The best night markets in Samui offer a huge selection of shopping and dining opportunities, with the added advantage that you can shop for longer in the cool evening air than you could during the heat of the day. Plus, you also don’t need to sacrifice a potential beach day in order to pick up some great discounts on clothing, electrical goods, souvenirs, and much more besides.
The weekly Walking Streets around the island feature prominently among this list of the best Samui night markets, particularly since their popularity among visiting tourists has seen them grow into size to the point that they now take over entire towns for one night every week! Even with this popularity, prices are still generally very low and can usually be bartered a bit lower, if you take a friendly and cheerful approach to it. Be sure to check out as many of the following markets as you can while you’re on Koh Samui in order to enjoy great local eats and unbeatable bargains.
Fisherman’s Village Walking Street
Fisherman’s Village Walking Street brings the quiet, sleepy town of Bophut to life every Friday from 17:00 to 23:00. It sees the narrow Beach Road and adjoining streets crammed with market stalls and shoppers from across Koh Samui, with a diverse range of wares available at very low prices. Many of the stalls sell much the same items as you will find in markets throughout Thailand, including 100-baht T-shirts, simple jewellery, handbags, sunglasses, beer cosies, souvenirs, watches of questionable mechanical soundness, branded clothes of dubious manufacture and electrical goods of suspicious provenance. As with all market shopping in Thailand, a certain amount of judgement and measured expectations is necessary when selecting your purchases. Read More…
Opening Hours: Fridays from 5pm to 11pm
Location: Bophut Beach Road, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84320, Thailand
Elephant Walk Koh Samui is a small night market which opens every night in Fisherman’s Village. Located just a short walk (across the road) from the Happy Elephant Restaurant, it is a fun and quirky shopping experience in Bophut and a good place to find some interesting souvenirs. The titular walk is not a particularly long one as this little shopping precinct stretches only about 30 metres back from Bophut Beach Road. Most of that space is a gravelled central courtyard with cute elephant statues painted as comic book characters, as well as seating for dining and relaxing and small tables made from empty oil drums painted with national flags. Read More…
Chaweng Night Market, despite its name, is not exactly a full and proper market. While there is a fantastic array of dining options, there is very little else, with only a couple of stalls selling clothes and souvenirs. Established behind the large and popular fitness centre Star Gym, the market is effectively a large food court, with a choice of local Thai food as well as European and international choices and even a couple of small bars. Read More…
In the centre of town, diagonally opposite McDonald’s and leading to a bar beer square, you’ll find a mini-version of Bangkok’s Patpong night market. With lots of pirated goods, copied clothes, trashy ‘Swiss’ army knives, the usual displays of flip flops. It’s a fun place to get your shopping in. Read More…
Opening Hours: Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5pm to 10pm (closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays)
Location: Lamai Centre, 139/24 Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84310, Thailand
Tel: +66 (0)84 695 3502
Chaweng Walking Street
It’s hard to imagine shoppers in the West sipping on cocktails while out shopping but at Chaweng Walking Street Market you can do just that, and for very little money, too. Chaweng Walking Street is a riot of colours, sounds and scents. This is where you can haggle for items such as T-shirts, sunglasses, knockoff watches, beach dresses, lamps, sexy cutoff jeans; copied Ralph Laurent polo shirts, flip-flops, bags of all shapes and sizes, carved wooden souvenirs, kids clothing and cosmetics. Read More…
Opening Hours: Monday–Thursday and Saturdays from about 4.30pm to 12am. Closed on Fridays and Sundays.
https://samuiexpats.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-3.jpg451678Lana Lee-Schneiderhttps://samuiexpats.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/koh-samui-expats.pngLana Lee-Schneider2020-05-05 12:24:052020-05-05 12:24:085 Amazing Night Markets To Visit In Koh Samui
Here you will find comprehensive advice on how to make the transition to living on Samui a little easier. Many people visit Samui on holiday, only to fall in love with the island, and on the plane ride home, they start dreaming of ways to make moving to the island a reality. Of course, holidaying in a place and relocating to live there are completely different, and there are practicalities to consider. If you’re considering the big move, here we offer a little advice to make the transition to living in paradise a little easier.
Settling into a new country – Culture shock
Moving to a new country, as exciting as it is, can also be unsettling. If you’re moving from one country to another within Europe for example, the transition won’t be so difficult as cultures are similar. But moving to the East from a Western culture takes quite an adjustment. Things don’t work the same way, and the way you react to a situation in the West, may not be appreciated here. It’s advisable to get a good book on Thai culture before moving, to familiarize yourself with the local customs and culture. After all, nobody would want to unintentionally offend their new neighbours.
Most Thais are Buddhists, and a philosophy of Buddhism is tolerance. This means that no one would tell you if you were doing something offensive, and you could blissfully carry on certain actions for years, not realizing you were offending your new Thai friends. An example of this is topless sunbathing. Although this is widely accepted in Europe, it’s frowned upon in Thailand.
When coming to terms with a new culture, don’t forget that should you be relocating with children, they also need to be made aware of local customs. Children are creatures of habit and may feel completely overwhelmed by their new environment. Be sensitive to their feelings and help them to not only make new friends, but stay in touch with old ones too.
Where to live on Samui
So you’ve been to Samui many times, and perhaps you love the buzz of Chaweng or perhaps you prefer the serenity of Taling Ngam. But you need to ask yourself this question, “Is what I want when on holiday, the same as what I want from my home?” As great as Chaweng is for a night on the town, would you want to stay amid the mayhem? As beautiful and quiet as Taling Ngam is, do you want to drive 45 minutes to school and back each day? These are things that one needs to take into account. A retired person has perhaps more choices than someone wanting to run a business or with school-going children, as then quick access to the business areas and schools needs to be considered.
You’ll find that most expats live in areas close to, but not in the main tourist drags. Living on Samui where tourism is the biggest industry, most expats are involved in the tourism business somehow, so it’s not a case of being close to the touristy spots, but rather close to work. Also, those with children will need to be near to the school that their children attend, and of course, daily chores such as grocery shopping need to be considered too.
On Samui, the biggest working expat communities are in the areas of Bang Rak, Plai Laem, Choeng Mon, Bophut, Mae Nam and the outer areas of Chaweng. Retirees often choose the less developed, and sometimes cheaper areas of Lipa Noi, Bang Po, Laem Set and Taling Ngam. Wherever you choose, it’s perhaps advisable to rent a property in the area before committing to buying one, to make sure that the area is right for the needs of you and your family.
Should you learn to speak Thai? If so where?
With Samui being a tourist hotspot, you can get away without learning Thai, as most locals have some level of English. But if you really want to feel as though you belong, learning at least basic Thai is advisable, and will impress your new Thai friends – as well as those back home! Learning a new language is hard enough at the best of times and Thai is so different from English and the European languages that originate from Latin, that for a Farang (Westerner) learning Thai can seem a little overwhelming. The best way to learn Thai is to practice it and use it whenever possible by chatting to new Thai friends and ordering in restaurants – you’ll know when the food arrives if you got it right. But, as the structure of Thai is so different to English, a beginners’ course from a reputable language school is also advised in order to understand how the grammar differs as well as master pronunciation.
There are sounds in the Thai language that don’t exist in English, such as words starting with the ‘ng’ sound. Thai is also a tonal language, meaning that the same word said in different tones could have a completely different meaning. For instance: Sowai said with a rising tone means ‘beautiful; say it with a low tone, and it means unlucky. Ma has several different meanings including dog, horse and come. There are five tones in Thai to get your head (and tongue) around: low, mid, high, rising and falling.
Some language schools offer education visas, which allow its students to stay in the country for a year at a time without having to do border runs. Be sure to pick a reputable school that is registered with the Thai Ministry of Education, and be sure to attend class. One school that has been on the island for several years and has a good reputation is Mind Your Language, located in the Old Monkey Theatre Road, between Big C and Macro. Now to hit those books…
Samui has a good choice of private and international schools, and The Samui Directory has a comprehensive listing of these. A few in particular to mention include: Samui Tiny Steps Nursery & Preschool in Bophut, ISS – The International School of Samui, located near Bandon Hospital, Samui Centre of Learning, located in Lamai. Panyadee School in Chaweng Noi and Oonrak School in Mae Nam.
There’s plenty for little ones to do after school aside from going to the beach, and on this site you’ll find tried and tested suggestions on sites and activities, many of which are family friendly.
Samui is, generally speaking, a very safe place to live. There’s little violent crime, and what there is, tends to be aimed at those delving into shady business or involved in love triangles. Of course, as with anywhere in the world, some petty crime does exist, but it’s rare due to the fact that locals are Buddhist so believe in karma. Most police, and particularly the tourist police, do speak good English, as do most lawyers’ offices.
If you intend staying in Thailand for an extended period of time, then you’ll need more than a tourist visa. Your options include the following:
B1 (business visa)– which is the only visa on which a person can legally work. Aside from the visa, you’ll also need a work permit – they are not one and the same. There’s a fair amount of paperwork involved in getting a B1 visa, but your company (if you’re employed) or your accountant and lawyer (if you’re setting up your own company) will assist you in compiling all the necessary documentation. If you’re already in Thailand, you’ll need to do a visa run to a Thai consulate in a neighbouring country to get your visa.
Non immigrant O visa – this comes in several forms: Retirement visa, dependent visa, marriage visa or education visa. Learning to speak Thai at a reputable and recognized language school is one way to stay in Thailand on an education visa. The school will assist in preparing the necessary paperwork.
If your spouse or adult children work in Thailand, it’s possible to stay on a dependent visa, linked to their B1 visa. Again the lawyer and accountant will need to prepare the paperwork. Marriage visas are for those married to a Thai national, and there are conditions which apply. Lastly, for a retirement visa, you’ll need to show a certain amount of money in your bank account, or prove that you receive a monthly income such as a pension. Most lawyers and accountants on Samui are visa experts and will assist with preparing any paperwork required. As laws are constantly changing, it’s best to keep up to date by reading the visa requirements on the Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa page: www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123
Daily Shopping
Samui is no longer a small island in the sense of development, and several supermarket chains are represented on the island. You’ll find a few branches of Tesco Lotus and well as numerous Tesco Expresses, a Big C supermarket and Tops. The Makro store supplies the restaurants and resorts with their fresh and dry goods, but the public is also welcome to shop there. The supermarkets carry a wide selection of imported goods and there are several specialty shops stocking imported wines, cheeses, meats and other goods. Of course, if you’re keen to shop like a local, then do try out the fresh markets too, where fruit, vegetables comes in fresh daily.
Making new friends on Samui
Although you’re likely to miss your family and friends back home, you’ll be surprised just how many visit once they find out that your new home is on a tropical island! With today’s social media, it’s also much easier to stay in touch compared to the days of snail-mail. But of course you’ll want to make local friends too, and it’s not as difficult as you’d expect. Samui locals are a friendly bunch, and the expats are like-minded, all having moved here bringing their sense of adventure.
A great way to meet and make new friends is through local Facebook groups. Check out Samui Expats on Facebook to join a group of like-minded people and stay in the know about upcoming events and meetups.
The ‘Sisters on Samui – SOS’ holds monthly luncheons for ladies of Samui to gather over a chinwag. Each month it’s hosted at a different restaurant or resort, and money raised goes to a local charity. There are more informal weekly coffee dates too. You can find out more about these social events on www.facebook.com/Sisters-On-Samui-370606379666109/
Another way to get involved in local charities while meeting new people is to join the Samui Rotary Club. They meet the first and third Wednesday of every month at Buddy Beach Resort & Spa, from 6:00-7:00pm, and also gather for a monthly dinner. To find out how to join, visit www.rotarysamui.org
Of course, a good way to meet friends with the same interest is to join a gym or yoga studio or take up a sport. Samui has several gyms, sports arenas and yoga studios. There’s even a tennis club, badminton club and football arena too. If you relocate with children, they’ll need to make new friends too, so organize play dates with other children from their school and invite the parents along so you get to meet others.
Transport: Buying or renting a car & getting a driver’s license
Cars can be rented on a monthly basis, and the price will depend on the type of vehicle. Scooters are an affordable option, but not advisable if you are not proficient at riding one, or if you need a family vehicle. A scooter rented by the month will cost around 3,000 baht per month. Foreigners may purchase a car cash, but if you intend paying one off, you will need a Thai person to stand as surety. Cars that are produced in Thailand are considerably cheaper than those that aren’t. And generally speaking, it’s not advisable to import your car from back home, as the duties on cars are 200%, so it would pay to sell your car back home and buy a new one with those funds here. You can drive in Thailand on your driver’s license from back home, but there are advantages to getting a Thai driver’s license, such as cheaper car insurance.
To get a driver’s license on Samui, go to the Department of Transport in Nathon. Head towards Nathon from Lamai, turn left at the Raja ferry sign, continue straight down towards the sea, and the road veers to left. Go past some hotels on your right, and the Transport Department is located on your left, well back from the road. You’ll need copies of passport and visa (must be Non-O or Non-B), medical certificate, a letter from immigration with your permanent address, or copy of WP pages 1-6 and the page with last stamp. You’ll also need to bring in either an international driver’s license or your driver’s license from your home country — if you do not have this then you will need to take the tests. You will need to be there at 09:00 am for a color-blind test, reaction test and split vision test, you’ll need to bring your car, as they don’t have any to lend out. The same applies for the motorcycle license.
Health Care: Health insurance, dentists, opticians, pharmacies
Now while you may arrive on Samui with travel insurance, this is usually for a limited time, so you’ll need to consider an international medical aid that will cover you outside of the country where your passport has been issued. There are several companies that offer this, including the well-known BUPA, and there are several packages available. Samui has several private hospitals of international standard, as well as the government hospital in Nathon. They are well-equipped and staffed to deal with illness as well as trauma, and some are even renowned for their plastic surgeons should you feel the need for a makeover to go with your new life on Samui.
The Bandon International Hospital offers excellent facilities and service via its modern and well-equipped medical facility in Bophut. The hospital has both a surgery and a trauma centre and even has an international clinic on the neighbouring island of Koh Phangan. You’ll find Bandon near Big C Shopping Centre.
The Bangkok Hospital Samui offers a wide range of services and the staff and doctors have a high level of English. The standards at this hospital rival the best Western hospitals. A discount is offered to expat residents. Bangkok Hospital is located on the ring-road in Chaweng, shortly before Chaweng Noi.
Samui International Hospital is one of the island’s newest hospitals and offers a wide range of services including cosmetic and dental procedures for both inpatients and outpatients. The hospital is even equipped with its own swimming pool for convalescent patients, and staff can speak a number of languages including English, French and German to a high standard. The hospital is located at the northern end of Chaweng Beach Road.
Samui International Hospital www.sih.co.th +66 (0) 7723 0781/2
Thai International Hospital offers a wide range of services including a 24-hour accident and emergency centre and its own resident plastic surgeon. The hospital is located in opposite Tesco Lotus, Chaweng.
Samui Government Hospital is located on the outskirts of Nathon, Samui’s Government Hospital will probably be a last resort for foreign tourists who will normally choose one of the island’s private hospitals. The government hospital is reasonably well equipped but not to the same extent as other hospitals on the island, and the level of English is generally lower. It is of course cheaper than the private hospitals. Turn down the road by immigration, when exiting Nathon travelling anti-clockwise.
Samui Government Hospital +66 (0) 7742 1230
You won’t need to drive more than a few hundred metres in the island’s busier areas to come across a pharmacy, and most are open well into the night, and some even 24 hours a day. Medication is well-priced, most pharmacists speak good English, and can dispense antibiotics without a doctors prescription.
There is also an abundance of both dentists and optometrists in the shopping areas, and prices are considerably cheaper than what you’d pay in Western countries.
If you’re thinking of bringing your beloved dog or cat over with you, this can be done and all info required can be found at the Department of Livestock Development’s website www.dld.go.th/webenglish/movec1.html Once here, Samui has several good veterinarians to take care of them.
It’s advisable to first rent a house for at least six months to find out if you are happy with your chosen area before committing to buying a property. This will also give you the opportunity to explore the island and discover other areas that may be better as long term options, and to put the word out that you are looking for a good deal. Often when people buy right after arriving, they aren’t aware of market-related prices.
There are certain restrictions regarding foreigners buying land in Thailand, and your lawyer will be able to advise on this. Condominiums can be owned outright, but land cannot, and the company that is buying the property will need to have a Thai partner.
Rental properties range from 10,000 baht per month for a small bungalow, suitable only for a single or a couple. An average three-bedroom house in the suburbs, fully furnished, will cost between 30,000 and 60,000 baht per month excluding utilities, and of course luxury properties will go up from there.
Lawyers, accountants and banking
There are several good legal and accounting offices on the island, and most offer both services from one office. Often, a western lawyer or accountant has teamed with a local one, meaning you get the best of both, with a partner understanding the local rules and regulations, and the other being sensitive to the questions a westerner would have. It would be best to work on a personal recommendation when finding your lawyer and accountant, as this is the person that will help you with much of the red-tape needed to settle on Samui – from visas to starting a company and applying for a work permit. Alternatively, the Samui Directory has a comprehensive list of legal and accounting firms listed. www.siamdir.com/business_service/accounting_legal_assistance
To open a bank account, you’d need to show that you are on a long-stay visa, either a B1 or non-immigrant O (dependent, retirement or education). Banking fees are quite low compared to other countries, and generally speaking, at least one staff member will speak good English. Other than at the branches, there are ATMs throughout the island. To draw cash from a foreign card endures a fee of 150 baht, so the sooner you can use a local account, the better. Withdrawing from your own local bank is free, and from another ATM, usually around 10 baht. The Samui Directory has a list of banks www.siamdir.com/business_service/banks
Working, starting a business & work permit
If you’ve come over with a pre-arranged job offer, then your company will assist in the paperwork to get your B1 visa as well as the work permit. Most jobs for foreigners tend to be in the tourism industry, and many people set up their own businesses. Your lawyer will be able to advise you on setting up your own company, including the costs and legalities. Generally speaking, to set up a new company that can have one work permit, will cost you around 50-60,000 baht to set up, and a further 20,000 for the initial work permit. Fees go up for companies that require more than one foreigner work permit.
If you have a little capital, it may be best to come over for at least six months, experience the island and do thorough research before throwing your hard-earned savings into a business. Many people have been burnt this way, thinking they ‘know just what the island needs’, based on a few holiday visits. Speak to other locals and expats, check to see if it’s been done before. Find out about any hidden setup costs, and do a proper market research.
Have you goy experience living on Koh Samui? Or maybe you have unanswered questions about moving and living here? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
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If you are planning a Thailand family holiday to Koh Samui with kids, here is a selection of the best family resorts in Koh Samui. Enjoy!
Many families choose one of the gorgeous Koh Samui family resorts when planning their family holidays to Thailand. And no wonder! Koh Samui off the east coast of Thailand has so much to offer for a holiday in Thailand with kids.
Koh Samui is much quieter and more laid back than other famous Thai island destination Phuket.
The beautiful tropical island boasts stunning white sandy beaches with calm, shallow water, a good selection of excellent restaurants and some of the best family resorts in Thailand.
What is the best area to stay in Koh Samui?
The best place to stay in Koh Samui depends on what you are looking for in your Thailand family vacation.
We love Bophut beach as it is a relatively quiet Koh Samui beach, with calm shallow water and the Fisherman’s Village here has a good range of restaurants and bars to choose from.
It is a great option for a relaxed holiday in Koh Samui with kids, although the sand here is coarse and not as soft as some other beaches in Koh Samui.
If you prefer your holiday with a bit more action and nightlife, then you should choose to stay closer to Chaweng Beach, the biggest and most lively area in Koh Samui. Here you will enjoy a huge selection of restaurants, bars and shops as well as some of the best Koh Samui child friendly resorts.
Just south of Chaweng Beach you will find Lamai Beach, another popular beach with plenty of nightlife and entertainment. Mae Nam Beach, just west of Bophut Beach is a huge expansive beach and is another option for a more relaxing holiday.
Mae Nam Beach Koh Samui was traditionally associated with backpackers and budget accommodation, but today is home to several luxury Koh Samui family hotels.
If you are planning a Thailand family holiday to Koh Samui with kids, here is a selection of our favourite family resorts in Koh Samui. All of these resorts are located right on the beachfront for lots of fun beach time and all feature family-friendly swimming pools.
Anantara Bophut Koh Samui
The Anantara is a gorgeous five star hotel located on Bophut Beach Koh Samui, a quiet and family-friendly stretch of beach in the north of the island.
This family hotel in Koh Samui is simply stunning, with beautifully landscaped tropical gardens, and elegant southern Thai architecture.
The 106 rooms and suites at this Bo Phut resort are stylishly decorated and are all a short walk from the infinity pool that boasts sea views, plenty of nooks and crannies for the kids to explore, and water fountains to play in.
There’s also a tennis court, fitness centre, and other fun activities on offer, such as cooking classes, yoga and Thai boxing, free water sports such as kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding,in addition to paid watersports and boat charters for snorkeling, diving, deep sea fishing or island hopping.
The Baan Ling Noi Children’s Club has a fun outdoor area, with sandpit, trampoline and slides, as well as plenty of toys, games and DVDs in the air-conditioned comfort.
A full activities programme includes a range of arts and crafts, cooking and physical activities, including T-shirt painting, balloon art, pizza making, and Thai dancing.
There are three onsite restaurants, but most guests choose to wander along to the Fisherman’s Village just a 5-minute walk away to find a wide range of child-friendly restaurants and bars.
At the top end of Chaweng Beach, the Amari Koh Samui is just a 10-minute ride from Koh Samui airport making this a great option for a weekend break and short Koh Samui family holidays.
The hotel is also a short walk from a good selection of restaurants, both on Chaweng main street and on the beach.
There are many family-friendly facilities here, including two free-form swimming pools and a separate kids pool, in addition to a bright and cheerful kids club with a good selection of toys and games, although activities are a bit more limited than other Koh Samui kids clubs we have visited.
There are 193 rooms and suites divided amongst three separate wings: the Garden Wing, the Thai Village Wing and the Ocean Wing. Rooms are spacious and all rooms can accommodate three people.
There are several good options for larger families, including 2-bedroom suites and 2-bedroom family duplexes.
Do note that the Garden and Thai Village wings are across the road from the main hotel and facilities, and you will need to cross a busy main road. There is always a security guard on hand to help you cross, but it is something to bear in mind if you are visiting with small children.
Another thing to note is that the beach at this end of Chaweng Beach is not the best for swimming. The water is shallow and rocky with lots of sea grass. You can still have plenty of fun playing on the beach, but this hotel is really best if you prefer swimming in the pool rather than the ocean.
The Santiburi Koh Samui is a huge resort set amongst 23-hectares of tropical gardens and located on a 300-metre stretch of Mae Nam beach, making it a great choice of hotel in Koh Samui for kids.
All of their Koh Samui family villas and suites were fully refurbished in 2014, and are now sleek and modern in design, and some come with a private plunge pool.
The best option for families looking for more space is a 2-bedroom duplex, which is located in the main building, close to the swimming pool.
Image: Santiburi Beach Resort & Spa
Note that the 2-bedroom villas comprise three separate buildings: two 1-bedroom villas and one living room, arranged around a central courtyard, and therefore may not be suitable for families with small children. They could be a good option for smaller families holidaying together though.
Another reason this is one of the best family hotels in Koh Samui, is the huge range of facilities in the resort, including one of Asia’s largest free-form resort swimming pools. At 50m x 25m, there is plenty of room for adults to swim laps while kids splash around. There is also a separate shaded kids pool.
The kids activity centre has table tennis, darts and a video games room as well as plenty of other games and toys. They have a comprehensive timetable of fun workshops including Thai cooking classes, open to kids aged 3+.
Other facilities include a tennis court, a half-sized football pitch and a well-equipped water sports centre with kayaks, windsurfers, hobie cats and lasers all available free of charge. There are no motorized water sports.
Golf fans will love having the Santiburi Samui Golf Club next door with its 18-hole championship golf course.
Melati Koh Samui is an intimate 77-room beachfront resort in Tongsai Bay, a 15-minute drive north of Chaweng Beach. This luxury resort is fairly isolated and so might not be the best place for a family holiday in Thailand if you like to be in the heart of the action.
But for those who want a relaxing family trip to Thailand, it makes for a peaceful setting on a quiet beach. And what a beach! The white, soft sandy private beach with clear calm water is definitely the highlight.
All rooms, suites and private pool villas can easily accommodate children by making up the large daybed. The ground floor units have a small courtyard garden and would be best suited to families, while the family pool villa has a living room that can be converted into a second bedroom.
There are two swimming pools, including a lap pool – although we prefer the free-form pool with swim-up bar! The two restaurants have kids menus, and kids aged 5-11 are treated to 50% discount on the buffets.
As with other best family resorts in Koh Samui, there is a kids club where you can drop the kids off. This is handily located next to the pool so you can be close enough to keep an eye on the kids if you want.
It has a wide range of activities aimed at kids aged 3-8 (kids under 3 can still be dropped off, but you will need to book a babysitter to accompany them). Note that a couple of activities each day in the programme incur extra charges, such as the pizza making or umbrella painting.
Another intimate boutique resort in Koh Samui, Rocky’s is just a 5-minute drive from Lamai Beach. There are just 49-rooms at this Koh Samui family resort.
Connecting rooms are available, but we particularly love their 2-bedroom family beachfront rooms, which are just five metres from the water’s edge.
All rooms feature a day bed which can be converted into a kids bed and cots are available free of charge.
Image: Rocky’s Koh Samui
There is a supervised kids play room with daily activities, where you can leave the kids while you hit the spa, while teenagers will appreciate the games room, which features a billiard table. Babysitting is also available.
There are two swimming pools to choose from – one beachside, and one in a garden setting, which includes a separate kids pool. Both pools benefit from poolside food & beverage service. The Bistro restaurant has a kids menu.
A small Tesco supermarket is just a 3-minutes away for kids snacks and baby supplies.
This sumptuous luxury resort in Koh Samui is surprisingly child friendly despite its intimate setting, making this an excellent choice for high-end family holidays in Thailand.
This all-villa resort has just 66 private villas, nearly all with private pool (with the exception of the Hideaway Villas), separate living area, spacious bathroom with outdoor shower, and private deck with room for both lounging and dining.
All the villas also feature a large day bed, which can be made up into a bed for children. Families looking for more space should check out the Oceanfront Pool Villa Suite, where the lounge can be converted into a second bedroom for two children.
Kids under 12 can stay free in a room with their parents, and are charged 50% of the breakfast rate.
Although there is no kids club are plenty of fun activities for kids at this luxury family resort in Thailand. Kids aged 4+ can take part in batik painting, cooking classes, soap carving, and even a Samui discovery trip. There is also babysitting on offer.
The ‘Experience Department’ also arrange a huge range of activities for families to enjoy together, such as sunrise kayaking to Koh Som, sightseeing tours, Thai boxing, diving and cooking classes.
There are two restaurants onsite: Dining on the Hill and the gorgeous Dining on the Rocks signature restaurant that overlooks the ocean. Both restaurants serve up organic produce from the resort’s own gardens.
Children aged 1-5 can order off the infant menu for free, while kids aged 6-11 receive a 50% discount on food.
If you have cash to splash, then the Four Seasons is another contender for one of the resorts in Thailand for families. This all-pool villa resort has both villa and private residences to choose from.
The Family Pool Villa is specially designed for parents with young children (under 12s) and can accommodate two adults and three children, with a separate sleeping area for the kids.
The private residences are available from 1-bedroom to 5-bedroom and are ideal for larger families or groups.
Image: Ken Seet/Four Seasons
The gorgeous infinity pool overlooks the pristine white beach, and there are also two tennis courts and a fabulous spa. The whole family will benefit from the amazing kids club, open to kids aged 4-12.
They run a comprehensive programme of fun activities and in addition, you can sign up for unique experiences such as Muay Thai for Kids classes, fishing and family cooking classes.
There’s even a Spa for kids, with specially created treatments for kids aged 6 and above.
There are three restaurants and two bars to choose from, all running fun themed nights such as Paella Night or Beach BBQ night. For fun in-villa dining with kids, we love the sound of the Bucket BBQ.
Don’t miss out on the amazing Sunday brunch (also open to non-residents), where mum and dad can tuck into a wide selection of specialties from around the world and free-flow drinks while the kids are entertained in the kids club.
The Centara Grand Koh Samui is located right on the beach, just a 15-minute drive from the airport. This Koh Samui family hotel is situated at the quieter end of Chaweng Beach, where it enjoys a tranquil setting but is in easy reach of all the bars, restaurants and shops.
This is one of the best family hotels in Koh Samui for active families who like to be on the go. The Carpe Diem entertainment team does a great job of organizing a whole range of fun activities, including beach soccer, water volleyball, aqua aerobics and yoga.
There are also many onsite facilities for the whole family, including an outdoor playground, two tennis courts and a huge swimming pool, with a separate kids pool.
The Centara also boasts one of the best kids clubs in Koh Samui, with loads of fun activities such as treasure hunts, pool parties, petanque games all organized. They also run kids pool parties on some evenings. For older kids and teenagers there is the e-zone for gaming fun.
All of the 203 rooms and suites can accommodate two adults and two kids, and there are 7 bars and restaurants to choose from. A 7-eleven across the road is handy for kids snacks.
The Peace Resort is one of the more affordable options of our Koh Samui kid-friendly resorts and is located on quiet Bophut Beach.
The 122 terrace rooms, bungalows and pool villas are all set amongst gorgeous tropical gardens and can all accommodate two adults and two children.
There is a large resort pool, with separate kids pool that has a selection of kids pool and beach toys. The outdoor playground has swings and slides and is located close to the restaurant. An indoor playroom takes care of rainy day fun with a selection of toys, games and colouring.
As already mentioned, Bophut beach is one of our favourite beaches in Koh Samui for families as it offers calm, shallow water for kids to play in. The Peace Resort is within walking distance of all the bars and restaurants of the Fisherman’s Village.
Koh Samui weather is hot and humid all year round, with an average temperature of around 27 degrees (centigrade). There is a rainy season that runs from September to early December, and the driest months are February and March.
Generally, any time from January to August is a good time to visit Koh Samui, although if you don’t like the heat, bear in mid the hottest months are March to April, where temperatures average over 30 degrees. Read more about Koh Samui weather here.
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Samui Expats
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