Choosing a hostel or hotel online in a vacation spot can be overwhelming because of the plethora of choices, especially when you want to find the perfect place. We did find a hostel online and were relatively happy with it, but wished we hadn’t because our friend didn’t book one and found an amazing beach bungalow for half the price of ours.
Here on the main areas going clockwise: Nathon, Maenam, Bophut, Choengmon, Chaewang, Lamai, and Thong Krut.
Nathon is where you arrive by ferry; I don’t recommend staying here because if you come to Koh Samui, you are probably looking for picturesque beaches and relaxation. You won’t find it in Nathon.
Maenam, the north and quiet side of the island, also my personal favorite. No night life, not as much selection in restaurants, but I was satisfied having stayed there. Again, I was really happy staying at Maenam because it was so secluded I felt like I had paradise all to myself and because of the smaller selections of restaurants, we made friends with the owners.
Bophut is a more popular, but still quaint fisherman’s village very near the main attractions, Big Buddha and Wat Phra Laem. This place is good if you want something that isn’t too quiet like Maenam, but not as over crowdered as the Chaewang or Lamai.
Choengmon at the northeast tip of the island has more secluded beaches because they are hard to find access since the area is dominated by fancy villas that block access to the beach.
Chaewang on the east side is known for the best nightlife and the best beach in Koh Samui. There is a noticeable difference in sand quality, but I found it to be way overcrowded. Lots and lots of restaurants, bars, hotels, hostels, shops, and anything else you could wish for. Very walkable.
Lamai is very similar to Chaewang, but slightly less popular as it is the 2nd best beach in Koh Samui. It will be hard to find a beach bungalow in these popular areas because the best beach access is dominated by fancy hotels.
Thong Krut on the south side of the island is much more sleepy, has beautiful beaches, but they are not good for swimming because the water is extremely shallow.
I recommend that if you have the time and patience and want a cheap price to simply arrive at the area you want to stay, walk around and ask if they have rooms and what their price is. When you book online, you are paying the extra cost of them having someone who knows how to make/use/manage a website.