{
  "path": "/research/accommodation/surat-thani/",
  "markdown": "/research/accommodation/surat-thani.md",
  "generated_at": "2026-05-15T00:00:00+07:00",
  "payload": {
    "slug": "surat-thani",
    "city": "Surat Thani",
    "thai_name": "สุราษฎร์ธานี",
    "province": "Surat Thani",
    "matrix": {
      "city": "Surat Thani",
      "thai_name": "สุราษฎร์ธานี",
      "province": "Surat Thani",
      "recommended_slug": "surat-thani",
      "recommended_lodging_page_status": "ferry/route stay guide",
      "primary_bases": "city/Tapee River; Phun Phin rail side; airport side; Don Sak pier",
      "hotel_inventory_model": "city/rail/airport/pier buffer hotels; route resilience over romance",
      "airbnb_vacation_rental_model": "route-buffer apartments/homestays; ferry timing live-check",
      "sample_entries_included": "Rajthani Hotel; Blu Monkey Hub & Hotel Surat Thani; Our Jungle Camp Eco Resort; S.22 Hotel Surat Thani; Airbnb / vacation rental / serviced-apartment pattern",
      "sample_entry_count": "5",
      "static_fields_to_publish": "base-area role; route role; official hotel identity/source URL; approximate area; stable history/opening notes only when sourced; caveats; stay-guide priority",
      "fields_that_must_remain_live": "room availability; nightly price; user rating score; individual review count; Airbnb listing legality; condo/building rules; host license; cancellation policy; ferry/weather/event disruption; exact shuttle/transfer times",
      "suggested_widgets": "city/rail/airport/Don Sak buffer chooser with ferry check",
      "data_confidence": "medium",
      "access_date": "2026-05-15"
    },
    "priority": {
      "city": "Surat Thani",
      "slug": "surat-thani",
      "stay_guide_priority": "medium",
      "recommended_status": "ferry/route stay guide",
      "why": "city/rail/airport/pier buffer hotels; route resilience over romance",
      "primary_bases": "city/Tapee River; Phun Phin rail side; airport side; Don Sak pier",
      "airbnb_handling": "route-buffer apartments/homestays; ferry timing live-check",
      "confidence": "medium"
    },
    "entries": [
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "thai_name": "สุราษฎร์ธานี",
        "province": "Surat Thani",
        "recommended_slug": "surat-thani",
        "entry_name": "Rajthani Hotel",
        "accommodation_type": "hotel",
        "popularity_class": "popular city-route anchor",
        "area_or_base": "Surat Thani city",
        "address": "Surat Thani city center, Thailand",
        "address_confidence": "low",
        "official_or_primary_source_url": "https://www.booking.com/city/th/surat-thani.html",
        "source_type": "commercial-catalog-only",
        "review_source_url": "",
        "review_signal_summary": "Live validation required.",
        "review_themes_to_verify": "city center, transit buffer, value",
        "signature_rooms_features_or_stay_angle": "Practical city layover candidate.",
        "history_or_opening_notes": "Opening date not verified.",
        "best_for": "overnight ferry/rail buffer",
        "avoid_if": "island/beach experience",
        "static_vs_live_treatment": "static candidate with live validation",
        "repo_use": "Surat city transit hotel candidate",
        "caveats_and_uncertainty": "",
        "data_confidence": "low",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      },
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "thai_name": "สุราษฎร์ธานี",
        "province": "Surat Thani",
        "recommended_slug": "surat-thani",
        "entry_name": "Blu Monkey Hub & Hotel Surat Thani",
        "accommodation_type": "hotel",
        "popularity_class": "modern city anchor",
        "area_or_base": "Surat Thani city",
        "address": "Surat Thani city, Thailand",
        "address_confidence": "low",
        "official_or_primary_source_url": "https://www.booking.com/city/th/surat-thani.html",
        "source_type": "commercial-catalog-only",
        "review_source_url": "",
        "review_signal_summary": "Live validation required.",
        "review_themes_to_verify": "modern budget/design chain, transit convenience",
        "signature_rooms_features_or_stay_angle": "Modern practical hotel candidate.",
        "history_or_opening_notes": "Opening date not verified.",
        "best_for": "short city layover, budget-modern stay",
        "avoid_if": "river/culture boutique priority",
        "static_vs_live_treatment": "static candidate with live validation",
        "repo_use": "modern layover candidate",
        "caveats_and_uncertainty": "",
        "data_confidence": "low",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      },
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "thai_name": "สุราษฎร์ธานี",
        "province": "Surat Thani",
        "recommended_slug": "surat-thani",
        "entry_name": "Our Jungle Camp Eco Resort",
        "accommodation_type": "eco resort",
        "popularity_class": "Khao Sok specialized anchor",
        "area_or_base": "Khao Sok / Phanom district",
        "address": "123/1 Moo 6, Tambon Klongsok, Amphur Phanom, Surat Thani 84250, Thailand",
        "address_confidence": "high",
        "official_or_primary_source_url": "https://www.tourismthailand.org/Accommodation/our-jungle-camp-eco-resort",
        "source_type": "official tourism listing",
        "review_source_url": "",
        "review_signal_summary": "Live review validation required.",
        "review_themes_to_verify": "treehouse/jungle eco resort, Khao Sok route, not city",
        "signature_rooms_features_or_stay_angle": "Khao Sok eco-resort; belongs to province/route layer rather than Surat city.",
        "history_or_opening_notes": "Opening date not verified.",
        "best_for": "Khao Sok nature route",
        "avoid_if": "ferry-city buffer traveler",
        "static_vs_live_treatment": "static candidate with live validation",
        "repo_use": "Surat province sub-node warning",
        "caveats_and_uncertainty": "",
        "data_confidence": "high",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      },
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "thai_name": "สุราษฎร์ธานี",
        "province": "Surat Thani",
        "recommended_slug": "surat-thani",
        "entry_name": "S.22 Hotel Surat Thani",
        "accommodation_type": "hotel",
        "popularity_class": "local practical anchor",
        "area_or_base": "Surat Thani city / road side",
        "address": "Surat Thani city, Thailand",
        "address_confidence": "low",
        "official_or_primary_source_url": "https://www.agoda.com/city/suratthani-th.html",
        "source_type": "commercial-catalog-only",
        "review_source_url": "",
        "review_signal_summary": "Live validation required.",
        "review_themes_to_verify": "practical rooms, parking, road-transit stay",
        "signature_rooms_features_or_stay_angle": "Candidate only.",
        "history_or_opening_notes": "Opening date not verified.",
        "best_for": "road/ferry transit",
        "avoid_if": "charming destination stay",
        "static_vs_live_treatment": "static candidate with live validation",
        "repo_use": "candidate row",
        "caveats_and_uncertainty": "",
        "data_confidence": "low",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      },
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "thai_name": "สุราษฎร์ธานี",
        "province": "Surat Thani",
        "recommended_slug": "surat-thani",
        "entry_name": "Airbnb / vacation rental / serviced-apartment pattern",
        "accommodation_type": "vacation rental pattern",
        "popularity_class": "live platform layer",
        "area_or_base": "city-specific; do not hardcode individual listing",
        "address": "not applicable; individual listings vary by host",
        "address_confidence": "not applicable",
        "official_or_primary_source_url": "https://www.airbnb.com/s/surat--thani--Thailand/homes",
        "source_type": "commercial-catalog-only / generated platform search",
        "review_source_url": "https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2208",
        "review_signal_summary": "Use live platform/catalog checks only.",
        "review_themes_to_verify": "review counts, host status, building rules and cancellation terms are unstable",
        "signature_rooms_features_or_stay_angle": "private homes, condos, villas, aparthotels, serviced apartments depending city",
        "history_or_opening_notes": "No opening date. Treat as live inventory.",
        "best_for": "families/groups with flexible transport",
        "avoid_if": "tight ferry connections or monsoon boat uncertainty",
        "static_vs_live_treatment": "live-only inventory; static page may describe safe booking checks",
        "repo_use": "future accommodation live-signal / legal-caveat widget",
        "caveats_and_uncertainty": "Thailand short-term rental legality is host/building/license-specific; avoid static claims that a listing is legal. Add legal caveat and require live verification.",
        "data_confidence": "medium",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      }
    ],
    "appendix": [
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "entry_name": "Rajthani Hotel",
        "url": "https://www.booking.com/city/th/surat-thani.html",
        "source_role": "primary/static candidate",
        "source_type": "commercial-catalog-only",
        "supports": "Surat city transit hotel candidate",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      },
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "entry_name": "Blu Monkey Hub & Hotel Surat Thani",
        "url": "https://www.booking.com/city/th/surat-thani.html",
        "source_role": "primary/static candidate",
        "source_type": "commercial-catalog-only",
        "supports": "modern layover candidate",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      },
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "entry_name": "Our Jungle Camp Eco Resort",
        "url": "https://www.tourismthailand.org/Accommodation/our-jungle-camp-eco-resort",
        "source_role": "primary/static candidate",
        "source_type": "official tourism listing",
        "supports": "Surat province sub-node warning",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      },
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "entry_name": "S.22 Hotel Surat Thani",
        "url": "https://www.agoda.com/city/suratthani-th.html",
        "source_role": "primary/static candidate",
        "source_type": "commercial-catalog-only",
        "supports": "candidate row",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      },
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "entry_name": "Airbnb / vacation rental / serviced-apartment pattern",
        "url": "https://www.airbnb.com/s/surat--thani--Thailand/homes",
        "source_role": "primary/static candidate",
        "source_type": "commercial-catalog-only / generated platform search",
        "supports": "future accommodation live-signal / legal-caveat widget",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      },
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "entry_name": "Airbnb / vacation rental / serviced-apartment pattern",
        "url": "https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2208",
        "source_role": "review/catalog signal candidate",
        "source_type": "commercial-catalog-only / generated platform search",
        "supports": "future accommodation live-signal / legal-caveat widget",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      }
    ],
    "primaryBases": [
      "city/Tapee River",
      "Phun Phin rail side",
      "airport side",
      "Don Sak pier"
    ],
    "staticFields": [
      "base-area role",
      "route role",
      "official hotel identity/source URL",
      "approximate area",
      "stable history/opening notes only when sourced",
      "caveats",
      "stay-guide priority"
    ],
    "liveFields": [
      "room availability",
      "nightly price",
      "user rating score",
      "individual review count",
      "Airbnb listing legality",
      "condo/building rules",
      "host license",
      "cancellation policy",
      "ferry/weather/event disruption",
      "exact shuttle/transfer times"
    ],
    "suggestedWidgets": [
      "city/rail/airport/Don Sak buffer chooser with ferry check"
    ],
    "guidePriority": "medium",
    "recommendedStatus": "ferry/route stay guide",
    "sampleEntryCount": 5,
    "hasGuide": true,
    "guideMeta": {
      "path": "/accommodation/surat-thani/",
      "name": "Where to Stay in Surat Thani",
      "pageType": "gateway stay guide",
      "summary": "Surat Thani stays are about choosing the right mainland handoff between city, rail, airport, and Don Sak ferry timing rather than pretending the whole province is one simple island prelude.",
      "primaryUse": "Use this page when the mainland gateway itself needs to work before the island chain begins.",
      "bestFor": [
        "overnight gateways",
        "rail to ferry moves",
        "airport stacks",
        "Don Sak timing"
      ],
      "watch": [
        "a wrong mainland base can make ferries, airport transfers, and next-day departures brittle"
      ],
      "sourceStack": [
        "Google Places hotels",
        "OSM Thailand accommodation",
        "TAT accommodation data",
        "MOTS tourism accommodation stats",
        "Booking accommodation partner data",
        "Marine Department piers"
      ]
    },
    "areaGroups": [
      {
        "name": "city-specific; do not hardcode individual listing",
        "sampleEntries": [
          "Airbnb / vacation rental / serviced-apartment pattern"
        ],
        "entryTypes": [
          "vacation rental pattern"
        ],
        "bestFor": [
          "families/groups with flexible transport"
        ],
        "avoidIf": [
          "tight ferry connections or monsoon boat uncertainty"
        ],
        "treatments": [
          "live-only inventory; static page may describe safe booking checks"
        ],
        "repoUses": [
          "future accommodation live-signal / legal-caveat widget"
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": "Khao Sok / Phanom district",
        "sampleEntries": [
          "Our Jungle Camp Eco Resort"
        ],
        "entryTypes": [
          "eco resort"
        ],
        "bestFor": [
          "Khao Sok nature route"
        ],
        "avoidIf": [
          "ferry-city buffer traveler"
        ],
        "treatments": [
          "static candidate with live validation"
        ],
        "repoUses": [
          "Surat province sub-node warning"
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": "Surat Thani city",
        "sampleEntries": [
          "Rajthani Hotel",
          "Blu Monkey Hub & Hotel Surat Thani"
        ],
        "entryTypes": [
          "hotel"
        ],
        "bestFor": [
          "overnight ferry/rail buffer",
          "short city layover, budget-modern stay"
        ],
        "avoidIf": [
          "island/beach experience",
          "river/culture boutique priority"
        ],
        "treatments": [
          "static candidate with live validation"
        ],
        "repoUses": [
          "Surat city transit hotel candidate",
          "modern layover candidate"
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": "Surat Thani city / road side",
        "sampleEntries": [
          "S.22 Hotel Surat Thani"
        ],
        "entryTypes": [
          "hotel"
        ],
        "bestFor": [
          "road/ferry transit"
        ],
        "avoidIf": [
          "charming destination stay"
        ],
        "treatments": [
          "static candidate with live validation"
        ],
        "repoUses": [
          "candidate row"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "rentalPattern": {
      "city": "Surat Thani",
      "thai_name": "สุราษฎร์ธานี",
      "province": "Surat Thani",
      "recommended_slug": "surat-thani",
      "entry_name": "Airbnb / vacation rental / serviced-apartment pattern",
      "accommodation_type": "vacation rental pattern",
      "popularity_class": "live platform layer",
      "area_or_base": "city-specific; do not hardcode individual listing",
      "address": "not applicable; individual listings vary by host",
      "address_confidence": "not applicable",
      "official_or_primary_source_url": "https://www.airbnb.com/s/surat--thani--Thailand/homes",
      "source_type": "commercial-catalog-only / generated platform search",
      "review_source_url": "https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/2208",
      "review_signal_summary": "Use live platform/catalog checks only.",
      "review_themes_to_verify": "review counts, host status, building rules and cancellation terms are unstable",
      "signature_rooms_features_or_stay_angle": "private homes, condos, villas, aparthotels, serviced apartments depending city",
      "history_or_opening_notes": "No opening date. Treat as live inventory.",
      "best_for": "families/groups with flexible transport",
      "avoid_if": "tight ferry connections or monsoon boat uncertainty",
      "static_vs_live_treatment": "live-only inventory; static page may describe safe booking checks",
      "repo_use": "future accommodation live-signal / legal-caveat widget",
      "caveats_and_uncertainty": "Thailand short-term rental legality is host/building/license-specific; avoid static claims that a listing is legal. Add legal caveat and require live verification.",
      "data_confidence": "medium",
      "access_date": "2026-05-15"
    },
    "staticCandidates": [
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "thai_name": "สุราษฎร์ธานี",
        "province": "Surat Thani",
        "recommended_slug": "surat-thani",
        "entry_name": "Rajthani Hotel",
        "accommodation_type": "hotel",
        "popularity_class": "popular city-route anchor",
        "area_or_base": "Surat Thani city",
        "address": "Surat Thani city center, Thailand",
        "address_confidence": "low",
        "official_or_primary_source_url": "https://www.booking.com/city/th/surat-thani.html",
        "source_type": "commercial-catalog-only",
        "review_source_url": "",
        "review_signal_summary": "Live validation required.",
        "review_themes_to_verify": "city center, transit buffer, value",
        "signature_rooms_features_or_stay_angle": "Practical city layover candidate.",
        "history_or_opening_notes": "Opening date not verified.",
        "best_for": "overnight ferry/rail buffer",
        "avoid_if": "island/beach experience",
        "static_vs_live_treatment": "static candidate with live validation",
        "repo_use": "Surat city transit hotel candidate",
        "caveats_and_uncertainty": "",
        "data_confidence": "low",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      },
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "thai_name": "สุราษฎร์ธานี",
        "province": "Surat Thani",
        "recommended_slug": "surat-thani",
        "entry_name": "Blu Monkey Hub & Hotel Surat Thani",
        "accommodation_type": "hotel",
        "popularity_class": "modern city anchor",
        "area_or_base": "Surat Thani city",
        "address": "Surat Thani city, Thailand",
        "address_confidence": "low",
        "official_or_primary_source_url": "https://www.booking.com/city/th/surat-thani.html",
        "source_type": "commercial-catalog-only",
        "review_source_url": "",
        "review_signal_summary": "Live validation required.",
        "review_themes_to_verify": "modern budget/design chain, transit convenience",
        "signature_rooms_features_or_stay_angle": "Modern practical hotel candidate.",
        "history_or_opening_notes": "Opening date not verified.",
        "best_for": "short city layover, budget-modern stay",
        "avoid_if": "river/culture boutique priority",
        "static_vs_live_treatment": "static candidate with live validation",
        "repo_use": "modern layover candidate",
        "caveats_and_uncertainty": "",
        "data_confidence": "low",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      },
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "thai_name": "สุราษฎร์ธานี",
        "province": "Surat Thani",
        "recommended_slug": "surat-thani",
        "entry_name": "Our Jungle Camp Eco Resort",
        "accommodation_type": "eco resort",
        "popularity_class": "Khao Sok specialized anchor",
        "area_or_base": "Khao Sok / Phanom district",
        "address": "123/1 Moo 6, Tambon Klongsok, Amphur Phanom, Surat Thani 84250, Thailand",
        "address_confidence": "high",
        "official_or_primary_source_url": "https://www.tourismthailand.org/Accommodation/our-jungle-camp-eco-resort",
        "source_type": "official tourism listing",
        "review_source_url": "",
        "review_signal_summary": "Live review validation required.",
        "review_themes_to_verify": "treehouse/jungle eco resort, Khao Sok route, not city",
        "signature_rooms_features_or_stay_angle": "Khao Sok eco-resort; belongs to province/route layer rather than Surat city.",
        "history_or_opening_notes": "Opening date not verified.",
        "best_for": "Khao Sok nature route",
        "avoid_if": "ferry-city buffer traveler",
        "static_vs_live_treatment": "static candidate with live validation",
        "repo_use": "Surat province sub-node warning",
        "caveats_and_uncertainty": "",
        "data_confidence": "high",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      },
      {
        "city": "Surat Thani",
        "thai_name": "สุราษฎร์ธานี",
        "province": "Surat Thani",
        "recommended_slug": "surat-thani",
        "entry_name": "S.22 Hotel Surat Thani",
        "accommodation_type": "hotel",
        "popularity_class": "local practical anchor",
        "area_or_base": "Surat Thani city / road side",
        "address": "Surat Thani city, Thailand",
        "address_confidence": "low",
        "official_or_primary_source_url": "https://www.agoda.com/city/suratthani-th.html",
        "source_type": "commercial-catalog-only",
        "review_source_url": "",
        "review_signal_summary": "Live validation required.",
        "review_themes_to_verify": "practical rooms, parking, road-transit stay",
        "signature_rooms_features_or_stay_angle": "Candidate only.",
        "history_or_opening_notes": "Opening date not verified.",
        "best_for": "road/ferry transit",
        "avoid_if": "charming destination stay",
        "static_vs_live_treatment": "static candidate with live validation",
        "repo_use": "candidate row",
        "caveats_and_uncertainty": "",
        "data_confidence": "low",
        "access_date": "2026-05-15"
      }
    ],
    "confidence": "medium"
  }
}