Laguna Grand Hotel & Spa — Spacious Rooms and a Pretty Salt-Water Pool in Phawong, Songkhla
If you want big rooms, a good-looking pool and an on-site spa without paying central Hat Yai prices, Laguna Grand Hotel & Spa is one many reviews point to. It is a newer hotel that opened in 2021 in Phawong, sitting between Songkhla town and Hat Yai. There are 180 rooms, starting from 35 sqm Deluxe up to large suites, plus an outdoor salt-water pool, spa, fitness center, sauna and The Riva restaurant. Rooms start from about ฿1,300/night, with a score of 9.1 from 508 reviews. The draw is big, new rooms, a pretty pool and a quiet setting — in exchange for a location that really needs a car.
What sets Laguna Grand Hotel & Spa apart from many in-town hotels is how spacious and new the rooms feel. Opened in 2021, even the entry-level Breeze and Cozy Deluxe rooms are 35 sqm — larger than similarly priced rooms in central Hat Yai. Plenty of reviews praise the clean, new-feeling rooms, the comfortable beds and the quiet. The hotel sits in Phawong, a roadside area between Songkhla town and Hat Yai, so it is calmer than the city-center hotels — but that also means you need a car or a Grab whenever you head out to eat or shop.
There are 180 rooms across several categories, from 35 sqm Breeze/Cozy Deluxe and 42 sqm Grand Deluxe up to 75–100 sqm Executive suites. Entry-level rooms keep things clean and simple with a big bed, while the suites are roomy enough for families or anyone wanting a separate sitting area. Many rooms look onto the pool or the grounds, and Wi-Fi is free in every room. Worth knowing: some reviews say a few finishes don't quite match a full five-star price tag, and a few bathrooms have a musty smell — if you hit that, ask to change rooms at check-in.
"The room was very spacious and clean, the bed comfortable, and the pool looked lovely in the evening. Breakfast was fresh with a decent spread and parking was easy. Good value for a room this size."
The star of the show is the large outdoor salt-water pool, which reviewers love to photograph, especially in the evening light. There is a separate kids' pool, which families appreciate. Beyond the pool there is a spa with Thai massage, a fitness center, sauna, The Riva restaurant, a cafe, bar and karaoke on site — so there is more to do without leaving than at a typical city hotel. Buffet breakfast is included in many rates, and most reviews call it fresh with a fair selection, though a few note the menu doesn't rotate hugely.
Service scores well overall. Many reviews praise friendly, helpful staff, particularly around check-in and general care. Free, generous parking is a plus for self-drivers, who make up much of the clientele given the out-of-town location. Paid airport transfers are available for those flying into Hat Yai. On balance it feels new, the rooms are big, and it is well looked after for the price — which is why the overall score reaches 9.1.
There are trade-offs to accept. The biggest is the out-of-town location: Phawong sits between Songkhla and Hat Yai, not within walking distance of malls or night markets, so any food or shopping run means driving or calling a Grab. Some reviews also mention finishes that feel cheaper than the price suggests, maintenance on a few fixtures starting to show, a pool deck that gets slippery when wet, and limited sun loungers when the pool is busy. A few guests noted musty bathrooms or staff with limited English.
Prices start from about ฿1,300/night for a 35 sqm Deluxe in normal periods, rising to roughly ฿1,600–฿2,200 for Grand Deluxe and pool-view rooms, with Executive suites higher again depending on size and season. During long weekends and festivals, when Malaysian and Singaporean visitors flood Songkhla–Hat Yai, rates climb quickly and rooms fill fast. A score of 9.1 from 508 reviews shows this is a spacious, good-value hotel that most guests are happy with — as long as the location works for them.
In short, Laguna Grand Hotel & Spa suits self-drivers who want a big, new room, a pretty pool and an on-site spa for around a thousand baht. It works well for families, couples and groups who plan to spend most of their time at the hotel. But if you don't have a car and want to walk straight into malls or the Hat Yai night markets, the out-of-town setting may feel inconvenient — compare it against hotels in central Hat Yai too.
A tip from reading the reviews: ask for a pool-view room or a Grand Deluxe and up for more space and a better outlook. If you're travelling with kids, the separate children's pool is a plus. Plan your transport ahead, since you'll rely on a car — line up a vehicle or check Grab availability locally first. Always book a Free Cancellation rate, and if you hit a musty bathroom or any room issue, ask to switch at check-in. Book several weeks ahead for long weekends.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Big, new, clean rooms with comfortable beds
- ✓ Pretty salt-water pool with a separate kids' pool
- ✓ Fresh breakfast with a fair selection
- ✓ Free, generous parking and free Wi-Fi
- ! Out-of-town location; needs a car or Grab
- ! Some finishes feel cheaper than the price
- ! A few bathrooms have a musty smell
- ✓ Rooms larger than similarly priced city hotels
- ✓ Friendly, helpful staff
- ✓ Spa, fitness and karaoke on site
- ✓ Quiet — good for relaxing at the hotel
- ! Limited sun loungers when the pool is busy
- ! Pool deck gets slippery when wet
- ! Some staff have limited English
- 💡If you don't have your own car — Phawong is out of town, not walkable to malls or markets → you'll rely on Grab every time; budget the time and cost, or choose a hotel in central Hat Yai.
- 💡If you expect a full five-star standard — some reviews say finishes and the upkeep of a few fixtures fall short of the price → treat it as a spacious value hotel, not a big-chain luxury property.
- 💡If you plan to spend your days at the pool in high season — sun loungers are limited when busy and the deck is slippery when wet → swim early morning or evening to avoid crowds, and watch your footing.