Garden Resort – Kai Bae Beach

Scorecard:

Overall Rating: 8.7 / 10
A long-established favourite for repeat visitors to Kai Bae. Small, green, friendly, immaculately maintained and great value – with a generous swimming pool and consistently excellent service. Not beachfront, but one of the best-run independent resorts on the island.

Location: 8.5 / 10 A few minutes’ walk to Kai Bae Beach; quiet lane but close to shops and restaurants.
Rooms: 8.6 / 10 – Clean, bright, well-kept rooms with comfortable beds and proper A/C.
Facilities: 8.9 / 10 – Excellent swimming pool, garden pathways, bar, strong Wi-Fi and top-tier maintenance.
Beach / Sea Access: 7.8 / 10 – Not on the sand; guests walk or ride to the beach.
Breakfast / Food: 8.5 / 10 – Highly praised breakfast with homemade touches.
Service: 9.3 / 10 – Among the best-reviewed staff teams in Kai Bae; friendly, attentive and professional.
Value for Money: 9.1 / 10 – Superb value for a resort this well-maintained and well-managed.

What We Liked

Exceptionally clean, well-managed and friendly
Large, deep swimming pool with greenery around
Peaceful setting but steps from village life
Comfortable rooms with consistent upgrades over the years
One of the island’s strongest independent mid-range resorts

What Could Be Better

Not beachfront
Rooms are functional rather than stylish
Books out early in high season

Best For

Couples and long-stay travellers
Guests who value cleanliness, comfort and service
People who will spend mornings at the pool and afternoons exploring

Summary:
Garden Resort is a polished, friendly, great-value mid-range resort with an excellent pool and unbeatable service. If you don’t need to be directly on the beach, it’s one of the best places to stay in Kai Bae.

See prices & available rooms

Garden Resort – Full Review

Overview

Garden Resort is one of those properties that punches far above its star rating. Though it’s technically a mid-range inland resort, the combination of friendly management, spotless rooms, superb maintenance and a genuinely relaxing atmosphere has earned it a strong, loyal repeat guest base.

There’s no beachfront, but everything else: pool, rooms, breakfast, staff etc is consistently praised. It’s one of the most dependable mid-range picks on the island.

Location – Quiet Lane, Close to Everything

Garden Resort is set down a short lane off Kai Bae’s main road. It’s:

3 minutes’ walk to the beach
1-3 minutes’ walk to restaurants, cafés and mini-marts
Far enough from the main road to avoid noise

The location strikes a good balance between convenience and peace. Most guests walk to the beach and use the pool for mid-day cooling.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere here is peaceful, friendly and very well run. Expect:

Happy long-stayers relaxing by the pool
Couples enjoying breakfast on shaded terraces
A quiet evenings-with-wine feel rather than any rowdiness

Garden Resort feels like a home-away-from-home for many guests especially repeat visitors who appreciate its reliability.

Rooms – Clean, Comfortable & Consistent

Rooms are clean, bright, functional and well maintained. They’re not flashy, but they are consistently comfortable which is often more important.

Main Room Types

Poolside Rooms: Nearest the water, with terraces looking directly at the pool.
Garden Rooms: Slightly back from the pool, in quieter surroundings.
Family Rooms: Larger units suitable for parents with children.

All include:

Strong air-conditioning
Private bathroom with hot water
Good mattresses and bedding
Wi-Fi and TV
Terrace or balcony seating
Fridge, kettle, bottled water

The rooms are not “boutique” but have a level of care and cleanliness above many similarly priced properties.

Facilities

Facilities are excellent for a resort of this size:

Swimming Pool: Large, deep and very well maintained and one of Kai Bae’s best non-beachfront pools.
Breakfast Pavilion: Open-sided dining with homemade breads, eggs to order, fruit and cereals.
Gardens: Tropical plants, shaded areas and well-kept pathways.
Tour Desk: Staff organise transfers, snorkelling, scooter hire and day trips.
Bar: Poolside drinks available throughout the afternoon.

Beach & Swimming

Garden Resort doesn’t sit on the sand, but Kai Bae Beach is close. The walk is easy and takes you to:

A wide sandy stretch with gentle waves
Calm, family-friendly water
Sunset views over the offshore islands

Most guests split their time between the large, shaded pool and the beach walk in the afternoon, that’s an ideal combination for many.

How Garden Resort Compares

The Stage: Slightly more modern design with multiple pools; Garden Resort wins on cleanliness and management.
Paradise Bungalows: Beachfront and rustic; Garden Resort is inland, modern and more comfortable.
KB Resort: True beachfront; Garden Resort is quieter and higher quality for the price.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Exceptionally well-run resort
Big, clean pool
Comfortable rooms and great breakfast
Quiet but central location

Cons

Not beachfront
Rooms are functional rather than stylish
Popular gets booked up early

Who Should Stay?

Couples wanting a peaceful, well-managed resort
Long-stay travellers who value consistency
Guests who want strong value without sacrificing comfort

Value for Money

Garden Resort is outstanding value. You’re getting near-boutique service and maintenance for mid-range prices. If beach access isn’t essential, it’s one of the best-priced stays in Kai Bae.

Final Thoughts

For people who prioritise comfort, cleanliness, friendliness and a good pool over a beachfront spot, Garden Resort is hard to beat. It’s a polished, dependable mid-range choice that consistently delivers.