Villa Cha Cha Chaolao Beach Resort — a newly opened beachfront resort on Chao Lao Beach in Chanthaburi
Picture this: a few hours' drive out of Bangkok, you turn onto the still-quiet road that runs along Chao Lao Beach, then pull up in front of a resort whose buildings look brand new. You open your room door and there's the sea breeze and the soft sound of waves — Villa Cha Cha Chaolao Beach Resort is a 3-star beach resort right on Chao Lao Beach in Khlong Khut, Tha Mai District, Chanthaburi Province, on the eastern coast that many people overlook · What makes it interesting is that it's a resort that opened in 2023 and was renovated in 2024, so the rooms still feel new and clean, with both bungalows and suites, some of which look out to the sea · There's an outdoor pool, a sauna, a seafood restaurant, and a BBQ grill area · From around THB 2,300/night, scored 9.7 from 11 reviews on Trip.com
Who Villa Cha Cha Chaolao is right for — to put it as simply as possible, Villa Cha Cha Chaolao Beach Resort is a beachfront resort for people who want to escape the bustle of Pattaya and the big cities and stay by the sea on a still-quiet, still-natural stretch of the eastern coast · Let's be upfront first: this hotel isn't in Pattaya. It sits on Chao Lao Beach in Khlong Khut, Tha Mai District, Chanthaburi Province, an eastern coastline that's several more hours past Pattaya · We've grouped it with Pattaya because it's an eastern-coast beach destination that road-trippers tend to string together · What makes it worth watching is that it's a resort that opened in 2023 and was renovated in 2024, so the buildings and rooms still feel new, unlike many places around Chao Lao that opened years ago and are starting to show their age · It's still open and has very strong real-review scores, sitting at around 9.7 from 11 reviews on Trip.com · Real reviews point the same way: the people it suits are families bringing kids to swim, couples after a quiet spot by the sea, and groups of friends road-tripping around Chanthaburi and Trat at an easy pace · If you're after lively nightlife, shopping malls, or the full set of amenities you'd get from a big chain, this may not be the answer, because the appeal of Chao Lao is mainly its simplicity and nature
Location and getting there — Villa Cha Cha Chaolao sits on the beach road along Chao Lao Beach in Khlong Khut, Tha Mai District, Chanthaburi Province · The standout is that it's right on the Chao Lao Beach stretch, within walking distance of the sea and the Chao Lao Beach fish pier, which is a popular spot in the area for catching the sunset and taking photos · Chao Lao is a long sandy beach that still isn't as crowded as Hua Hin or Pattaya, so it's good for anyone who wants a quiet seaside walk · Getting there: from Bangkok, the drive via the motorway and Sukhumvit Road takes about 3.5 to 4 hours depending on traffic · from Pattaya, it's another 2.5 hours or so heading east · from central Rayong it's about 1.5 hours, and it's under a 2-hour drive from Trat Airport · Close to the resort you'll find seafood restaurants and small resorts scattered along the beach, but no large mall or big convenience store right next door · One thing worth knowing is that getting around Chao Lao really requires your own car, because public transport is hard to reach here. If you're not driving yourself, plan ahead for a transfer or rental car
"The room is really new and clean, and the moment you open the door you get the sea breeze. You can easily walk to the fish pier to watch the sunset · I love how quiet it is, none of the chaos of the famous beaches. A genuinely good place to relax with family."
Room types and decor — Villa Cha Cha Chaolao has several room types to choose from, covering everyone from couples to large families · It starts with the Deluxe Bungalow, a bungalow room suited to couples or two people · stepping up are the Junior Family and Family Suite, which are larger and made for families bringing kids · there's a Cabana Suite with a cabana style that feels private, and the room most people want is the Beach Front Family, which is close to the beach with some rooms looking out to sea views from the balcony · Because it's a resort that opened in 2023 and was renovated in 2024, the rooms still feel new, with furniture and finishes that look fresh and clean · Every room has air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a fridge, free drinking water, and a private bathroom with a shower and toiletries · Many reviews agree that the rooms are clean, spacious, and feel new, which is a real advantage compared with older places in the same area · What makes it relaxing is the open, sea-breeze atmosphere; many rooms have a balcony where you can sit and look out at the garden or the sea · If sea views matter to you in particular, ask for a Beach Front room or a room facing the sea when you book, because not every room has a full ocean view · Overall the decor leans toward easygoing simplicity, the kind you'd expect at a seaside resort, not lavish, but it fits the price and the feel of Chao Lao Beach
Facilities, the pool, and places to relax — the highlight of Villa Cha Cha Chaolao is the outdoor seaside pool, which is the main spot to unwind at the resort · plenty of guests say they like swimming in the pool in the late morning and then walking on to the beach just a few steps away · besides the pool there's also a sauna for anyone who wants to ease their muscles after swimming or a full day out · there's a garden and BBQ grill area that groups of friends and families like to gather around in the evening, which suits the seaside setting well · the resort offers free bike rentals, good for a ride along the beach in the morning or evening when it's not hot · the other basic amenities are all there, including free Wi-Fi, free private parking, and a front desk that helps coordinate meals and travel · to be straight about it, as a smaller 3-star resort the amenities aren't as extensive as a big chain, with no full gym or full-service spa · but for a simple seaside stay, the pool, sauna, BBQ area, and bikes are enough for an easygoing trip, and they fit the style of Chao Lao Beach, which is all about being quiet
Food and dining — the resort has an on-site seafood restaurant serving seafood and Thai food · what fits the location is that Chao Lao is a fishing area and a source of fresh seafood, so eating seafood by the sea is part of the appeal of coming here · breakfast is served for guests, and many reviews say it's filling and a good way to start the day before heading out for a walk or a drive · the BBQ grill area is another option for groups who want to cook their own dinner in the seaside setting · just a short drive outside the resort there are local seafood spots and the fish pier where you can find fresh ingredients · worth knowing is that Chao Lao isn't an area packed with restaurants like in the city, so if you come during the low season or on a weekday, some places may close early. Ask about the opening hours of the resort restaurant and nearby spots in advance, or bring some backup food · overall, the food at Villa Cha Cha Chaolao works as a convenient extra for people who don't want to drive far to find a meal, rather than being a dining destination in itself
Service — service is one area that gets consistent praise in the real reviews here · being a smaller resort, the staff can look after guests thoroughly and warmly; many reviews say the staff are attentive, help with check-in, recommend things to do around Chao Lao Beach, and handle meal arrangements well · the service feels like a warm local resort rather than the formality of a chain hotel · service scores in the real reviews are high, in line with the overall impression that guests come away pleased · to be fair, since it's a newly opened resort with not many reviews yet (around 11 on Trip.com), the picture of the service is still based on a small sample and may vary depending on whether it's quiet or busy · but the signals so far lean fairly positive, and being a small resort that looks after guests thoroughly is a charm that's hard to find at a larger property
What real reviews say (both praise and gripes) — gathered from Trip.com and other booking platforms, the picture is fairly consistent · On the praise side: it's a new resort with clean, spacious rooms; the location is right on Chao Lao Beach with the sea and fish pier within walking distance; the atmosphere is quiet and good for relaxing; the seaside pool is nice; the staff are friendly and attentive; and it's good value given how new the rooms are · many call it a good fit for families and couples after some quiet · On the watch-out side: the thing to know is that the location is fairly remote and you need your own car, with the drive from Bangkok or Pattaya taking a fair while · next is that the amenities aren't as complete as a big resort, with no full gym or full-service spa; restaurants and shops nearby are limited and some close early; and the number of reviews is still small, so keep in mind that some of the information is still based on a small sample · also, some reviews of the area overall have mentioned older rooms at certain Chao Lao properties, but for the newly opened Villa Cha Cha, that point is more of a strength than a weakness
"We stayed as a family and loved the new, clean room. The pool was just right for the kids and the staff were lovely · The only thing is it's a bit far and you have to drive yourself, and there aren't many restaurants around. But traded against the quiet and the lovely sea, it was worth it."
Price and value — Villa Cha Cha Chaolao's starting price is around THB 2,300/night in the regular rate period for an entry-level bungalow, rising with room size and the time of year, with family rooms or sea-view rooms going higher than that · during long holidays and high season (roughly November to February, when the weather is good and the sea is lovely), prices usually climb and rooms fill up fast · compared with other places on Chao Lao Beach, Villa Cha Cha's edge is how new the rooms are, since it only opened in 2023 and was renovated in 2024, while many places in the area opened years ago and are starting to age · for a price in the low-2-thousands that gets you a new room right on the beach, with a pool, sauna, and on-site restaurant, it counts as good value among the still-affordable eastern-coast beach resorts · for anyone after a budget-friendly beach trip who doesn't want to compete for rooms with the big crowds of Hua Hin or Pattaya, this location and price answer that well · we'd suggest comparing prices across several platforms before booking, because for a small property like this the rate can differ quite a bit by channel
What to know before you book — a few things help make the stay smoother · One, bring your own car or have a rental/transfer plan ready, because Chao Lao is hard to reach by public transport and getting around almost always needs a car · Two, if sea views matter to you, ask for a Beach Front room or one facing the sea when you book, because not every room has a full ocean view · Three, during high season and long holidays, places around Chao Lao fill up fast and prices climb, so book ahead and pick a free-cancellation option if your plans aren't firm · Four, restaurants and shops around the resort are limited and some close early, so ask about the resort restaurant's opening hours in advance, or bring along the food and essentials you'll need · Five, check-in is 2:00 PM–7:00 PM and check-out is before 11:00 AM, so let the resort know in advance if you'll arrive late · Six, since it's a newly opened resort with not many reviews yet, we'd suggest asking the resort directly about the room and service details that matter to you before deciding
The verdict — taking all the real reviews together, Villa Cha Cha Chaolao Beach Resort is the resort that suits people who want a quiet eastern-coast seaside getaway in a new room at a reachable price · being a resort that opened in 2023 and was renovated in 2024 makes the rooms cleaner and newer than many places in the same area, and together with the location right on Chao Lao Beach, the seaside pool, and the warm, friendly service, it's good value among the still-affordable Chanthaburi beach stays · if you're after a big-chain resort with full amenities, lively nightlife, or a location that doesn't require a long drive, this may not be the answer, and Pattaya or Hua Hin would likely suit you better · but for a slow beach trip where you want to escape the bustle and take your family or your partner to fall asleep to the sound of waves in a brand-new room on a still-uncrowded beach — Villa Cha Cha Chaolao is a choice that fits that need well at a price you can manage, and it's why its real-review scores have come out high so soon after opening
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Newly opened resort with clean, spacious rooms that feel new
- ✓ Location right on Chao Lao Beach, walking distance to the sea and fish pier
- ✓ Quiet atmosphere, good for relaxing with family and couples
- ✓ Seaside pool, sauna, and BBQ grill area
- ! Location is fairly remote, you need your own car most of the time
- ! Amenities aren't as complete as a big-chain resort
- ! Restaurants and shops nearby are limited and some close early
- ✓ New rooms, good value among eastern-coast beach resorts
- ✓ Some rooms look out to sea views from the balcony
- ✓ Friendly staff who look after you thoroughly, small-resort style
- ✓ Free parking, free Wi-Fi, and free bike rentals
- ! Still few reviews, some information based on a small sample
- ! No full gym or full-service spa
- ! Prices climb fast in high season and long holidays, book ahead
- 💡If you don't have your own car — Chao Lao is hard to reach by public transport and getting around almost always needs a car → have a rental or transfer plan ready before you book
- 💡If you want a big-chain resort with full amenities — this is a smaller 3-star resort with no full gym or full-service spa → if you need the full chain set of amenities, Pattaya or Hua Hin may suit you better
- 💡If sea views matter to you — not every room has a full ocean view → ask for a Beach Front room or one facing the sea when you book