A huge room with a balcony and a desk, a pool and an excellent location in Sairee - at about 2,400 THB (about $71 / €63) per night. The staff are cold, but efficient.
Yes - if we can find a room like ours again
Seashell Resort is one of the hotels that pleasantly surprised us on Koh Tao. We found it almost by chance, after booking a particularly disappointing Airbnb that we did not want to stay in. What we found was a fairly large resort with a pool, a restaurant, a beach bar, an impressive Thai-style lobby and a choice of rooms. After looking at a few options, we chose a huge, well-designed room with a pleasant balcony and a large desk, at about 2,400 THB (about $71 / €63) per night in peak season. The value we got was excellent. The main drawback for us was the staff, who were cold and not especially friendly, although everything we asked for was done properly.
Sometimes the best hotels on a trip are the ones you never planned.
When we arrived on Koh Tao, we already had an Airbnb booking. On paper it should have sorted out our accommodation, but when we got there we were very disappointed. For us it was so poor that we did not want to stay and sleep there.
And so we found ourselves wandering around Koh Tao looking for another hotel.
We had no back-up booking, and we did not know whether we would find a free room at a reasonable price.
In the end we came to Seashell Resort.
Even from outside the place looked fairly impressive. It is a large complex, with buildings, bungalows, a pool and a restaurant facing the sea. We walked into reception a little apprehensive, mainly because we did not want to discover that here too the rooms were too expensive or unsuitable.
We asked whether there were any rooms available, and to our delight the answer was yes.
But it was only when we started looking at the options that we realised how big the differences between the rooms in this hotel are.
One of Seashell Resort's great strengths is its location.
The hotel is in Sairee, one of Koh Tao's tourist centres, with a long beach, restaurants, cafés, shops, bars and dive centres.
Unlike hotels set in isolated bays, here you do not have to plan every trip out of your room.
You can simply head out and wander on foot.
And that was one of the things we loved most.
Around the hotel there is a wide choice of places to eat and drink, and some of the cafés and restaurants are right on the sea.
Every time, we wanted to try somewhere new, sit facing the view, order something tasty and soak up the atmosphere.
For us, Seashell's location was a huge advantage.
If you plan to spend most of your stay around Sairee, you can enjoy your holiday without renting any transport.
You can walk to restaurants, cafés, the beach and some of the nightlife.
Of course, if you want to reach other bays on Koh Tao or explore the island, you will need to plan transport.
But for everyday holiday life, the hotel's central location makes everything much simpler.
That is a significant difference from hotels that may be beautiful, but where every outing needs a taxi.
One of the first things that impressed us at Seashell was the lobby.
It is decorated in a bold, rich Thai style, with plenty of decorative elements.
This is not minimalist, modern design, but a more traditional look, even a little over the top.
And we loved it.
Some hotels look like a functional building with rooms and a pool, and some give you the feeling of a resort the moment you walk in.
For us, Seashell belonged to the second group.
Because of the size of the grounds, the lobby, the pool and the beachfront restaurant, we expected the price to be higher.
So we were really surprised to discover that you could find a good room at a relatively affordable price.
This is probably the most important tip we have about Seashell Resort.
The hotel has several accommodation areas, and the rooms are not uniform in size, location or the experience of staying in them.
What we saw during our visit was a complex with two fairly long buildings, with small bungalows scattered between them.
The bungalows looked really cute from outside, but when we were looking for a room they were all taken, so we did not go in to see them.
In the long buildings we saw several types of room, and the differences between them were big.
Some of the rooms we were shown were small and rather cramped.
They felt less airy to us and less pleasant for a longer stay.
If we had to choose between them and a bigger, brighter room, there was no hesitation.
For us, when you are on holiday and spending several days in the same place, it matters that the room is pleasant, not just somewhere with a bed and a shower.
And especially when one of us needs to work on a laptop, the size of the room matters even more.
Then they showed us the room we eventually chose.
It was a completely different world.
The room was huge, with plenty of space to move around, a comfortable bed and décor we really loved.
It felt spacious and airy, and it had the feel of a hotel room a level above what we expected for the price we paid.
We also liked that it was not decorated in a generic way. It had character, and it fitted in with the hotel's Thai style.
For us, it was an excellent choice.
The room also opened onto a pleasant balcony, with a wooden table and chairs.
We love rooms where you can sit outside, even for a few minutes in the morning or evening.
The balcony added a lot to the sense of space and to the stay.
It was not just a big unit with a bed, but a room that was nice to come back to and spend time in.
Our recommendation: do not choose a room at Seashell based only on the hotel's name or a general photo of the grounds. Check the specific room category, its size, its location and its current photos. The experience can vary considerably from room to room.
One advantage we did not expect to find at this hotel was the desk.
The large room we chose had a spacious, very comfortable desk.
One of us needed to work during our stay, and really appreciated being able to sit and work comfortably.
That may sound like a minor detail if you are on a short holiday, but for anyone combining work and travel it can matter a great deal.
At some hotels the desk is small, the chair is uncomfortable, or there is simply no proper place to work.
Here there was a good workspace in a big room, so you could work without feeling cramped.
The balcony was an added bonus.
If you find a spacious room like the one we stayed in, we would definitely consider it.
The central location means you can take breaks in cafés, eat at a wide range of restaurants and enjoy the beach without wasting time travelling.
On the other hand, check the in-room internet, the noise level and the work set-up in advance.
But in terms of the space, the desk and the comfort of our room, the experience was very good.
Seashell Resort has a swimming pool, which was open to hotel guests.
For us, it was one of the pleasant surprises.
The pool we used was really sweet, and it was nice to know we could spend time there without booking a day at a beach club or going to another hotel.
When you pay about 2,400 THB (about $71 / €63) per night and get a big room, a pool and a central location, the value feels especially good.
At that price we do not expect the huge pool complex of a luxury resort.
But a pleasant pool you can dip into during the day is definitely a plus.
Good to know: the condition of the pools is one of the issues raised in later guest reviews. Some guests who stayed in 2025-2026 reported maintenance and cleanliness problems. So despite our positive experience, check the state of the pool close to your booking date.
One of the things we liked about the hotel was that it offers more than rooms and a pool.
There is a restaurant on the grounds, where we also ate.
We found it pleasant, and it was a convenient option for eating at the hotel when we did not feel like going out.
But what we really liked was the bar area on the beach.
There is something special about being able to sit at a bar facing the sea, look at the view and simply enjoy the atmosphere.
And that is exactly what Seashell offers.
The fact that the hotel is in a central area but also has a seating area on the beach makes for a great mix of beach holiday and a more town-like break.
You can spend the day by the pool, go out to the restaurants on the street, and come back to sit by the sea.
That atmosphere was part of what made the hotel a success for us.
Our booking did not include breakfast.
At the time, breakfast was not offered with the option we chose, but honestly it did not bother us at all.
Quite the opposite.
One of the things we loved most about Koh Tao was the choice of cafés and restaurants.
There are so many pleasant places to sit, some of them right on the beach, and prices at the places where we ate were very reasonable.
We loved being able to wake up in the morning, head out and pick a different place to eat each time.
We never felt we were missing out on a hotel breakfast.
Yes. According to the official information currently available, Seashell now offers breakfast as well as room rates that include it.
So it is important to distinguish between our own experience and the hotel's services today.
If you like to start the day at the hotel, check whether breakfast is included in your rate.
But if, like us, you enjoy discovering new cafés and restaurants, Seashell's location gives you plenty of options.
Alongside everything we liked about Seashell, there was also one clear drawback for us: the attitude of the staff.
The staff we met were not particularly nice.
This was not limited to reception. The housekeeping staff were also rather cold.
We did not feel the warmth, the smiles and the courtesy that we love so much in Thai hotels.
That said, we want to be precise.
The staff were not unprofessional, and everything that needed doing was done well.
This was not a case of asking for something and not getting it, or of service that did not work.
The problem was on a personal level: the attitude was cold and unwelcoming.
For us, there is a significant difference between efficient service and pleasant service.
At Seashell we got efficient service, but we did not feel that anyone was making a special effort to give us a warm welcome.
It did not ruin our stay, and it certainly did not cancel out all the hotel's advantages, but it was definitely something we noticed.
We paid about 2,400 THB (about $71 / €63) per night, in peak season.
For us, that was a very surprising price for what we got.
Koh Tao can be cheaper than some areas of Koh Samui, but we also saw hotels of a similar standard that were priced higher.
And here we got a big, well-designed room, a comfortable bed, a desk, a balcony with a seating area, a pool, a restaurant and easy access to everything going on in Sairee.
After our disappointing Airbnb experience, it felt even better.
Sometimes the hotel you find without any advance planning turns out to be the best deal of the trip.
No.
It is the price we paid for our room during our stay, and it does not guarantee that you will find the same category at a similar price.
The rate can change depending on the season, the room type, availability and the booking conditions.
It is especially important not to compare the price of a small room with that of a large one, or the price of a bungalow with that of a villa with a private pool.
At Seashell, the difference between accommodation categories can be very significant.
By the price levels we use on this site, a price of about 2,400 THB (about $71 / €63) falls into our "best value" tier - about 2,400-3,800 THB (about $71-113 / €63-100) per night.
Our experience was very positive in terms of the room and value for money, but it is important to give the wider picture too.
In guest reviews from 2025-2026 there is praise for the hotel's central location, its closeness to the beach and the convenience of the Sairee area.
Some guests enjoyed the pool and the public areas.
On the other hand, there are also significant negative reviews about maintenance and cleanliness in some rooms, the condition of the pools, noise and unfriendly staff.
Some of the complaints date from after our stay, and do not match what we experienced in our room and our pool.
That is exactly why we would not recommend booking a room here based only on the hotel's general photo or on our good experience.
We would make a point of checking recent reviews of the specific room type you plan to book, and finding out the current state of the pool and facilities.
With Seashell, choosing the room and checking the current upkeep are especially important.
If you find a spacious, pleasant room at a price similar to what we paid, Seashell can be a very good-value option.
The advantage is that you can enjoy a comfortable room and resort facilities without being cut off from restaurants and cafés.
The Sairee location suits anyone who likes getting around on foot, wandering between cafés, sitting on the beach and enjoying a lively tourist area.
If you choose a room with a comfortable workspace, as we had, the hotel can also suit anyone who needs to work during their stay.
Just check the internet quality and the noise level in advance.
Seashell offers a range of accommodation options and extra facilities, not just a handful of rooms around a shared courtyard.
If you are looking for particularly warm, personal service, we would look at other options.
And if you are very sensitive to noise or expect a consistently high standard of upkeep in every room, it is important to read recent reviews before booking.
If we could find a room like the one we stayed in again, at a good price and in good condition, we would definitely consider going back.
Our room was one of the things we loved most about the hotel.
It was spacious, stylish and comfortable, with a good bed, a large desk and a pleasant balcony.
The location was excellent, the pool added to the stay, and being able to head out every morning to a different café on the beach was exactly what we loved about Koh Tao.
The cold service was a drawback for us, but since everything we asked for was done well, it did not really affect the stay itself.
That said, before booking again we would check the condition of the rooms and pools carefully, in light of the later reviews.
Our bottom line: Seashell Resort was one of our happiest surprises on Koh Tao. We arrived without a booking, after a terrible Airbnb experience, and found a great room at a price that felt almost unreasonable for what we got. It is not a hotel we would praise for the warmth of its staff, but in terms of our particular room, the location and the value for money, the experience was excellent.
The hotel is in the Sairee area of Koh Tao, close to the beach, restaurants, cafés and dive centres.
The grounds include a restaurant and seating area on Sairee Beach. It suits anyone who wants to be very close to the sea and the tourist centre.
Yes. The hotel advertises swimming pools and diving facilities. We enjoyed the pool during our stay, but later reviews raised complaints about the condition of some of the pools.
Not at all. During our visit we saw significant differences between rather small, cramped rooms and the large, spacious room we chose to stay in.
Yes. There are also bungalows on the grounds, which looked really cute from outside.
The room we stayed in was very well suited to working, thanks to a large desk and plenty of space. Still, check the internet quality and the room type in advance.
The hotel now offers breakfast and rates that include it. It was not included in our booking, and we preferred to go out to the cafés in the area anyway.
In our own experience, the staff were cold and not particularly friendly, both at reception and in housekeeping. That said, everything that was needed was done well.
The hotel is in a lively tourist area, and some guest reviews mention noise from nearby nightlife. Ask about the room's location if quiet matters to you.
We paid about 2,400 THB (about $71 / €63) per night in peak season for the room we chose. That is a historical price from our own stay, not a current booking price.
The large room we stayed in was excellent value for money, but the rooms on the grounds differ a great deal. In light of later reviews about maintenance, cleanliness and the pools, we would recommend checking the room category and the current condition carefully before booking.
Same level of comfort and price - hotels we stayed at
Also about 2,400 THB (about $71 / €63) a night, a stunning room at an easy price - on Koh Phangan
✓ We stayed here
