Luxury Beachfront Hotels in Koh Kood Reviewed

I. Introduction: Discovering Koh Kood’s Charm

Koh Kood, often hailed as Thailand’s “best-kept secret,” offers a serene escape from the country’s more bustling tourist hubs like Phuket or Koh Samui. This island gem presents a unique blend of natural beauty, with crystal-clear waters and palm-lined beaches, fostering an unhurried, relaxed island vibe. While it balances affordability with luxury touches, this review focuses on the high-end and boutique beachfront options that define Koh Kood luxury. It’s an ideal destination for those seeking relaxation, adventure, or a romantic retreat, appealing to solo travelers, honeymooners, couples, and families alike.

II. Getting to Koh Kood: Your Journey to Paradise

Reaching Koh Kood contributes to its untouched charm, as it is not the easiest island to access, resulting in fewer tourists.

The journey typically involves two main stages:

  • From Bangkok to Trat Province: Travelers can fly from Bangkok to Trat Airport (TDX) for a quicker route, or opt for a bus, taxi, or minivan from Bangkok to Trat for a more budget-conscious approach.
  • From Trat to Koh Kood:
    • From Trat or Trat Airport, a transfer to Laem Sok Pier is necessary.
    • From the pier, you can board a ferry, catamaran, or speedboat directly to Koh Kood.
    • Reputable boat companies, such as Boonsiri, often provide full transfer services from Bangkok or Trat Airport to Ao Salad Pier in Koh Kood.
    • Upon arrival at Ao Salad Pier, hotel staff typically arrange songthaew (converted pick-up truck taxis) transfers to your accommodation. The journey from the pier to resorts can take 30-40 minutes, depending on other pick-ups.
  • Exclusive Luxury Transfer: For guests of the ultra-luxurious Soneva Kiri, private plane transfers are available from Bangkok, landing on a private airstrip on a neighboring island, followed by a speedboat transfer to the resort itself. This exclusive access underscores its remote and tranquil setting.

III. Getting Around the Island

Once on Koh Kood, the most common and convenient method for exploration is via scooter rentals, which are affordable and provide significant freedom to discover the island at your own pace. While scooters are recommended, it’s important to note that the island is not entirely walkable. Some beaches may have challenging access, requiring navigation through “odd places” or walking through resort grounds to reach them. For guests at Soneva Kiri, personal electric buggies are provided for navigating the extensive 102-acre property.

IV. Where to Stay: Reviewed Luxury & Beachfront Options

Koh Kood offers a spectrum of approximately 130 accommodation options, predominantly situated on its west coast. Room prices on Koh Kood are generally higher than on Koh Chang and Koh Mak, making early booking advisable, especially during peak season.

Luxury (High-End Options)

  • Soneva Kiri: As the most luxurious and exclusive hotel on Koh Kood, Soneva Kiri offers unparalleled privacy with sprawling villas featuring infinity pools, outdoor bathrooms, and personal butlers. Its prices range from approximately 45,000 Thai Baht per night up to 457,000 Thai Baht for larger villas. The resort is highly regarded for its eco-conscious practices and unique dining experiences, such as treetop pods where waiters deliver dishes via zipline.
  • High Season Pool Villa & Spa: Located directly on Klong Chao Beach, this resort is consistently the highest-rated hotel on Tripadvisor in Koh Kood. It provides a wide selection of pool villas, ranging from 12,000thb to 23,000thb. High Season is ideal for those who wish to socialize, featuring a High Moon Bar perfect for sunset views.
  • Tinkerbell Privacy: Holding a prime position on Klong Chao Beach, this resort offers beachfront villas and options with small private pools, replacing direct sea views.

Boutique & Mid-Range (3/4 Star)

  • The Beach Natural Resort: Consistently highly rated for cleanliness, comfort, location, and staff. Reviewers describe it as “fabulously relaxing” with “beautiful beach views”. Located at the northern end of Bang Bao Beach, it offers various villas, though not all include communal pools. The food is generally considered “very good and well priced,” with staff praised as “awesome” and providing “warm hospitality”. Prices range from 7,800thb to 23,000thb in peak season.
  • Hideout Koh Kood: This simple yet stylish boutique resort is tucked away on a rocky outcrop near Klonghin Beach, providing “luxury on a budget”. It features a beautiful main pool, free kayaking, paddle boards, and yoga sessions. The resort gained stunning pool villas in 2024, with prices for Beachfront Private Pool Villas in high season between 9,000thb-11,000thb, including breakfast. Staff are friendly and responsive via WhatsApp.
  • Peter Pan Resort: Situated on a “wonderful beach” with “stunning” views from its bar, Peter Pan Resort is right on the coast of “the island’s best beach”. Staff are generally “friendly and helpful”. However, some reviews indicate rooms can be “run down,” “tired looking,” or “basic” with “cracks and chips,” and occasional “sewerage odour” from bathroom drains. WiFi connectivity can also be poor. It offers free kayaks. Despite some negative reviews online, one guest in March 2025 found their pool and sea view room “incredibly clean, comfortable, and met all of our expectations,” praising the staff’s exceptional hospitality and the “phenomenal” breakfast.
  • Captain Hook Resort: Accessed solely by sea in Klong Yai Kee, this resort offers a private setting, a swimming pool, and its own beach.
  • Shantaa: Boasts “fabulous seaviews” from its elevated position in Ao Tapao, combining romantic villas with an infinity pool and beach bar.

V. Things to Do on Koh Kood

Koh Kood offers a blend of relaxation and adventure:

  • Relax on Pristine Beaches: Discover stunning beaches like Ao Tapao Beach, renowned for its clear waters. Other beautiful and quiet beaches are scattered across the island, such as Klong Chao Beach.
  • Chase Waterfalls: Visit Klong Chao Waterfall for a refreshing swim and picturesque views.
  • Water Activities:
    • Kayaking & Paddleboarding: Rent kayaks to explore mangroves, deserted beaches, or find snorkeling spots. Hideout Koh Kood provides these for free to guests.
    • Snorkeling: Explore the abundant marine life underwater.
    • Diving: Paradise Divers is a recommended place for obtaining a diving license.
  • Explore Local Villages: Visit Ao Salad or Ao Yai fishing villages for an insight into the traditional, quieter side of Koh Kood.

VI. The Food Scene

The island’s food scene features authentic Thai cuisine, including massaman curry, fresh seafood, and mango sticky rice. Dining options vary from independent roadside food stalls (which are budget-friendly) to more upscale resort restaurants.

  • Resort Dining Highlights:
    • Peter Pan Resort’s beachfront restaurant is noted for its “killer seafood”. A dinner for two with drinks can cost around 600thb.
    • Hideout Koh Kood offers a good quality breakfast buffet with Thai and international choices, and reasonably priced lunch/dinner options. Their bar serves cocktails, juices, and coconuts.
    • The Beach Natural Resort generally provides “very good and well priced” food, though some guests noted slow service or inconsistent Thai food quality.
    • Rim Lay Resort serves fresh, flavorful, and reasonably priced Thai dishes, with a focus on local seafood.
  • Breakfast Variety: While some resorts, like Peter Pan, have received feedback about limited breakfast options for Europeans, Hideout offers a buffet with both Thai and international choices.

VII. Best Time to Visit & Weather Insights

The dry season, from November to March, is the optimal time to visit Koh Kood, offering clear skies, calm waters, and strong sun. During the off-season (wet season), prices for accommodations drop significantly, and beaches are less crowded. However, travelers should be prepared for rain, as not many islands are considered pleasant during this period.

Sandflies are more likely to appear “an hour before sunset”. They are less prevalent on actively raked beaches, but it is still advisable to bring repellent during the low season.

VIII. Practical Tips & What to Know

  • Booking Early: Accommodation prices on Koh Kood are “considerably higher than on Koh Chang and Koh Mak”. Booking early is highly recommended to secure preferred choices and the best deals, especially during high season. Midweek stays can sometimes offer lower prices.
  • Researching Hotels: It is advised to “do a lot of research by reading the negative reviews on Google, Tripadvisor, Booking, and Agoda” to manage expectations, as some hotels may appear “tired looking” or “showing their age” despite their price points.
  • Mobile Connectivity: AIS 4G “works perfectly” on the island.
  • Stray Dogs: There are “a lot” of dogs (around 700) on the island, mostly friendly, but they “can be dangerous during the night”. Locals navigate this without major issues. Some suggest that islands with a Muslim majority might have fewer stray dogs. Visitors might consider donating to a local rescue dog shelter.
  • Accessibility: Some resorts, such as Hideout Koh Kood, have reception areas with multiple stairs, which may not be “ideal for any visitors with mobility issues”.
  • Environmental Responsibility: A review for Peter Pan Resort highlighted the need for reduced plastic use (e.g., plastic straws, water bottles) and suggested providing filtered water as an alternative.

IX. Beyond Tourism: A Look at Sustainability and Development

The discourse around Koh Kood’s status as a “secret paradise” reveals concerns about increasing tourism and development, even for luxury properties.

  • Eco-Conscious Practices (e.g., Soneva Kiri):
    • There is a growing market for sustainable tourism, with 43% of travelers willing to pay extra for certified sustainable options.
    • Soneva Kiri exemplifies this by recycling 90% of its waste through “Waste-to-Wealth” facilities.
    • The resort operates organic gardens for fresh produce, reducing reliance on external suppliers.
    • It promotes water conservation by providing filtered drinking water in reusable glass bottles, with a portion of revenue supporting clean water projects globally.
    • Soneva Kiri actively engages in reforestation, having planted over 500,000 trees in Thailand, which enhances biodiversity and reduces CO2 emissions. They also work to reintroduce hornbills, which are vital for seed spreading and forest biodiversity on Koh Kood.
  • The “Secret Paradise” Debate & Development:
    • Despite its remote location, some perceive Koh Kood as no longer a “secret,” citing increasing numbers of Russian and Chinese tourists. It is already featured in guidebooks and known to local taxi drivers.
    • Concerns exist about certain beaches becoming “overcrowded with hotels”. One user noted it was “already overcrowded compared to, say, 15 months ago”.
    • The Thai government’s planned “new Eastern coast transport system” is anticipated to further increase tourism.
    • However, most of the island’s land is government-owned, making large-scale building difficult and contributing to its quieter status. The “island administration is harsh” on mass tourism and vendor boats, suggesting efforts to control development.
    • The presence of a private airport for Soneva Resort, while currently exclusive, hints at potential for broader accessibility changes.

X. Conclusion: Is Koh Kood For You?

Koh Kood presents a compelling option for those desiring a Thai island experience that blends stunning natural beauty with a relaxed, less-developed atmosphere. Its range of accommodations, from the ultra-luxury of Soneva Kiri to the charming boutique Hideout and the highly-rated Beach Natural Resort, caters to diverse preferences while ensuring access to pristine beachfronts.

While considering a visit, remember the importance of booking early to secure your preferred beachfront resort and to review past guest feedback for realistic expectations regarding older properties. Navigating the island is best done via scooter, offering the freedom to explore its waterfalls, fishing villages, and quiet coves.

Ultimately, whether you seek a secluded, high-end retreat or a tranquil, active island holiday, Koh Kood promises a memorable experience that justifies its journey.