Hello, my name is Aita. I recently went on a trip to Koh Samet.



The van I hired from Bangkok to Ban Phe Pier cost 3,500 baht, which is considered expensive. I found some other companies offering similar services for around 3,000 baht. However, the van I used was excellent. It had powerful air conditioning, was clean, and had new seats and a new engine. It also had USB charging ports and a sound system.



After that, we chartered a speedboat for 2,000 baht to Ao Wai, which is where the resort is located. It took us directly to the resort's beach. You can also take a shared speedboat for 400 baht per person, which is a bit cheaper. These boats run on a schedule, but if there aren't many people, you might have to wait a while.

We stayed at Ao Wai at the Samet Ville Resort.



This beachfront resort boasts a stunning beach with white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water. The secluded location offers peace and tranquility, with minimal crowds. However, despite its idyllic setting, the resort presents several drawbacks. Notably, there is no mobile phone or internet connectivity available.



The resort's Wi-Fi was broken and unusable, even though they claimed to have fixed it. If you're looking for a secluded getaway, this is the place for you. You won't be able to call or text anyone. No worries, just consider it a relaxing vacation.
The resort rents motorbikes for 600 baht per day, but they're old and the tires are almost flat. When we rode into town, every motorbike rental shop charged 100 baht per day for much better bikes, like Zoomer Xs. We were like, "What the heck? Is this a joke?" It's not just that they're more expensive, they're six times more expensive. On top of that, there's no mobile phone signal at the resort, so we couldn't search for or call anyone. We felt like we were being ripped off.
At night, we wanted to go into town for some beers, so we didn't take the motorbikes. We asked the reception to call a taxi for us. A-eye already had the driver's number, so we asked them to call him to pick us up. The reception refused to call, saying they couldn't do it because the taxis had their own schedules. They told us to walk to the front of the resort to catch a taxi. However, the resort was far from the road. It took us about 15-20 minutes to walk there, and there were no taxis waiting. A-eye had to walk back to the reception and force them to call a taxi (even though they had everyone's numbers and knew them all, they wouldn't call. We don't know why. Maybe they didn't want to spend 3 baht on a phone call). Then we walked back out to the road to wait again. It was a long walk, and the road was steep, so we were very tired.

The hotel breakfast was served from 8 to 10 am and was the most shocking part of my stay. There was almost nothing available, just water, milk, orange juice, coffee, bread, a toaster, jam, and butter. Everything else had to be ordered, and it came in sets, such as Set 1 with fried eggs and sausages or Set 2 with rice porridge. While the breakfast was included in the room rate, it was not a buffet. Instead, you had to order from a menu, and the wait times were incredibly long. For example, it took 20 minutes to get a simple order of fried eggs and sausages. Overall, the breakfast was disappointing and uninspiring. The hotel restaurant was also a let-down. During our last meal there, the service was chaotic. We ordered an Americano, but were told it was unavailable. We then ordered a cappuccino instead. Later, when another friend joined us and ordered an Americano, they were told it was available. This inconsistency was frustrating and unprofessional.

I'm not sure if the hotel has a maid service, but in the morning there was a bag hanging on the door with towels, tissues, shampoo, and shower gel, but no one knocked to clean. During the day, we went out to play in the water and left a cleaning sign on the door. When we returned in the evening, the room had not been cleaned. In conclusion, we stayed for 3 days and 2 nights and the room was not cleaned at all.

The beach is stunning, arguably the most beautiful on Koh Samet (I've flown a drone to capture photos of every bay, and this one is the best). The resort itself is decent, but if you prioritize a pristine beach, crystal-clear water, and privacy, this is the place for you. However, don't expect exceptional service. Unless you're starving, it's best to eat at nearby restaurants and rent a car for transportation. Be prepared for a self-sufficient stay.




Air



During the rainy season, the sun is not as intense. There is hot sun around noon, but it is not scorching. You can sunbathe without getting burned, and you can participate in outdoor activities without getting hot feet or skin.
However, in the late afternoon, around 5-6 pm, there will be rain. But it doesn't rain much, just a light drizzle that lasts for about an hour. You can use this time to return to the resort to shower, change clothes, and wait for the rain to stop before going out to eat.



Aerial drone photography by our team.








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Activities

The most popular beach here is Haad Sai Kaew, which tends to be crowded. Due to the large number of visitors, the beach is not particularly clean and may have some litter. The sand is not white, but it is not bad either, and it is still a fun place to swim and play.



The area offers a wide range of water activities, including jet skiing, parasailing, banana boat rides, and island tours (full-day, half-day, and snorkeling). Prices are affordable, ranging from hundreds to thousands of baht.



We went to Paracel Islands, it was so much fun and not scary at all. The normal price is 1,000 baht per person, but somehow they gave us a discount and it was only 700 baht per person.

Before embarking on the journey, we boarded a boat and ventured out to the open sea. Donning life jackets and ensuring our equipment was secure, we received instructions from the boat crew. They emphasized the importance of avoiding the use of cameras and mobile phones due to the risk of them falling overboard, posing a significant safety hazard. However, upon request, we were granted permission to bring a GoPro camera, provided we adhered to the safety guidelines and instructions provided by the crew.



Soaring into the sky, it only takes a short while, just 6-7 minutes. But let me tell you, those 6-7 minutes are worth every penny. It's so much fun and excitement, it's something you really have to try.




For those who don't want to spend money on these activities, you can bring your own toys to play on the beach. For example, inflatable rings, frisbees, or ping pong paddles. We bought a set of frisbees and beach ping pong paddles for only 100 baht each. It was a lot of fun and worth the money.


Food

The first night's dinner was at Chill Chill Rim Le restaurant.

The restaurant has a display of dishes in front with large menus in both Thai and English, along with prices. This makes it very clear what each dish is, how much it costs, and what it looks like. It's very convenient to just point and order!

The food was delicious and the prices were reasonable.


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Dinner on the Second Day at Ploy Talay Restaurant


The famous restaurant at Hat Sai Kaew.
I understand why it's famous, the food is really delicious. Except for the papaya salad, haha. I didn't take many pictures, I was too busy eating. I didn't want my friends to eat it all.

In the evening, we enjoyed beers at Naka Bar, located near Sai Kaew Beach, opposite Naka Hotel. We had a fun time exploring the area and enjoying the trip.




Take a relaxing walk with your dog by the sea.


#koh samet
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