KS has some good beaches - if you like strolling along the beach and swimming. There is no surf on the two beaches i know at Chaweng (them main town) or Boh Phut (my favourite place).

There are several quiet resorts on KS - a few of the better ones are around Boh Phut and then there are a few more expensive places like the Evason and Four Seasons which look great, have loads of facilities but are quite pricy.

I have not been to the Marriot at KS, we have staye several times at the Anantara - a smaller resort at Boh Phut which we like - it is quiet and a 10 min stroll to Fishermans Village where there are a dozen or so restaurants so you dont have to be stuck eating at the resort all the time. They have sun loungers on a smal stretch of beach in fornt of their resort.

Chaweng is a nosier town but there are many resorts on the beach that could be worth investigating.

Do you happen to know if the Marriott on KS is secluded, the only hotel in the area, or on that beach?

I am not a fan of beaches where there are 10 hotels in a row and people are strolling from hotel to hotel. We like to be completely secluded from other hotels.

what about indigo pearl, phuket? its a beautiful resort. unless you are wanting KS.

we are going on thursday.

conde naste rated them number 1 hotel and they are number 1 on tripadvisor.

we will be 45min out of patong.

The Four Seasons on Kohn Samui might suit you - it is more secluded but quite expensive - looks superb though.

I am currently looking at the Kambalya - again not cheap, but a little more secluded. Will let you know if I stay there - plannig on going to KS in Feb.

Hi There,

If you want a lovely beach - the New Star Resort is just around the corner from Chaweng beach - had a look in April, and all of the rooms are lovely, especially the sea villas - and of course, the most expensive bungalow villas on the beach. The pool was lovely, and I doubt if anyone except the resort guests would use the beach. Tennis court - I don't think so, but is worth investigating.

Southern Chaweng beach is fantastic - we stayed at Samui Paradise Chaweng, which is just gorgeous, but it is a small resort with a small pool, but beautiful villa suites directly fronting the beach. But again, no tennis court.

Personally, I would not stay at Bophut (although some of the resorts are lovely) as the beach is not that great.

Phuket v Koh Samui - have been to Phuket 5 times & Koh Samui twice - and WILL DEFINITELY GO TO KOH SAMUI AGAIN!

Have fun deciding.

Cheers,

Sandy

Hi

We were in Phuket in Oct as well and stayed at Mom Tri Villa Royale on Kata Noi Beach. This beach is just lovely. We had great swimming conditions, was able to snorkel around the rocks on the headland, plenty of beach loungers, and no hawkers to bother you.

So maybe try another beach area in Phuket?

The other issue is that May is the beginning of the green season in Phuket, and the sea can get a bit churned up making if unsafe to swim. Maybe the season is more favourable in Koh Samui then?

I have not been to KS but have been doing some research on it. Sth Chaweng area & Chaweng Noi Beach appears to have the best swimming conditions so we are looking there as an alternative to Phuket.

Cheers

Pete

We went to Koh Samui two years ago and stayed at the Imperial Samui. It was beautiful. It was outside of chaweng so not in the middle of the all the night life but easily accessible if you want it. There were three beautiful beach restaurants which we visited just a little walk down on the beach from the Imperial and the food was to die for and dirt cheap. We are going to Phuket this April and having never been there before are hoping we enjoy it as much as Koh Samui.

Hi do what we are doing in July, 1 week in patong (which we have been to twice before) and then we are doing a week in Koh Samui, horses for courses some say Phuket some Say Koh samui, opinions are like bums everyone has one, I tend to do it for myself then Im sure im not making a decision on someone elses taste

Enjoy! thats the main thing

Hi Sandy,

We're thinking of staying at the New Star Resort later this year, its a bit pricey but you get what you pay for (I hope) Can you tell me how long it takes to walk up the beach to everything? I know its located at Chaweng Noi from memory the beach here is actually better than most of Chaweng Beach?

Thanks

Coffs

Hi Coffs,

Did you end up going to Ho Chi Minh?

Anyway, the walk from Samui Paradise Chaweng is about 15 minutes at a leisurely pace - it is a very big resort, but the beach looked lovely & also the pool. It does take a few minutes to finally reach reception - you need to walk down a pathway for a while before you reach it. One of the staff took me around in a buggy (like on Hamilton Island) and showed me some of the rooms. But only the seaview rooms & beach bungalows were close to the pool/beach.

You would definitely need a scooter or songtiew to get into the main part of Chaweng.

Hope this helps,

Sandy (less than 3 months till we leave for our big VN trip)