An easy walk to Surin Beach
Excellent food cooked-to-order
Western or Thai breakfast served until early afternoon
Outdoor pool features a sun deck
Thai massage and cooking classes available upon request
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Free on-site parking
Bathrooms have few toiletries
No in-room safes
No fitness center
The three-pearl Pen Villa Hotel is a family-run hotel with 15 rooms. It has the feel of a guesthouse, and offers excellent home-cooked food and personal attention from the owners. Located on the slopes of Surin Hill, in a quiet area surrounded by luxury vacation homes, the atmosphere is quiet. While the property is older, it's immaculately kept; rooms are huge and bright, with enormous balconies or terraces -- but TVs are of the older flat-panel variety.
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Scene
Quiet, spacious, and relaxed leisure hotel with delicious home cooking
The Pen Villa Hotel is a quiet, family-run
property with the personal feel of a guesthouse. The owners have
created a relaxed, familial feel that attracts long-term visitors, thus explaining the number of repeat guests. Breakfast is served until early afternoon, and is cooked-to-order by the owner; guests can stick with Western eggs or try a Thai-style
breakfast (with advance notice). There's no set menu at lunchtime; the chef goes to the market each
day for the freshest local ingredients and cooks whatever guests would like to
eat. In the evening, the owners serve cocktails and offer tastes of their malt
whisky collection. The grounds are beautifully green and spacious, and although the property is older, everything is
immaculate. There are no organized activities, but the hotel can arrange for Thai massages, rental cars, cooking classes, and sightseeing tours.
Location
In the quiet Surin Hills, a quick and easy walk from Surin beach
The Pen Villa Hotel is located in the Surin Hills, in a private enclave of luxury homes, far enough away from the main road
for peace and quiet, but close enough that there are a 7-Eleven and
several restaurants within a two-minute walk. Surin Beach is an easy 10-minute
stroll from the property. The hotel offers free parking, and rental
cars and mopeds can be arranged through the front desk. There are many interesting sights and beaches within a short
drive, including the Thalang National Museum, which is 15 minutes away, and the Buried Golden Buddha
Temple (Wat Phra Tong), which is a 20-minute drive from the hotel. The airport is half an hour away by car.
Rooms
Huge rooms with large balconies and pretty garden views
Rooms at the Pen Villa are enormous, with hardwood floors and rattan furniture made in Southern Thailand. Rooms are air-conditioned and come with flat-panel TVs and mini-fridges, but they lack safes; there is, however, a safe at the front desk for guests' use. Room decor is airy and sparse, but authentic, with large picture windows and humongous balconies or terraces decorated with lovely Thai wall paintings. All the rooms overlook the pool and gardens, and there are no noise problems. Corner rooms offer more privacy. Family Rooms have kitchenettes with microwaves, but not stoves. Bathrooms are big but simple, with wall-mounted soap and shampoo dispensers. Bathrooms in all Standard Double, Twin, and Triple Rooms were renovated in 2016: blue floor tiles were replaced with white, white stone counters were added, and pretty wall mosaics decorate the shower areas.
Features
Outdoor pool, food cooked to-order, and Thai massage -- little else
The Pen Villa Hotel features a pleasant outdoor pool
with lounge chairs on a spacious deck lit for evening swimming. There is plenty of
terrace space, and breakfast is served outside until early afternoon.
Each meal is cooked to-order by the owner, who is an excellent chef, and guests
can choose a Western-style breakfast or try some authentic Thai cuisine made with fresh ingredients purchased from the local market the same morning. There's also a casual bar with a few bar stools off to one side of the sunny, simple dining room. Cooking classes and even
market trips can be arranged upon request, as can Thai massage.
