Koh Samui where to stay

[weshouldeatcake]

Hi all, we are planning a trip to Thailand this winter and need some advice on where to stay please. Does anyone have any recommendations on best beach or area of the Island? Any recommendations on what to do there?
2 adults and 2 kids (1 preteen, one teen)
Thanks

[SheriffCallie]

We stayed in Lamai Beach area at the Manathai hotel. It had a good pool
complex and beach area, leading to a few beach bars. And around the hotel were a few restauarants, shops, a 7-11, laundrette, etc. It was a quick tuk-tuk ride into Lamai village for more restaurant and shopping options. It was quieter than the Fisherman’s Village/Chaweng area, but with two pre-teens and limited partying opportunities, that suited us well.
We loved Koh Samui, I’m sure you will too. Have a great trip.

[SheriffCallie]

Just saw your question about what to do? We visited Fisherman’s Village, grandmother and grandfather rocks, Crystal Beach, and did quite a few snorkelling tours.

[CocktailNapkin]

We just got back two weeks ago and had a great time. Just me and hubs, no kids, so our preference was somewhere quiet with great beaches. We went with the north end of the island, so Choengmon beach area and it was exactly what we wanted. Split our time between two resorts in case one sucked - first was the Melati which had an amazing pool area, good beach and grounds. There was a second pool for adults in the middle of the resort but the place was so empty we never saw anyone using it. We also had a pool room which was nice but too many mosquitoes for us. Overall it was a good place to relax and very quiet, but also very secluded - it was a ten minute hike to get up to the Family Mart top of the hill, and a taxi ride anywhere else... and the restaurant food got tiresome after the second morning. If you rent a car and are confident driving on Thai roads it could be a good option, though.

Second we went to the Sala- Choengmon Beach and wished we had stayed there the whole time. Great restaurant and pools, on a nice beach (and we had a villa with a private pool and sunbed), but five minute walk to the main drag with various restaurants and services. Part of a small regional chain so it had professional management and upkeep.

Samui has definitely felt the effects of the pandemic, though. Lots of abandoned or for sale resorts and businesses, most resorts still seemingly working at 50% or less capacity, etc. Set expectations and review hotels closely - what was a great review a year or two ago may not be so today if maintenance could not be kept up. Its still a great time to go and we had so much fun. I do wish I could have done some snorkelling, but I couldn't be bothered to arrange it :)

If you need a laundry service - Rachajinda Laundry are the business. Good english, good communication via WhatsApp, and cheap - picked up 2kg of our clothes, washed folded and redelivered in under 24 hours for 300 bht.

[weshouldeatcake]

Thank you for the responses, really appreciate the info.