Diamond Plaza Hotel Surat Thani — The Tallest Tower in Town with a 16-Metre Pool and a Walk to Central
Drive into Surat Thani and the tall white tower you spot from a distance is Diamond Plaza Hotel — at 20 storeys it is still the tallest building in town. It opened in 2001 and had its most recent major refresh in 2019. What guests bring up most often is the downtown location, with an 850-metre walk to Central Surat Thani, and a 16-metre outdoor pool with a separate kids' pool — uncommon at this price. To be clear up front: this is not a luxury resort. It is a well-located city hotel that gives you good value and works as a base for exploring Surat Thani or an overnight stop before the boats to the islands.
Diamond Plaza opened in 2001 as a 20-storey tower that remains the tallest building in Surat Thani today. Its 400-plus rooms run from floors 4 to 21, ranging from 24–32 sqm Deluxe Twins up to Junior Suites and a President Suite. Most rooms have parquet floors and large windows, and because the tower is so tall, rooms from around the 10th floor up look out over the town toward the distant Khao Luang range — a view several guests describe as more than they expected from a city hotel.
The standout is the outdoor pool. A sign beside it reads Diamond Pool, 16 by 10 metres and 1.5 metres deep, with a dolphin-mosaic floor. There is a separate children's pool and a sunbathing area, which makes it an easy pick for families travelling with kids. Beyond the pool there is a fitness room, a massage room, and an on-site restaurant. The lobby itself is a high-ceilinged hall with black marble columns and timber panelling — grander than most travellers expect from a 3-star property.
"Guests describe staying three nights in March before catching the ferry to Koh Phangan. One booked a Deluxe Twin at around ฿1,100 a night without expecting much — but when the lift opened on the 14th floor and they walked into the room, the view through the full-width window stopped them. You could see the whole of Surat Thani laid out below, with a faint ridge of mountains on the horizon and the afternoon light turning the sky amber at the edges. It felt like considerably more than they had paid for. The room was clean throughout — parquet floors with no dust, a bathroom that was spotless, good hot pressure in the shower, a working hair dryer, and air conditioning that cooled the room quickly. Some of the furniture showed its age, but the bed was comfortable and nothing was missing. The outdoor pool was the real highlight. It is much larger than the photos suggest, and the dolphin mosaic on the floor is a nice touch. The water was clear, no stinging eyes, and the temperature was comfortable in mid-March. There is a sun deck with loungers along the edge, though by early afternoon most chairs were taken — arriving before noon is the way to go. The lobby is far grander than you expect at this price point: high ceilings, dark marble columns, warm lighting. On checkout day the staff stored their luggage without being asked. They checked out at noon but the transfer to the pier was not until four, so the staff tagged the bags and told them to come back at three. They walked over to Central for lunch in the meantime, found the supermarket, stocked up on snacks for the boat, and got back with time to spare. The location is genuinely one of the best things about it — Central is a ten-minute walk, and the street-food stalls nearby serve excellent rice dishes for fifty baht. The one thing to know before booking: street-side rooms do catch motorbike noise late at night. Rooms facing away from the road are not affected, but guests on the street side report hearing traffic well past midnight. Ask for a room on the opposite side and a high floor and you will have a quiet, comfortable stay at a price that is hard to beat for a provincial city hotel with a pool, free parking, and an EV charger on site. One more thing worth noting: the front desk is open round the clock, the Wi-Fi in the public areas was fast enough for video calls, and the on-site restaurant served a decent breakfast. For these guests, Diamond Plaza delivered exactly what a transit hotel should — clean, well-located, reliable, with a pool good enough to make the afternoon genuinely enjoyable before the next leg of the trip. Many say they would book it again without hesitation and recommend it to anyone passing through Surat Thani who wants comfort and convenience without overpaying."
Location is where the hotel scores highest (9.3 on Trip.com). It is roughly an 850-metre walk to Central Surat Thani, with Robinson department store about 1.1 km away. Local restaurants and markets sit within easy walking distance for finding something to eat. For anyone continuing by ferry to Koh Samui or Koh Phangan, downtown Surat Thani is a convenient overnight base before the boats, and the hotel can arrange ferry tickets and transfers for an extra charge.
Parking is free and there is an on-site EV charger, still uncommon for a provincial hotel at this rate. Free Wi-Fi covers the public areas, and the business centre and meeting rooms in a range of sizes make it popular with work travellers and local conferences. The front desk is staffed 24 hours and offers free luggage storage, which helps if you check out but still have to wait for an evening train or boat.
The overall Trip.com score is 9.0/10 from 146 reviews, with cleanliness (9.3) and location (9.3) leading. Honestly, though, parts of the building are showing their age — some reviews mention dated furniture and wallpaper in rooms that have not been refreshed yet. Street-facing rooms catch motorbike noise at night, and a few guests found the mattresses firm. The pool has occasionally been closed for maintenance, so it is worth checking with the hotel if using it is a priority. These are real limitations to know before booking.
On price, Diamond Plaza starts at around ฿1,000/night for a Deluxe room and rises to roughly ฿1,800–2,500 for a suite. That is very reasonable for what you get — pool, gym, parking, and a central location. During festivals and long weekends, when travellers stop over before island ferries, rates climb and rooms fill quickly, so booking one to two weeks ahead is sensible.
The bottom line: Diamond Plaza suits travellers who want a clean, good-value city hotel with a pool and parking, as a base for Surat Thani or an overnight stop before the islands. Do not expect resort-grade luxury, but request a renovated room away from the street and you will get full value for the money. If you would rather have a riverside, more natural setting on the Tapi River, look at the other options in this list instead.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Central location, easy walk to Central mall and restaurants
- ✓ Large pool and a kids' pool — good for families
- ✓ Clean rooms with attractive high-floor city views
- ✓ Free parking with an EV charger
- ! Furniture and wallpaper dated in some rooms
- ! Street-side rooms catch traffic noise at night
- ! Mattresses firm in some rooms
- ✓ Strong value — pool and gym from around ฿1,000
- ✓ High-ceilinged lobby grander than expected for 3 stars
- ✓ Convenient overnight stop before Samui/Phangan ferries; the hotel books boats and transfers
- ✓ 24-hour front desk and free luggage storage
- ! Parts of the building show their age, awaiting more renovation
- ! Walls thin in some rooms; you hear neighbours
- ! Pool has been closed for maintenance at times — check first if you plan to use it
- 💡If you want the best room condition — ask for a renovated room when booking → rooms that have not been refreshed have older furniture and wallpaper
- 💡If you sleep lightly — request a high floor away from Sriwichai Road → street-side rooms catch motorbike noise at night, and walls in some rooms are thin enough to hear neighbours
- 💡If the pool is the point — confirm with the hotel before you travel that it is open → it has closed for maintenance at times, and poolside chairs are limited on busy days