A classic backpacker’s destination, Thailand is the place to find digs for a few pounds a night while chowing down on authentic street food for pennies. Not so in Koh Samui. In recent years, this gorgeous holiday island has taken its attributes and polished them to a high shine, plopping luxury hotel after luxury hotel amid the lush greenery of the coast – and taking that famed Thai hospitality to a whole new level.

Honeymooners and couples can’t keep their hands off the sun loungers, classy cocktails and massage tables, let alone each other! Families love it too, for endless fun in the sun and the chance to drop little ones at the kids club while mum and dad unwind in the spa.

Of course, Koh Samui still welcomes those on a budget. You can actually book cheap hotels in Koh Samui with nightly rates that cost less than a beer at one of the swanky hotels.

Located in the Gulf of Thailand, off the meandering southern shoreline of Thailand, Koh Samui is hot throughout the year. Rain can fall at any time, usually in short sharp bursts, though the best months to travel to avoid the wet weather are between January and April. The wettest months are October and November. If you can travel between January and mid-July (at which point prices rise due to European summer holidays), you can enjoy cheap hotel rates and good weather. Bonus!

To create your stay, your way, find flights to Samui International Airport (USM) with TravelSupermarket and then begin your search for the perfect hotel in Koh Samui. We search wider, so you don’t have to.

The words “boutique”, “retreat”, and “deluxe” have become synonymous with the hotel scene in Koh Samui. So you know you’re in for a treat.

Some of the world’s top hotel operators, such as W, Four Seasons and Conrad, run hotels on Koh Samui. Top Asian brands, which you might not be too familiar with, also run some of the best Koh Samui hotels, so you don’t need to go with a name you recognise for a fantastic holiday. Use the filters on TravelSupermarket to narrow your search by star rating, facilities and guest rating to find a hotel that meets your requirements. Your ideal hotel is here on TravelSupermarket and it will take just minutes to find it.

Budget hotels on Koh Samui aren’t necessarily backpacker digs with shared dorms and bathrooms that serve 20. There are plenty of two- and three-star hotels in Koh Samui and they offer resort-style stays with basic facilities on a room-only basis.

If you’re looking for family hotel deals in Koh Samui, the resort towns of Chaweng and Bophut Beach are packed with facilities and great beaches.

Lamai Beach is second to Chaweng in terms of size. Here visitors can check in at boutique retreats or opt for cheap casual lodging by the sea.

As luxury holidays in Koh Samui tend to be hotel based, you might not need to think too much about location. The island’s best hotels are scattered around the serene coast. If you want to get out regularly to eat, drink and party, however, staying in or close to one of the above resorts will be most convenient.

When you find the room of your dreams, book direct with the provider. Don’t lose the deal if you’re not ready. Use My Suitcase to save your favourites. Build trips using our brilliant planning tool and share plans with your travelling companions. You can even set up price-change alerts – because travel-planning superheroes should never miss the best deals.

Search wider, plan smarter and Travel Super with TravelSupermarket.

Top five attractions

Wat Phra Yai

If you’re only going to see one Buddha on your Koh Samui holiday, make it the Big Buddha at Wat Phra Yai in the north of the island. At 15 metres in height, you can’t miss him.

Wat Plai Laem

Technically not a second Buddha, Guanyin should also be on your list of things to see. She’s the huge, 18-armed Goddess of Mercy at this lakeside temple, which is a short walk from Wat Phra Yai.

Chaweng Beach

The longest beach on Koh Samui; here you can swim, snorkel, have a massage, jet-ski, buy local produce or simply while away the afternoon with a good book.

Ang Thong National Marine Park

Take a boat trip out to this glorious patchwork of sea and islands. If you thought the snorkelling was good in Koh Samui, these crystal waters here will blow your socks (or should that be fins?) off.

Nightlife

Chaweng is nightlife central on Koh Samui, though all the main resorts know how to shake it of an evening. In Chaweng, the action centres on streets such as Soi Green Mango. Ladyboy cabarets are popular, while the Ark Bar is a beachside institution. 

Events

Songkran; April: Waterproof cameras at the ready! This celebration of Thai New Year involves water guns, buckets, cups and whatever other vessels you can get your hands on to soak fellow revellers.

Samui Regatta; May: Adding an extra dash of luxury to your upmarket break, racing yachts slash through the waters off Chaweng for six days of heated competition.

Loy Krathong and Yi Peng; November: Usually celebrated together on Koh Samui and best done on Chaweng Lake, where the authorities will clean up afterwards, these two festivals bring light filled baskets to the water and floating lanterns to the sky. Breath-taking and emotional at the same time.