Hotels with WiFi 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.

There was nothing around the hotel, allowing me to relax and listen to the sound of the waves. The beach in front of the hotel had wide white sands and calm waters. There's also a pool, which I think is great for families. The food at the hotel's restaurant was delicious, and I felt no need to go anywhere else to eat. The pork Khao Man Gai I had for breakfast, in particular, was the best I've ever had in Thailand. All the staff were very friendly and welcoming, which made for a stress-free and enjoyable holiday.

This was my second stay here. The location is super convenient, less than a 5-minute walk to Diamond Beach. It's also easy to catch a songthaew (local shared taxi) right across the street from the hotel. It's a no-frills type of hotel, perfect for travelers who don't spend much time using hotel facilities and prefer to enjoy the natural beauty of the beach, as it saves travel time. However, because it's on a main road with a 24-hour 7-Eleven and a corner eatery nearby, there's constant noise from people and thumping music late into the night. If you're a light sleeper and your room faces the street, you'll have a hard time getting to sleep.

Loved our first stay here! Our room was a ”Second Row” Sea View, but the view was still lovely. The room was huge, clean, and very comfortable, though the shower pressure could be stronger. The balcony is massive and great for relaxing. Since the resort gets a nice breeze all day, you can just sit and ”slow life” it for hours. The food is a standout—the Grilled Ribs and Grilled Garlic Fish are must-tries. Everything tasted so fresh. We will definitely be returning!

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!

Very nice quiet hotel on a nice location GPS wise. Clean and big rooms. Staff helpful and friendly. But be aware it’s a steep climb to the rooms. So getting a quick drink at the beach bar is like a free work-out. The bar and restaurant at the beach are great to be.

Friendly staff, ok rooms: looks like just painted. Beds were comfortable enough. Worth for the money we paid.

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!

Great location on the beach. The beds are comfortable and the air con works perfectly. One thing to keep in mind, very rarely will they replace your empty toilet paper roll. I have stayed here twice and had to go to the lobby to ask for a new roll for a total of three times. I suggest stopping by the lobby when you come back from the beach (after housekeeping has been done), so you don't go to your room and find out there's no toilet paper the hard way. They will also ”usually ” replace your towels, but this time they just took them without giving a fresh ones in return. While this may all be bad for some, I now know what to ask for in advance, so I wouldn't mind staying again.