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My Koh Samui Travel Guide

Updated: • By Bangkok John

Questions? hello@bangkokjohn.com

Bophut Beach at low tide, palms over the sand, longtails on the horizon
Bophut Beach in front of the W. Walk left from the hotel and you're in Fisherman's Village in 15 minutes.

Koh Samui is the most family-friendly of Thailand’s resort islands and the easiest to fall in love with. The runway sticks out into the sea, the swimming is calm year-round, and the resort scene at the top end (Four Seasons, Six Senses) rivals Phuket’s at half the volume. We come back at least once a year.

The short version: stay on the calmer north (Bophut, Choeng Mon, Maenam) on a first trip. Book five to seven nights. Fly in via Bangkok Airways, eat at Fisherman’s Village at least once, do nothing else.

My 2026 Koh Samui Travel Guide

Koh Samui Basics

  • Where to stay in Koh Samui (coming soon)
  • Best time to visit Koh Samui (coming soon)
  • Koh Samui airport guide (coming soon)
  • Getting to Koh Samui from Bangkok (coming soon)

Koh Samui Hotels

  • Best Hotels in Koh Samui
  • Best Family Hotels in Koh Samui (coming soon)
  • Best Pool Villas in Koh Samui (coming soon)
  • Best Hotels in Bophut (coming soon)
  • Best Hotels in Choeng Mon (coming soon)
  • Best Hotels in Chaweng (coming soon)

Koh Samui Activities and Attractions

  • Best Koh Samui beaches (coming soon)
  • Fisherman’s Village guide (coming soon)
  • Koh Samui day trips (Koh Tao, Ang Thong) (coming soon)
  • Koh Samui restaurants (coming soon)
  • Koh Samui with kids (coming soon)

Koh Samui Travel Planning

Frequently asked questions

Which beach should I stay on?

Bophut or Choeng Mon for first-timers. Both are calm, family-friendly, and walking-distance to dinner. Chaweng for nightlife, Maenam for the long quiet stretch, Laem Yai or Taling Ngam for the luxury cul-de-sacs.

When is rainy season?

October through December. Can be serious – November has real multi-day storms. January through April is the prime season; May through September is the underrated value sweet spot.

Fly or ferry?

Fly. Bangkok Airways' Samui flight is the way in. The ferry combo via Surat Thani saves money but eats a day.

Keep reading

  • Best Hotels in Koh Samui – Chaweng for energy, Bophut for calm, Lamai for the in-between – the running list of where I actually book on Thailand's most family-friendly island.
  • Best Hotels in Krabi – Railay's iconic resort, the quiet Tubkaek strip, and the modern beach villas at the high end – where I actually book in Thailand's most scenic province.
  • Best Hotels in Phuket – West coast resorts, skipping Patong, and the family pools at the top of the price ladder – where I actually book on Thailand's biggest island.
  • Where to Stay in Thailand – The neighborhood-by-neighborhood breakdown – where to base yourself in each Thai city and which combinations actually work as one trip.

About Bangkok John

Bangkok John

Bangkok John was started in 2020 when I posted my first hotel review. The site now publishes regularly updated guides to Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Krabi, Hua Hin, and all of Thailand.

I'm a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member and an Emirates Skywards Gold member, so I lean toward Marriott properties when the choice is close. I pay for my own rooms.

Questions? Email me at hello@bangkokjohn.com.