Koh Samet Beach Hotels

How do I even begin! I went to Koh Samet with no expectations, but Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa is supposedly the second-best resort on the island. My overall impression wasn't great, mainly due to how the resort handled the broken air conditioning in our bungalow on the first day. We took a private car from downtown Bangkok to Ao Prao Pier (the hotel's private pier, which has its own lounge). Following the resort's email instructions, we boarded the 1:30 PM boat to the resort, which took about 15 minutes. The welcome drink upon arrival was quite good. The resort isn't very large, and there weren't many guests. When we discovered the AC was broken, we immediately contacted housekeeping. From housekeeping to engineering to the front desk, and then to Ctrip, we spent an hour in the sweltering room and outside before finally being moved to another room. It seemed like Ctrip had to intervene to resolve the issue before the front desk staff led us to our new room... The whole process was incredibly frustrating due to the heat! Later, the front desk found me on the beach and offered us an upgraded room. I went to see it but declined, as it was quite dark inside, and I prefer bright, airy rooms when I'm on vacation. She told me the room would be held for us if we changed our minds. Because I didn't move, the front desk came to find me again on the beach and offered a complimentary pizza as compensation. This proactive attitude was a definite plus. We stayed at Le Vimarn for three nights. The rooms are simple, Thai-style wooden bungalows. The 1.8-meter bed was just right for a family of three. The mini-bar is chargeable. If you're visiting Koh Samet, remember to bring a filtered shower head. Breakfast was pretty much the same every day, but it tasted good. We had dinner at Buzz once, and the food was good, but with a 10% service charge and 7% tax, it ended up being a bit expensive! The resort is a 15-minute drive from the main street (where the 7-Eleven is, 200 baht one-way). The front desk can arrange a taxi. Later, we rented a scooter, which we could park on a slope about a 2-minute walk from the front desk. I scraped my foot on a coral reef while swimming, and the front desk provided basic first aid. For the last two days, we stayed at Paradee Resort, which is a sister hotel to Le Vimarn, so they offered a free transfer. However, if you're traveling with kids, I'd highly recommend Paradee Resort – the environment, facilities, and staff are all much better.

This became the best hotel for us in Thailand, and we've stayed in quite a few over 14 years of traveling to our beloved country. The staff are incredibly friendly, always ready to help at a moment's notice. Everyone is lovely, genuinely smiling. I haven't seen such smiles and shining eyes in a long time. They greeted us immediately by the songthaew, took our suitcases and bags, and escorted us to reception. When we left, the administrator personally walked us to the songthaew, and the staff brought our luggage. The rooms are clean, with daily housekeeping or upon request. Everything in the room is very convenient. We had a family room with a second floor, which initially seemed like just an attic but we ended up really liking it, although the stairs were a bit steep. The beds in our room were so comfortable, it felt like sleeping on a cloud. The mattresses weren't necessarily soft, but I can't recall ever sleeping on such comfortable ones in a hotel. In all other hotels, pillows annoy me and I immediately remove them, but here I kept both – they were very comfortable. The veranda and the view from the room were like paradise. The cafe is wonderful, everything is delicious and fresh. Despite being low season, the breakfasts had a great variety. There weren't any pastries or desserts, but there were sweet dim sum. A coffee machine was available. We bought almond croissants; I can't say they were the best ever, but they were tasty. Two beautiful beaches nearby. We walked to Sai Kaew along a path through the mountains, a relaxed 15-minute walk to the mermaid statue. We really want to return. It's quiet, peaceful, and with minimal 'brothers and sisters' from China.

The only downside is that you can hear your neighbors and the street. Otherwise, it's all pros! The room is small, but it has absolutely everything you need: clean, good linens, a comfortable mattress, a safe, a refrigerator, a TV with YouTube and Netflix. The shower has excellent water pressure, and towels are changed daily. Pillowcases are changed for each new guest, which is a rarity. Two foot towels are provided. Scooter parking is available next to each room, and the beach is a minute's walk away. There are several restaurants and a shop on the beach. The lagoon is ideal for swimming; the water is clean and warm. The price-quality ratio is excellent.

The rooms were clean and close to the beach; even though it's not beachfront, you just have to cross the street to get there. My friends loved it, but there was a minor accident at the pool – someone hit their nose on the edge of the pool and it bled quite a bit. I really wish the pool edge were rounded. Everything else was fine; breakfast was delicious, and the staff provided excellent service. The bedroom was also very cute.

We chose this hotel based on reviews but made a mistake. We prioritized the main feedback which mentioned peace and quiet, which was important to us. However, this place is near the port, so there was constant noise around the clock, though less at night. We'd wake up at 5 AM to the awful hum of boats. We stayed in cabin 17. If you still decide to stay here, I'd advise booking a cabin as far away from the port as possible. I have no complaints about the hotel itself; it offers good value for money. There's hot water, clean linen, a comfortable bed, and the air conditioning works well. There aren't enough bedside tables, but there isn't much space for them anyway. You can use the wardrobe for storage. Power outlets are scarce, as is often the case. The view is absolutely stunning, pure bliss. And be sure to bring mosquito repellent; there are a lot of them here.

Even though Koh Samet isn't a very large island, after exploring a bit, my favorite spot was definitely the beach right in front of the hotel. The waves were gentle, the sand was clean, and it wasn't as crowded as Diamond Beach. While it's about 2.5 kilometers from the main street, the hotel front desk can arrange scooter rentals or help you call a songthaew for 200 THB one way. There's also a small pier directly in front of the hotel, so you can take a speedboat straight from Ban Phe Pier to the hotel for 300 THB one way. If you plan to use this service for a round trip, it's best to confirm the times with the hotel in advance. The hotel's breakfast selection was really limited, but honestly, that's pretty standard for the entire island. My family of three had a perfect 5-day stay here, and my child absolutely loved it. All the staff at the resort were very nice, especially the young man at the front desk who provided excellent service.

We stayed from April 15-17 in a family room on the first floor. There were three of us, and I can't imagine how four people could fit in there—the room is tiny. There's one armchair right outside the room, and that area is also very cramped, with people constantly walking by. There's no restaurant, only drinks available. The sun loungers are quickly packed away in the evening. There's a lot of hustle and bustle nearby; if you're looking for relaxation, this isn't the place for you. Honestly, for this price, you can find a much better hotel on this island. The hotel is definitely in need of renovation. The staff, however, were lovely ❤️

The front desk was unstaffed at night, requiring a phone call to get assistance, which was inconvenient as we didn't have a local SIM card. Breakfast was quite mediocre, and the hotel's appearance didn't quite live up to the polished photos. Our room had only a small window, making it a bit dim with no view. The location was decent though, very close to the beach. The family room was fairly spacious, and we could push the beds together, which was enough for our group of three adults and two children. We booked primarily for the pool, but it turned out to be quite small, only suitable for kids to splash around in. Housekeeping staff were friendly; they'd fold towels into animal shapes if tipped. The shower pressure and overhead shower were much better than in other hotels we've stayed at. What's more, our 10-year-old wasn't charged for breakfast, whereas other hotels charged for the child in a 2-adult, 1-child booking.

This is our second time staying at this hotel. Upon arrival, we were initially checked into a bungalow, which we didn't like – it was very dark and cramped. We requested to be moved to the main building. They put us on the first floor, which wasn't ideal, but it was okay. Everything in the room felt old, and during cleaning, the toiletries and tea weren't replenished; we had to ask for them. The breakfasts are good, and sometimes there's live music, which is a nice touch. There's also live music on the beach and a fire show in the evenings. The hotel is just a stone's throw away from 7/11. Overall, it's a decent hotel.

Small island, max. 2 nights booking. Beautiful views nearby. The hotel itself offers good service but there weren't many people staying there. You can eat at the hotel, but at other restaurants, there are people trying to attract customers, whereas at the hotel, there's no one. The food prices are also higher than at other restaurants. Overall, it was a pleasant stay.