Koh samet

[jgd1004]

Hi

I'm want to leave pattaya today and was going to phuket but my friend mentioned koh samet as a place he visits. I just wondered if anyone else has been and is it worth while. Nice beaches etc? Night life? Also any advice on best way to get there would be appreciated.

And is it worth visiting rayong for a night or more on the way? I have no idea what's there.

Thanks

Edited April 20, 2015 by jgd1004

[CharlieH]

Better in the Travel Forum...

MOVED

[jgd1004]

Nice one but no replies now tho and could of done with some quick info -.-

[arthurwait]

Beautiful place but with very little nightlife. One disco that goes on late. Obviously some other bars and restaurants.

Middle class Thais visit at the weekends so getting a room quickly is easier during the week.

I don't know if the oil spill is affecting it or not.

Sharing a speed boat is the best way across particularly if the ferry (I think there is one) doesn't go anywhere near where you are staying. Be prepared for the speedboat operators trying to not let the farangs share the cost of the boat.

[dddave]

Also, Koh Samet is a national park so at some point you will be approached by a ranger and required to pay an entrance fee. Was B400 but I don't know the current fee. Be absolutely sure to keep your receipt with you after you pay or you will end up being told to pay again.

[n210mp]

The only time I went there I found the place to be over commercialised and not user friendly.

The attitude of those trading there was utter contempt for tourists with everything including the hire of MCs over priced to the extreme.

This together with charging to actually go there was and is too much for my sensitivities and like the floating market on Sukhumvit road in Pattaya will never again get our custom.

With free spending tourism on the the decline when are these opportunists traders going to get some sense and start being user friendly if not just old fashioned polite?

[tormok]

Been there twice, both times on Ao Wong Duan Beach.

Highly recommended for relaxing and stressing out.

A nice quiet beach with resorts in different priceranges and an ok selection of beachside bars and restaurants. A few has music in the evening, but no more nightlife than that.

The large beach north of Ao Wong Duan and the main village at the northend of the island, has more nightlife, but are more crowded during the day, and seems a bit worn out.

Besides the speedboats, there's a ferry 3-4 times daily from Rayong, Ban Phe directly to Ao Wong Duan. You buy the ferry tickets just before entering the pier south of the souvenir market https://goo.gl/maps/jCyM1

Beware that the speedboat operators will probably try to convince you that the ferry is cancelled, even though it's not.

[Minnehaha]

On the way to the piers to catch boats to Koh Samet, I would avoid Rayong city. Nothing there. Also avoid Maptaphut. Stay on main road.

Ban Chang is sort of nice... the beaches there can be interesting.. for about 20 minutes. But mostly polluted and nothing to do or see, really.

Koh Samet used to be a nice place. Not so for about 10 years. It is overly commercialized and the experience of being herded like cattle onto a ferry and off to walk and then sit in pick up trucks like cattle in the sun and wait... for some reason. Then 5 minutes up the road at the park entrance they stop and ask for park fees. If you are living here and have drivers license or other ID and can speak Thai you will get the Thai price, 20 Baht.

I found the food to be nothing special. I have stayed at many resorts there and eaten at many restaurants. One would think there would be good fresh seafood, but in my experience it is not the case.

Overall, not a bad place if you want to get away from BKK or Pattaya (I guess). Another option is to stay on mainland just north of the ferry boats at a nice hotel. You can find speed boats to rent for the day to take you out to islands to snorkel and see some fish. Not a bad day trip for most tourists.

[ToddinChonburi]

I enjoyed it , you can walk from one end to the other.

[amdy2206]

I always enjoy Koh Samet. Generally relaxing, if a bit expensive. Well worth going to for a few days. How about giving Koh Si Chang a try. North of Pattaya. Quite quiet, more Thai than Farang, generally, but a lovely little island. Ferry good, sensible hire of M/C but not too much nightlife. Good for relaxing, and cheap. Give it a go sometime.

[amdy2206]

I always enjoy Koh Samet. Generally relaxing, if a bit expensive. Well worth going to for a few days. How about giving Koh Si Chang a try. North of Pattaya. Quite quiet, more Thai than Farang, generally, but a lovely little island. Ferry good, sensible hire of M/C but not too much nightlife. Good for relaxing, and cheap. Give it a go sometime.

[Vagabond1]

Beautiful place - many beaches - some more populated, some really quiet. A world of difference with Pty.

Still enough restaurants and bars with nice food.

Best way in is to get a speedboat from Ban Phe directly to the beach you will be staying in - no national park fee that way.

I had a most relaxed week there in November - will be back in June.

Also - for off season = rainy season it is a good choice since Samed gets the least of rains during that time

[rhodie]

Very nice beaches. Worth a visit.

[Vagabond1]

Some Pictures

[PMZ]

We have visited many times over the past few years, it's relaxing and easy going. Caters for all accommodation levels, backpacker to high-end luxury. Has become a bit commercial, but where hasn't these days?

We like Wong Duern beach and also Sai Kiow beach (spelling). Some fantastic snorkelling sites, one at the southern end of Wong Duern beach.

Can take ferry or speedboat. It's not true that a speedboat will avoid the National Park Fee, its just luck if you miss getting seen arriving.

There used to be a restaurant out in the water on stilts near to the Ferry point, if it is still there, well worth a visit. You sit on the deck, your legs dangle down towards the water and the table is made of glass, so you can see all the fish below. A great way to spend a few hours eating and chilling, with a bottle of wine.

[dotpoom]

Beautiful place but with very little nightlife. One disco that goes on late. Obviously some other bars and restaurants.

Middle class Thais visit at the weekends so getting a room quickly is easier during the week.

I don't know if the oil spill is affecting it or not.

Sharing a speed boat is the best way across particularly if the ferry (I think there is one) doesn't go anywhere near where you are staying. Be prepared for the speedboat operators trying to not let the farangs share the cost of the boat.

I thought there were many ferries going from Ban Pae.

[deckard]

I have been going to Samet for 12 years now and after our last visit (about 5 weeks ago ) we decided that was the last time we would bother . It has become an overpriced dump now . Rented motorcycles flying around everywhere , food at restaurants is at least double the cost than on the mainland (example fried rice

90 baht ), piles of stinking rubbish every where including the beach and sea, 100's (literally) of screaming Chinese and Koreans bused in regularly and beach (white sands) is just full of jet ski's , tour boats and speed boats . As stated by a poster before , the attitude of the locals is open hostility and " just give us the money "

Not for me any more.

[jamhar]

There are plenty of Ferrys from BanPae. But the speedboad operators will try to get you to go. At least 2 ferry boats to VongDuen beach. one from the Malibu Resorts (70 baht) and one from Vong Duen Resort (70 baht). You will pay a 200baht fee upon arriving for the entrance into the park. Do keep your ticket.

There are several boats making the ferry run into the Somet main pier for 50baht. Generally they leave on the hour. till 5 PM or so. From the main pier, if you wan to go to a different beach, you can share a taxi for about 50baht each (plus the 200 entrance fee), If you get a private taxi, its 300 baht for the taxi, and you can split that between your and your friends. If you're alone, you have to foot the entire 300.

As always negotiate your taxi rate prior to getting in. There are no metered taxis on the island. Motorbikes are about 300/day. The park at the southern tip of the island has some great snorkeling. You can rent snorkels there at the range hut. Theres food, beer, and snacks also. but being able the rent the snorkels there is a nice feature.

Almost no nightlife except silver sands, reggae bar, and the fight bar ( i dont know what its called but it has fight ring at the north end.) and a couple of others.

Generally I found the crowded places like the north east, expensive and smelly. I wouldn't get in the water in the northeast of the island. But from Ao Nan and south, the water is fine, and gets better the more you go south.

I saw little effects of the spill from a few years back, the east side was never touched at all.

I love the walk from sai kaew beach to the southern tip. most of the time along the beach.

Stay south of Ao Nan and you'll be fine.

Enjoy.

Edited April 20, 2015 by jamhar

[arthurwait]

Beautiful place but with very little nightlife. One disco that goes on late. Obviously some other bars and restaurants.

Middle class Thais visit at the weekends so getting a room quickly is easier during the week.

I don't know if the oil spill is affecting it or not.

Sharing a speed boat is the best way across particularly if the ferry (I think there is one) doesn't go anywhere near where you are staying. Be prepared for the speedboat operators trying to not let the farangs share the cost of the boat.

I thought there were many ferries going from Ban Pae.

I think there are , but we've never used them so wasn't sure enough to write about them.

Always stay at the wifes school friends family business which is far from where the ferry lands so just get a speed boat.

[DLP]

There are plenty of Ferrys from BanPae. But the speedboad operators will try to get you to go. At least 2 ferry boats to VongDuen beach. one from the Malibu Resorts (70 baht) and one from Vong Duen Resort (70 baht). You will pay a 200baht fee upon arriving for the entrance into the park. Do keep your ticket.

There are several boats making the ferry run into the Somet main pier for 50baht. Generally they leave on the hour. till 5 PM or so. From the main pier, if you wan to go to a different beach, you can share a taxi for about 50baht each (plus the 200 entrance fee), If you get a private taxi, its 300 baht for the taxi, and you can split that between your and your friends. If you're alone, you have to foot the entire 300.

As always negotiate your taxi rate prior to getting in. There are no metered taxis on the island. Motorbikes are about 300/day. The park at the southern tip of the island has some great snorkeling. You can rent snorkels there at the range hut. Theres food, beer, and snacks also. but being able the rent the snorkels there is a nice feature.

Almost no nightlife except silver sands, reggae bar, and the fight bar ( i dont know what its called but it has fight ring at the north end.) and a couple of others.

Generally I found the crowded places like the north east, expensive and smelly. I wouldn't get in the water in the northeast of the island. But from Ao Nan and south, the water is fine, and gets better the more you go south.

I saw little effects of the spill from a few years back, the east side was never touched at all.

I love the walk from sai kaew beach to the southern tip. most of the time along the beach.

Stay south of Ao Nan and you'll be fine.

Enjoy.

Last time i went was about 4 years ago. It was 200 baht entrance fee but only 20 baht for Thai.

Show Thai driving licence and pay only 20 baht.

[Lone Ranger]

Koh Samut ...island from hell!

Hen mosquitos like vampires descend at sunste....sand flie bite yoy to hell on the beaches....rip off Thais ...bloody nightmare place ....go there at your peril !

[gandalf12]

Do they actually keep the place clean now? Last time I went you had to pay a fee and the beaches were littered with rubbish

[dbrenn]

Koh Samut ...island from hell!

Hen mosquitos like vampires descend at sunste....sand flie bite yoy to hell on the beaches....rip off Thais ...bloody nightmare place ....go there at your peril !

^^ Complete exaggeration.

Samet is a nice place, but Au Wong Duen is getting noisy at night. Some of the resorts host Thai office parties with blaring Karaoke music.

Other beaches farther south are much nicer.

[dddave]

Mosquitoes can be a problem, best to never take a bungalow nestled back in the trees, the closer to the sea breeze, the better but sunset is feeding time and escape is difficult

Speaking of sunset...Just off Ao Thian is a well marked, ten minute hike to "Sunset Point" on the other side of the island. The topography is strikingly different than the popular cove side; reminded me of the coast of Maine. Massive rock cliffs drop to the ocean and if there happen to be decent waves, the surf breaking on the rocks can be spectacular.

The hike from Ao Thian is easy. Going down the rocks is a bit of a challenge but well worth it.

Edited April 21, 2015 by dddave

[Neeranam]

Interesting thread. I've been twice Once in 1993 when the place was very very quiet. I was somewhat disappointed as everywhere closed at 9pm but was only 80 baht a night. The other time was when I met the guy who owned the island, and Pat Pong and was a mutual friend! That was 1998 I think and it had changed a lot. Probably very different today and I now have a wife and two kids aged 12 and 8. Would it be a good place to visit for a family ?