BP Samila Beach — Songkhla's only beachfront hotel, where opening your door means facing the sea
If there's one reason people choose BP Samila Beach Hotel & Resort, it's the location — this is one of very few hotels in Songkhla sitting right on Samila Beach, so a sea-view room means drawing the curtains to the bay and the famous Mermaid statue right in front of you · a 4-star hotel with 208 rooms, each with a private balcony, two swimming pools and the beach just steps away · it's a veteran property open since the late 1990s, so its charm is the view and position, not newness · from approx. ฿1,400/night · score 8.7 from 41 reviews
BP Samila Beach Hotel & Resort sits on Ratchadamnoen Road in the Bo Yang quarter, right on Samila Beach on the Songkhla-city side · what sets it apart from other hotels in town is that it's one of very few sitting directly on Samila Beach, with true sea-view rooms and the sand just a few steps away · the tall, pale tower looks out over the bay and the Mermaid statue that has become Songkhla's symbol · for anyone who wants to wake up to the sea in Songkhla city, there is essentially only one choice.
The hotel has been open since around 1995 and has 208 rooms, each with a private balcony · the sea-view rooms are what guests talk about most — step onto the balcony and the whole of Samila Bay opens up, especially at sunrise · rooms are a decent size and some have been refurbished and are nice and clean · but understand that this is a veteran hotel: some rooms still look dated, with furniture and bathrooms less modern than newer-built hotels — when booking, ask for a refurbished room and prioritise the sea-facing side.
"Opened the curtains in the morning to the sea and the Mermaid statue right there, walked straight down to the beach. Worth it for the view — the hotel's a little old but for this price and location it's fine."
The facilities cover everything you need for a seaside stay · there are two swimming pools, a restaurant, a bar, free parking and Wi-Fi throughout · breakfast earns praise for variety and for offering halal options for Muslim travellers, with fresh fruit and southern-Thai local dishes · while some reviews note the breakfast menu gets a bit repetitive over several nights, it's filling overall and does the job before a day out.
Location is the real trump card · it's an easy walk to the Mermaid statue, Sai Kaew Beach and the length of Samila Beach, and a short drive to Khao Tang Kuan, Khao Noi and Songkhla old town on Nang Ngam Road · in the evening you can stroll the shore, watch locals picnic, or sit down to seafood at a beachside eatery · it scores 8.7 from 41 Trip.com reviews, while TripAdvisor rates it around 3.3 out of 5, ranked #6 of 30 hotels in Songkhla — reflecting that people love the location and view but shouldn't expect much in the way of newness.
To be honest, the thing to accept is that the hotel has aged and parts of it look worn over time · reviews mention peeling paint, a musty smell in some rooms, uncomfortable pillows and slippery showers without grab bars · front-desk and cafe staff can be less attentive than you'd like, and there's some language barrier · if you're after a shiny new hotel with premium service, this may not be your place · but if what you want is a sea-view room on Samila Beach at an accessible price, waking up to the sea and walking straight onto the sand — BP Samila is still hard to replace in Songkhla.
A tip from following reviews here for a while: pay a little extra for a sea-facing Sea View room and ask for a refurbished one, because that's the entire value of staying here · stepping onto the balcony to watch sunrise over Samila Bay is the prettiest moment of the day · over long holidays and festivals the sea-view rooms fill fast, so book ahead, lock in a free-cancellation rate first, then compare prices across platforms.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Beachfront location on Samila Beach, walk to the Mermaid statue and sand
- ✓ Sea-view rooms open to Samila Bay with sunrise over the water
- ✓ Two swimming pools and free parking
- ✓ Varied breakfast with halal options and southern-Thai dishes
- ! An older hotel, parts look worn with peeling paint
- ! Some rooms have a musty smell and uncomfortable pillows
- ! Front-desk staff can be less attentive, with a language barrier
- ✓ Sea view and beachfront position hard to replace in Songkhla
- ✓ Spacious rooms, some refurbished and clean
- ✓ Good value given the view and beachfront location
- ✓ Easy to stroll and take photos around Samila Beach
- ! A veteran hotel — furniture and bathrooms aren't modern
- ! Slippery showers with no grab bars in some rooms
- ! Breakfast menu gets repetitive over several nights
- 💡If you expect a shiny, modern hotel with premium service — BP Samila has been open since the late 1990s, with some dated rooms and uneven service → if you prioritise newness, consider a more recently built 4-star in Hat Yai
- 💡If you book without specifying the view side — a non-sea-facing room misses the main value here → pay extra for a sea-facing Sea View room and request a refurbished one
- 💡If you want to be among dense shopping and dining — this is on the beach on the Songkhla-city side, not central Hat Yai → if shopping and nightlife matter most, a hotel in central Hat Yai is more convenient