Chilled Vibes in True Koh Phangan Fashion at Munchies Resort with Raj

Leo Beer took Phanganist to go and meet Raj from Munchies resort in the quiet area of Baan Kai.

It was a hot day with the sun high in the sky, guests were relaxing in and around the pool and the resort had a chilled vibe as soon as we entered…

Hi Raj so can you tell us Munchies’ story…
We came here looking for a place to do something and got really lucky having this nice Thai family own this property. So we rented the land and renovated it for them and employed the family as well.

We wanted to keep them involved so it’s a family orientated resort. We like to keep it chilled and be respectful to the Thai’s and do everything we can to help them.

Why the name ‘Munchies’?
The name was here from thirty years ago, from the family from day one. We have come and done our business here but we always make sure that everything is ok with the family and we want to show them that they are a HUGE part of this and the island.

And what is the concept of this little piece of paradise?
It’s three words; take it easy. We keep it quiet after 11pm and it’s great for Mum’s and Dad’s as the kids can play in the pool and they can enjoy the pool bar but we keep respectful. If people want to carry on drinking then they can come into the beach bar and restaurant.

We only have nine bungalows so it’s very cosy and everyone gets to know each other, mingles and hangs out.

Munchies has two bungalows with air con and the rest are fan, all with their own bathroom. They will do anything they can to help guests whether it’s renting a bike which they have on site to organising trips.

‘Anything anyone wants to do we can arrange, we have a large network of friends here and we don’t charge commision, we just want to help our clients’.

Raj in fact stayed as a guest at first at Munchies resort and tells us that he woke up the next day and wanted to continue to be here, luckily for him life worked its magic for him to stay…

So what do you like about having a different client base here at Munchies?
For us we feel we cater to families, slightly older people and couples better than backpackers, the only reason is we try to keep it relaxed and quiet.

We don’t want our guests to be around the Full Moon madness although that is still a part of the island, we want them to enjoy Koh Phangan as a whole and not the parties as such.

Baan Kai is a nice area, what do you think is special about it?
It is very very nice, it’s a really big attraction to be close enough to the Full Moon area of Haad Rin and Thong Sala, we are right in the middle.

It’s a very quiet area with no main roads, just a side road to get to us. It sets us apart for the people who want to get away from their real, everyday lives, to have a nice getaway but be close enough to everything on the island, it’s all accessible by bike.

What have been some of the best comments from guests?
I will tell you my own story, as you know I came as a tourist and booked one night and it wasn’t the scenery, the beach, not the bar or restaurant, it’s the vibe. It’s a very friendly vibe, we want everyone to have fun and we bring Western service to a Thai style resort.

We have had people book for one night and stay a whole month and people who have booked to move on somewhere else but cancelled and come back here.

Do you have any plans with Munchies for the future?
There is always room for improvement and until our guests our 100% satisfied then there will always be work to do.

Maybe we will open another Munchies in the future so our guests can go to another place in Thailand where they feel comfortable and at home like they do here.

What activities would you recommend for couples and families to do here?
We like to send them to Ko Rahem and Ko Mah for snorkelling and also Thong Nai Pan is a nice area.

We always sit down with a map with every guest, see what they want to do and plan accordingly to what they like not what we like. It’s a big part of our operation to sit down with guests, making sure they feel at home and get the best treatment.

What do you like to do in your free time Raj?
I like to travel, I have met so many people at Munchies it has inspired me to see their countries. I am a big fan of sports also so I indulge in this in my spare time. I like every sport as I am a big fan of the nature of competition, coming from an American this says a lot!

And leave us with the Munchies philosophy…
We love what we do, none of us are here because we have to be here. We love this life, we love our guests and they become like family.

We have only been open for eight months but already have returning guests, 60% of guests hang out every day and enjoy living with us.

It’s nice to see that these kind of places are still here on the island as there has been a lot of hostels open in recent years. Munchies is a bit like how it used to be a few years ago on Koh Phangan with its beach bungalows and chilled vibe.

Munchies is a traditional Thai style resort but with an added touch of Western service and style but in keeping and staying respectful to the locals and surroundings which we really admire them for. The restaurant is on the beach as well so you can enjoy some Thai food at sunset with the sea to gaze upon in true Koh Phangan fashion.