Laem Set Inn Reviews

I booked this holiday after finding comments on this site and researching independantly. This is one of the best holiday I have had. The flights were with EVA booked with Travelbag direct to Bangkok then flew with Bangkok Air to Koh Samui. Both carriers were excellent, food good.

The hotel, although it has now changed owners is still run excellently, the staff cannot do enough for you. The food which was Royal Thai style under the previous owners (David Parry)is now THai with some european choices.

This is the perfect hotel if you want a quiet laid back holiday, barbecues on nearby islands lying in a hammock watching the world go by. There is no entertainment the resort is peaceful. If you want to go to Lamai or Chaeweng for the bars, restaurants etc it is only a 10 to 15min cab ride away. The hotel can organise almost anything for you, we went on a trip around the island visiting all the usual tourist areas, I noticed that there were no entance charges to see anything but please leave donations!!.

You can go snorkelling to the nearby islands, hire a boat for fishing etc. There are good facilities for children here (2 kids areas one with padded floor and little tyke items another with slides swings etc for older kids)the pool is superb very clean, the beach is kept very clean and although there is a lot of dead coral about plastic beach shoes are available for your use free of charge, or bring your own (recommended the coral is a little sharp). The sea around the hotel is very safe only getting to waist height within the reef. A deeper channel has been dug out to the right of the hotel this is great for swimming and snorkelling and canoeing. Canoes, Kayaks, pedaloe,small gym,table tennis table bikes, snorkels,masks and flippers are available free of charge. There is also an excellent spa where you can have a massage and beauty treatments. As the sea is so salty you float very well great if you are not a strong swimmer.

There are a lot of granite type rock formations around the hotel, I found them beautiful and great for having a climb on. The accommodation is good you can stay in a beach hut or a villa with its own pool - depending on your pocket. This hotel is well away from the tourist beach, there is one hotel next door which you can walk to via the beach for a change ,but I didn't like the singing trio walking around the tables constantly(they sang well) but its not the type of thing I like. The local fishermen sail past in their long-tailed boats or you see them with torches at night catching crabs and fish, or shell hunting inn the morning when the tide goes out, there are no benefits here so everyone has to earn a living, these people are very polite and do not intrude.

Go up to Chaeweng or Nathon for shopping, lots of friendly bartering, whatever price you are told , half it then work up a little, or walk away, the traders are most polite all this is done will a smile as the Thai people do not like bad temper/aggression. The only bad encounter I had was with a Brit!! do not accept any of the free draw/winning ticket vouchers they all are a scam for holiday clubs(similar to timeshare, but without the regulations!!) ) you are asked to visit a centre to collect your prize. Quality Vacation Club is the worst offender they get on your nerves pulling up on motor bikes as you stroll the town - just say no and walk!!

Visit the Three monkeys and Will Wait for very cheap food and drink. Just pick up the free maps etc for information on where to eat, even the tiny bamboo huts on the beaches and roads have good food , never had any tummy troubles... I will be taking the children next year, I found this Island very safe, polite people good food/drink and the main beaches are very clean. If you want to buy on the beach fine if not the sellars who are all registered just walk past - no stress.

One point, if you walk around by yourself on the quieter beaches wear beach shoes I saw a lot of glass about, beer bottles thrown into the sea which have then broken. I did hear that there is a clean programme in the pipeline as the King wants to attract more families to this island. The s*x bars etc are low key and even they are to be moved to one area. Most places close by 1am so as not to get too many problems. Even though we visited in Low season May there were still lots of things to do and see and not a drunk or karaoke bar in site!!

Great place for Families or couples who prefer a stress free holiday visit www laemsetinn com or sawadee com and chose your own accomodation then ring Travelbag for your flights- i rang round and found these had the best price. Do not take much with you everything is so cheap buy it there, toileteries are cheap and plentiful, chemists are everywhere, antibiotics can be bought over the counter!! Food stores sell cheap food drinks if you self cater.

Koh Samui was fantastic.
We stayed at the Laem Set Inn which is at the south of the island. THe only other resort there is the Central Samui - we wanted something out on its own so this was perfect. (if you want the Tenerife style strip then go into one of the toens - Laem Set has its own jeeps for hire).
LAem Set Inn is that little bit special - 26 individual thai style 'houses' some very simepl others with their own litle pool. We stayed in the Lipa Nua Suite (Richard Branson stayed here). It was a little more expensive (saying that it was still cheap) than the others but worth it as it was completely secluded. The food was amazing, the mini bar was well stocked and the service was superb.
If you want a totally relaxed hide away from it all in paradise then this is the place for you.
You will not find in any brocure however - you need to go to their own website - www.laemsetinn com They rely completely on word of mouth for their business, and believe me that is all they need.
Try it out - if you are looking for this type of holiday you will not be disappointed.