Getting a Room – Koh Samui, Thailand

When looking for a guesthouse, make sure the name matches the location. We saw more than one resort with “beach view” or “seaside” in its name that was at least 100 meters from the water, secluded behind groves of trees (and the highway). Ask to see a room first. We stayed on Koh Samui in Hat Lamai, which is quieter than Hat Chaweng because it offers less of a social scene. We found the beaches of Lamai to be better – fewer tourists, fewer nosy Thai vendors and cleaner water (no sea lice).

Samui Beach Resort (124/11 Moo 3, Lamai Beach; 0-7742-4033)

View of Hat Lamai while looking from the steps of Samui Beach Resort
photo by Justin Holt

Our package tour booked us for six nights here. The brochure the travel agent gave us made the ‘resort’ look much better than it actually does, since the glossy pictures didn’t show the dirt driveway or cramped, fan-cooled rooms. The trip booked us for a room with fan, but upon arriving and finding it dingy, dark and without a working shower, we negotiated with the management for a discounted upgrade to an excellent room with A/C, hot-water shower and mini-fridge. If you choose to stay here, ask to speak with “Poh” Kwanrug, the assistant manager and our go-to guy. If you’re staying on Koh Samui for several days, he’ll be willing to give you a discount. Double rooms with A/C and mini-fridge are 1200 baht; deluxe bungalows with A/C, mini-fridge and cable TV go for 1600. Spring for A/C if you’ve got the extra money. Ours worked so well that our room was like a refrigerator – it was so cool compared to the outside that the windows fogged up.

The resort’s restaurant is quite tasty with big portions (and breakfast is complimentary for guests), but the prices are twice that of the delightful mom-and-pop eatery across the street (see “Getting a Meal“).

Utopia Resort and Sun Splash Resort both offer comfortable accommodations in clean bungalows with private baths. Their prices are typical of southern Lamai, where rooms are more mid-range than the budget options in northern Lamai. Utopia Resort’s rooms cost 500 baht for fan, 1000 for hot water and A/C; Sun Splash Resort’s go for 400-500 with fan, 900-1000 with A/C.

If you’re in Hat Chaweng and are looking for somewhere cheap and fun, try Charlie’s Huts. Backpackers flock to these wooden bungalows, which come with mosquito netting, thatched roofs and bamboo walls. The guesthouse’s restaurant shows movies each night at 6 p.m. Doubles are 200 baht, and those with private bath and better access to the beach are 300 baht.

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our Asia Insiders page.

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