Pattaya and Rayong Accommodation.

Koh Samet is a Natinal Park so all bungalows must be behind the tree line however the 'tree line' gets closer to the beach the further south you go, where you may get one virtually on the beach. To avoid the mosquitoes on the island make sure your bungalow is completely sealed or has a mosquito net. The mosquitoes get worse, the further you go from the beach. Getting a room with out a bathroom is good for keeping them away as it removes one source of still water from near your bed.

The accommodation on the island is not the cheapest around as it caters more to the Thai, Korean and Taiwanese tour groups or Western tourists with a few more baht to spend.

The following list of accommodation is categoried into respective beaches starting from the east coast. In the more popular beaches it is never more than a five minute walk to the closest exchange, overseas calls and travel facilities.

HAT SAI KAEW

Literally translated as 'white sand' beach, this is the longest and most beautiful of the island's beaches and as a result is the busiest. Reasonablyexpensive bungalow orperatins line up beside each other next to the karaoke bars, restaurants and shops and the beach itself is cover in deck chairs and inner tubes with jet skis and banana boats whizzing by. The Thais, Korean and Taiwanese flock to the beach with their mactching coloured towels by the boatload for day trips an weekends, but fortunately they do not often stray from this beach. Not many travellers stay on this beach.

Diamond Beach Resort is the quietest with the best location at the northern end of the beach. With daily BBQ's and videos this is often where the 'action' is. Rooms are a bargain in low season at Bt100 to Bt150 but jump to Bt700 plus in the high season.

Coconut Hut  has rooms with two beds and bath for Bt150 low season and Bt350 in the high season.

Sinsamuk Bungalow has basic rooms with bathroom for Bt100 (Bt120 in the high season) They have a pool table.

Sai Kaew Villa, has huts with fan for Bt200 and with A/C for Bt500 in the low season. In high season the prices jump at least 100%.

Ploy Talay has huts with fan for Bt200 and Bt500 for A/C. The high season prices are not too much more.

Whith Sand Bungalows, has huts costed Bt150 at the back and Bt200 to Bt300 up fron. In high season the prices rise to Bt200 and 400 to Bt500 respectively.

AOW HIN KHOK

Separted from Haad Sia Kaew by a small rocky outcrop, adorned by a faded mermaid and prince statue, this beach retains the beauty of its northern neighbour, but on a smaller scale. Hin Khok is slightly less busy, but get a lot of noisy jet skins cruising its shores. The statues are representations of a famous Thai epic, "Phra Aphai Mani", written by Sunthorn Phu (1786 to 1856) where a mermaid saved a prince from an underwater prison taking him to Ko Samet to live and be merry together. The prince killed the pursuing giant with his magic flute.

Naga Bungalow has been around for a while and the huts are showing their age. Small thatched very run down bungalows cost Bt80, whilst slightly better ones are Bt100. Naga is the official GPO and also does a good impression of a bakery, selling baguesttes and other yummy tasties such as chocolate fudge. The restaurant (complete with ping pong table) sells pizza.

Tok's Little Hut has quite nice bungalows but they are fairly close together. The cheapest are at the back and for Bt150 are roomy, clean and have Western toilets. The Bt200 rooms are larger, have a fan and tiled floor and are closer to the beach. The restaurant here pulls in a dedicated crowd of video addicts on a nightly basis and also has chairs set up on the beach for a more crowd of video addicts on a nightly basis and also has chairs set up on the beach for a more pleasant eating atmosphere.

Jep's Bungalow is at the end of the small beach with huts for Bt200. The food here is exceptionally good and worth checking out. They set up chairs on the beach but also have a restaurant on the other side of the road where they play a great selection of music instead of videos. At the end of the beach is a ramshackle construction where a woman named Chawalee lives with her dogs and extended family. She refuses to change her lifestyle as she has been living here for as long as anyone can remember, despite the fact that the land would be worth millions of baht.

AOW PHAI

This beach is quite small, a pleasant size in the low season where you can go for a swim and find a patch of sand to dry off on, however in the high season gets quite crowded.

Aow Phai Hut is just before the small hill, but before the beach. This with thai bathroom costs Bt10 (Bt200 in high season) and more pricey bungalows have A/C. Electricity is from 5.00 pm to 7.00 am and there is water available 24 hours. The bungalows are set quite a way back from the beach, but are well spaed and shaded under native trees.

Seabreeze Bungalows The road travels up the side and behind Seabreeze Bungalows giving it clear access to the beachm, but the squashed bungalows in a treeless compound get a bit of noise. Small bungalows gof for Bt150 and ones with two beds go for Bt170. The restaurant here plays a particularly good selection of films, try requesting one.

Silversand is at the end of the beach with bungalows for Bt150 /Bt170 for singles / doubles and Bt300 to Bt350 for A/C. The bungalows are close together not allowing for much tree cover and the cheapest rooms are badly located.

Samed Villa, is at the rocky end of the beach. Bungalows are Bt200/ Bt250 for singles/ doubles (more in the high season) and are very clean with real beds. The grounds are landscaped and well kept, providing a peaceful atmosphere.

AOW PHUTSA (AOW THAP THIM)

Also known as Aow Thap Thim, this beach can be reached via either a turn-off from the main road or a small path that follows the coastline from Aow Phai, The beach is quite small but nevertheless nice, however the deck chair plague is beginning to make its presence felt here.

Pudsa Bungalow is the first on the beach. Somebungalows are quite close to the beach and generally well spread. Small bungalows with Thai bahtroom come with mattres and not much more room for Bt150. Slightly larger rooms go for Bt200.

Rimtalay Express operates from here, catering for all your travel requirements.

Tub Tim Bungalow, the other end of the beach is a large operation with well spaced bungalows. Small huts are fully screened with raised bed and cost Bt200. More stable wooden and concrete structures go for Bt400 and Bt500. The best location on the far right of the hill costs Bt1,500 and sleeps 10 people. The beach bar here pumps out great hits such as "My Sharona"  

AOW NUAN

This tiny bay is one of the most secluded and romantic on the whole island accesible by a 10 minute walk from Aow phutsa via the coastal route. The huts are easy to miss, but look for the roofs of the bungalows behind the trees. There is one bungalow operation here, Aow Nuan Bangalows that has large, open, oriental style bungalows going for Bt200 and more. The bay retains its ambience at night with the lack of electricity, relying on lamps to the see your way around. A small atmospheric restaurant amidst a landscape of native plants arouses your taste buds.

AOW  CHO

This beach is close by, but is open and dirty with few trees around the bungalows. There is a pier here with a boat leaving at 09.00, 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00.

Wonderland Resort has pretty old and dreary rooms, some with four rooms connected to each other. They cost Bt150 for the front and Bt100 out back, but the prices here are negotiable.

Tarn Tawan has large bungalows for Bt200.

AOW WONG DUAN

This is the second largest on th island after Haad Sai Kaew and is just as busy but lacks the beauty. The beach is lined with bars and restaurant and small shops all flasing their lights trying to entice you into their den. The only vaguely atmospheric place is Nice and Easy Restaurant in the middle of the beach, which plays decent music for lamp lit tables on the beach. Most of the accommodation here is fairly upmarket. In high season ferries depart from here at 08.30, 12.0, 14.00 and 16.0 for Bt30.

Samet Cabana Bungalow provides ugly constructions with two small rooms and one shared bath for Bt150 per room. Large bungalows with dirty bathrooms cost Bt200, more in the high season.

Malibu Garden Resort the accommodation here is excessively expensive, but they do have a mini-mart.

Seahorse Bungalows At the cheper end of the scale, the small bungalows cost Bt100 with decent bathrooms, but they are fairly exposed and do cost more in the high season.

Wong Duan Resort have bungalows priced in the Bt600 to Bt1,200 range, but offer a 50% discount in the low season.

Wong Duan Villa is next door and is also very expensive.

AOW THIAN (CANDLELIGHT BEACH)

On the coastal path you will be welcomed by a large wooden "Candlelight Beach" sign just over the hill, which is the name by which it is  mostly referred to. The beach is long but narrow and broken up by rocky sections with deck chairs at the northern end and a rustic setting for beach lined bungalows at the southern end.

Candlelight Beach Bungalows Large bungalows setting upon the hill overlooking the bay your homely little bungalow may well blow over.

Bungalows The next place on this beach has bungalows virtually on the beach. Very basic huts with shared bath are Bt150, whilst cute dog box like huts are Bt100. The beds here are thin mattresses on the floor, but someof the huts have quite a bit of charater.

Lung Dum Hut These somtimes unstable bungalows at the far end of the beach cost Bt100 and Bt150 with bath, and there is one small tree house available with a bird's eye view of the beach.

AOW WAI

This is a serene bay, sealed at both ends by tree covered headlands and calm blue green water. It is a fair walk down from Candlelight Beach and has one expensive resort,

Samet Villa, which dominated the bay. Rooms with two bed go for Bt600 in the low season (when it is virtually empty) and slightly more in the high season (when it is still virtually empty). Even if you do not plan on staying here, it is still worth a visit. In the high season, it is possible to reach the beach by ferry.

AOW KIU

A further 20 minutes walk over teh rocks or via the road is Aow Kiu, a long stretch of  unblemished sand backed by coconut trees. Very few people come here, even in the high season.

Ao Rin Coral Beach, can supply you with a large and sturdy room with real beds, fan and Thai bathroom for Bt500. They also have a couple of run down thatched huts around the place.

AOW KIU NANAI

About 100 m walk from Aow kiu, this offers fine sunset views and the best snorkelling on the island (about 50 m left and out to the ocean).

AOW KARANG

This is the rocky point at the far end of the island visible from Aow Kiu. There is one decrepit bungalow operation, Bungalow Ao Pakarang, which may blow right away in the next storm.

NORTHEAST COAST

AOW YON

Just over the hill bihind Haad Sai Kaew are a couple of average places to stay, set back from a beachless coastline.

Banana Bungalow, is the closest to Haad Sai Kaew with small bungalows with double bed, fan and Thai bath for Bt150.

Pineapple Beach Bungalow has two bed bungalows with fan, bath and large balcony for Bt300. Electricity is available from 6.00 pm to 6.00 am.

AOW WIANG WAN

Located to the west of Na Dan pier is a large bay where the locals have spread themselves out along the water's edge. The first lot of houses are set on stilts offshore where they breed large turtles and moor their fishing boats. Tours around the island often stop here for a look. There are a few bungalow operations along this stretch of coastline, but many have the look of failed ventures about them. At the far end of the bay between the piers is a sandy section of the beach. These resorts may only be open at the peak of the high season to capture the overflow of people from the nicer eastern coast resorts.

Samed Inn is positioned upon a hill and has very rustic, small and basic huts with shared baht for Bt150.

Samed Resort is nearby, but was closed at the time of reseach. Prices would be around Bt400.

Samed Cliff The dirt road suddenly becomes paved and long grass turns into manicured lawns. This is an expensive resort with orderly bungalows lined up by each other, each with their own private garden, but the Bt1,500 for a room makes it a bit hard on the pocket.

Samed Hut Small quaint bungalows line up facing each other in a V shape, each one has a bath and costs Bt300 plus.

WEST COAST

AOW PHRAO

The road for Aow Phrao turns off behind Aow Phutsa, leading west to the only beach with accommodation and sunset view. The beach, Haad Sawahn, is fairly long and, due to the limited accommodation, it is always possible to find a quiet spot to relax or meditate, even in the high season Aow Phrao is also accessible by ferry.

Haad Sawahn Beach Bungalows A Swiss guy provides spacious wooden bungalows with mosquito nets, mattress on the floor and bathrooms for Bt150 in the low season, Bt450 in the high season. This is a pretty relaxed place with good music and a barge in the water from where you can catch the sunset. David from Holland is a PADI instructor who runs a diving school from the bungalows, but only does the open water curse for Bt8,500 (without manual) over a leisurely five days and takes out both day and night dives.

Dome Bungalows, have concrete and wooden bungalows connected to each other, located on the hill. they come with proper beds, smalls bathroom and large balcony for Bt200 low season, Bt400 high season.

Aow Phrao Resort this is an upmarket resort with the cheapest rooms starting at Bt1,400. They hire excellent mountain bikes for Bt100 per hour and restaurant makes good cappuccinos served by immaculate dressed waiters.

Ko Samet Village

The village at the nort of the island spreads itself along the concrete road between Na Dan Pier and the National Park entrance. The street is lined with noodle shops, restaurants, gorcery stores, pubs and karaoke bars, some which are open 24 hours catering to the increasing tourist trade. The highlight of the town is the bakery where you can pick up large and small oaves of multigrain bread and chocolate treats. The art and tattoo shop sells original batik paintings and woodwork. Ask for Gai, the artist, and enjoy a chat over a coffee. Take any spare cloth badges or patches you may have for his jacket.