AWA Resort (02-261-6364, www.awakohchang.com) recently opened on Koh Chang’s Kai Bae Beach, 700 meters from its sister resort, The Dewa. The beachfront retreat’s contemporary blue-and-white theme is given some warmth in the form of oriental art pieces on the walls and Chinese-style tea pots. There are five room types ranging from a 40-sq-meter superior hillside suite to a 108-sq-meter beachfront suite. Through Dec 23, rates are B33,360 per night for a superior room and B14,500 for a beachfront suite. 

 

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KHAO LAK

Monkey Dive

High-end beach destination Khao Lak recently welcomed an alternative accommodation option, Monkey Dive (081-956-5654, www.monkeydivekhaolak.com). Under a diving theme, the design hostel is decked out in vibrant colors and graphics of underwater creatures, offering three room types: a private fan room for two people at a mere B500 per night, an air-con dorm room with four beds at B350 per bed and a bungalow with air-con and private bathroom for two people at B900-1,000 per night. There’s also a café on-site.