Koh Samui Hotels, Guesthouses and Resorts

Koh Samui offers accommodation options for every type of traveller. From luxurious resorts with infinity pools, private beaches and fine-dining restaurants to bargain beach huts and hostels, whatever your budget there is a place for you on Samui.

Choosing the area to stay on Koh Samui

When deciding on where to stay on Koh Samui, you need to decide in which area of the island or close to which beach you want to stay.

Chaweng and Lamai are the most built up areas of the island with lively resorts, plenty of bars and restaurants and shops and activities galore.

For somewhere a little quieter, stay close to the Big Buddha or near Maenam. These areas offer enough in the way of entertainment to keep you busy but are quiet enough to get a good night’s sleep.

Bophut, the fisherman’s village, offers a more traditional feel with local markets and restaurants, while still providing plenty of choice in terms of budget and luxury accommodation.

Here we have broken down the options of Koh Samui accommodation into sections based on what type of traveller you are:

Family resorts

Families are well catered for in Koh Samui (more so than Koh Phangan and Koh Tao), with a number of hotels specifically designed with families in mind.

Some of the resorts, including Royal Beach Boutique Resort & Spa (438/2 Moo 1, Maret, Lamai Beach, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, 84310) and Pavilion Samui Boutique Resort (124/24 Moo 3 Lamai Beach Maret, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, 84310) offer kid’s clubs, shaded pools, cuisine tailored to families, babysitting facilities and family suites.

The staff are there to ensure children have a fun and unforgettable stay, while allowing parents to relax and enjoy themselves. With spa facilities on-site, mum or dad can easily enjoy massages or spa treatments one-by-one while the other stays by the pool with the kids.

Romantic stays for couples and honeymooners

For a while now, Koh Samui has been a hotspot for couples looking for a romantic break or honeymoon. The island even hosts weddings so you can tie the knot with the backdrop of Thailand’s pristine beaches and turquoise waters.

Since Koh Samui’s boom in infrastructure, there have been more and more exquisite hotels built on the island. Each luxurious resort seems to boast better facilities, more spectacular views and even more idyllic settings than the last. Choose from romantic resorts, boutique hotels and spa resorts to find your perfect stay.

Romantic Resorts: Sala Samui Resort & Spa (10/9 Moo 5, Baan Plai Lam, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, 84320) combines privacy, luxury, facilities and eco-tourism perfectly. With 69 villas (many of which feature private pools), crisp décor and unique outdoor bathrooms Sala offers everything you need for an unforgettably romantic stay.

Boutique Breaks: If you’d prefer a more secluded stay, choose from one of Koh Samui’s excellent boutique hotels. Sandalwood Luxury Villas (Moo 4 211/7, T. Maret, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, 84310) comprise just 10 rooms with sumptuous furnishings, private pools, in-room massage facilities and peaceful garden settings.

Spa Stays: For world-renowned luxury and exemplary spa facilities you can’t beat the Four Seasons Resort (219 Moo 5 Tumbon Angthong, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, 84140). This hotel boasts spectacular hillside views, infinity pools and its very own private palm-fringed beach. Step into the wooden sala with your loved one for a couple’s massage treatment you’ll never forget!

Party-lovers

If you’re a reveller looking to enjoy Koh Samui’s renowned nightlife, you’ll probably want to stay right in the heart of the action. The best locations for nightlife are Chaweng and Lamai.

You may expect accommodation around the party areas to be a bit rough and ready (as they are in some European clubbing resorts), but Koh Samui knows how to do things differently. There are cheap resorts (which we’ll come to later) but there are also some fantastic chic hotels which allow you to relax and unwind during the day before you head out for a hedonistic party at night.

Ark Bar Beach Resort (159/89, Moo 2, Chaweng Beach, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, 84320) offers the best of both worlds, with air-conditioned rooms, a pool, beach and a nightclub on site!

Samui Tonggad Resort (99 Moo 4, Lamai Beach Road, T.Maret, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, 84310) in Lamai offers affordable accommodation that is close enough to enjoy the nightlife while having a relaxed atmosphere and spacious rooms.

Budget Travellers

Many believe that Koh Samui is short on cheap accommodation options and that those with a tight budget should head to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao instead.

However, there are plenty of good options on Samui that allow you to enjoy all that the island has to offer without spending a fortune.

For less than THB1000 per night you can stay at Coco Palm Beach Resort (26/4, Maenam Beach, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, 84330). This is a simple yet comfortable resort which offers private villa rooms with lovely gardens, a swimming pool and sea views. Situated on Maenam beach, Coco Palm provides budget travellers the sought-after setting of palm-fringed beaches at a fraction of the cost.

For just over THB1000, you can stay at the Samui Heritage Resort (157/43 Moo 1, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani, 84320) in Bophut. This resort is close to the beaches and street markets of Bophut – which are a must-see – and provide simple rooms with Thai décor and communal pool. The rooms also have basic kitchen facilities which is great for those wanting to save money by cooking some meals in-house.

Wherever you decide to stay in Koh Samui you’ll never be far away from some action. Each area has a range of restaurants and street food markets and the transport links around the island are great meaning all attractions are easily accessible.