Ko Samet or Ko Samed (both correct) was a fantastic find, just three hours from Bangkok, a lot more sedate than (Phuket, Ko Samui or Pattaya) but for my money that's a good thing, still if you want to stay out drinking all night you can (real cheap) but the vice side of the aforementioned places does not seem to be here.
We had no real plan on arrival but had booked two nights at Pudsa Bungalows thinking we would have a romantic authentic island Bungalow experience and left after the first night feeling like we needed a really good wash. ScarletLauren mentions Pudsa in her review as the "next resort which was pretty unattractive". So day two we moved to Samed Villa Resort (spelt with a D) great value at only $60 aud (low season) per night included breakfast for two and free Wi-Fi, in my book it was pure comfort, this resort is one that looks better than the pictures on their web site and that’s because the rooms have been totally rebuilt. (don't confuse this resort with Samet Villa Resort, it may be a nice place but it is not the one I stayed at, also you will not find Semed Villa Resort on the agoda hotel web site. http://www.samedvilla.com/
Our room was a good size featuring a king bed + a single bed all in the one room, small stocked mini bar fridge, chips, cookies, chocolates for purchase, Tea and coffee making facilities, Plasma TV with cable, air conditioning and fan, room safe, wardrobe, bedside tables lamps and so on. Beach towels as well as bath towels each day, en-suite bathroom and most important very good fly screens, it even had a rechargeable tennis racket style bug zapper to get that pesky mosquito, and a torch to help you walk up the beach at night when you try to decide on which restaurant to visit, the room was comfortable and clean, at the front of each villa is a good size veranda with two deck chairs, foot stools, side table and a cloths rack.
Breakfast is adequate, hot and tasty, a mix of American/Asian buffet and is served in the restaurant or you can sit outside overlooking the water. The beach out front is transformed every night from a sea of deck chairs to a romantic restaurant with hundreds of fairy lights, table cloths, background music and great food as is twenty other venues up the beach and the food at everyone I tried was tasty and cheap, menus are large and boast dishes from Asia, Italy, French, Western, Seafood just to name a few.
At Jep’s beachside restaurant a five minute walk away, as a party of four adults we shared, four entrée meals, four main meals, two sides of Asian greens, 4 bottles of beer, 2 cans of soft drink, 2 bottles of 300ml sweet wine and including a tip the whole thing cost $11 aud per person. (this is the norm at most places we ate).
I wish we had found this place when our kids were young, this Ao Phai beach seems to be the main restaurant strip, with fire shows and fire works, every night up and down the beach, some restaurants have small bands at night and the kids love it, making new friends and playing in the sand around the restaurant tables when they get board sitting down, mums and dads just looked so relaxed knowing the kids were having a good time.
This beach also boasts one road full of shops hidden down an ally right off the beach, shops are mainly 7/11, and beach wear, sun screen, kids beach toys, togs, grog, cigarettes, personal hygiene and a chemist, doctor, tour bookings, motor bike and quad bike hire, return boat bookings and so on.
I would recommend this island for a honeymoon, family of all ages, couples but not so much singles although on the Tuesday night of my trip coming home late from dinner at least one nightclub on the beach had a fair crowd of young adults.
We paid for a private speed boat from the mainland that dropped us right on the beach in front of our hotel $60 for 4 people, but the ferry is very cheap and a taxi (ute style with two rows of seats in back will take you to your hotel). We paid the resort to take us back to the mainland in their speed boat. (don't sweat the transport it is easy to plan both sides).
