The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Koh Samui

Where to Stay if You've Never Been to Koh Samui

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If it's your first trip to Koh Samui, Thailand for the activities and sightseeing, then you're in for a treat. But the biggest question is often where to stay for a first time visitor to Koh Samui. With so many amazing hotels to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision to make the most of your first trip here. That's where we come in! In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you find the best hotels for first-timers in Koh Samui. After analyzing all of the hotels based on price, location, amenities, ratings, and more, we have come up with our list of the best hotels in Koh Samui for first time visitors. We'll cover everything you need to know about these hotels, including the amenities, location, prices and ratings. So, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as a couple on a romantic getaway, you'll find the perfect hotel if you've never visited Koh Samui beofre. So check out these terrific hotels, many of which have sparkling swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and top-notch amenities, along with the perfect balance of comfort, location, and affordability. So, let's get to it and discover the best hotels in Koh Samui for your first trip!

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui

Ang Thong, Thailand
5-star Resort with prices starting at $653 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

Located at 219 Moo 5 Angthong, Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui has great rooms from $653 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 9.60 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 4.6 km from the city center, first time visitors will especially love snorkeling, a bar, mountain views, rooms with kitchenettes, and child care at this relaxing hotel. We always love having a pool, and the one here is really nice.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club


Banyan Tree Samui

Maret, Thailand
5-star Hotel with prices starting at $326 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

A great place to stay is Banyan Tree Samui which has nice rooms starting at $326. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 9.40 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 99/9 Moo 4, Mare, Lamai. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, and child care which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 16.1 km from the city center. You'll enjoy unwinding in the hot tub, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Airport shuttle
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Private pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club


Rocky's Boutique Resort

Maret, Thailand
4-star Resort with prices starting at $77 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Koh Samui
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly

We found Rocky's Boutique Resort to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $77. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and scuba diving, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.20 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 438/1 Moo 1. You'll also find snorkeling, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, rooms with kitchens, and rooms with kitchenettes which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 14 km from the center of town. We always love being able to cook meals in a hotel room, and the kitchen here was a nice touch.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


Sea Valley Hotel & Spa

Lipa Noi, Thailand
4-star Hotel with prices starting at $47 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

With terrific rooms from $47, Sea Valley Hotel & Spa, at 123/3 Moo 2 provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Its terrific guest rating is 9.00 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, child care, laundry services, and cooking classes. It's located just 4.7 km from the city center, too. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Infinity pool
  • Kids' club


Paradise Beach Resort Samui

Mae Nam, Thailand
4-star Resort with prices starting at $61 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Koh Samui
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly

Paradise Beach Resort Samui has a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, scuba diving, and snorkeling. The great rooms here start at $61 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 18/8 Maenam Beach. Furthermore, it also offers a bar, hiking, child care, laundry services, and golf, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 9 km from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Make sure to set aside some time for swimming in the pool, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room


Samui Reef View Resort

Maret, Thailand
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $16 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Beach

The great guest rating of Samui Reef View Resort is 8.70 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a water park, a restaurant, and a fitness center. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $16, and it's located at 404/23 Moo 1 Tambon Maret. We also love the scuba diving, snorkeling, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, and hiking which are great for visitors. And since it's just 13.4 km from the center of the town, the location is great, too. Having a kitchenette is a nice way for you to have some meals in the room, too. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Water park
  • Snorkeling
  • Child pool
  • Horse riding
  • Airport shuttle
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Tennis
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


The Tongsai Bay

Bo Phut, Thailand
5-star Resort with prices starting at $110 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Koh Samui
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly

A cool place is The Tongsai Bay because it has great rooms that start at $110. It has an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also earned a great guest rating of 9.40 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 84 Moo 5. Only 16.5 km from the city center, travelers will especially love snorkeling, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, outdoor tennis, and mountain views at this convenient hotel. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Infinity pool


Samui Green Hotel

Chaweng, Thailand
3-star Hotel with prices starting at $19 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • Beach

Samui Green Hotel offers an outdoor pool, a restaurant, scuba diving, snorkeling, and a bar which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $19 (before taxes). It's located at 17/52 Moo3, Chaweng Beach, Bophut and has earned a guest rating of 8.40/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers mountain views, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, and city views which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 13.5 km from the city center. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snorkeling
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Six Senses Samui

Bo Phut, Thailand
5-star Resort with prices starting at $248 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly

Located at 9/10 Moo 5 Baan Plai Laem Bophut, Six Senses Samui has great rooms from $248 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving. It has a terrific 9.30 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find snorkeling, a bar, child care, laundry services, and cooking classes which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 15.9 km from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Snorkeling
  • Spa
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Private pool
  • Breakfast in the room


Santiburi Koh Samui Resort

Mae Nam, Thailand
5-star Resort with prices starting at $174 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Koh Samui
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

A great place to stay is Santiburi Koh Samui Resort which has nice rooms starting at $174. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 9.30 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 12/12 Moo 1. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers scuba diving, a bar, a kid-friendly buffet, outdoor tennis, and hiking. It's located just 7.6 km from the city center, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Game room
  • Free parking
  • Table tennis
  • Family rooms
  • Private pool
  • Refrigerator
  • Playground
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Kids' club


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Chaweng, Maret, Ko Pha Ngan, and Ko Tao.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Koh Samui, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Koh Samui, Best Beach Hotels in Koh Samui, Best Cheap Hotels in Koh Samui, Best Luxury Hotels in Koh Samui, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Koh Samui, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Koh Samui, Best Hotels for One Week in Koh Samui, Best Hotels for One Night in Koh Samui, Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Koh Samui, Best Adults Only Hotels in Koh Samui, Best Party Hotels in Koh Samui, Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in Koh Samui, or Best Business Hotels in Koh Samui.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Koh Samui?

Koh Samui Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$65

After analyzing 290 first time trip hotels in Koh Samui, Thailand, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $65. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic first time trip accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Koh Samui.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $178
  • 4-star hotels: $88
  • 3-star hotels: $41
  • 2-star hotels: $25


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