Bulow Casa Grand View Resort & Spa: The Best Luxury Hotel in Koh Lipe

Suzana Lelic
Jun 16, 2025
3 min read

If you're a passionate diver planning your next underwater getaway, Koh Lipe should definitely be on your list. This tiny island in southern Thailand is often called the “Maldives of Thailand” – and while that might be a stretch, the water is just as impossibly blue. For divers and snorkelers, it's a dream.

Getting to Koh Lipe: A Bumpy Start to Paradise

Reaching Koh Lipe takes some effort. We hopped on a speedboat from Klong Jilad Pier in Krabi, which took us straight to Pattaya Beach. But be warned: it’s a long, bumpy 3-hour ride with zero personal space. Every inch of the boat is packed. G slept the entire time (how does he manage that on moving vehicles?), while I clutched the seat, silently panicking through every wave.

Through the Island’s Heart to Bulow Casa Grand View

After arriving, we jumped in a tuk tuk to head to Bulow Casa Grand View Resort & Spa. The ride took us through the center of Koh Lipe – charming walking streets dotted with restaurants, diving schools, and shops – and then through the local village. That part hit us hard. The poverty was eye-opening, and the sanitation issues were tough to ignore. At one point, the smell of sewage was overwhelming.

And guess what? That road became our daily commute to the diving school. No beach pick-up, just a bumpy tuk tuk ride through reality every morning.

A Luxury Escape (with a Few Caveats)

But then we arrived at Bulow Casa Grand View Resort & Spa, and wow. The guilt from what we’d seen on the way in lingered, but the hotel itself was beautiful. It’s a small, boutique resort right on the beach with just a handful of suites.

Our room? Enormous. We had a private pool just steps from the sand, a round bed draped in floating baldachins (first time for me), and a semi-outdoor bathroom that felt like a little spa sanctuary. There was even a kitchen and a beautifully arranged fruit bowl waiting for us.

One big downside? The noise from the longtail boats. It’s constant and loud. Not the hotel's fault – it’s just the island’s rhythm – but it made it hard to enjoy the terrace or sleep with the doors open.

That said, the hotel was spotless, and the restaurant was genuinely excellent. Their grilled fish night? So good.

They do have a spa, which I was thrilled about… but sadly, it was fully booked during our stay. So if you plan to indulge, definitely book ahead. Luckily, the team organized two incredible Thai therapists to come to our room for a massage. One hour of magic for next to nothing – such a highlight.

Why We Shouldn’t Have Left…

Here’s where the story takes a turn. We decided (foolishly) to switch hotels mid-stay thinking we’d upgraded. Enter Irene Beach Resort – and honestly, it was a total letdown. Overpriced, overrated, and nowhere near the quality of Bulow. I’ll go into the full experience in another post, but let’s just say: I wish someone had warned us.

Which brings me to this – honest travel blogging matters. Too many people post glowing reviews of places they’ve barely stayed at (or not at all), and paying guests end up disappointed. I promised myself I’d keep things real here, and that means sharing the good and the not-so-good.

So, Is Bulow Casa Grand View Resort & Spa the Best Luxury Hotel in Koh Lipe?

If you’re hunting for a luxury hotel in Koh Lipe that delivers on design, service, and beachfront bliss – Bulow Casa Grand View is hands down the best option we’ve tried. Just be sure to book your spa treatments in advance!

For a more budget-friendly alternative with a great diver community, check out Scorpio, right next door.

👉 Looking for food recommendations on the island? I've got a full Koh Lipe foodie guide here.