The Stage – Kai Bae Beach

Scorecard: The Stage

Overall Rating: 8.3 / 10
A small, well-designed mid-range resort in the centre of Kai Bae village, with modern rooms and three compact pools. No beach access, but a very handy, good-value base just a short walk from Kai Bae Beach – ideal for couples and friends who care more about a comfortable room and pool than being right on the sand.

Location: 8.6 / 10 – Centrally located in Kai Bae village, around 5 minutes’ walk to the beach, with restaurants and shops on the doorstep.
Rooms: 8.2 / 10 – Modern, minimalist rooms and cottages with A/C, good beds and simple but stylish interiors.
Facilities: 8.4 / 10 – Nice pool, small garden areas, massage on request, basic services.
Beach / Sea Access: 7.6 / 10 – Not beachfront; guests walk to the public access at Kai Bae or head south along the beach for quieter sand.
Breakfast / Food: 7.8 / 10 – Continental breakfast buffet; perfectly adequate but not a huge spread.
Service: 8.6 / 10 – Friendly, relaxed staff; efficient check-in and helpful with local info and tours.
Value for Money: 8.8 / 10 – Very good value if you’re happy to trade beachfront for a stylish pool resort at lower prices.

What We Liked

Stylish, modern rooms for a mid-range price
Pleasant compact pool – good for lounging
Central Kai Bae location with restaurants, cafés and shops very close by
Generally quiet at night despite being in the village
Excellent value if you don’t need to be directly on the beach

What Could Be Better

No direct beach access, you have to walk a few minutes
Some rooms and the pool now show a bit of wear and could use some refurbishing
Breakfast is basic compared to bigger resorts
Occasional minor issues like ants or tired pool tiles in some units

Best For

Couples and friends who want a modern, good-value base
Travellers who will spend days exploring rather than glued to a sunlounger
People who prefer a pool and a good room over beachfront bungalows

Summary:
The Stage is a compact, modern resort in the middle of Kai Bae that gives you clean, contemporary rooms and a pool for a very fair price. With the trade-off that you’re not on the beach. If you’re happy to walk for your sand and would rather save money on a room that still feels “designed”, it’s a very solid choice.

See prices & available rooms

The Stage – Full Review

Overview

The Stage is owned by the same people as The Chill, but sits on the inland side of the road as their more affordable, no-frills sister property. Think of it as the “budget design” option: you don’t get beachfront or an infinity pool, but you do get simple, nice-looking rooms and a cleverly laid-out pool area that feels far more upmarket than the price suggests.

It’s quite small. A couple of dozen rooms and cottages built around two salt-chlorinated pools and a plunge / Jacuzzi pool – and it’s right in the heart of Kai Bae village. That makes it ideal for people who want to pop out to restaurants, grab a coffee, rent a scooter or jump in a songthaew without trekking up a hill or along a dark lane first.

Location – In the Heart of Kai Bae Village

The Stage sits just off the main road in Kai Bae, roughly halfway along the village strip. From the front gate you have:

Numerous Thai and Western restaurants within a 1 to 3 minute walk
Mini-marts, ATMs, massage shops and tour agencies very close by
Kai Bae Beach public access under 10 minutes’ walk away
Easy access by scooter or songthaew north to Klong Prao and White Sand, south to Lonely Beach and Bang Bao

You’re not tucked away in nature, you’re staying in the village. But once you step inside, the resort has a surprisingly peaceful feel, with the low-rise buildings shielding most of the road noise.

Atmosphere

The Stage has a sociable but not rowdy atmosphere. You’ll often find:

Friends and couples hanging out by the pool with beers or smoothies
People chatting on their terraces in the evening
Guests coming and going to the beach or day trips

It doesn’t have the “hideaway in the jungle” vibe of some resorts, but it does feel relaxed, easy-going and quite social around the pool area. Evenings are generally quiet. Kai Bae doesn’t have the late-night party scene of Lonely Beach.

Rooms – Compact, Modern & Functional

Rooms at The Stage are modern, clean and functional rather than luxurious. They’re exactly what many mid-range travellers want: comfortable beds, air-conditioning, proper bathrooms and a bit of style, without paying high-end prices.

Main Room Types

Standard Rooms: Located in the low-rise blocks, with pool or garden views. Compact but well laid out, good showers and small terraces or balconies.
Cottages on Elevated Deck: Free-standing units with more of a “bungalow” feel. Slightly more private, with terraces overlooking the pools or gardens.
Larger Double / Twin Rooms: Similar decor but with a bit more floor space which is useful if you’ve got a lot of luggage or sports gear.

In all rooms you can expect:

Air-conditioning that actually cools the room
En-suite bathroom with hot shower
TV and Wi-Fi
Fridge and basic storage
Simple, modern décor with tiled floors and neutral colours

Guest reviews often praise the layout and comfort but also note that some rooms are now showing their age. A lick of paint here, a few pool tiles there wouldn’t go amiss. It doesn’t spoil the experience, but expectations should be “well-kept mid-range” rather than “brand new boutique”.

Facilities

For a small inland resort, The Stage punches above its weight on facilities. The pools in particular are a highlight.

Salt-Chlorinated Swimming Pool: Long enough for lazy laps and nicely integrated with the rooms and gardens.
Continental Breakfast Buffet: Served daily from 07:00 to 10:00, typically breads, fruit, eggs, cereal, coffee/tea and a few hot items. Perfectly adequate but not grand.
Massage on Appointment: Simple, on-site treatments can be arranged.
Laundry Service: Handy for longer stays.
Tour & Ticket Help: Staff can book snorkelling trips, transfers, elephant camps and more.

There’s no gym, spa complex or kids’ club. Which suits the scale and target audience of the resort. Think simple and practical rather than full resort-style infrastructure.

Beach & Swimming

The main trade-off at The Stage is that you’re not on the beach. You’ll:

Walk 8-10 minutes to the nearest beach access
Probably head towards the southern part of Kai Bae Beach for more space and quieter sand
Use the resort pools for most of your quick dips and sunbathing

If you absolutely must step off your terrace onto sand, this isn’t the resort for you. If you’re happy to walk and like the idea of a cheaper, nicer room with a pool instead of beachfront markup, it works very well.

How The Stage Compares

The Chill: Beachfront, infinity pool, more luxurious and much pricier. The Stage gives you a taste of that design sensibility for far less money but without the beach.
KB Resort / Kai Bae Beach Resort: True beachfront with bigger pools and direct sand access; rooms are a bit more traditional. The Stage is more contemporary in feel but inland.
Paradise Bungalows: Older, simpler beach bungalows; better for budget beachfront nostalgia, The Stage better for modern comfort.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Modern, comfortable rooms at sensible prices
Three pools in a small resort
Very central in Kai Bae so everything on your doorstep
Good option if you plan to be out and about most days

Cons

No direct beach access
Some wear and tear in rooms and pool tiles
Breakfast is basic, not a big buffet

Who Should Stay at The Stage?

Great for:

Couples and small groups of friends on a mid-range budget
Travellers who want to be close to cafés, restaurants and shops
People who prefer a modern room and pool to old-school beach huts

Probably not ideal for:

Beach purists who want sea views from their terrace
Families with very young kids who need the beach right there
Guests expecting big-resort facilities

Value for Money

The Stage is an excellent illustration of how much you can save by not being on the sand. You get a well-designed, air-con room, multiple pools and a central location for often half what beachfront properties charge. If you’re realistic about breakfast and the odd maintenance niggle, it’s one of Kai Bae’s best-value modern stays.

Final Thoughts

The Stage isn’t aiming to be a luxury, all-singing, all-dancing resort. It’s a compact, well-designed place to sleep, swim and relax between exploring the island and eating your way up and down Kai Bae. For many visitors, especially couples and friends, that’s exactly what they want, and it’s why The Stage gets so many repeat guests.