Cham's House

With the Gulf of Thailand lapping on the white sands of Hin Klong Beach, and the surrounding leafy, verdant jungle bursting with wildlife, Cham’s House is set in a picture-perfect image of a tropical paradise. The hotel itself is a modern construction with clean lines, sleek furnishings, and lots of windows providing views over the stunning landscape. There are the occasional splashes of color from vibrant local fabrics. Leading out from the lobby is a water feature -- most dramatic when it's lit at night -- which points the way to an oval infinity pool with jungle views and a terrace with slouchy, bright-orange loungers. Down by the beach, the hotel’s bar and restaurant has a soaring ceiling held aloft by a complex network of wooden struts and supports, and tables and chairs that spill out onto the sand. Like the individual rooms, this property is expansive, but golf carts are provided to make getting around easier. Cham’s House primarily attracts couples looking for a break away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the world.

Wedged between the jungle and the ocean, Cham’s House is isolated, to say the least. While there are a few restaurants and shops dotted along the coastal road that goes around Ko Kut, there is no real town on the island. That said, guests don't come here for nightlife. The hotel runs a shuttle bus service that drives the 10 minutes to Klong Chao waterfall and back, and there are a number of secret coves dotted around the coast that can only be reached by kayak. The easiest way to get to the island is to fly to Trat Airport from Bangkok, and then travel an hour overland to Laem Sok Pier. From here, guests can either arrange a private transfer directly to Cham’s House, or get the daily public ferry service to Nam Leuk Pier, a 20-minute drive from Cham’s House.

Rooms and villas at Cham’s House are all bright and attractive, with slightly varying decor that's a contemporary take on tropical style. Expect rattan king-size bed frames, wooden furniture, light concrete floors, white walls, and pops of red or blue in striped curtains, wall hanging, and/or bedding. While every room has a big private terrace, Grand Deluxe Rooms have small hot tubs built into theirs, which look out over the jungle and distant ocean. Slick bathrooms have black mosaic tiling, rainfall showers, and range of toiletries. High-end standard amenities include flat-screen satellite TVs, Bose iPod docks, Illy espresso machines, safes, minibars, totes with pool towels, and free Wi-Fi, although guests report it can be spotty.More upmarket still are villas, which are housed in large, octagonal buildings with high-vaulted ceilings and more extensive decoration. Tropical Villas face the jungle, while Beachfront Villas face the nearby ocean. Many of the villas come with their own private swimming pool, and they all have large bathrooms with rainfall showers and separate deep soaking tub that's somewhat open to the elements. 

The focus at Cham’s House is very much the ocean, with free loungers under umbrellas along the beautiful beach, free beach yoga and work-out sessions, and free snorkeling lessons and water-sports equipment. There is also a free shuttle bus up to Klong Chao waterfall, plus mopeds can be rented from the front desk. Overlooking the ocean and the jungle is a striking oval infinity pool, set in a terrace with plush orange loungers. For further relaxation, a spa offers Thai massages and wellness treatments. Two restaurants are located on-site -- one down by the beach and one up by the main building and pool. Both serve a mix of Thai and European cuisine, while the bar serves cocktails and snacks into the evening. However, some guests feel that the food is not up to scratch for this class of hotel. Additionally, although free Wi-Fi is provided throughout Cham’s House, some guests have reported difficulties getting online.