BP Samila Beach — Sea-View Rooms on Samila Beach Looking Out at Cat & Mouse Islands
If you want a Songkhla hotel where you open the curtains and the sea is right there, BP Samila Beach Hotel & Resort is usually one of the first names locals mention. The big white building has stood on the curve of Samila Beach since 1995, and the detail guests come back for is the sea-view rooms that look straight out at Cat & Mouse islands and the Gulf of Thailand, plus a location that's a short walk from the Golden Mermaid statue. That said, the hotel is nearly 30 years old and the age shows in places — read this through before you book.
BP Samila opened in 1995 and was once one of the top hotels in Songkhla. The building runs about 8 storeys, white with a terracotta roof, sitting on the corner of Samila Beach where the bay curves at its prettiest. There are 208 rooms split between the sea-facing and city-facing sides. Most sea-facing rooms come with a private balcony where you can sit and look straight out at the Gulf of Thailand and the Cat & Mouse islands — that's the main reason people pick this place over newer hotels set further back in town.
The hotel restaurant is another thing guests bring up often. It sits on the seaward side with large windows facing Cat & Mouse islands while you eat, serving Thai, Chinese and Western dishes, with a bronze mermaid sculpture in the middle of the room as a photo spot. Breakfast is included in most rate packages, and reviewers consistently say the view at breakfast is worth it, even if the spread isn't as wide as a large chain hotel.
"Sitting on the balcony in the morning with a coffee, cool sea breeze, Cat & Mouse islands right in front of me — that alone was worth the room."
The pool is a curved lagoon-style pool by the beach with a separate kids' pool. The position is genuinely good — you swim with the sea in view. But it's worth saying that several reviews agree the pool isn't always well maintained, with occasional algae and not enough loungers when it's busy. The fitness room is available but lightly equipped. Honestly, the draw here is the sea in front of the hotel, not luxury facilities.
The location is the real deal. It's a 2-minute walk to Laem Samila, and about 12 minutes more along the beach to the Golden Mermaid statue, Songkhla's icon. The Songkhla National Museum and the Old Town along Nang Ngam Road with its street art are under a 10-minute drive away. In the evening the stretch along Samila Beach fills with seafood restaurants and food carts, so an easy walk after dinner is part of the deal.
The Trip.com score sits at 8.7/10 from 41 reviews, and on TripAdvisor it ranks 6th of 29 hotels in Songkhla. The main praise is the beachfront location and the sea views. The common complaint is the age of the property — peeling paint in spots, some rooms with a musty smell, dated elevators, and firm mattresses in certain rooms. Worth knowing so you don't over-expect: this isn't a crisp new hotel, it's a veteran beachfront one that trades on the view and the location.
On price, a Superior room starts around ฿1,200/night, with Deluxe and sea-facing rooms running roughly ฿1,500–2,500. That's very low for a beachfront hotel with views at this level. Rooms fill quickly over long weekends and holidays when southern Thais head home, so book 2–3 weeks ahead. Always compare Agoda and Booking first — the gap can be a few hundred baht depending on the dates.
Bottom line — BP Samila suits travellers who want to sleep right on Samila Beach on a light budget and aren't fussed about how new the room is. If you weight sea views, a balcony facing Cat & Mouse islands, and walkable access to the Old Town, it's well worth the price. If you expect modern interiors or a full spa, look elsewhere. Just make sure you book a sea-facing room — that's the whole point of staying here.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Beachfront location on Samila — walk to the beach and Golden Mermaid
- ✓ Sea-facing rooms with great Cat & Mouse island views
- ✓ Good value for a beachfront hotel at this view level
- ✓ Free parking and polite, friendly staff
- ! The property is aging, with peeling paint in places
- ! Some rooms smell musty and the elevators are dated
- ! Firm mattresses in certain rooms
- ✓ Sea views from the sea-facing balconies are excellent value
- ✓ Restaurant facing Cat & Mouse islands — relaxed breakfast
- ✓ Easy beach walk into the Old Town
- ✓ Pool by the beach, good for families with kids
- ! Rooms and common areas need updating
- ! Pool not always well maintained, occasional algae
- ! Some staff have limited English
- 💡If you want a full sea view — specify a sea-facing Sea View room at booking → city-facing rooms look at the town, not the sea, for not much less money
- 💡If room condition matters to you — this opened in 1995 and hasn't had a major renovation, so some rooms smell musty → ask to see the room before check-in, or pick a newer hotel if crisp interiors are a priority
- 💡If you're travelling with family — the lagoon pool has a kids' section and sits by the sand, so children get both pool and beach → loungers are limited, so claim a spot early on busy days