Buddha View Hostel & Diving

You stay in the Mae Haad area, with a garden, a shared lounge and sea views from the balcony. Buddha View Hostel suits you if you would rather spend the day exploring the island and the water than using a large hotel set-up: you get an air-conditioned room to return to, everyday facilities within walking distance and a shared space where you can chat between outings.

The format is simple, but not bare-bones. Wi-Fi throughout, a private bathroom, a fridge and tea- and coffee-making facilities give you what you need after a day at the beach without turning the room into a list of chores. This is the sort of place where you spend the day outdoors and mainly need the room to let you sleep at night.

Buddha View Hostel is on Koh Tao, Thailand, at 2, 102 Tambon Ko Tao. Mae Haad Beach is about 0.25 miles away, a few minutes on foot; you can walk to Sairee Beach in around ten minutes, at about 0.62 miles. The sea is not a distant backdrop here: it starts after a short walk.

You can also go out for dinner without turning it into an expedition. Seafood By Pawn is about 0.09 miles away, while La Latina Koh Tao and The French Market are about 0.19 miles away. For coffee, Isla Brew Coffee is about 0.22 miles away, while Hakuna Matata Koh Tao and Triple B Bungalows are in the same area.

If you want a different cove, Jansom Bay Beach is about 0.93 miles away and Sai Nuan Beach about 1.24 miles away. Aow Leuk Beach is also about 1.24 miles away. Chalok Viewpoint is 0.93 miles away and Shark Island is 1.86 miles away.

The room does its job without fuss: air conditioning to bring the temperature down after a day outside, a private bathroom with a shower, and a fridge for keeping water cool. Tea- and coffee-making facilities mean you do not have to go out again first thing, while the desk gives you somewhere to put a laptop or sort through a few photos between swims.

The view makes a noticeable difference at night. The balcony looks out towards the sea, while the garden gives you another outdoor area when you want to stay at the hostel without being shut in your room. The clothes-drying rack will be useful for beachwear, although it is not a substitute for a dedicated drying room.

A shared lounge with television completes the set-up for when you want to read, chat or simply let the afternoon heat pass. The arrangement suits a stay where the room is a comfortable base rather than the whole programme.

The garden and balcony give you two ways to slow down without leaving the hostel. You can sit in the shared lounge with television, use the Wi-Fi and let the day wind down at its own pace. On Koh Tao, that is a perfectly reasonable plan: your legs may sometimes need less ambition than your dive log.

Mae Haad Beach, about 0.25 miles away, gets you to the coast quickly for a walk, a swim or a look at the activity around the area. You can also walk to Sairee Beach, about 0.62 miles away. For a change of scenery, Jansom Bay Beach, Sai Nuan Beach and Aow Leuk Beach are within roughly 0.93 to 1.24 miles.

Check-in is from 2pm to 8pm, and check-out is from 8am to 11am. Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout. Free public parking is available on site and does not need to be reserved, which is useful if you are getting around the island by vehicle.

The property is non-smoking. Pets are not allowed, and parties or events are not permitted. The two airports listed for reaching Koh Tao are Samui International Airport, about 39 miles away, and Chumphon Airport, about 53 miles away; you will therefore need to arrange the onward sea connection to the island.

Electricity comes from solar power, with a back-up generator available when needed. The approach is practical: generate power on site while maintaining continuity of supply when conditions require it.

Water comes from a system using filtered rainwater and underground sources. It is available continuously throughout the property, which is particularly useful on an island where resources and public networks can be limited.