Koh Samet Resorts

[jackr]

Anyone have any info on some fairly decent hotel/resorts on the island, preferably near White Sands but not right in the thick of it? Around the 2K mark.

Taking the family down there in March and could do with a place with a pool - have a two-year old.

Cheers

[Florin]

Around White Sands I don't seem to recall any quiet place, except Samet Villa, which would fit into your price range and is a very nice place, but afaik doesn't have a pool. I think Ao Prao is a much better family beach, but also quite a bit more expensive (doubt there's anything below 3k there).

[LaoPo]

Anyone have any info on some fairly decent hotel/resorts on the island, preferably near White Sands but not right in the thick of it? Around the 2K mark.

Taking the family down there in March and could do with a place with a pool - have a two-year old.

Cheers

I Have staid a few times on Koh Samet (or Samed), Saikaew Beach, a lovely place to stay...EVERY NIGHT with your barefeet having dinner right ON the beach!

There are also more (smaller) quiet beaches.

Have a look here, just as an example:

http://www.e-biz-travel.com/rayong_beach_h...samet/index.asp

But there are quite a few bungalow outlets along the main beach.

I even have the mobilenumber (if you wish) of a speedboat guy who runs a service to pick you up at Ban Phe (instead the slowboat ferry) it's fun for the family and just a 10/15 minute ride and he delivers you right ON the beach of the bungalow outlet. (you also save Baht 200/pp for the entrance-fee to the island )

In my opinion you don't have to pre-book in March. Better negotations for prices also that way.

Have yourself dropped off on the beach; leave 1 person to watch your luggage and stroll along the beach, finding yourself a nice oulet.

good luck

LaoPo

Edited January 13, 2006 by LaoPo

[think_too_mut]

Anyone have any info on some fairly decent hotel/resorts on the island, preferably near White Sands but not right in the thick of it? Around the 2K mark.

Taking the family down there in March and could do with a place with a pool - have a two-year old.

Cheers

There is no a heavy-duty type of a resort on the island. Bungalows with no pools.

Some are decent:

Some are riff-raff :

All the action (and accommodation) are on the beach. One of "Barefoot" dinner places:

Nice place but mainly for backpackers and 1-2 days trippers. Most of the beach goers return back to the mainland by 6pm. This time last year one could find a room without previously booking (those were the post-tsunami days when many tourists were rerouted from Phuket and still rooms were available).

[Jams65]

A few years ago I stayed at Sai Kaew Beach Resort. It was pretty nice, but I don't remember any pool. I am planning on taking my girlfriend there in the end of February. I hope it is still as nice as I remember it.

[rcalsop]

Anyone have any info on some fairly decent hotel/resorts on the island, preferably near White Sands but not right in the thick of it? Around the 2K mark.

Taking the family down there in March and could do with a place with a pool - have a two-year old.

Cheers

Malibu Gardens has always served us well .. this is our chill out escape in your price bracket 50 % of the guests are repeat visitors like us 3 New years on the trot ... plus another 5 or 6 visits

It has a pool is on the beach , the Bungalows have good AC are clean and have great hot water .

The family including my 3 year old monster love it the beach has a great slowly sloping sandy bottom so the kids just spend all day in the sea with dad about 50 feet away in the resto or bar or massage .

they have there own web site Google it ! and see the pics

[penzman]

Vong Duen was nice. Spent a week there. One end of the beachfront is busier and the resort at the other end is quiet. Restaurants on the beach, I d go back.

[jackr]

Cheers for the info guys, Malibua Gardens sounds nice, rcalsop. Vong Duan Beach is further down the island and I understand that White Sands has a bit of nightlife, but are there any bars to speak of on Vong Duan? Not after all night parties, but it's nice to have the choice of a few bars. If not, how long does it take to get from one beach to the other?

Cheers

ps - How much was the speedboat LaoPo?

[Momenthai]

I stayed on Ao Prao beach which is the other side of the island to the busy area, there are three hotels on this beach, we were there on a public holiday w.e in december the beach wasn't that busy, the water is really clean and the sand is white, there were no sellers on the beach hassling you and no stray dogs. We stayed in Lima Coca which was ok but overpriced, there are two other resorts, one is called Ao Prao resort and the other Le Viman (check spelling) both are better but I think you will pay at least Bt5000 a night. The speed boat to Ao Prao cost us Bt1000

[Jockstar]

Around White Sands I don't seem to recall any quiet place, except Samet Villa, which would fit into your price range and is a very nice place, but afaik doesn't have a pool. I think Ao Prao is a much better family beach, but also quite a bit more expensive (doubt there's anything below 3k there).

Samet Villa was nice. Thats where i spent my honeymoon. But has no pool. But then you are right by the sea. I think we paid about 1800 baht a night. But if you arrive on the weekend this usually goes up. Also we were at the front but as you go back a little they are slightly cheaper. Close to the nightlife but not close enough to hear it at night when you are in bed. The place was clean and new. Cant complain.

[STEALTH K3]

Anyone have any info on some fairly decent hotel/resorts on the island, preferably near White Sands but not right in the thick of it? Around the 2K mark.

Taking the family down there in March and could do with a place with a pool - have a two-year old.

Cheers

There is no a heavy-duty type of a resort on the island. Bungalows with no pools.

Some are decent:

Some are riff-raff :

Have to agree with you on that AO PHAI what a dive that was could not wait to get back to Bangkok.

[Spit the Dog]

Cheers for the info guys, Malibua Gardens sounds nice, rcalsop. Vong Duan Beach is further down the island and I understand that White Sands has a bit of nightlife, but are there any bars to speak of on Vong Duan? Not after all night parties, but it's nice to have the choice of a few bars. If not, how long does it take to get from one beach to the other?

Cheers

ps - How much was the speedboat LaoPo?

I stayed at Malibu in October and didn't think it was up to much. For the price of the room, I've had far better value for less money on other islands in Thailand.

When we arrived at Malibu the receptionist didn't even acknowledge us and it felt like the same kind of service you would expect checking in to a 150 baht a night boxroom in Khaosan Road.

Also the swimming pool was pretty small and one evening I was asked to vacate the pool at 5.30pm by one of the staff even though there was a sign saying that the pool closed at 6pm.

As for nightlife, there are about a dozen or so bars/restaurants on the beach that are quite lively in the evening. If you fancy something quieter the 2 beaches either side of Vong Duan are more subdued and can be reached in about 5 minutes.

[Sporting Dog]

I've been to Samet a couple of times - it's a nice island but overcrowded and expensive!! I thought the accommadation was <deleted> for the price....the beaches are nice tho'. The beachside dining is good but last time I went I ended up in Bumringrad Hospital on a drip from food poisoning (when I told them where I'd been they suspected Typhoid, been some cases previously!!). Of course this could happen anywhere in Thailand but Samet felt to me a bit like 'paradise spoilt'.

In the time it takes to drive there from BKK you could fly down south and find some REAL paradises. And even with the airfare it won't cost any more than the same amount of time at Samet.

However I'm sure you'll have a good holiday at Samet