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Enjoying poolside vibes at Ao Prao Resort on Koh Samet, Thailand
Humble Koh Samet is an island most frequented by locals and resident expats, as it isn’t one of Thailand’s more famous destinations. Yet it offers everything you could want in a tropical paradise – white sand beaches, glassy turquoise seawater, nightlife, and several luxury resorts.
Having lived in Rayong, Thailand for six years, Koh Samet was always my family’s go-to island getaway. It’s convenient to get to as it doesn’t require air travel and is a great option if you have limited time in Thailand or want to stay within a few hours of Bangkok. Even now, when my husband and I go back to visit family in Thailand, we like to carve out a few days on the island.
My go-to place to stay on Koh Samet is Ao Prao Resort, a luxury property owned by Samed Resorts which has several properties dotted across the island’s beaches.
How do I get to Koh Samet?
Samed Resorts has their own pier and sleek, air-conditioned building for guests to wait in, with a cafe/bar and stylish gift shop (where I picked up my lilac cotton coverup with a pretty Indian block print). Their private speed boat rides are the most efficient way to get to the island and because transportation is included in your stay, it makes everything stress-free.
To get to the Samed Resorts Pier, go to the Ekkamai bus station in Bangkok (right off the BTS Skytrain) and buy a ticket to Ban Phe, or rent or hire a private car. Ban Phe is about 2.5 hours from Bangkok. The Samed Resorts pier has ample parking that is monitored by security 24/7 if you need it.
Once you check in at the pier building, you’ll be given a sticker to wear that indicates which speedboat you need to get on, depending on where you’re staying. Staff will call you when it’s time to board. You’ll get on a small shuttle (like a large golf cart) that will take you to the end of the pier. Once you board the speedboat, it’s a quick 15-minute ride to Ao Prao Resort.
How do I spell Koh Samet? Koh Samed?
If you’re curious why you see the island spelled two different ways – even by the same company – it’s because the Thai letter at the end of Samet/Samed has a sound that falls somewhere in between a “t” and a “d.” Both are technically correct and you’ll see both spellings on signs and businesses in Thailand.
“Koh” just means island so if there’s no need to say “Koh Samet island” as that’s redundant!
“Ao” means a bay or inlet of water.
The property and restaurant
Ao Prao instantly feels more exclusive than the bustling, budget-friendly Hat Sai Kaew on the east side of the island. While Hat Sai Kaew has a white sand beach, it’s crowded with budget accommodations and tourists. Meanwhile, Ao Prao’s sand is more tan and gets pebbly as you get closer to the rocks on its north end, but it’s shared by just two other properties. One of these, Le Vimarn Cottages & Spa, is also owned by Samed Resorts. Le Vimarn has always seemed a little bigger and more sprawling than the intimate Ao Prao Resort. It’s also a little pricier – while I haven’t stayed there before, the rooms do look beautiful. One mark in Ao Prao Resort’s favor is that I think their pools both have better views!
The larger of the two pools has a swim-up bar and plenty of lounge chairs and is nested under two levels of bungalows. The smaller pool is in front of the restaurant and has four lounge chairs in front, right above the beach. These are choice seats that I recommend grabbing quickly after breakfast if you want one!
Speaking of breakfast, when it comes around you’ll have almost endless food options at the buffet. The Thai and Japanese breakfast options are especially delicious. The attempt at croissants and other European offerings are less good, so we tend to stick with the Asian options. I recommend ordering Thai food for lunch and their simple grilled seafood for dinner, which is delicious.
The restaurant does have a decent list of wines by the bottle at very reasonable (for foreigners) prices. You will have to ask for the wine list at every meal except dinner. There is also ample shaded and unshaded seating. Stay protected during lunch, but for dinner, go sit right up next to the beach and enjoy the sound of the waves and your food by candlelight.
The rooms
As you walk along the beachside path up to Ao Prao’s open-air lobby, you’ll see its beautiful wood-roofed cottages that dot the hillside sloping gently up from the beach. The simplest rooms are the Classic and Deluxe Hillside one-bedroom accommodations. Each one has a nice outdoor balcony area where you can hang wet beach clothes on a wooden rack to dry, or sit in one of the generous wooden chairs and relax. The Deluxe Cottages are stand-alone rooms that sit closer to the resort amenities and the beach.
There are only a few Beachfront Cottages down along the sand; this is where we stayed when we visited in September. Four of them are decorated in sleek, modern light wood furnishings. The one at the end is furthest from the other rooms, affording the most privacy, and is decorated in a more traditional dark wood Thai style. We were able to peek into a few cottages and pick which one we liked best – highly recommend one of the middle cottages since they don’t get as much foot traffic directly outside.
Inside, the room had a king bed, full bathroom and shower, TV and couch lounge area, big built-in closet, refrigerator and coffee station, and a little porch that looked out onto a few palm trees and the water. It was a wonderful view to wake up to.
Since we stayed at Ao Prao Resort during the rainy season, our Beachfront Cottage was only about $175/night. In the busier seasons it looks like it gets up to $300/night and higher for the same room.
Enjoying coffee and the sunrise in a Lunya washable silk slip dress.
Activities on Koh Samet
There’s plenty to do on the island – talk to the concierge and they can help you book a full or half-day trip diving, snorkeling, or fishing.
I’ve been on a couple all-day fishing and snorkeling trips around the southern tip of the island, and they are heavenly. I’ve seen huge sea urchins that looked like ancient time bombs at the bottom of crystal clear water, swam up to tiny little coves that felt untouched by people, and gone sea-kayaking as a soft, misty tropical rain fell, obscuring the horizon all around and making me feel like I was one of the only people left in the world.
Koh Samet is technically a national park, so there are other activities like hiking, motorbiking around the island, etc. available inland – but why would you want to leave sight of the beach? Other than the day trips described above, I recommend simply pulling up a reclining chair and soaking up the sun (but first, apply that sunscreen!).
Wearing a Marysia bikini on the beach.
All in all, Koh Samet is a wonderful place to retreat away from the world, while knowing you can be back in Bangkok in a jiffy. Follow me on Instagram @theprimpysheep for more destination reviews and style inspiration. If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:
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