Sawasdee Coco

Getting away from the city to this island felt refreshing, and the white sand and clear blue water made my simple little life feel alive again. It's not too far from Bangkok, and most visitors seemed to be island locals or people from the city on a short break. I fell for the place as soon as I arrived. Our room was spacious and clean, the staff were really friendly, and the island locals were kind and welcoming too. I'd recommend checking it out if you like taking photos or want somewhere relaxing to stay with family. 🌊📸

The best thing is being right on the beach. The rooms are tiny, with nowhere to put clothes, and the bathrooms are very basic. Doors don't close properly, so there are lots of mosquitoes. Reception has nobody there from evening until morning, just a sign with important numbers, but the phone number listed online is out of service. Emails to the Hotmail address get no reply, and staff speak poor English. At 5.30 pm, staff start collecting the beach chairs and umbrellas and make guests leave the beach. If noisy Chinese and Russian families with screaming kids sound like your kind of holiday, this is the place for you.

Sai Kaew Beach is a prime spot, but after four nights at Sawasdee Coco in Koh Samet, Rayong Province, Thailand, I left disappointed. We booked three to four months in advance and still paid far too much for what was offered. Nearby Diamond Resort has much better rooms for less. These rooms were among the smallest I've encountered, more like camping than a resort stay. The interiors looked worn and badly maintained, as if little had been invested in upkeep. As someone who travels extensively abroad for work and leisure, I felt misled by the price and quality. It seemed the property relied on its location and on travelers unfamiliar with the island and other choices. I'd urge people to compare places before booking. Koh Samet has beachfront stays across a range of budgets, and some research can turn up much better comfort and value.

Sawasdee Coco Resort has a lovely, peaceful beach setting with wonderful white sand, and the small, quiet resort may suit people who like that kind of atmosphere. The rooms, though, are cramped for two, particularly with luggage, and don't offer much space. If the beach and scenery are your main reasons for coming and a compact room is fine, it could work. For a couple wanting more room and comfort, I'd look at other options.