Where to Stay in Koh Samui
If you’re visiting Koh Samui and want to enjoy the nightlife, I highly recommend staying in Chaweng. This is where 90% of Koh Samui’s nightlife can be found, including the famous bar streets Soi Green Mango and Soi Reggae.
Soi Green Mango is Koh Samui’s version of Bangkok’s Soi Cowboy or Phuket’s Bangla Road. It’s where you’ll find most of the island’s go-go bars, beer bars and other girly bar nightlife. There are also several small streets close to Soi Green Mango that have a good selection of beer bars and other nightlife.
Good bars on Soi Green Mango include Dream Girls (Samui’s only Thai-style go-go bar) and Galaxy Samui, an upmarket go-go bar with European girls. There are also countless beer bars on the soi, as well as the famous Green Mango Club.
Soi Reggae is located about 1km south of Soi Green Mango. It’s a little smaller than Soi Green Mango and less popular, but still has a decent selection of beer bars and other fun places to hang out.
Guest Friendly Hotels in Chaweng
I’ve listed all of the guest friendly hotels in Chaweng below. Each hotel’s description mentions how far it is from Soi Green Mango. For the most convenient experience, I recommend booking a hotel within 500 meters of Soi Green Mango so that you can walk to and from the nightlife without having to depend on songthaews (pickup trucks converted into buses) or taxis to get around.
If you stay a little further away, it’s still easy to get to and from your hotel in Chaweng to and from the nightlife using songthaews or by taxi.
Chaweng Budget Guest Friendly Hotels
There are several good budget friendly hotels in Chaweng, several of which are very close to Soi Green Mango and the rest of the nightlife. I’ve listed these hotels below, along with a short description of what you can expect from each hotel.
All of these hotels are guest friendly with no joiner fees, meaning you won’t need to pay anything extra if you bring an unregistered guest back after a night out. Note that your guest may need to leave their ID at the reception for security.
| Hotel | Photo | Description | Check Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panupong Hotel |  | Highly recommended. 100m from Soi Green Mango. Absolutely excellent budget guest friendly hotel a short one minute walk from the bars on Soi Green Mango. The rooms here are clean, spacious and have large, comfortable beds, plenty of natural light and nice bathrooms. Excellent location for nightlife, but far enough away to avoid being too noisy. Overall, the best budget guest friendly hotel in Chaweng. Rated 8.5/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Lek City Hotel |  | 100m from Soi Green Mango. Nice little budget guest friendly hotel in the heart of Chaweng's nightlife area, less than a minute's walk away from the beer bars and go-gos on Soi Green Mango. The rooms here are spacious, clean and have comfortable beds. Excellent value for money. The only real downside is the noise level -- since this hotel is so close to the bars, it can get a little noisy until 1-2AM. Rated 7.5/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| O.P. Bungalow Resort |  | 400m from Soi Green Mango. Nice budget guest friendly bungalow resort located right next to the beach. Simple, clean and comfortable rooms in a variety of sizes. Not luxurious by any means, but good value for money with a great location. Short walk from the hotel to nightlife. Rated 7.7/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| P&P Samui Resort |  | 200m from Soi Green Mango. Another well located budget guest friendly resort in Chaweng. Convenient location right on Chaweng Beach and a 2-3 minute walk from the nightlife. Close to lots of good restaurants and cafes. Simple but comfortable rooms, plus a nice little swimming pool overlooking the beach. Good for those on a budget who want to be close to the sand. Rated 7.6/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Samui First House Hotel |  | 2km from Soi Green Mango. Good quality three star guest friendly resort in the south of Chaweng. Far from nightlife but not too bad if you don't mind using songthaews or taxis to get around. Basic but comfortable rooms with large beds and nice bathrooms, plus a great swimming pool and easy access to the beach. Rated 7.3/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
Chaweng Mid-Priced Guest Friendly Hotels
| Hotel | Photo | Description | Check Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaweng Garden Beach Resort |  | Highly recommended. 100m from Soi Green Mango. Outstanding three-and-a-half star guest friendly resort located less than two minutes away from the bars on Soi Green Mango. Huge, very nicely furnished suites, some with private pools, as well as a variety of rooms and villas right beside the beach. Very clean, well maintained and an excellent place to stay overall. This is my favorite guest friendly hotel in this price range in Koh Samui and one of the best options if you want a comfortable, good value place to stay near the bars in Chaweng. Rated 8.5/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Hotel OZO Chaweng Samui |  | Highly recommended. 600m from Soi Green Mango. Excellent three-and-a-half star guest friendly hotel right on Chaweng Beach. Spacious, stylishly decorated rooms with big, comfortable beds and lots of natural light. Beautiful swimming pool and bar area right beside the beach. From the hotel, it's about a 10 minute walk or quick songthaew ride to the bars on Soi Green Mango. Recommended if you want a uqiet and comfortable place to stay that's still guest friendly and close to the nightlife. Rated 8.7/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Ark Bar Beach Resort |  | 100m from Soi Green Mango. Excellent three star guest friendly resort located right on the beach. Three swimming pools, two of which have pool bars, as well as multiple restaurants right on the beach. Rooms are clean, spacious, nicely decorated and have large, comfortable beds. This hotel hosts a lot of fun pool parties and other events, making it an exciting place to stay. From the hotel, it's a quick two minute walk to the go-gos and beer bars on Soi Green Mango. Rated 8.0/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| D Varee Diva Avenue Samui |  | 1km from Soi Green Mango. Pleasant three star guest friendly hotel close to Soi Reggae and about 1km (10-15 minute walk or quick songthaew ride) from Soi Green Mango. Basic but clean and very comfortable rooms, although the location isn't fantastic. Rated 7.1/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Chaweng Resort |  | 1.5km from Soi Green Mango. An older three star guest friendly resort located further down Chaweng Beach. The rooms here are decorated in a traditional Thai style and offer lots of comfort, with large beds and everything else you need. Starting to show its age a little and could do with a refresh. This hotel isn't within walking distance of the nightlife on Soi Green Mango, although you can easily get there very cheaply by songthaew. Rated 7.6/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Evergreen Resort Chaweng |  | 100m from Soi Green Mango. Very well located three star guest friendly resort, less than a two minute walk from the bars, go-gos and other nightlife on Soi Green Mango. The rooms here are clean, modern and nicely maintained, with comfortable beds and all of the other conveniences you'd expect from a three star resort. There's also a nice swimming pool. From the hotel, it's a quick walk to the beach. Overall, a quiet and comfortable place to stay that's good if you want to be close to the bars while avoiding the noise. Rated 7.7/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Al's Resort Chaweng |  | 250m from Soi Green Mango. An older beach resort close to the bars on Soi Green Mango. Great location right on Chaweng Beach, with a nice swimming pool overlooking the sea. Rooms are spacious and have comfortable beds, but are starting to show their age and could do with some maintenance. Rated 7.3/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
Chaweng Luxury Guest Friendly Hotels
| Hotel | Photo | Description | Check Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buri Rasa Village Samui |  | Highly recommended. 1km from Soi Green Mango. Absolutely excellent four star guest friendly resort. Located about 1km from Soi Green Mango, making it easy to get to and from the nightlife by taxi or songthaew. You can also walk along the beach road to the bars on Soi Green Mango in about 15 minutes. The rooms here are spacious, modern and luxurious, with huge beds and excellent bathrooms. The hotel has a nice infinity pool overlooking the beach, a beachside bar/restaurant and direct access to the beach itself. Highly recommended if you want a luxurious, guest friendly place to stay that's not too far from the nightlife. Rated 9.1/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort |  | Highly recommended. 2km from Soi Green Mango. Excellent five star guest friendly luxury resort. Beautiful rooms and pool villas, including many with sea views. Facilities incredible, with several swimming pools overlooking the ocean, beachside dining and a quiet, peaceful private section of the beach. In terms of location, it's a short taxi or songthaew ride to and from the nightlife on Soi Green Mango. This is by far the nicest guest friendly resort in Chaweng, making it worth considering if you've got the budget for it. Rated 8.7/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Chaweng Regent Beach Resort |  | Highly recommended. 450m from Soi Green Mango. Excellent four-and-a-half star guest friendly resort located less than a 10 minute walk from the nightlife on Soi Green Mango. Great facilities, including a huge pool overlooking the beach and beachside dining. The rooms here are luxurious, nicely decorated and very comfortable, with large beds and everything you'd expect from a luxury resort. If you're looking for a luxury hotel that's guest friendly and within walking distance of the Chaweng nightlife, this is the one to choose. Rated 8.3/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Al’s Laemson Resort |  | 2km from Soi Green Mango. A nice older four star resort at the northern end of Chaweng Beach, about 2km from the nightlife on Soi Green Mango. The rooms are nice and the view of the beach great, with a nice swimming pool overlooking the shore. This is a slightly older resort, although it's been well maintained over the years. Not super luxurious, but a good value for money option. Unfortunately the beach in this part of Chaweng is quite shallow and isn't great for swimming. Quite far from the nightlife, but still within songthaew or taxi distance. Rated 7.6/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Kirikayan Boutique Resort |  | 2km from Soi Green Mango. Excellent four star guest friendly resort at the southern end of Chaweng Beach, a short taxi or songthaew ride away from the bars on Soi Green Mango. The rooms here are spacious and luxurious, with large and comfortable beds and stylish modern furniture. Facilities here include a beautiful pool right beside the beach, direct access to a clean, quiet part of Chaweng Beach, plus private loungers on the beach for guests. Some rooms feature private jacuzzis overlooking the sea. Rated 8.4/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Le Murraya Resort |  | 1.5km from Soi Green Mango. Nice four star hotel a short taxi or songthaew ride from the nigthlife around Soi Green Mango. Large, comfortable rooms and a nice swimming pool. Not right on the beach but a short walk away. Very close to the nightlife on Soi Reggae. Rated 8.3/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Coral Bay Resort |  | 1.5km from Soi Green Mango. A nice four star guest friendly resort at the north end of Chaweng Beach. Very spacious rooms and beachfront chalets (some up to 100 square meters), all decorated in a traditional Thai style. Big swimming pool with nice views of the sea. Direct access to the beach from the resort. A good option if you want peace and quiet, although the location isn't ideal for nightlife. Rated 8.2/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Chaweng Buri Resort |  | 400m from Soi Green Mango. Older but well maintained four star guest friendly resort right on the beach, with a selection of luxurious villas, some of which have private pools. Rooms decorated in a traditional Thai style with huge, very comfortable four poster beds. Facilities include all you'd expect from a four star resort, with a nice outdoor pool and garden setting. A good option if you want to be close to the nightlife while still having direct access to Chaweng Beach. Rated 8.1/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Pawanthorn Pool Villa Samui |  | 3km from Soi Green Mango. Very nice guest friendly villa resort with a selection of luxurious private pool villas. Unfortunately the location is far from the nightlife, meaning you'll need to rely on taxis to get around. Worth considering if you want to stay somewhere peaceful and private. Rated 7.9/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
Guest Friendly Hotels in Lamai
Smaller, quieter and more laid back than Chaweng, Lamai is Koh Samui’s second most popular beach and nightlife area. Despite being less popular, it has a great nightlife scene with a good selection of beer bars and girlie bars, including the huge Central Lamai Beer Bars Plaza and the equally good Beer Bar Central.
I’ve listed all of the guest friendly hotels in Lamai below, starting with budget options before listing mid-priced and luxury guest friendly hotels. These hotel are all 100% guest friendly, with no joiner fees if you bring a guest back to your room.
Lamai Budget Guest Friendly Hotels
| Hotel | Photo | Description | Check Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonny Hotel |  | Highly recommended. Great budget guest friendly hotel located right in the center of Lamai, a short walk away from the bars and the beach. Clean, comfortable rooms that get lots of natural light, plus very friendly staff. Recommended if you want a comfortable place to stay that's close to the action. Rated 9.0/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Samui Seabreeze Place |  | Highly recommended. Great three star guest friendly hotel located close to the center of Lamai and a short walk away from the nightlife. The rooms here are clean, modern and very comfortable to stay in, with everything you need. Nice swimming pool and quiet, garden environment. Recommended if you want an affordable but nice place to stay close to the beach and the bars. Rated 8.1/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Rich Resort Beachside Hotel |  | Good quality budget guest friendly hotel in Lamai. In fact, this just might be the cheapest hotel on the list, with most rooms available for 600 to 1,300 baht in high season (and even less in low season). For the price, you get a clean, comfortable room with either a fan or, if you're willing to pay slightly more, air conditioning. Great location close to Lamai Beach and a short walk from the bars. Recommended if you're on a tight budget. Rated 7.3/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Bill Resort |  | Decent quality budget resort located close to Lamai Beach and about a 500 to 600 meter walk from most of the nightlife. Very nice outdoor pool overlooking the beach. The rooms here are clean and comfortable but are getting a little dated and could do with a renovation and some extra maintenance. Good value for money, provided you're not expecting a brand new resort. Rated 7.1/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Sand Sea Resort and Spa |  | Good quality three star guest friendly budget resort located at the north end of Lamai Beach. Clean and well cared for rooms, with large four poster beds and jacuzzis in some. Excellent restaurant and a nice pool right beside the beach. Very good value for money considering the great location right on the sand. Rated 7.8/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Samui Laguna Resort |  | Good quality three star budget guest friendly hotel located right on Lamai Beach and a short walk away from the nightlife. Good variety of restaurants and bars around the hotel. Rooms clean and comfortable but relatively simple, which is to be expected for the price. Also has a nice little swimming pool with plenty of pool loungers to relax on during the day. Rated 7.4/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Lamai Inn 99 Bungalows |  | Great budget guest friendly hotel located right on Lamai Beach and a short walk away from the restaurants and nightlife. The bungalows here are clean, nicely furnished and comfortable to stay in, with large beds and plenty of natural light. Direct access to the beach and a great swimming pool for a resort of this price. Rated 8.1/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
Lamai Mid-Priced Guest Friendly Hotels
| Hotel | Photo | Description | Check Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamai Wanta Beach Resort |  | Highly recommended. Great three star guest friendly beach resort located right on Lamai Beach and a short 2-3 minute walk away from the nightlife. The rooms here are spacious, clean and very comfortable to stay in, with large beds and soft, comfortable mattresses. Facilities include an infinity pool right beside the beach with a great view of the sea, as well as a beachside restaurant. Very, very high quality hotel for the price and recommended if you're looking for a mid-priced guest friendly resort with easy beach access. Rated 8.3/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Samui Sense Beach Resort |  | Another centrally located guest friendly beach resort, situated right in the center of Lamai Beach. Large, comfortable rooms and nice facilities for a hotel in this price range, including a decently sized swimming pool a short walk from the beach. From the resort, it's a 2-3 minute walk to the restaurants, bars and nightlife. Overall, a pleasant place to stay and another good option if you want to be close to the nightlife and have direct access to Lamai Beach. Rated 7.8/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Lamai Beach Residence |  | Great three star guest friendly hotel located less than a minute from Lamai Beach and a 4-5 minute walk away from most of the nightlife. The rooms here are a little on the small side but are very clean and nicely furnished with large, comfortable beds. From the hotel, it's less than 100 meters to the beach and about 500 meters to Lamai's main nightlife areas. A good option if you want to be close to everything while enjoying a comfortable stay, all at a fair price. Rated 8.1/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Samui Beach Resort |  | Very good three star guest friendly resort located right on the sand at the southern end of Lamai Beach. Very spacious rooms, all well cleaned and nicely maintained. Large, comfortable beds and a choice of air con or fan rooms. Facilities include a nice swimming pool located right on the beach, as well as a beachside restaurant. Overall, a nice, quiet place to stay, although the location isn't ideal -- from the hotel, you'll need to either rent a motorbike or use taxis to get to most of Lamai's nightlife. Rated 8.0/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Weekender Resort |  | The Weekender is a nice three star guest friendly resort located right on Lamai Beach. This resort has an excellent location -- from the hotel, it's about a 2-3 minute walk to local restaurants and bars, or a five minute walk to the beer bars and most of Lamai's other nightlife. The rooms here are clean, comfortable and nicely furnished with large beds, although design-wise they're getting a little dated. Facilities include an excellent pool right beside the beach, as well sun loungers and a great beachside bar. Rated 7.7/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Montra Hotel |  | Excellent three star guest friendly resort in Lamai, located far enough away from the town to avoid most of the hustle and bustle. The rooms and villas here are beautiful, with a selection of private pool villas that are gorgeously decorated, kept perfectly clean and furnished very nicely. As I mentioned above, this resort is quite remote. From the resort, it's a 2km drive to the beer bars and other nightlife in the center of Lamai. As such, you'll either need to rent a motorbike or use taxis to get around the area. Still, this resort is very much worth it if you're looking for somewhere peaceful, luxurious and away from the crowds. Rated 8.8/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Seaview Paradise Beach & Mountain Holiday Villas |  | Nice villa resort at the northern end of Lamai Beach, with a good selection of beachside and hillside villas. Very nice swimming pool with views over Lamai. The rooms and villas here aren't luxurious, but offer all of the comforts you need for a pleasant stay. The only real downside here is the location. While the resort is well located for accessing the beach, it's about 1km from the main nightlife area of Lamai, meaning you'll either need to deal with a reasonably long walk, rent a motorbike or rely on taxis. Rated 8.3/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
Lamai Luxury Guest Friendly Hotels
| Hotel | Photo | Description | Check Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pavilion Samui Villas & Resort |  | Highly recommended. Very nice four-and-a-half star guest friendly resort located on an upmarket part of Lamai Beach. The rooms here are luxurious and comfortable, with regular hotel rooms and a selection of private pool villas and suites to choose from. As you'd expect from a 4 1/2 star resort, the rooms are pristine, nicely decorated and very comfortable The facilities here are excellent and include a nice swimming pool right beside the beach, complete with a great beachside bar. Great location that's a short 5-10 minute walk from the bars and nightlife. Overall, highly recommended if you're looking for a luxury resort that's also guest friendly. Rated 8.5/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Samui Jasmine Resort |  | Highly recommended. Excellent four-and-a-half star guest friendly resort located right in the center of Lamai Beach with direct access to the sand. From the resort, it's a short two to three minute walk to most of the nightlife. The rooms here are luxurious and comfortable, with a good selection of private rooms, suites and villas to choose from. Facilities include a beautiful pool overlooking the ocean, spa and direct access to the hotel's semi-private section of the beach. Recommended. Rated 8.9/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Beach Republic Koh Samui |  | Great four star guest friendly resort located at the northern end of Lamai Beach. The units here are very nice, with a selection of private apartments, pool villas and penthouses to choose from, all of which are decorated and furnished beautifully. Easy access to the beach and lots of peace and privacy. The only real downside here is the location. From the resort, you'll need to either walk almost 2km into the center of Lamai, or get a taxi to and from the nightlife. Still, it's worth it if you're looking for a secluded, guest friendly villa to stay in for your time in Lamai. Rated 8.5/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Rummana Boutique Resort |  | Excellent four star guest friendly resort located at the southern end of Lamai Beach. The villas here are nicely decorated, with views of the resort's garden-like grounds and easy access to the beach. The resort also has a nice swimming pool right beside the sea. Very clean and well maintained. The only real downside of this resort is the location. While it's great for accessing the beach, it's about 1km from the nightlife in Lamai, meaning you'll either need to deal with a reasonably long walk or take a taxi/motorbike to and from the bars. Rated 8.5/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |
| Le Meridien Koh Samui Resort & Spa |  | Le Meridien is the most luxurious guest friendly resort in Lamai -- a beautiful, exclusive five star resort that's perfect if you want to stay somewhere luxurious and lavish. The rooms here range from large suites to even larger pool villas, many of which overlook the beach. The facilities here are also excellent, with a beautiful beachside pool, world class gym and several great restaurants. Like with some other high end resort in Samui, the only downside is the location -- from the resort, it's almost 2.5km to the center of Lamai and the nightlife, meaning you'll either need your own transport or taxis. Rated 8.4/10 by guests. | Check Prices & Vacancies |