Koh Samet travel blog — The fullest Koh Samet travel guide for a great budget trip to Koh Samet for the first-timers

Please temporarily forget the bustling and vibrant of the capital of Bangkok, in Thailand there are many other interesting destinations that few people know about. Usually, when foreign tourists come to Thailand, their first thought will be Bangkok, how to explore it, such as: what to eat, where to go, what to do, how to getting to and shopping at famous night markets and busy shopping malls… but if you discover Thailand in the same way, it is somewhat boring, let’s try changing the atmosphere by explore a peaceful island called Koh Samet (Koh Samed) near Bangkok to feel how to change. So, how long to stay in Koh Samet and what to do in Koh Samet? Let’s check it out our Koh Samet travel blog (Koh Samet blog) with the fullest Koh Samet travel guide (Koh Samet guide) for a great trip on a budget for the first time to Koh Samet from how to get from Bangkok to Koh Samet, where to stay, best places to visit and top things to do to find out the answer.

Koh Samet guide: How to get from Bangkok to Koh Samet

There are 3 most common ways as follows

Option 1: You can take the BTS train or take a taxi to Ekkamai BTS Station, then buy a bus ticket for 157 baht ($5.10)/trip, we recommend you buy round-trip tickets to get a little cheaper price. The earliest bus in the day departs at 7am and the latest at 7pm. There is a bus every 1 hour, after about 4 hours of travel you will arrive at the pier to the island of Koh Samet.

Option 2: You also take the BTS train or taxi to Victory Monument Station, then buy 16-seats Van tickets for 200 baht ($6.49)/trip to Rayong pier (travel time about 2.5 hours). However, it is also depend on the late arrival time of the passengers, if passengers arrive late, you must wait and sometimes take more than 3 hours to reach the ferry wharf.

Note: The car running on highways, do not stop, so please limit drinking water, no WC in the car to go to the toilet, so you need to keep in mind.

Option 3: You can also rent a private car (private shuttle bus) of agencies like KKDay or Klook to go directly from Bangkok to the pier to go to Koh Samet island. Of course this way is more expensive than public transport but convenient, less noisy, clean and if you go with a lot of people or with your family, the cost per person is not too expensive.

Buy boat/ferry tickets to Koh Samet island (Nadan pier)

By ferry/boat: The ticket price is 100 baht ($3.25)/round trip, wooden boat, traveling time: 45 minutes. You have to wait enough passengers the boat will departs.

By speedboat: The ticket price around 1000 bath ($32.46), speed is very fast and no waiting.

You can see detailed wooden boat, ferry, speedboat schedules also ticket prices to Koh Samet island here: https://kohsametferries.com/

From the Nadan pier to the center of the island

After the boat or ferry dock, you can take a taxi to the hotel, where you have booked. As with many other tourist destinations, taxi prices will be cheaper for Thai people and quite expensive for tourists, sometimes 3-4 times more expensive, so it is best to bargain the first and then get on the car. When you arrive at the park gate, you have to buy tickets to entrance, 40 baht ($1.30)/ticket for Thai people and 200 baht ($6.49)/ticket for foreign tourists. Otherwise, you can take advantage of time to make friend with Thai locals on the boat to the island to this time thanks to this relationship to get the cheaper fare, LOL.

The taxi in Koh Samet island is a green pickup truck that looks very funny, you won’t see it in your hometown.

Koh Samet travel blog: How many days to stay in Koh Samet?

2 days 1 night is the ideal and enough time. Because the night on the island has a lot of interesting activities so I highly recommend you spend at least 1 night to playing here.

However, if you have a lot of time and money, you can stay longer, because Koh Samet is a place to help you relax comfortably, so you should enjoy it slowly.

If you only plan to visit Koh Samet for a day, you don’t have to worry, the boats still take visitors return to Bangkok until evening. Just afraid you are too happy and forget the time.

Koh Samet blog: Where to stay?

Unless you go in the low tourist season, you can set foot on the island and starting find a hotel, or you should still book the hotel in advance for sure (if you don’t want to spend the night on the beach, haha). In addition to tourists, indigenous people often prefer to bring their families and children to Koh Samet island to relax and the hotels often run out of room.

Some places to stay are recommend for you

Sai Kaew: Near the beautiful beach, there are many bars for fun and delicious restaurants. To have more beautiful backgrounds for virtual living, you should choose to stay in the bungalows. The room rates are quite affordable and there is also includes breakfast for guests.

Lima Bella Resort: This hotel is hidden inside a bit and there is no private beach but walking to the beach is not too far away. This hotel is very beautiful, has a small swimming pool and especially rating 5-star for the enthusiastic staff. Highly recommended! A 3-star hotel with room rates from $69/night (Check rates, reviews and book on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Below we recommend more best cheap, budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews from $19/night you can refer to.

Pandora Resort (Address: Unnamed Rd, Thailand, Phe, Mueang Rayong District, Rayong, Thailand / Phone: +66 96 642 0042), a 3-star hotel with room rates from $28/night. (Check rates, reviews and book on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa (Address: Ao Prao, Koh Samet 40/11 Moo 4 Tumbol Phe, Ao Prao, Koh Samet, Thailand, 21160 / Phone: +66 38 644 104), a 4-star hotel with room rates from $204/night. (Check rates, reviews and book on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Ao Prao Resort (Address: Koh Samet 60 Moo 4 Tumbol Phe,, Amphur Muang, Rayong 21160, Thailand / Phone: +66 38 644 100), a 4-star hotel with room rates from $145/night. (Check rates, reviews and book on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Paradee Resort (Address: Koh Samet 76 Moo 4 Tumbol Phe,, Amphur Muang, Rayong 21160, Thailand / Phone: +66 38 644 283), a 5-star hotel with room rates from $507/night. (Check rates, reviews and book on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Vongdeuan Resort (Address: 22, Phe, Mueang, Rayong 21160, Thailand / Phone: +66 91 234 7770), a 5-star hotel with room rates from $67/night. (Check rates, reviews and book on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Summer Day Beach Resort (Address: Ban Pae Pier – Koh Samed, Sai Kaew Beach, Tambon Phe, Amphoe Mueang Rayong, Chang Wat Rayong 21160, Thailand / Phone: +66 86 549 9414), a 4-star hotel with room rates from $129/night. (Check rates, reviews and book on Agoda.com).

Green Bay Samed Resort (Address: 36/11 M.4 T.Phe,, Sai Kaew Beach, Koh Samet, Thailand, 21160 / Phone: +66 38 644 386), a 2-star hotel with room rates from $58/night. (Check rates, reviews and book on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

In addition, you can refer to one of the best Airbnb in Koh Samet: Samed Motage at $38/night or House 33/1. Island House Rentals at $42/night.

–> Airbnb link discount up to $35 for the first booking here: https://www.airbnb.com/c/anht5185

You can find more, check rates, availability & book for Taipei hotels on Agoda.com or Booking.com or Airbnb.com.

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