Koh Lipe Hotels: Irene Resort vs Serendipity Resort
Irene Resort Koh Lie vs Serendipity Resort, where should I stay?
There are so many hotels in Koh Lipe it can feel a little overwhelming when trying to choose where to stay. There are hostels, homestays, 2* hotels, 3* hotels, and only a couple of 5* hotels.
However, sometimes it is better to ignore the star rating of a hotel, it is often based on facilities, and when an island is as small as this, the hotels don't exactly offer huge pools and tennis courts.
I am asked a lot about whether Serendipity Resort is better than Irene Resort Koh Lipe and vice versa. I have been lucky enough to stay at both and personally, I think they are totally different and incomparable. It is going to fully depend on you as a person and as a traveller which you prefer, so helpfully my comparison between the two below will help you!
You can read my full review of the Irene Resort Koh Lipe here.
To learn more on how to get to Koh Lipe, read my full guide here.
Location
Both Irene Resort and Serendipity Resort are located on Sunrise Beach, but at totally different ends.
Irene Resort is situated at the northern end of the beach which is wide and great for swimming, the water is very gentle but there are more boats. Irene Resort is close to a number of beach bars and beachside restaurants such as the very popular Zodiac Bar.
Meanwhile, Serendipity is located at the southern most point of Sunrise Beach and is separated a little from the main stretch of sand and instead offers its own smaller, but quieter beach with less boat traffic. The waves are slightly more choppy but it's still good to swim in.
It is quicker to get to Walking Street and Pattaya Beach from Serendipity, but at Irene Resort you have a wider stretch of beach and access to restaurants/beach bars within a couple minutes walk which I loved.
Winner: Irene Resort if you want a brilliant beach, Serendipity Resort if you want total tranquility.
Accessibility
Whilst Koh Lipe is not the most accessible island I have ever been on (to be honest, I did not see one wheelchair user whilst here), there was a stark difference between the accessibility of the hotels.
As soon as I arrived at Serendipity I said to my sister 'this would not be good if you had mobility issues'.
Serendipity Resort has been constructed on a hillside, meaning there are multiple wooden stairways connecting the rooms, restaurant, reception, and the beach area.
There are no ramps, it is not accessible to wheelchairs users at all, but even for those not in a wheelchair who struggle with mobility, it is not a good option for them.
Meanwhile, Irene Resort is built at beach level with large, easy to access rooms and ramps leading into the restaurant. Even the entrance to Irene is on flat ground and much easier to get to - to access Serendipity there is a rather steep hill!
Winner: Irene Resort
Food and drink
Serendipity Resort is home to 'On The Rocks', a beautiful, romantic restaurant situated on cascading wooden deckings over the water and beach. They offer a great Thai menu, delicious food, and an authentic experience.
Meanwhile Bok e’tto, the restaurant at Irene Resort, is situated at beach level, with tables sprawling from the main pool and out onto the sand.
Bok e’tto is a beautiful option for sunset despite being on the eastern side of the island, as you can still enjoy the reflections of pink in the clouds.
The food at Bok e’tto is Mediterranean with an Asian twist, it is more food you can find in a big city anywhere in the world rather than feeling like you have have a home cooked Thai meal.
Breakfast at Serendipity is served in the room every day, where as at Irene Resort you have one in room breakfast included, and the rest is taken in the restaurant.
The breakfast options were better at Irene Resort, but the presentation and delivery at Serendipity was stunning.
Winner: It's a tie. Head to Irene Resort for dinner if you want a more modern, vibey experience, or head to On The Rocks if you want a romantic, Thai experience.
Room design
Irene Resort is one of the newer hotels on the island and its design reflects this. Villas are large and modern, with beautiful big bathrooms, showers and bath tubs. Floor to ceiling windows offer amazing beach views but means less privacy.
The rooms come with private plunge pools, all with ocean views.
Serendipity is more rustic, the villas are more like tree houses built over the hills. I stayed in a private pool villa with complete privacy, no one could see our pool or inside our room.
Rooms were spacious with a living area, king size bedroom, and bathrooms were large although a little dark. We had no bath tub but the shower was fine (water pressure was not the best though!).
At Serendipity you feel full immersed in nature, it feels more jungle than beach, and yet you still can walk down and have beach access in less than two minutes.
Winner: For me, Serendipity wins. I loved the authenticity of the rooms, they were more in keeping with the environment and I enjoyed the privacy.
However, if you are seeking a more polished and modern fee, choose Irene.
Price and value for money
When I made my 2025 booking, I reserved 3 nights at both resorts on the same dates. I book everything on booking.com thanks to the free cancellation.
I was genuinely torn over where I should stay. I had stayed at Irene Resort the year prior and really enjoyed it, but something was also pulling me towards Serendipity.
Price wise, the two bookings were almost identical. The Treehouse Pool Villa at Irene Resort, and the Deluxe Pool Villa at Serendipity set me back around £1300 for 3 nights.
However, I will say the Irene Resort offers a more seamless and luxe experience that deserves the price tag.
Meanwhile there were a few niggling things at Serendipity that I feel need fixing before having such high pricing - the boardwalks are a little wonky and could do with some maintenance, and I struggled with the temperature of the shower. These are things I expect from a more moderately priced hotel rather than one of the most expensive on the island.
Winner: Irene Resort
Customer ratings & online reviews
I tend to take online reviews with a pinch of salt, often people are much more likely to write about a negative experience than a positive one, but I don't think they can be ignored.
Irene Resort
Tripadvisor rating: 4.0. #8 of 16 resorts in Koh Lipe, 39 reviews.
Booking.com rating: 8.9, 110 reviews
Google rating: 4.5, 121 reviews
Serendipity Resort
Tripadvisor rating: 4.5. #1 of 31 small hotels in Koh Lipe, 1,109 reviews.
Booking.com rating: 8.7, 330 reviews
Google rating: 4.5, 435 reviews
Winner: Serendipity Resort. Serendipity has significantly more reviews across the board, partly because it has been open longer, and also more rooms mean more people to review. But overall, especially through Tripadvisor, Serendipity is more favourable across online reviews.
Overall conclusion
The two resorts are very different. If you are looking for luxury, direct beach access and more modern rooms, then the Irene Resort is absolutely for you.
If you are searching for a more natural, jungle-style adventure with tree top villas and the ultimate privacy, then I would recommend Serendipity.
As mentioned, the prices for similar rooms are not far off each other. However, it is important to note that the Serendipity Resort has lead in rooms without pools that cost less so if you are wanting a beautiful experience and can't afford the price tag of a private pool, I can highly recommend Serendipity.
Taxis on the island are very cheap, 50 THB per person (around £1) per trip no matter where you go, so even though the Irene Resort is further from Pattaya Beach and Walking Street, and Serendipity is further from North Point, getting around is so easy and simple from either resort.
To compare prices or learn more about each property, check out the links below.
Compare prices of Serendipity Resort here.
Compare prices of Irene Resort here.
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