Koh Samet - recommendations for places to stay - family holiday.

[soihok]

May be visiting end of March for a few days, family trip = 2 kids, wife and me.

Not expecting to get up to much other messing about on the beach with the kids and eating.

Prefer large villa to sleep 4, must have either a nice communal resort or private pool. Quiet, clean, etc.

Cost not really an issue.

Anyone any advice? I last visited the island in 1999 so am expecting to see a dramatic change from how it was then.

Cheers !!

[davo2212]

Check out Laew Yai Hut home. On the sand.

038644282/ 0879882849

Ask fir hut 9 or 10 beautiful

[solo88]

No big resorts there ( yet ) In fact no great changes in the past 8 years I have been going !

Ao Chao Is a nice quiet beach , Nice new Bungalows just been completed. No pool though, don't need one I recon.. Its also a very short walk to the next beach for sea food grill every night on the beach.

Still no decent road around the Island, but so what !

3 or 4 days would be enough relaxing there In my opinion.

Good luck

[Sandman77]

Was last year there one time and never again first I got cheated on public boat peer paying the double price of regular the main beach full of motor boats benzin. Smell in the air, the road most terrible I see ever same phangan 20 year ago, and finaly people was not friendly only mute in restaurant the good buy letters samed paradise for tourist sounds for me ironic!

The opposite beach quite beautiful but always windy high waves cannot swim strange people there tourist go inside the bangalow close the door in front of you my advice go to ko tao!

[Lone Ranger]

I would avoid this island if I was you.

Last time I went there for a few days thehuge "hen " mosquitos as they call them descended like vampires in their millions come sundown....despite spaying all over still bitten to hell...also my feet were & still ae covered in bites from sand fleas on the beaches .....rip off tour operators ....need I go on ..a thoroughly unpleasant xperience cannot understand why anyone travels there apart from Jimmy White who bases himself there for easy access to Pattaya/BKK.....suggest any other island Koh Chang for example/Samuii or PhI Phi...

[ToddinChonburi]

Vongduen resort very nice and peaceful .

[thefactoryoutlet]

Check out Laew Yai Hut home. On the sand.

038644282/ 0879882849

Ask fir hut 9 or 10 beautiful

Don't go there on week end, it is so ugly and boring since they installed all the tables and chairs for the Thai groups...

Sad, it was a quiet family place and it is now an ugly noisy Thai style place.

[thefactoryoutlet]

Also, you should avoid the main beach, first beach, SAI KEOW, this is where all the jetski and boat cheaters are located, noisy like hell and dangerous.

[ToddinChonburi]

Vongduen has an office at the municipal pier you can park and check in there . they have there own ferry boats to bring you to and from resort.

Check on Agoda.com for any deals they maybe having. I was just there in January and had a nice relaxing time.

Resort has activities that they can set up for you, snorkeling, fishing. Vongduen Beach has many restaurant on the beach to enjoy your evenings and nightly fire shows.

Good range of prices also. I like that they would display the food and price at the stand in front.

[jdinasia]

I love Koh Samet. I have stayed at various places over the years and never had anything other than a great time!

With kids I would suggest midweek.

Personally I enjoy the weekends more.

I would suggest that the naysayers are simply of a radically different personality type.

[RichinThailand]

Spent a great few days at Silver Sands Resort, and think Samet Villa has a great BBQ on the beach with a salad bar...went back two nights in a row it was so good!!!

[soihok]

Thanks for all your suggestions and comments.

Any issue with Car parking at the pier?

Was thinking of heading towards Ao Wong Duean beach. Any recommendations of quality resorts in this area?

I had forgotten the mozzies, they were rampant back when I last visited. Does the time of year affect them?

[jdinasia]

Thanks for all your suggestions and comments.

Any issue with Car parking at the pier?

Was thinking of heading towards Ao Wong Duean beach. Any recommendations of quality resorts in this area?

I had forgotten the mozzies, they were rampant back when I last visited. Does the time of year affect them?

2 listings for that beach above in the thread.

We used the covered parking right by the pier but it has been 2 years since I was last there

[Eaglekott]

I can recommend Samet Ville resort, they have their own beach, Ao Wai, probably the nicest on the island, very calm, Swimming pool.

If you Go for Samet Ville resort they also have a resort on the main land close to the ferry, so you can park your car there for free and they will transport you to the pier. They also help fixing speed boat to their beach for a very fair price.

http://www.sametvilleresort.com

Edited February 24, 2015 by Eaglekott

[Phil Water]

There was a new concrete road completed in Feb 2014 that encompasses the entire island. It is one of the very few places in Thailand that I have ever been comfortable riding a scooter. Ao Wai beach is amazing and for kids, there is no need for a swimming pool as the protected bay keeps things calm.

[Jaggg88]

Thanks for all your suggestions and comments.

Any issue with Car parking at the pier?

Was thinking of heading towards Ao Wong Duean beach. Any recommendations of quality resorts in this area?

I had forgotten the mozzies, they were rampant back when I last visited. Does the time of year affect them?

2 listings for that beach above in the thread.

We used the covered parking right by the pier but it has been 2 years since I was last there

yeah we used the covered parking at the pier 2 - 3 years ago and was cheap. You get harassed by scooter riders on the way in who want you to go by speed boat - very expensive - avoid!

[carter1882]

I have always loved Samet but these days i am surprised more people dont go a little along the mainland coast, say about twelve kms east of Ban Pe. Loads of resorts and deserted beaches. Admittedly they can have quite a bit of rubbish on them but apart from that very good. Loads of restaurants to choose from without any of the hassle of getting over to Samet.

[guzzi850m2]

So how much is the ferry per person.

Never been there, it looks a bit flat to me, loved Koh Chang when we were there in Christmas 2013 which the mountains and beautiful beaches.

[fgmr]

Vongduen has an office at the municipal pier you can park and check in there . they have there own ferry boats to bring you to and from resort.

Check on Agoda.com for any deals they maybe having. I was just there in January and had a nice relaxing time.

Resort has activities that they can set up for you, snorkeling, fishing. Vongduen Beach has many restaurant on the beach to enjoy your evenings and nightly fire shows.

Good range of prices also. I like that they would display the food and price at the stand in front. IMG_20150114_071954_050.jpg

Being unfamiliar with the area please clarify to which municipal pier you are referring.

I have also often wondered why there is little or no publicity given as to where visitors to the islands who travel on the mainland with private vehicles can park securely before embarking on ferries. One of the main reasons I visit islands that have car ferry transport s is that I have no worries about leaving my car on the mainland.

[soihok]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Booked 4 nights at Samed Villa Resort in a two room bungalow next to the beach.

Lets hope it doesn't rain and pray for no jellyfish.

Cheers

http://samedvilla.com/index.php?l=default&n=1

[gk10002000]

I was there in 2004, my second trip to Thailand. I was there during the tsunami. Fortunately, two days before my friends had changed our plans from Phuket to Samet. Good for us. We stayed on the south east side of the island. Malibu travel or resort seems to be in my photos. Basic but adequate bungalows. AC. There were about 7 small hotels along this beach area. Each had outdoor barbecues at night. Really was pleasant. Three of us booked a snorkel trip around the island. That took about 6 hours total with a lunch stop and 3 different diving areas. No night life on this section of the island. All the normal stuff during the day. Foot massage outdoor oil massage. I was surprised that there were mosquitos right around sunset. Must be standing water just inland from the beach and in the jungle area.

[soihok]

Well, eventually made it to the island.

The resort, Samed Villa is a lovely place on the beach

The villas are great, staff friendly and efficient.

Having a great time. I can recommend staying here.

Cheers