or THB 1,000 for a minivan.
• If you book your transfer to the airport with us, we will take you to the Tiger Cave Temple, for free, en route. If adults want to climb to the top and need child-minding help while they do so, contact us.
• We’ll personally inspect the available rooms at the resort for the dates you require, then report back to you with details of the available rooms that best meet your requirements.
•  We’ll give you a free quality bakery loaf of bread on arrival.
• You will be able to take advantage of unlimited travel advice before arrival – we know southern Thailand intimately and so can organize all your accommodation, travel, sports and activities. This personalized and customized service comes at no extra cost to you – we get our commissions from hotels and activity/transport providers, not from you.

Hotel website: www.chawanresort.com. Click here for more on Ao Nang, here for holiday packages, here for other destinations.

Andaman Sky, Co., Ltd, 23/8 Moo 2, Ao Nang, Thailand