Diamond Plaza Hotel Surat Thani — the downtown high-rise travellers passing through still book again
If you are about to cross over to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, or simply need a night in central Surat Thani, the name Diamond Plaza Hotel is one locals know well · It is a 20-storey tower on Sriwichai Road that has been open since 2001 · This is not a sleek new boutique stay, but a large city hotel with 400-plus rooms, an outdoor pool, gym, free parking, and a location near the malls — from around ฿700/night · Real guest reviews agree it is good value for what it is, as long as you know what you are booking.
Diamond Plaza Hotel has been operating since 2001 and is one of the tallest, most familiar buildings to Surat Thani residents · It sits on Sriwichai Road in Makham Tia, near Central Plaza and Lotus · A major renovation in 2019 freshened parts of it, but the overall feel is still that of an older hotel · This is not a design-led boutique stay — it is a 20-storey city hotel with 400-plus rooms that does its job well, with everything a one- or two-night guest needs.
Rooms range from Deluxe Twin/Double (24–32 sqm) up to Junior Suite and President Suite · What surprises many guests is that the rooms are cleaner than the building's exterior suggests — "old building but very clean room" comes up often in reviews · Rooms are spacious, beds are comfortable, hot-water pressure is good, and Wi-Fi is fast enough for streaming · The trade-off is dated furniture and decor that hasn't kept up with newer hotels.
"The building looks old from outside so I didn't expect much, but the room was clean, the bed comfortable, the air-con cold and the staff helpful — at this price in central Surat Thani it's more than fair."
One thing reviewers consistently praise is the large, clear outdoor swimming pool, which has a separate children's pool — handy for families travelling with kids · There is also a gym, a massage room and a grand, spacious lobby · The restaurant serves Thai food and a breakfast buffet · Breakfast reviews are mixed — some find it varied and tasty, others say it's gone cold if you arrive late or the spread is smaller than expected · A local tip is to walk across the street for a Surat-style dim sum breakfast, easy to find around here.
Location is the main reason people choose it · It's on Sriwichai Road near Central Plaza and Lotus, within walking distance of the mall · It's an especially convenient base for anyone about to take the road transfer to the Don Sak pier to cross over to Koh Samui or Koh Phangan · The hotel offers airport transfers and helps book tours and ferry tickets · Be aware, though, that this area sits a little outside the old town centre — nights are quiet and there isn't much to see right around it, so most people stay here in transit rather than to explore the city.
To be honest, per real guest sentiment: Diamond Plaza is an older property that is reasonably maintained, but not every room is in the same condition · Some reviews mention thin walls and noise from the next room, motorcycle noise in road-facing rooms, and the occasional rattling air-con · If you hit a problem, ask to change rooms — reviews say staff are helpful · Guests who are disappointed usually expected a brand-new 4-star standard, while those who understand they're booking a long-running, budget-friendly 3-star city hotel tend to be satisfied.
In short, if you want an affordable place in central Surat Thani with a pool, a restaurant and free parking, and a location that makes onward road and ferry connections easy — and you're relaxed about modern design — Diamond Plaza delivers · Its 9.0 score from 146 Trip.com reviews captures the picture accurately: "good value, good location, old but clean" · It works best as a one-night stopover before island-hopping, rather than a destination in itself.
A tip from following the reviews here: ask for a higher-floor room that doesn't face the road when booking or at check-in — interior rooms are much quieter and don't catch the motorcycle noise from Sriwichai Road · And if you're up early, don't rely on the hotel buffet alone — walk across the street for local dim sum, the breakfast Surat Thani residents actually eat.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Central location near Central Plaza and Lotus, within walking distance
- ✓ Large, clear swimming pool with a separate kids' pool
- ✓ Rooms cleaner than the exterior suggests
- ✓ Ample free parking; staff help book ferry tickets and transfers
- ! Dated building and decor — not a modern design hotel
- ! Road-facing rooms catch motorcycle noise
- ! Limited breakfast options on some days
- ✓ Spacious rooms, comfortable beds, good hot-water pressure
- ✓ Fast Wi-Fi, easily good enough for streaming
- ✓ Very convenient stopover before crossing to Koh Samui / Koh Phangan
- ✓ Polite, professional and helpful staff
- ! Thin walls let neighbour noise through
- ! The area sits outside the old town centre — quiet at night with little nearby
- ! Some reviews mention a rattling air-con and inconsistent room condition
- 💡If you expect a brand-new, modern 4-star hotel — this is a 2001 building renovated in 2019, with an older feel → if newness matters to you, look at a more modern property
- 💡If you're coming to explore Surat Thani city as your main destination — the Sriwichai Road area sits outside the old centre, quiet at night with little around → if you're focused on the islands, use this as a one-night stopover then cross over
- 💡If you're a light sleeper — walls are fairly thin and road-facing rooms catch motorcycle noise → ask for a higher-floor interior room away from Sriwichai Road when you book