Where to stay in Koh Samet - ThailandWhereStay

Koh Samet is a beautiful island located in the Gulf of Thailand, within a short drive from Pattaya and Bangkok. The island is known for its white sandy beaches and laid-back nightlife scene. It is a great holiday destination to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Most visitors spend a weekend or at least 2-3 nights on Koh Samet to enjoy the beach activities and nightlife. This time is usually enough to travel all around Koh Samet and see everything the island has to offer.

In this article, I will show the best areas to stay in Koh Samet, including both the most popular beaches and lesser-known ones. I will also recommend some good hotels and resorts in each beach area.

You can have look at these articles for more info about Koh Samet:

Best Areas & Beaches to Stay in Koh Samet

Koh Samet is a relatively small island, about 7km long and 2km wide. It is just around a 2 hour walk or 25 minutes drive from Nadan Pier (the major entrance point to Koh Samet) to Laem Toei (the southern tip of Koh Samet).

best areas to Stay in Koh Samed — Best areas to Stay in Koh Samet

There are around 10 beaches on the eastern coast of Koh Samet and only one beach on the western coast. If you want easy access to all tourist amenities, stay somewhere on the northern parts of Koh Samet, between Naban Pier and Ao Phai Beach.

If you want a secluded atmosphere, go further to the south of the island. Many beaches in the south are home to only a single resort, which contributes to a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

The most popular places to stay in Koh Samet, in my opinion, are Sai Kaew Beach, Nadan Village, Ao Hin Khok, Ao Phai, Ao Prao Beach, and Wong Duean. These areas offer close proximity to both the beach and a range of restaurants, bars, and shops.

But there are also smaller beaches and resorts scattered around the island for those seeking a quiet holiday and don’t mind traveling to the main town for more restaurants and bars options. These places are Ao Tubtim, Ao Chor, Ao Thian/ Ao Lung Dam, Ao Wai, Ao Kiew, and Ao Pakarang.

I traveled to Koh Samet on a budget and stayed in Stay Samed Hostel in the main village of Koh Samet. The hostel is located in the middle of everything, a short walk from the pier, the walking street, and the main beach. I will share the details of my stay in Koh Samet at the end of this article.

My top hotel picks in Koh Samet:

Best Places to Stay in Koh Samet

1. Sai Kaew Beach

Sai Kaew Beach is the main beach of Koh Samet. It is conveniently located close to the main village and the main pier, making it a great location for access to the boats and all tourist amenities.

The beach is around 800 long with white fine sand and crystal clear water. It is an ideal place for swimming, sunbathing, taking a walk along the beach, and enjoying watersport activities like jet skiing.

The beach is lined with rows of restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops. You can see lots of vendors along the beach selling street food and beach towels. There are plenty of sunbeds, bean bags, and umbrellas for rent on the sand. You can rent the deck chair for around 50 baht for a day.

There are also many shops selling beach equipment such as hats, sunglasses, swimwears on the road to the beach from the main town. There are several massage shops and two 7-eleven shops are located within walking distance from Sai Kaew Beach.

Sai Kaew Beach has a great nightlife scene with all tables and chairs setting out on the sand. Many beachfront restaurants and bars have a fire show every night.

The most popular one is Ploy Talay restaurant located in the central area of the beach. I recommend coming to the restaurant early to find the best spot to watch the fire show around 8pm.

At the southern end of Sai Kaew Beach is the rocky area and is home to the iconic Mermaid and the child Stature. I like sitting on the rock near the Mermaid statue at sunset. But be mindful of the sandflies. I recommend wearing long pants and using insect repellent to avoid getting bitten.

I recommend staying on Sai Kaew Beach for first-timers and those who want to be on the beach and still within walking distance to the main village, the pier, and a wide range of restaurants and bars. The beach has a wide range of hotels and resorts for all needs.

Where to stay in Koh Samet on Sai Kaew Beach:

Sai Kaew Beach Resort

This is the best place to stay in Koh Samet. This resort is popular due to its location right on Sai Kaew beach, easy access to the main town, and excellent facilities and services.

The resort is ideal for couples and families. You will be close to everything, including the beach, shops, restaurants, massage parlors, and 7-eleven stores.

It has multiple outdoor pools, seafront restaurants, and a breakfast buffet with a wide range of dishes both Asian and Western options. You can go swimming either at the beach or at the hotel’s pools.

Larissa Samed resort

Larissa is a good value for money resort located in a quiet area within a short distance from Sai Kaew Beach and the main street. This resort has a peaceful private beach, which is ideal for couples and families who want a quiet holiday but still have easy access to beaches and restaurants.

The resort has beautiful ground with lots of green trees and well-maintained facilities. You can stay in the private beachfront bungalow and enjoy the relaxing vacation. The resort can be difficult to find at first for some guests, but once you do, getting around becomes easy.

Samed sand sea resort

This Thai style accommodation is located in the central area of Sai Kaew Beach. It has a great location right on the beach and the road to the main village. Lots of bars and restaurants are just stones thrown away from the resort. The rooms are a little old but it is a good overall base on Sai Kaew Beach.

2. Koh Samet Village

Koh Samet Village is the only village on the island. It is the area between Nadan Pier and Sai Kaew Beach. The main road of the village is around 800m long connecting the pier and the main beach.

The main road is lined with motorbike rental shops, tour agencies, restaurants, cafes, massage shops, bars, and convenience stores. You can find everything on the main road of Koh Samet. Some of the island’s best restaurants and bars are located on the main road.

The village is also a great place to find affordable accommodation options. Lots of small guest houses and backpacker hostels are located in the main village.

Being close to the main pier means you can walk to the pier for the boats and save money on transport. The area is also within a few minutes walking distance from the range of beaches like Sai Kaew, Hin Khok, and Ao Phai Beach. Ao Prao on the west coast is only 30 minutes walk (10 mins drive) away.

Where to stay in Koh Samet Village:

Barbados Terrace

This hotel is located in a quiet location half way between the main pier and main beach. You can easily walk to restaurants, bars, tattoo shops, and beauty/massage salons. The rooms are spacious and clean.

Baan Mulan

This guest house is located in the central area of Koh Samet Village, a short walk away from all the tourist amenities. The 7-11 stores, Wat Koh Samet, and the island’s main beach are all close to the hotel.

It is close to the main road, but still quiet enough to have a good night’s sleep. You can book rooms with balconies for the best experiences.

Blue Moon Samed

This hotel is located in the central area of Koh Samet, close to everything including all the bars, shops, laundry, and souvenir shops. The pier and the beach is just a few minutes walking distance from the hotel. They offer a free motorbike to use which is a bonus if you can drive.

3. Ao Hin Khok

Ao Hin Khok is a small beach located right next to Sai Kaew Beach. These two beaches are separated by the Mermaid Statue. You can walk from Sai Kaew Beach to Ao Hin Khok by climbing over the big rock area.

Ao Hin Khok has white sand and crystal clear water. There are beach bars and restaurants with sundecks and umbrellas on the beach. It is shorter than Sai Kaew and has fewer bars and restaurant options on the sand.

You can find a range of bars, restaurants, and hotels on the back street that running parallel with the beach like Naga Bar or Flow Beach Cafe. There are no accommodations directly located on the sand in Ao Hin Khok. You just walk across the small road to get to the beach.

Where to stay in Koh Samet in Ao Hin Khok:

Green Bay Samed Resort

This is a nice accommodation located close to the statue of Prince Phra Aphai Mani, Ao Phai Beach and Sai Kaew Beach. It is 5 minutes walk from the main town and its walking street. There are a range of nice bars located close to Green Bay resort including The funky Naga Bar.

The hotel has a small swimming pool and standard double rooms with basic facilities for your needs. I believe it has a pretty good location to explore all the beaches and easy access to amenities.

Avatara Resort

Avatara is located on the main road between Ao Hin Khok and Ao Phai Beach. You can walk across the road to get to the beach. The location is quite good in my opinion, quiet but still easy access to all amenities in the main town. The downside is that you need to walk uphill to the rooms, so maybe not suitable for old people.

Tok Little Hut

Tok Little Hut is located right on the main road of the island, an easy walk to the beach. The rooms and bungalows are located on a small hill that is surrounded by greenery and requires some climbing to get to the room. You can request a room on a lower floor if you’re traveling with elderly people.

4. Ao Phai Beach

Ao Phai Beach is a small beach located just south of Ao Hin Khok Beach. The beach has white fine sand and clean water, ideal for swimming and sunbathing. There are a couple bars, restaurants, and resorts right on the sand. You can rent umbrellas and sunbeds on the beach.

This area is home to several famous bars like the Silversand Beach Bar, Nicky Bar, and Gecko Bar. There are several restaurants and other bars on the main road at the back of the beach.

I believe this is a good area for those who want to stay right on the beach while still within walking distance from various restaurants and bars. The Prao Beach and the main village are only 1km away.

Best Places to stay in Koh Samet in Ao Phai:

Samed Villa Resort

Samed Villa is one of the most popular places to stay in Koh Samet. It has a beautiful location, right between Ao Phai Beach and Tubtim beach. The resort has an onsite restaurant, a spa, and excellent breakfast.

There are lots of bed chairs and umbrellas on the beach. Rooms are spacious with good air conditioning. You can check out several bars, and restaurants nearby for the meals with the views.

Silver Sand Hotel

This good beachfront hotel occupies a large section of Ao Phai Beach. They have a popular beachfront restaurant/bar, a massage area, and an onsite shop. This is a good option for staying right on Ao Phai beach.

5. Wong Duean Beach

Wong Duean Beach is a large beach area located in the middle of the east coast of Koh Samet. It is 4km from the island’s main pier, around 15 minutes drive on the green songthaews.

Wong Duean is quieter than the beaches on the north eastern coast of the island. It has powdery white sand, clean water, and a quiet atmosphere. There are several resorts lining the beach, an ideal place to stay for those who want a peaceful and relaxing holiday.

The beachfront has restaurants, cafes, and beach bars mostly belonging to the resorts. The main road is located around 200m from the beach and there are just a couple of restaurants on the main road.

From Wong Duean Beach, you can walk to the north to the smaller beach called Ao Chor Beach. This beach has some nice Reggae bars to check out.

Where to stay in Koh Samet on Wong Duean:

Vongdeuan Resort

Vongdeuan Resort is a 3-star beachfront resort located on the quiet crescent shaped Wong Duean Beach, 10 minute drive from the main beach Sai Kaew Beach, and Nah Dan Pier.

You can go for a walk along the beach, or dine at some restaurants and bars nearby. The resort is a good base for relaxing time on the beach away from all the party scenes of the main town and main beach.

Vimarn Samed Resort

Vimarn is a beautiful resort located between Ao Wong Duen Beach and Ao Chor Beach. It has a peaceful and secluded location but is still within a 15 minute drive to the nightlife area of the main village and its beach. Ideal for couples and families who enjoy a quiet getaway.

6. Ao Prao Beach

Ao Prao Beach is the only beach on the west coast of Koh Samet that has accommodations on the beach. It is home to several high end hotels and resorts, making it a great location to stay for a relaxing and luxury beach holiday.

Ao Prao is located 15 minutes drive from Nadan Pier, and 10 minutes drive from the main village. A walk from Ao Prao to the main village is around 30 minutes.

Ao Prao Beach is more beautiful to visit during sunset time. You can take a long walk along the beach, walk toward the sea on the blue floating pier, or check out its viewpoint. It is also a good spot for swimming and kayaking.

Where to stay in Ao Prao Beach:

Ao Prao Resort

Ao Prao Resort is a popular place to stay on the west coast of Koh Samet Island. The resort has an outdoor swimming pool and a beautiful tranquil beach area that is well-equipped with bed chairs and umbrellas. It has an onsite restaurant serving delicious food. Ideal base for families and couples.

Kerala Coco Resort

Kerala is a beachfront resort located right on Ao Prao Beach. The beach has a white sandy and clean water, ideal for swimming and sunbathing. It is in a secluded location, away from the main village, which is great for just chilling on the beach, watching the sunset, and relaxing.

Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa

Le Vimarn is an amazing accommodation located on the west coast of Koh Samet. Great base for families and young kids and couples. It is a bit far from the town center with its restaurants, shops, and convenience stores. You can get a taxi to reach the village and beaches on the other side of the island.

7. Ao Tubtim Beach

Ao Tubtim is a small tranquil beach located right next to Ao Phai beach. You can walk from Ao Phai to Ao Tubtim along the coast. There are just 2,3 resorts on the beach and several restaurants and bars including the popular Reef Bar and Restaurant.

This is a good beach to chill, meditate, sunbath, and swim. The north side of Ao Tubtim is connected with Ao Phai, and the south side is connected with Ao Nuan.

Ao Tubtim is 13 minutes drive from Nadan Pier on green songthaews and around 8 minutes from the walking street on the main village. You can easily do beach hopping by walking along the coast passing Ao Phai, Ao Hin Khok, and Sai Kaew Beach within an hour or so.

Where to stay in Ao Tubtim in Koh Samet:

Tubtim Resort

Tubtim Resort is a popular hotel in Koh Samet located on Ao Tubtim Beach. The resort has a beautiful setting right on the beachfront area with an onsite restaurant and bar.

Accommodation is in the form of wooden bungalows with a beautiful garden. Their beachfront is quiet and clean with lots of sundecks to use.

Samed Tamarind Beach Resort

Samed Tamarind is a 4-star beachfront resort located close to both Ao Tubtim Beach, Ao Nuan Beach, and Ao Phai Beach. It is popular for couples to stay. The beach is quiet which is a great place to chill.

8. Ao Chor Beach

Ao Chor Beach, aka Ao Lung Wang Beach, is a small but beautiful beach located just north of Wong Duean. You can walk between two beaches along the coast line.

Ao Chor Beach is located 15 minutes from the Nadan Pier and its main village. It is a quiet beach and is home to a small wooden pier, a few beachfront resorts, and a couple of lovely Reggae Bars.

Where to stay in Ao Chor Beach:

Ao Cho Grandview Hideaway Resort

This is a great hotel located on Ao Chor Beach and is a short walk to the bigger beach nearby, Ao Wong Duean. It is a good base in a quiet area for a relaxing beach holiday. They have firework shows at night, which keep you entertained.

Samed Tropical Resort

This resort is a good choice for those who want to stay in Ao Chor Beach. It is located close to both Ao Chor and Ao Won Duean Beach. There are several restaurants and bars on the beach and the hotel also have their own onsite restaurant and bar. It is great if you can rent a scooter to explore the island, but if not, the taxi ride to the pier and the main town is also a reasonable price, about 250 baht.

9. Ao Thian/ Ao Lung Dam

These two beaches are located on the same bay. It is one the central east coast of Koh Samet between Wong Duean Beach and Ao Wai beach.

There are several beachfront resorts located on Ao Thian and Ao Lung Dam. They are good bases for those who are looking for a secluded beach getaway.

There are not many restaurants and bars on the beach like other beaches on the north part of Koh Samet. You can find a restaurant at Sangthianbeach Resort on Ao Thian beach, as well as the lovely Apache pier restaurant and Pirates Bar on Ao Lung Dam Beach.

Ao Thian/ Ao Lung Dam is located around 20 minutes drive from Nadan Pier and its main village. It is ideal if you rent a motorbike when staying in this part of Koh Samet.

Where to stay in Ao Thian/ Ao Lung Dam Beach:

Viking Holiday Resort

This is a good value for money beachfront resort located close to both Ao Thian and Ao Lung Dam Beach. It is located around 20 minutes drive from the port and main street, but you can easily access these areas by motorbike rentals or songthaews.

Horizon Resort

Horizon is located in a nice quiet location of the west coast of Koh Samet within walking distance from Ao Thian and Ao Lung Dam. You can choose to stay in rooms/ bungalows that have sea views or ocean views. The hotel will help you with motorbike rental or call songthaew bus services for you to get around the island. If you prefer a beautiful peaceful area, this hotel is a good option.

Apache Loongdum Koh Samed

Apache hotel is a beachfront hotel located in the middle of Ao Lung Dum Beach. It is an ideal place for those who want to be away from the crowd and don’t mind using taxi and motorbike rental to get to the main town. The beach is a good spot for swimming, watching the sunset, and the sunrise.

10. Ao Wai Beach (Samet Ville Resort)

Ao Wai Beach is a tranquil beach located at the south east coast of Koh Samet. It is 20 minutes drive from the main pier and main village. The beach is home to only one resort called Samet Ville Resort. The resort has a beachfront restaurant, bar, and onsite mini mart.

There are no other restaurants or bars in the immediate areas of the resort. If you want a quiet beach holiday away from it all, Samet Ville Resort is a good base.

The hotel is a quiet location and is surrounded by greenery. It is quite far from major areas of Koh Samet, so renting a scooter is a good way to explore the island.

For those who are not staying in the resort, you can access the beach by dine at their restaurant, cafe, or use service from them.

11. Ao Kiew (Paradee)

Ao Kiew is a pirate beach area located in the southern area of Koh Samet. It is home to the 5-star hotel called Paradee Resort. The beach is only for its guests. If you want a relaxing and luxurious beach holiday and don’t mind being further away from all tourist amenities, Ao Kiew beach is a good choice.

12. Ao Pakarang

Ao Pakarang is the last beach on the south west coast of Koh Samet. It is around a 25 minute drive from Nadan Pier and its village. The beach has a secluded atmosphere and lots of shades.

From Ao Pakarang, you can walk for a few minutes to get to the southern tip of the island where you can view both sunset and sunrise.

The beach is home to Nimmanoradee Resort, but it was renovated during my visit. The staff were very kind, gave me a free bottle of water when I was too thirsty and had nothing around to buy.

Where did I stay in Koh Samet? My personal experiences

I stayed in Stay Samed Hostel in the main village of Koh Samet. I booked hotels in Koh Samet from Pattaya just two days before my arrival to Koh Samet. It was very spontaneous and there weren’t many hotels available at the time.

I traveled in mid December, which is part of the high season, so lots of hotels and resorts were fully booked. I didn’t have many options to choose from, but was able to book a few nights at Stay Samed Hostel.

Stay Samed Hostel

I had a good experience staying at Stay Samed Hostel. The hostel was clean and the owner was very friendly and helpful. He tried to organize transport for me to go to Koh Chang.

Location

Stay Samed Hostel is located in central location in the main village of Koh Samet. It is on a small alley just 10 minutes walk to Nadan Pier. This is very convenient as when I arrive at the pier, I can just walk to the hostel, saving me money on songthaew buses.

On the last day on Koh Samet, it is also convenient to just drag my suitcase to the pier for an early boat to the mainland and then Koh Chang. I don’t have to arrange additional transport and spend extra time getting to the pier. If you stay in place further south of the island, you might spend 20-30 minutes traveling to the pier and it can cost around 250-300 baht per taxi ride.

Stay Samed Hostel is also just a stone throw away from the main street. You can find many tourist amenities like tour agencies, restaurants, bars, laundry shops, motorbike rentals, massage shops, and souvenir shops within walking distance from the hostel.

The island’s main beach, Sai Kaew Beach, is also 10 minutes walk from Stay Samed Hostel. You can walk to the beach any time easily. It is also safe to walk at night to the beach to enjoy the nightlife and fire shows.

Amenities

I stayed in the dorm rooms with 6 beds and a private bathroom. My room is a female room only. The room was clean and had lots of natural lights. There are mirrors, cloth hangers, and air conditioning in the room. Everyone was provided with a towel.

They have a nice common area on the ground floor. There is no lift in the hostel, so carrying my suitcase to the second floor (where my room was) was a bit of a challenge. The hotel’s staff can help you with it if you have a heavy suitcase.

I would stay at Stay Samed Hostel again, and if I come back, I’d like to try booking one of the private rooms.

See more: Where to Stay in Thailand

I hope you found some useful information about where to stay in Koh Samet. The island is relatively small, so no matter where you choose to stay, you can easily explore everything within a couple of days.