Huan Soontaree, Rayong — a warm little resort in Ban Phe, your base before Koh Samet

Who Huan Soontaree is right for — the shortest way to put it: Huan Soontaree Resort is a place for people who want a "warm little home in a garden" to stay before or after a Koh Samet trip, rather than a luxury beachfront resort selling grandeur · it's a small bungalow resort of roughly 28–32 rooms in the Ban Phe area, Phe sub-district, Mueang Rayong district — the point that nearly every traveller passes through before taking the boat across to Koh Samet · the draw here isn't luxury but warmth from owners who look after the place themselves, a quiet atmosphere in a green garden, and a location within a few minutes' walk of the pier · real reviews line up on who fits here: families bringing young kids for an unhurried beach trip, couples wanting somewhere quiet and easy on the wallet, and travellers who need one night before catching the morning boat to Koh Samet · another group that says they were impressed is people who once booked pricey accommodation on Koh Samet itself and felt staying on the Ban Phe side was better value, because they got a pool, a roomy space and good service for far less than on the island · on the flip side, if you're set on walking straight from your room down to the sea, or you really want a resort on white sand, this may not fit, because the resort itself isn't right on the beach · but for people who understand what they're booking — a small garden resort, good price, warm service, near the pier — Huan Soontaree does its job well enough to earn high review scores and hold a top spot in the Ban Phe area for years.

Location and getting around — this is what sets Huan Soontaree apart from the average Rayong stay · the resort sits at 88/8 Moo 5, Phe sub-district, Mueang Rayong district, in the Ban Phe area — a small seaside community that's the gateway to Koh Samet · the biggest plus is that it's only a few hundred metres from the Ban Phe pier; booking platforms list it as about 400 m from the Ban Phe ferry counter, with other main piers such as Chao Det and Nuanthip within 500–600 m · many foreign travellers in reviews say it's a "10 min walk to the pier", and there's a 7-Eleven nearby, which makes it very handy for crossing to Koh Samet in the morning · Suan Son Beach, Rayong's long, pine-shaded stretch of sand, is about 2–2.5 km away — an easy drive or bike ride · other Rayong sights such as Khao Laem Ya–Mu Koh Samet National Park and the Rayong Aquarium are also within a few kilometres · for longer trips: the resort is about 35–40 km from U-Tapao Airport (UTP), roughly a 40–50 min drive, and about an hour and a half to two hours from central Pattaya · one small note is that the Ban Phe area is a narrow, busy road on long weekends, so if you're driving yourself during holidays, allow extra time for traffic by the pier.

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Room types and decor — Huan Soontaree is a small bungalow resort with roughly 28–32 rooms spread across low-rise buildings amid a green garden · the rooms are simply furnished, leaning on cleanliness and being practical rather than luxe design · every room has air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a fridge/minibar, a private bathroom and free Wi-Fi · booking platforms note that many rooms have a private balcony and a desk, so you can sit out and catch the breeze in the garden · on the rooms, it's only fair to tell both sides: on the praise side, plenty of reviews say the rooms are clean, bigger than expected at this price, quiet and comfortable to sleep in — good for families travelling together · while on the caveat side, some reviews (early 2025, for instance) call the rooms and furniture fairly plain and "spartan", with beds on the firm side and basic balcony chairs · the bottom line: if you set your expectations at a "clean little resort at a good price", you'll be happy, but if you expect the soft luxury of a 4–5 star hotel, it may feel too plain · what helps is asking about the room type when booking, since options range from single/twin rooms to family rooms that sleep several — good for travelling in a group · overall, the rooms at Huan Soontaree are "right for the price" — nothing flashy, but plenty for an overnight before the island or a simple, relaxed stay.

Amenities, the pool and the garden — even as a small resort, Huan Soontaree has more amenities than you'd expect at this price · the highlight is the outdoor pool in the garden, which many reviews praise for its shady, quiet setting — good for kids to swim while the adults relax by the water · some booking platforms note it's a saltwater pool, which is gentler on skin and eyes than a regular chlorine pool · around it is a green garden and a terrace to sit and catch the breeze · other amenities that draw praise include free bike loan for riding to Suan Son Beach or around Ban Phe, free private parking, free Wi-Fi throughout, laundry/housekeeping, a tour desk that helps sort out boats and island tours, and a BBQ corner to use · the detail foreign reviews mention again and again — and the reason the place wins people over — is the free shuttle: staff drive you to the pier in the morning to catch the boat to Koh Samet, and into the Ban Phe market for dinner in the evening, at no charge · it's only fair to say there's no gym, spa or fancy restaurant here like a big resort, and it's not on the beach so you can't walk straight to the sea from your room · but in terms of "value for money" on the basics, it punches above the price you pay.

Food and breakfast — Huan Soontaree serves breakfast, which many reviews speak well of, both for how fresh it is and how friendly the service feels · because it's a small resort, breakfast is made to order and brought to you rather than a big buffet; some reviews say you can have it in your room or out in the garden · for other meals, the strength of the location is being close to the Ban Phe market and seafood restaurants by the pier, known for fresh seafood at reasonable prices · this is exactly why the resort's evening shuttle into town is so valuable — guests can ride in to wander the market, buy seafood or eat at a seaside spot, then have the resort pick them up · many families choose to buy fresh seafood from the Ban Phe market and cook it at the resort's BBQ corner, a popular activity for groups travelling together · in short, food at Huan Soontaree isn't about fine dining at the resort, it's about making the most of a location close to local food — which fits the easy, friendly style of the place perfectly · if you like simple meals, fresh seafood and don't mind not having a fancy dining room at your stay, you'll find this a good fit.

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Service — if there's one thing that earns Huan Soontaree high review scores and keeps coming up, it's the service · plenty of real reviews, Thai and foreign alike, mention the warmth and care of the owner and team, with many saying they were looked after like family or like staying at a friend's house · the thing praised most often is the free shuttle to the pier in the morning and into town for dinner in the evening — a small detail that makes a big impression · the resort's desk also helps with boat tickets, diving tours and good advice on visiting Koh Samet · on TripAdvisor, foreign travellers write praising staff by name as "very kind", helping with everything until it felt like the best part of the trip · to be straight about it, because it's a small, owner-run resort, response can be slower when it's busy, and there's no big-hotel service with full staff in every department around the clock · but overall, service is the strongest point here, and the main reason many guests say they'd come back.

What real reviews say (praise and gripes) — pulling from Agoda, Booking.com and TripAdvisor, the picture is fairly consistent · on the praise side: warm service from the owner and staff who look after you like family, the very convenient free shuttle to the pier and into town, the quiet garden pool, fresh breakfast, clean rooms bigger than the price suggests, a location within walking distance of the pier for the Koh Samet boat, and good value compared with staying on the island · many foreign travellers go as far as saying "this was the best part of the Koh Samet trip", with some wishing they'd stayed longer · on the caveat side: the thing mentioned most is that the rooms and furniture are too plain for some, especially early-2025 reviews noting firm beds and basic furnishings · next is that it's not right on the beach, so anyone who mistook it for a beachfront resort may be disappointed, and being a small resort it has no luxe amenities like a gym or spa · these gripes are mostly about setting expectations to match a "small budget resort" rather than serious flaws — reflected in an overall score still around 8.9 and the #1 B&B spot in Ban Phe on TripAdvisor.

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Price and value — Huan Soontaree's starting price is about ฿1,200/night at normal rates (some booking platforms show an average of around ฿1,100–1,200), and can climb to roughly ฿1,800–2,500+ on long weekends or festivals when crowds flock to Koh Samet · family rooms that sleep several sit higher up the range by size and headcount · compared with staying on Koh Samet, where beachfront resorts shoot up to several thousand a night in high season, Huan Soontaree feels great value among Ban Phe-side stays, especially once you count the pool, breakfast, free bikes, free parking and free shuttle that save both travel cost and hassle · the strategy many people use is to stay on the Ban Phe side for 1–2 nights, use the resort as a base for day trips by boat to Koh Samet, then come back to a cool room by the pool — far cheaper than staying on the island · if you plan it this way, every baht you pay Huan Soontaree comes back in full · but if your goal is to fall asleep to the waves right on the beach, you'll have to pay more to stay on the island instead.

What to know before booking — a few things make a stay go more smoothly · one, understand clearly that Huan Soontaree is a "small garden resort near the pier", not a beachfront resort — if you want to walk straight to the sea from your room, choose a stay on the island or a resort on Suan Son Beach instead · two, make the most of the free shuttle — let the resort know in advance what time you'll head to the pier in the morning and when you want to go into town in the evening · three, if you're travelling as a group or family, ask about family rooms and the BBQ corner so you can buy fresh seafood from the Ban Phe market and cook your own · four, if you sleep lightly or are sensitive to bed softness, ask about the room type and mattress firmness before booking, since some reviews say the beds are fairly firm · five, on long weekends and festivals when crowds flock to Koh Samet, Ban Phe gets busy and rooms fill fast — book ahead and pick free cancellation if your plans aren't set · six, since it's a small place with limited rooms, during peak times check availability across several platforms and contact the resort directly alongside that.

The verdict — from all the real reviews, Huan Soontaree Resort is the best fit for people who want a warm little resort at an accessible price to stay before and after a Koh Samet trip, or for a quiet break in the Ban Phe area · the family-like warmth of the service, the free shuttle to the pier and into town, the garden pool, and a location within walking distance of the pier make it good value enough to earn high review scores and hold a top spot in the area · if you're after a luxury resort on white sand, flawlessly soft rooms, or full amenities like a gym and spa, this may not be the answer, and you should consider a beachfront resort on Koh Samet or a larger Rayong resort instead · but for a beach trip where you want something simple, sincere and good value, with service that makes you feel like a local is looking after you — Huan Soontaree fills that need surprisingly well for the few hundred to low thousands of baht a night you pay, and it's why many guests say one stay is enough to make them want to come back.