The perfect places to chill out by the sea, from simple bungalows in Thailand, to a luxury resort in MalaysiaSend us a tip this week and you could win a Sony cameraThailand WINNING TIP: Archanpan huts, Koh Phayam This is the best place I have stayed in my entire life. These bungalows are in Buffalo Bay on the remote Thai island of Phayam, which I discovered after the Guardian recommended it. The owner, Archanpan, is the secret ingredient. He is honestly one of the most amazing people I have ever met ? considerate, interesting and spiritual. Prices are low, and Archanpan has a pet crocodile living under his home. Huts for two from �7Jimmyhil123Friendly Bungalows, Koh PhanganBottle Beach is beautiful, and just the right combination of isolated and yet accessible. You'll find beautiful white sands, palm trees and clear water that is perfect for swimming. It's accessible only by boat or dirt track. Friendly Bungalows are the ones at the far right of the beach as you stand with the sea behind you. The staff are lovely and will make you feel like part of the family immediately. The huts are also great ? they back right on to the jungle and are so peaceful. Each one is different and they keep them immaculately clean.Bungalows for two from �8CluckClickCoco Bungalow, Koh LipeKoh Lipe is a tiny island in the Andaman Sea and one of the 51 islands of the Tarutao national marine park. Its long stretches of white sand are strewn with flowers each morning ? lifted by the night breeze from trees that fringe the sand. The Coco Bungalow beach huts on Sunset Beach are simple ? a real Robinson Crusoe experience. A mat on the floor is your comfy bed, but even the cheapest come with toilet and shower. The Chao Ley are the indigenous tribe. I watched for hours as they built longtail boats on the water's edge.Huts from �8; kohlipethailand.comPlainsailingPorn's Bungalows, Koh ChangMany of us have been fortunate enough to take a trip to Thailand and, tragic though it is, you can become a little uninspired on arrival at yet another beautiful beach hut on yet another beautiful island. But when you arrive at Porn's Bungalows you will feel a spark of magic and calm surrounds it so you can explore the delights of Koh Chang without the boom boom of a techno sound system in earshot. The bungalows are owned and run by the Porn family and are beautifully located on a golden beach where the water is almost like a lagoon, so you can walk or snorkel to your heart's content. They are very affordable, and your hosts can't do enough to make your stay just perfect. A recommendation to fill your time, should you get board of lying in a hammock reading your favourite book, is to relax with a turmeric face mask at the Herbal Sauna Bailan.Bungalows from �10; pornsbungalows-kohchang.comsurfstacey01Klong Nin beach huts, Koh LantaKlong Nin is a quiet, idyllic resort on Koh Lanta, with the most beautiful sunset to be seen in Thailand. I stayed in unnamed beach huts with double bed and bathroom costing just $1 a night, including the use of a pool (the only problem was that I occasionally had to share it with some of the local wildlife, including a 3ft monitor lizard). Fresh fruit and breakfast banquets were also on offer in the resort's beachfront restaurant. I doubt these prices can be found online, but they are easy to find once you are there. They were right by the luxurious Sri Lanta boutique resort. Surrounded by unspoilt, tranquil beaches by day and fresh seafood restaurants by night. For a fun night out, Ibark nightclub is a short stroll away ? with an open-air bar perched on a cliff top, it's the perfect way to end the day.nickynsCambodiaBamboo IslandI've travelled a great deal in south-east Asia and trying to find the fabled bungalow life of the early years is nearly impossible. So when I stumbled on Bamboo Island (a two-hour boat ride from Sihanoukville) I knew I had a find. Seclusion and peace at last. There is definitely no luxury here; no watersports or activities, no bars or nightclubs, only 16 very basic bungalows with shared toilets and one eating place. However, the beautiful beach ? and like-minded people ? make it a delightful place to literally do nothing and need nothing.Bungalows for two from �15; cambodia-beach.com/coasters/bamboo-island.html emcdougallParadise Bungalows, Koh RongThe Paradise Bungalows are exactly that, bungalows in paradise. They are on the white beaches of the sparsely populated island of Koh Rong, 40km off the coast of Sihanoukville. You really feel you have the island to yourself if you visit in the off-peak season. Combine diving and swimming on the coral reefs with some serious hammock swinging. The authorities have big plans for the island so best to visit before it gets overdeveloped.Bungalows for two �10, dorms from �2; diveshopcambodia.com/paradise-bungalows.htmlthePopsMalaysiaMoonlight Chalets, Perhentian IslandsCute rustic wooden cabins overlooking the beach on Perhentian Kecil, an island with no roads, no cars and no stress. The only traffic is a speedboat which drops off the few visitors straight on to the beach twice a day ? that and the disco-coloured fish which teem round the bay. The cabin wasn't expensive so we had enough left in our meagre wallets for the ridiculously fresh BBQ fish banquets each night on the beach. Perfect ? still dream of it now when stuck in an office in rainy Manchester. Cabins for two from �15; perhentian.com.my NewlyNorthernThe Tanjung Sanctuary Resort, LangkawiAlthough these are more beach bungalows than beach huts, their price is very reasonable. They have 32 bungalows in 67 acres of jungle right on the edge of the Andaman Sea. I have never felt so close to nature. We had a hornbill feeding its young less than 10m from our balcony and we could see dolphins out at sea. Treat yourself and stay in a "luxury" beach hut.Doubles from �135; tanjungsanctuary.com.myDorsethoopsIndiaOm Sai beach huts, GoaAgonda beach is a 3km stretch of white sand and if you are in search of a relaxing escape or a romantic getaway the Om Sai beach huts fit the bill. The six huts are in a secluded area of the beach and the friendly staff ensure you have everything you need. The busiest season is over New Year, so book early if you are looking to welcome 2012 in style.goabeachhuts.comLucejaneAsiaBeach holidaysBackpackingThailandMalaysiaCambodiaIndiaBudget travelGuardian readersguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
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