Wondering where to stay in Koh Samui with family?
In this article, we dive deeper into the best areas in Koh Samui for families and give you all the information you need to make the right decision.
At each recommended area, we highlight what makes this area so popular for families and we handpicked some of the best hotels in Koh Samui for families.
To give you the right answers, this article is written as simply and as straightforwardly as possible.
With that being said, let’s jump to our recommendations.
Koh Samui is perfect to visit with family with beautiful beaches, shallow water, and plenty of things to do!
In brief:
What are the best areas to stay in Koh Samui for families?
The best areas in Koh Samui for families are Mae Nam Beach, Bophut, Lipa Noi, Lamai and Choeng Mon.
We advise you not to stay at Chaweng Beach. Although it’s the epicentre of the island, it’s not that family-friendly and there are much better areas to stay in Koh Samui for families.
In the next paragraphs, we dive deeper into each recommended area.
Note: The are many family-friendly areas in Koh Samui and there is not a single area that stands out from the rest. You can find hotels and resorts with proper family facilities such as a kids club and a large swimming pool. My point is that Koh Samui is overall suitable for families.
Some areas are located centrally, others more remote. Some areas are quiet and peaceful, while others are more vibrant.
It all depends on the family’s preferences and if you see nice accommodation in any of the recommended areas, it is most likely you will have an amazing holiday.
The best areas in Koh Samui for families are:
1. Mae Nam Beach
Mae Nam Beach is one of the best areas in Koh Samui for families to stay at. You basically look for three things: the location and nearby highlights, the variety of accommodations and the beach.
First of all, Mae Nam Beach has an excellent location.
It’s located centrally, near the airport, and close to Bophut, where you can find Fisherman’s Village, an amazing night market area.
Mae Nam Beach is also not that far from the epicentre of the island, namely Chaweng Beach, but remains nicely quiet.
Secondly, there are plenty of good accommodations to find at Mae Nam Beach, most of them slightly upscale to luxurious.
When my parents visited Thailand, their hotel was at Mae Nam Beach and out of all places they stay in the country, Mae Nam Beach was their favourite.
Spacious, new hotels with large pools, plenty of facilities, a wide variety of both Thai and international food options and Western management are the ingredients for a careless holiday.
Lastly, the beach is quiet, clean, and perfect for sunbathing.
However, it’s not the best beach for families as the water is not as shallow as Lipa Noi, which we recommend further down this article.
Keep in mind that there are several adult-only resorts in this area, which is nowadays a common feature for those seeking complete peace.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Koh Samui with family are visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
2. Bophut
Where the previously recommended Mae Nam Beach is a quiet area for families in Koh Samui, Bophut is more vibrant but not as vibrant as its neighbour Chaweng.
Similar to Mae Nam Beach, it’s located centrally and close to the airport. One of the highlights of Bophut is Fishermen’s Village.
It’s told that the first habitants, which were fishermen, settle here.
Nowadays, Fishermen’s Village is a collection of shops and restaurants which is ideal to stroll around during the evening.
There are several other highlights nearby such as the Elephant Sanctuary, the Big Buddha, and several waterfalls, although you can access these highlights easily from several other recommended areas.
The beach at Bophut is decent, but definitely not the best in Koh Samui. The beach at Mae Nam Beach, for example, is better. But your best option that is closely Bophut is the beach at Chaweng.
Bophut is often dubbed as the best area in Koh Samui for families to stay and you can find plenty of good accommodations here.
If you’re thinking of staying at Bophut, choose whether you as a family prefer the more peaceful Mae Nam or the more vibrant Bophut as these neighbouring areas are relatively similar and easy to reach.
For those travelling with younger kids, make sure to book a hotel with a kid’s club.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Koh Samui with family are visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
3. Lamai Beach
Lamai Beach is yet another family-friendly area in Koh Samui due to its peacefulness and beautiful beaches.
Lamai Beach is also seen as the honeymoon and couples area of the island and you can find plenty of resorts and romantic hotels.
Lamai Beach does have a bit of nightlife, which makes it a slightly more vibrant area than areas such as Mae Nam Beach.
There is a walking street market which is ideal for families to stroll around.
This area is located southeast of the island and attracts many locals to swim in the ocean during the day.
Therefore, it can be busy on the beach but it’s definitely not Chaweng Beach. The calmness of the water makes it ideal for families.
For families with older kids, there are plenty of water sports activities to discover and experience.
Lamai Beach is almost as popular as Chaweng Beach but attracts a completely different type of traveller.
This area is the best option for beach lovers. You are a bit far away from the island’s highlights, but most families book a tour via their hotel anyway.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Koh Samui with family are visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
4. Lipa Noi
Lipa Noi is not the area most people stay in the first time they visit Koh Samui but it does have a few advantages compared to other areas.
First of all, it’s located near the ferry. For those planning to visit other islands, this is the best area to stay in.
Secondly, Lipa Noi is located on the west side of the island, meaning that you can enjoy that perfect sunset in the evening.
There is a good variety of accommodations to be found at Lipa Noi, including the famous Nikki Beach Resort.
But staying at Lipa Noi doesn’t have to be at a five-star luxury resort, there are plenty of reasonably priced accommodations available.
The beach itself is decent and as it’s not the most popular area among tourists, it has not have the facilities you’d expect.
This makes Lipa Noi interesting for those who want to avoid mass tourism, which is difficult on an island like Koh Samui.
Those looking for more comfort with more variety in restaurants and activities, should not stay at Lipa Noi.
But for those looking for something different from the regular beaches in Koh Samui or with direct access to the ferry, Lipa Noi is the best option.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Koh Samui with family are visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
5. Choeng Mon
For families with a larger budget, Choeng Mon is the best option to stay at.
Choeng Mon is located in the northeast part of the island, relatively close to the bustling areas of Koh Samui.
Choen Mon beach is among the most beautiful ones on the island.
Luxury hotels are built here rapidly while still remaining quiet. Those who value their privacy and can afford it definitely should find a hotel here.
Choeng Mon is located near the airport and nearby the island’s highlights such as the Elephants Sanctuary, Big Buddha, several viewpoints and even the Fishermen’s Village.
Those looking for private villas and five-star hotels can eat their hearts out.
Some of the best hotels to stay in Koh Samui with family are visually listed below:
Agoda is part of Booking.com, and often offers significantly cheaper options compared to its competitors. You’ll get the same service that you are used to at Booking.com, but you simply pay less.
Areas in Koh Samui for families to avoid
Chaweng Beach
Although it’s the most lively area of the island, Chaweng does attract a certain type of tourist that is not per se family-friendly.
Like other parts of Thailand, the adult entertainment industry is vibrant and it attracts tourists that tend to drink and party all day and all night long.
In Koh Samui, the nightlife area is at Chaweng Beach and even though it’s not as large as places like Pattaya and Bangkok, as a family, you don’t want to stay in a hotel full of single, drunk men who are not visiting Thailand for its beaches and culture.
Visiting Chaweng Beach and its restaurants and shops is definitely recommended and the beach itself is nice with plenty of activities to do such as water sports.
Many first-timers choose to stay at Chaweng Beach as it’s the epicentre of the island. But as a family, there are better areas in Koh Samui for families to stay at.
Map of best areas in Koh Samui for families
The next image is a map of the best places to stay in Koh Samui with family including the city highlights.
The image is in high resolution so you can easily zoom in to see all the details.
There you have it, our recommendations to your question of where to stay in Koh Samui with family.
We hope you enjoyed it and hopefully, you can make a good decision and have the time of your life on this amazing island!
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