Golden Buddha Beach Resort

Frequently Asked Questions

The Golden Buddha Experience

Koh Phra Thong is very remote and completely isolated from the mainland infrastructure. What level of luxury can I expect?

• To start with, you are likely to get your feet wet! The resort has no jetty and therefore you will need to wade through shallow water to reach dry land. Unlike other locations, the resort is positioned in the midst of shady tropical forest. As such, you will be able to enjoy some magnificent wildlife on your doorstep (monitor lizards, hornbills and monkeys) but also occasionally contend with some not so pleasant habitants such as mosquitoes and pesky little “no see ems”. All beds have protective netting for a good night’s sleep. Snacks, toothpaste and the like should be put away during the day to minimize temptation for the monkeys.
• All the accommodation is comfortable. Air conditioning is not used but is compensated for by the sea breeze. There is no television but sunsets provide the best early evening show you could wish for. Power is available 6-11 PM for personal equipment. There is no hot water heating system (although most of us find a cool shower to be more preferable in the tropics).
• The very remoteness of the island provides a form of luxury that is becoming more difficult to find. The beach extends for over 10km and there are no other resorts on the island to share it. At Golden Buddha Beach Resort you can truly be alone with nature.

When is electricity available at the resort?

• From 6pm until 11pm in the houses and 7am – 11pm in the clubhouse
• As an eco resort located on a remote tropical island, we must generate our own power.  We operate our generators supplying electricity to each house. Most of our guests have found this sufficient for their personal needs. Limiting the hours when we run the generator helps to conserve resources and reduce damage to the environment. Occasionally we will run the generators outside of the normal hours, but for the most part only expect electricity during the evenings.

Do the rooms have air conditioning?

• Air conditioning is not used but is compensated for by the cooling sea breeze

Are there other places I can eat on the island?

• We are a very remote location with no shops. There is one other place to eat which is a 25 – 30 minute walk round a sandy bay (dependent on tides). As an absolute minimum we would recommend taking breakfast in the Golden Buddha Banburi restaurant.  Please let us know if you would like to do something different, as we are able to arrange picnics and serve you dinner in your home for a small charge.

What time is food served?

• Breakfast: 7am – 10.00 am
• Lunch: 12.30 – 2.30pm
• Dinner: 7.30pm
• We are able to offer earlier meals with kids or those found starving on the beach!

Are you able to cater for vegetarians?

• Yes. Please let us know as soon as you arrive so we can cater for your needs.

Do you serve some western style dishes for children?

• Yes we are able to serve simple dishes such as Pizza, Pasta and chicken and chips for children. Please let us know once you arrive and we will be able to accommodate your culinary needs.

What should I bring?

• We recommend traveling light. It’s a long trip, getting on and off planes cars and boats. The resort will be able to provide many items that you need to enjoy the island. We have a small shop with fisherman pants, T-shirts, sarongs and nice gift items for your friends working back home. Our dress code is very casual; however, shirts are required at all meals. Remember, most Thai are quite modest, so plan on wearing a cover-up to the beach.
• Bring as a minimum:
  • Bathing suit
  • Shorts
  • T-shirts
  • Beach cover-up or sarong
  • 1-2 pairs of long pants (trousers)
  • Good walking shoes for forest walks
  • Flip-flops for the beach
  • Flashlight (torch)
  • Suntan oil
  • Film or memory for your camera
  • Important personal medicines and supplies
  • Mosquito repellent
  • We provide linens, soap and shampoo. We also rent masks and fins for snorkeling.
  • Please remember there are no shops on Koh Phra Thong!

Do I need to bring a torch?

• Golden Buddha has plenty of torches and lamps for you to use but please feel free to bring your own

Can I get my laundry done at Golden Buddha?

• We provide laundry service for a reasonable fee.
• However, remember, we cannot guarantee service in less than 2 nights. Please tell us if you need your laundry back quickly. We will do everything we can to be accommodating.  All clothes are washed by hand and dried in the sun.  We are unable to accept responsibility for damage to expensive items submitted for washing.  Please bring only simple, casual clothing and leave your Gucci bag at home!

Is nudity permitted at the resort?

• No. It is not acceptable in Thai culture and therefore it is not acceptable at Golden Buddha Beach.

Do you provide beach towels or should I bring my own?

• Due to requests from our guests we now provide beach towels and rattan beach mats.
• As an eco-friendly resort focusing on nature and the environment, we do our best to conserve our natural resource including fresh water. Sheets and towels are changed every third day. We now provide oversized beach towels; however, by simply shaking out the sand and using another day, our guests can easily contribute to preserving the natural resources

Can I access the internet at Golden Buddha?

• Yes, we do but please do not plan upon an extensive Internet service.
• We use a satellite system, which is neither totally reliable nor inexpensive. However, you will be able to check for urgent messages and send brief notes to the boss to show that you care.  We suggest that you plan to use the email functions on your mobile phone. We have wireless service provided by Meraki that can be used in the clubhouse area if your laptop computer has browser functionality.  We provide free wireless for 60 minutes each day to our paying guests. Additional service will require a credit card.

Can I use my mobile phone at Golden Buddha?

• Yes. Mobile phone coverage is now available on the island.
• Inexpensive Happy and 1-2-Call SIM cards are available at most 7/Eleven shops in Thailand.  DTAC (Happy prepaid) and AIS (1-2-Call) recently activated mobile phone cells near the resort and provide service from 8am to 10pm using solar power.  Internet service via your mobile phone capable of GPRS/EDGE is good value.  Using 1-2-Call, you get a promotional rate for internet on your mobile by entering *139# and then press “send”; this permits 20 hours of service for only 100 baht.   Alternatively, using Happy, you get a similar rate by sending an SMS

Do you have a swimming pool?

• No. By not having a swimming pool, we do not waste energy and use chemicals purifying water.
• Our alternative is over 10 kilometers of pristine beach on the Andaman Sea plus a private lagoon and bay.

Are there facilities for children?

• Children have been enjoying the resort for many years.
• Youngsters and adults alike can enjoy many activities. However, it should be emphasized that the remoteness of the island may not lend itself to accommodate some children and thus it might not be the right holiday spot for your family. There are no medical facilities on the island and an emergency evacuation may be costly.
• The journey is long and once on the island specialist services and/or special food will not be available. We suggest you contact us directly before considering bringing very young children and babies. Our staff love children of all ages and we have had many happy families with very young children, but it may not be for yours. For 400 baht/3 hours, our staff can mind your children permitting you some private moments together.
• Similarly, teenagers may find the lack of shopping, TV and computers too much for them.  If they are not the outdoors types, this may not be their ideal holiday spot.

Is currency exchange available?

• There are no banks, foreign currency exchange services or even shops on the island.

How can I pay at the resort?

• At the resort we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express credit cards and cash (Thai baht only).  Debit cards generally will not process as we have no means of entering your PIN; please check with your bank before leaving home if you wish to use a debit card. Credit card charges are processed in US dollars. We make the conversion from Thai baht on the date of processing, which may be delayed, for as many as two weeks after your departure from the resort. The conversion is calculated at the current international credit card rate.

Where are the nearest shops?

• There are no shops on Koh Phra Thong. The nearest shops are in Kuraburi Town on the mainland, which is approximately 2 hours away.

Can I bring a hair dryer?

• Please do not use hair dryers or other energy intensive appliances.  This is a laid back kind of place and a few extra curls are cool!

How can I be contacted if there is an emergency at home?

• Our resort manager is Pena and she can be reached by telephone: +66 8 1892 2208 (and +66 8 1919 5228) outside of Thailand and 08 1892 2208 from within Thailand.

What procedures do you have in place for Tsunami warnings?

• There are currently 2 separate systems. The first is the old system, which is a link up of mobile phones that are activated from a central Tsunami warning system.
• The new system is somewhat more sophisticated with HF radio and satellite receiver and link up which is attached to a speaker system in the clubhouse. It also has its own solar powered power source and battery back which means it does not need to rely on our power grid.
• We have 3 safe locations approximately 5 minutes from any house on Golden Buddha for any Tsunami warning and a full set of procedures to manage any situation.

You say you are an Eco Resort? What does this mean and how do you substantiate this?

• Please read our PDF on our approach to Responsible Travel

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