Hotels with Breakfast in Koh Samet

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.

Traveling with kids and elderly parents, we booked two rooms for two nights. At the time of booking, only deluxe rooms were available, and the price wasn't great. The rooms were arranged in a row of three, quite far inside, and a bit small with poor soundproofing, but they were clean. The hotel has its own pier, and the ferry to and from the island is free. Our luggage went directly to the island's front desk, which was very convenient. We were charged a 200 Thai Baht per person island fee at check-in, but it was refunded at check-out, which was a pleasant surprise. The staff, both at the pier and the hotel, were very friendly and helpful. The hotel breakfast was also plentiful. Next time we visit Koh Samet, we'll definitely book a deluxe cottage closer to the beach.

The taxi from the pier cost 250 baht. The beach right in front of the hotel is fantastic, and the male attendant who manages the towels was really good – he's the reason I gave the last 100 baht as a tip. His enthusiasm also led us to book a night squid fishing trip for 9 people. However, all the staff here seem to have two different attitudes: one for Western guests and another for Chinese guests. While everyone else managed basic politeness, the female server in the restaurant (pictured in photo 2) was incredibly rude to us. This is my fifth time vacationing in Thailand, and I've also traveled to the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, the Maldives, and Hamilton Island, but this is honestly the first time I've encountered a staff member so rude. She pointed her finger at me and loudly demanded that I push the water bottle from the middle of the table to against the wall. I was completely stunned. Upon check-in, they asked for 500 baht per night for an extra bed for our 6-year-old. Since the three of us could comfortably share the king-sized bed, we declined and only paid for the child's breakfast, which was 200 baht per day. One evening, we also encountered teenagers on the beach who were indiscriminately bullying kids playing there. I never even saw something like this in Australia, yet it happened on Koh Samet. Thankfully, my English speaking skills are decent, and after a big argument, he ended up yelling that he was going to call the police. Overall, I still wouldn't recommend booking a hotel here. The pricing attracts a certain type of clientele, and since there are many very cheap hotels nearby, the beach attracts all sorts of tourists.

The facilities are great. I stayed here once for New Year's Day and came back for a few more days. The hotel has its own beach, and in the evenings, they offer open-air movies and fire dance performances. They thoughtfully provide both deep and shallow swimming areas, so kids can play safely. The pier is also a unique feature. It's a bit disappointing though that when I came for New Year's, the room included a welcome scarf, and the mini-bar had free snacks and drinks. This time, the room price was significantly higher, and those little extras were gone. However, the overall experience is still excellent, making it perfect for a vacation. P.S. First thing to do when you get to the island: rent a scooter!

Stayed for 2 nights and 3 days. You can snorkel directly in front of the hotel, and there are more fish near the coral reefs, but I wouldn't recommend going there if the waves are big. It's best to wear long pants and diving socks to avoid scratches. The sand right outside is very fine and soft. Breakfast is served by the sea with ocean views. The bar street can get a bit noisy at night, so it might not be suitable for light sleepers, but since we usually go to bed late, it didn't bother us. A major plus is that the bedsheets are changed for every new guest. The room has many windows, making it bright and airy. The only downsides are that the shower only has a handheld showerhead and the water pressure is a bit low. For shopping, try to go to the 7-Eleven on the main street, as the supermarket here is about a third more expensive. Overall, it offers great value for money and is perfect for a relaxing holiday.

Perfect location right on the beach. The beachfront restaurant is very good and caters to a variety of tastes. The rooms are decent. The hotel is more geared toward younger guests, who visit in large numbers, but it can also be a good choice for families who do not mind the lively atmosphere.

First off, the environment is nice, and the staff are all very good, especially the one who helped us with the small boat for snorkeling. Secondly, the pier is extremely far from the hotel, and there's no shuttle service – no pickup, no drop-off. A songthaew costs 500 Thai baht one way. There are no convenience stores nearby, so you're stuck at the hotel for all your food and drink, but the hotel food is really bad. There wasn't enough conditioner in the room. I called the front desk, and they told me they didn't have any conditioner. How can a hotel costing over 2000 RMB a night not have conditioner??? Good environment, but service needs improvement.

I had a wonderful stay! As a solo traveler, I felt completely safe and at ease throughout my visit. The environment was quiet and peaceful, which made it easy to relax. The room was comfortable and well-kept, and the staff were extremely friendly and welcoming. The firework show was such a lovely bonus and made the experience even more special. I truly enjoyed my stay and would definitely recommend it.

Amazing beach hotel with a perfect location right next to the beach! The room was very nice and clean, and the interior looked modern and beautiful. Everything inside the room was well arranged and comfortable, making the stay very relaxing. Waking up with the beach view and being just steps away from the sea was the best part. Great atmosphere, friendly service, and highly recommended for a beach getaway!

The most important thing about this place is its owner. Alex is a wonderful and friendly local islander. He truly puts his heart into what he does and does everything possible to make your stay as comfortable as it can be. Have a problem? Just talk to Alex and he’ll do his best to help. Need advice? Ask Alex! I think the main idea is clear As for the place itself, it’s calm and quiet, yet close to the central part of the island where all the main shops are located. The beach is a 3-minute walk away, another one is about 5 minutes away — everything is nearby. The hotel has its own bar and a private area, peaceful and relaxing. The main issue is mosquitoes, but that’s not really the hotel’s fault — after all, there’s nature right behind the fence, and a very unusual one at that. We even saw a giant stick insect on the property for the first time ever, lol 🙂 The bungalow has all the basic essentials: a bed, air conditioning, a toilet, a shower, and a kettle. It might be nice to have a wardrobe or some storage for clothes, but that’s just a small nitpick. If you’re not picky and don’t need five-star service, but appreciate a warm and genuine welcome, I can highly recommend this place! Thank you, Alex — if we ever come back to Samet, we’ll definitely stay with you again!