Kantary Bay Rayong — apartment-style rooms with a kitchenette, across from Mae Ramphueng Beach
If you're coming to Rayong with the family or for several nights and want a room that's roomier than the usual hotel box — with a sitting area and a small kitchen of its own — Kantary Bay Hotel and Serviced Apartment Rayong is the option many people overlook · It's a 4-star property run as a serviced apartment, sitting across the road from Mae Ramphueng Beach · 194 units from studios to two-bedroom suites, every one with a kitchenette · two pools, a bowling alley, a gym and an Italian restaurant · from approximately ฿2,400/night.
Kantary Bay Rayong is part of the Kasemkij group, which runs a consistent serviced-apartment standard across several Thai provinces · The thing guests mention most is how genuinely apartment-like the rooms are — not just a bedroom, but a real living space · Every unit has a separate sitting area, a work desk, and a small kitchen with a fridge and basic appliances — ideal for families who want to heat up a meal, or for anyone settling in for a few nights.
There are 194 units in all, from Studio Suites and One Bedroom Premiers up to Two Bedroom Premier Suites · The two-bedroom units comfortably take a larger family or a group travelling together · The sea-facing rooms are the favourite in reviews, with a full outlook over Mae Ramphueng Beach and the Gulf of Thailand · Worth knowing: some rooms are starting to age, with a few reviews noting a musty smell or air-conditioning that doesn't cool well in certain units — if you land a poor room, ask to switch early.
"The room was huge, with a little kitchen to warm the baby's milk. In the morning you just cross the road to the beach, and the kids swam in the pool all day. Great value."
On facilities, it offers more than most hotels in its class · There are two pools with whirlpools, a gym, sauna and steam rooms, a tennis court, a snooker room and a three-lane bowling alley · For families with children, that's enough to fill a whole day without leaving the property · The restaurant is Italian-style with a garden outlook, and there's 24-hour room service.
The breakfast is an international buffet that most reviews call varied and filling · though some recent reviews say the quality has slipped a little — expect a typical 4-star spread and you'll be fine · A real plus is that directly across the road there's a 7-Eleven and food trucks along the beach, so finding a bite is easy — unlike the remote luxury resorts further out.
The location is on Beach Road in Noen Phra, with Mae Ramphueng Beach right opposite · You cross the road to reach the sand, and the Ban Phe pier for Koh Samet is about 20 minutes away by car · It's roughly a 3-hour drive from Bangkok · One thing to note: the road out front carries cars and motorbikes until late, and some reviews mention the noise — if you're a light sleeper, ask for an inner or high-floor room · It scores 9.0 from 157 reviews on Trip.com, and 4.4 of 5 on TripAdvisor, ranked #2 of 64 hotels in Rayong.
Honestly, Kantary Bay isn't a luxury beachfront resort with a private beach · Mae Ramphueng is a public beach, the water can be murky with some litter at certain times of year, and you have to cross the road to reach it · But if what you want is a spacious room with a kitchen, a friendly price, room to stay several nights, and food and a convenience store close by — for a family or a longer working trip — it delivers value that's hard to find in an ordinary resort.
A tip from following the reviews here: ask for a sea-view room on a high floor to dodge the road noise and get the full Gulf-of-Thailand outlook · If you're a group or a bigger family, a two-bedroom suite works out better than booking two separate rooms · Over long weekends rooms fill fast and rates climb, so book ahead and lock in a free-cancellation rate first.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Spacious apartment-style rooms with an in-room kitchenette
- ✓ Across the road from Mae Ramphueng Beach, near a 7-Eleven and food trucks
- ✓ Friendly, helpful staff
- ✓ Lots of facilities — pools, gym, bowling
- ! Some rooms are aging, with a musty smell and weak air-conditioning
- ! Road and motorbike noise out front until late
- ! It's a public beach, murky with some litter at times
- ✓ Rooms larger than expected, great for families
- ✓ Varied breakfast buffet
- ✓ Lovely sea views from the beach-facing rooms
- ✓ Good value for the room size
- ! Breakfast quality can be inconsistent at times
- ! Pools lack ramps, making entry hard for older guests
- ! Few restaurants or activities nearby — a car helps
- 💡If you're after a luxury resort with a private beach — Mae Ramphueng is a public beach across the road → choose a beachfront resort on Koh Samet or one that fronts the sand directly instead.
- 💡If you're a light sleeper at night — the road out front carries traffic and motorbikes late → ask for an inner or high-floor room and pack earplugs.
- 💡If it's a long weekend and you haven't booked — the good rooms, especially two-bedroom suites, fill fast and rates rise → book ahead and lock in a free-cancellation rate first.