Thailand is one of the world’s greatest destinations for solo trips.
For one, even if you come alone, you might not stay that way during your journey. With an ever-flowing current of up to 40 million arrivals each year, you’re bound to find a travel partner or two along the way.
But Thailand shines brightest when it comes to hospitality.
The welcoming culture, vast array of activities and excellent travel infrastructure simplify the headaches of solo travel to other destinations. The impressive catalogue of accommodations, ranging from backpacker hostels to five-star luxury resorts, makes solo trips in Thailand a no-brainer.
Whether you’re dreaming of urban adventures in Bangkok or idyllic beach retreats on Ko Samui’s white sands, you’ll find the perfect place to stay wherever you go, even if you’re checking in as a party of one. We’ve selected some of the best for your next solo trip to Thailand.
The Nai Harn offers more than a measure; its rooms and suites cascade down a hillside overlooking the lovely Nai Harn beach, near the island’s distant southernmost point. (© The Nai Harn Phuket)
The Nai Harn, Phuket
Style: Modern designAtmosphere: Quiet
Nai Harn’s isolated location at the southern tip of Phuket gives it an away-from-it-all feel. But its thriving long-stay community guarantees you’ll always have an abundance of bars, restaurants and cafes to enjoy, too. If this delightful mix sounds optimal to you, then direct your attention to The Nai Harn.
This luxury cliffside property has been Nai Harn’s hotel of choice for decades. A recent facelift has made it even more appealing. The suites promise clean lines, warm wood interiors and forest green and sea blue accents, plus oversized king beds and Samsung-powered sound bars. The best option for solo travellers is undeniably one of the Ocean View rooms, though, with their private balconies overlooking the Andaman Sea. If you’re an active type, you’ll love the gym, spa, detox programs and lagoon-style swimming pool. Meanwhile, the excellent seaside dining choices are great for parties of one.
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137 Pillars Residences Bangkok is situated right in the heart of Sukhumvit. (© 137 Pillars Residences Bangkok)
137 Pillars Residences Bangkok
Style: Contemporary classicAtmosphere: Lively
If you like refined luxury, you’re looking in the right place. 137 Pillars Residences offers 179 one- and two-bedroom guestrooms primed for both short- and long-stay guests. Each room features a toned-down palette, excellent amenities such as Bose sound systems and HARNN bath products, and a private balcony, as well as in-room washer-dryers, full kitchens and workspaces. If you need to fill out some spreadsheets, you could find worse places to do it.
Beyond the stately digs, the hotel also boasts excellent facilities. The 27th-floor infinity pool – with accompanying Jacuzzi tubs – ranks among the best in Bangkok. You can practice your swing on the 6th-floor golf simulator and putting range, sign up for Muay Thai lessons and enjoy sleep-boosting spa packages. Or you can enjoy the hotel’s many great dining options, from brunch at Bangkok Trading Post to sundowners at Pool Bar and reinvented Thai classics at Nimitr.
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The Standard Hua Hin is located in Hua Hin, a former fishing village now known as the heart of the Thai Riviera along the Gulf of Thailand. (© The Standard Hua Hin)
The Standard Hua Hin
Style: Cutting-edgeAtmosphere: Happening
From Miami Beach to Ibiza, The Standard Hotels have become magnets for solo travellers, thanks to the brand’s legendary parties and stylish social spaces. Seaside Hua Hin might have a reputation for being sedate, but The Standard has arrived to upend it. Lively restaurants and bars such as Lido Bar – set beside the stunning social centrepiece: the blue-tiled, beach-facing infinity pool – and Praça, the breezy beach bar and “Thai izakaya” restaurant, have injected some energy into the former fishing village.
Standard King rooms overlooking the manicured garden offer good value if you plan to spend most of your time by the pool or beach. But if you want to splash out, book a Pool Villa, which has private plunge pools as well as disco balls above the bathtubs to keep the in-room parties going until late.
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Floating in the rooftop infinity pool at Akyra Manor Chiang Mai, with neon lights and motorbikes zipping below at Akyra Manor Chiang Mai. (© Akyra Manor Chiang Mai)
Akyra Manor Chiang Mai
Style: Modern designAtmosphere: Happening
Located in the bustling Nimmanhaemin neighbourhood, the eight-story Akyra Manor puts you in the heart of the action. Although you wouldn’t expect it when you’re unwinding on the rooftop swimming pool or sinking into one of the hotel’s 32 rooms or 30 suites – “sanctuaries,” as they call them. While the suite might suggest cavernous accommodations designed for families, Akyra Manor keeps them accessible to solo travellers and couples. The Premier Suites promise 60sqm of space, plus hot tubs, private patios or courtyards, and luxe king-sized beds.
The location is perfect. Just outside the door, you’ll find cafés, boutiques, beloved northern Thai restaurants and cocktail bars that cater to the neighbourhood’s hip crowds. If you choose to stay in, don’t miss Rise Bar. The rooftop bar offers excellent views as the sun sets behind Doi Suthep.
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Kimpton Kitalay Samui, on Ko Samui’s Choeng Mon Beach, blends contemporary design with traditional Thai motifs, offering a tranquil yet convenient location. (© Kimpton Kitalay Samui)
Kimpton Kitalay Samui
Style: Modern designAtmosphere: Lively
Choeng Mon might be Ko Samui’s finest beach. Its soft white sands and gently curving shoreline are truly stunning, and there are enough restaurants and bars to keep travellers feeling engaged but not overwhelmed. Among the best bases for solo travellers here is the 138-room Kimpton Kitalay. Upcycled beach glass, driftwood and rattan décor add a local touch that conjures the romance of an old fishing village. Unsurprisingly, the layout itself is meant to recall a village, with rooms, suites and villas built in communal wings and a showstopping, sea-facing infinity pool serving as a focal point.
The socially inclined will appreciate the free-flow evening social hours and daily yoga and fitness classes. Not to mention five excellent bars and restaurants, led by the wicker-furnished Lanai cocktail bar and FishHouse, a fresh-catch seafood specialist that ranks among Samui’s best restaurants.
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Illustration image: © The Standard Hua Hin
Illustration image: © The Standard Hua Hin
