Darren and I stayed at Panka Bay Resort during our incredible trip to Koh Bulone earlier this year. If you’re looking to stay on Koh Bulone, I suggest you look to secure accommodation sooner rather than later. The island gets booked up quickly with returning guests year after year! Panka Bay was one of the cheaper accommodation options on the island and the only one we could find with availability. That said, it’s a great affordable option and fitted our need perfectly. I thoroughly recommend a stay at Panka Bay Resort if you’re heading to Koh Bulone.
Panka Bay Resort Beachfront Bungalows
During our stay at Panka bay Resort, we stayed in a beachfront bungalow. Although basic, the bungalows are clean and comfortable, with a pretty ocean view and cost just 1000bhat, or £20 per night. Like the rest of the island however, electricity is on a generator and limited to just a few hours per evening. And much to my horror there is no hot water. Ever. (Seriously, who can wash their hair in coldness. Not me)
Other accommodation options at Panka Bay Resort include the larger deluxe bungalows (although these are not beachfront) and camping. Due to lack of availability of bungalows on the entire island there were a number of guests camping – hence the need to book up quickly!
Our room rate included breakfast each morning. Although there is a set menu, staff were more than accommodating in a bit of mixing and matching to suit our vegetarian diets. For the first time in months, we took time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Most days we sat for almost two hours listening to the waves lap against the shore.
Panka Bay Resort has its own beach. It’s not typically beautiful with white sand and blue waters, but it is gorgeous in its own right. Like much of the island, the beach is rocky and the shore lined with mangroves. It’s not the best for swimming or snorkelling but perfect for exploring when the tide is out. We spent an hour walking the beach during off breakfast each morning. The less than perfect nature of the beach also helped us claim the hammock swings when the rest of the guests headed for the more pristine beaches. Personally, Darren and I preferred the more rustic and peaceful landscape.
School Beach – a 20 minute walk from Panka Bay
When we booked our accommodation at Panka Bay, the resort had no website and was not listed on any booking sites. We used Facebook messenger (and a big dose of repetition and patience) to book our stay – wondering if indeed we would have somewhere to kip on arrival. There might have been a few crossed wires which saw our 5 night booking being interpreted as a 6 night, but this worked to our advantage as we got to stay an extra night in paradise!
Panka Bay resort now has a website – but it is pretty much all in Thai…. If you want to visit Panka Bay Resort book early and be patient. There isn’t a great deal of wifi in the area. But that’s a good thing, right? If it isn’t – Panka Bay Resort and Koh Bulone island in general isn’t for you.
As for Darren & I? Well, I have a feeling we will be one of those guests returning year after year….
