BANANAS BUNGALOWS
Bananas is a secluded paradise in an otherwise hectic and tourist-ridden region of Thailand. Hidden away in the small village of Ban Tha Lane, Bananas has a prime position on the waterfront, surrounded by mangroves and with views out to limestone islets jutting out of the turquoise water that the west coast of Thailand is so famous for.
Bananas is the sort of place you visit for one night and stay for a week without even noticing. While it is remote, the owner of this property has gone above and beyond to provide everything you could possibly need during your stay. Activites such as kayaking through the mangroves, island hopping day trips and motorbike hire can all be organised without ever leaving the property. Longtail boats for the day trips leave from Bananas own wharf and transfers to other islands or the more populous towns of Krabi and Ao Nang can be organized from nearby Tha Lane Wharf. The only downside of this is that there is no bargaining over the prices for these services. You either accept them or not.
The communal area of Bananas has a relaxed vibe with hammocks and bamboo tables scattered around and for those who need the connection to the outside world, an excellent wifi connection! A long wooden wharf leads out to the waterfront where more hammocks and a few deckchairs sit, inviting the traveller to relax in seclusion with only the sounds of the mangroves to disturb you.
Bananas is the sort of place you visit for one night and stay for a week without even noticing. While it is remote, the owner of this property has gone above and beyond to provide everything you could possibly need during your stay. Activites such as kayaking through the mangroves, island hopping day trips and motorbike hire can all be organised without ever leaving the property. Longtail boats for the day trips leave from Bananas own wharf and transfers to other islands or the more populous towns of Krabi and Ao Nang can be organized from nearby Tha Lane Wharf. The only downside of this is that there is no bargaining over the prices for these services. You either accept them or not.
The communal area of Bananas has a relaxed vibe with hammocks and bamboo tables scattered around and for those who need the connection to the outside world, an excellent wifi connection! A long wooden wharf leads out to the waterfront where more hammocks and a few deckchairs sit, inviting the traveller to relax in seclusion with only the sounds of the mangroves to disturb you.
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The onsite restaurant kitchen is open all day until 5pm and offers a good selection of Thai and Western food at reasonable prices. Every night there is a communal buffet dinner for 150 Baht which is usually a simple yet delicious meal consisting of rice, a meat/seafood/tofu dish and selection of fruit for dessert.
The bungalows themselves range from the most civilized stone bungalows complete with air conditioning and ensuite to the rustic, traditional Thai bamboo bungalows and finally a mixed dormitory sleeping up to eight people. I rented one of only two single person bungalows consisting of a single mattress (with mosquito net), a fan, power points and a cute shaded balcony. The bungalow was a perfect size for a single traveller and even provided some coat hangers and hanging space, which is a rarity in budget accommodation these days! The only downside about the bungalows was the cleanliness. Due to the bungalows being built purely of bamboo, every surface inside was dusty and looked as if it had never been properly cleaned. Items left out during the day had a dusting of yellow by the afternoon and left me wondering what I was breathing in just by sleeping inside it. This was slightly concerning and not exactly pleasant to have dust on your clean clothes and belongings but with a little bit of TLC this could very easily be rectified to some extent. |
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The two shared bathrooms were spotlessly clean, open-air bathrooms that provided hot water all day. The best part is that because they are only used by four bungalows, I didn’t once have to wait to use the showers and/or toilets.
Overall Bananas Bungalows is a great place to explore the surrounding area either by boat, scooter or kayak or alternatively, do nothing at all other than enjoy the peaceful, natural surroundings of this beautiful location.
Overall Bananas Bungalows is a great place to explore the surrounding area either by boat, scooter or kayak or alternatively, do nothing at all other than enjoy the peaceful, natural surroundings of this beautiful location.
The sunset view from Bananas Bungalows is a sight to behold