3 Star hotels in Koh Samui: 20 options near Chaweng, Lamai and Maenam beaches

Koh Samui is often chosen for a budget beach vacation. Three-star hotels here offer a pool, breakfast, and an air-conditioned room, and you pay less than on Phuket. We've put together 20 options from the quiet north to the busy Chaweng. For each one, we've noted the location and who it suits.

Before choosing, decide on the area: Chaweng and Lamai have the beaches and nightlife, Maenam and Bophut are quieter and calmer (as of 09/2026, Tourism Authority of Thailand). A hotel near the beach you want saves you daily tuk-tuk rides.

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How to choose a 3-star hotel on Koh Samui

💡 In short:

• Pick the area first, then the hotel: Chaweng and Lamai for beach and parties, Maenam and Bophut for quiet.
• Three stars on Koh Samui usually include a pool, air conditioning, and breakfast, but not always a private beach.
• Read the hotel descriptions below: each one lists the location, who it's for, and a link to prices.

The price range within three stars is wide: for the same money you'll get either a garden bungalow or a room in a chain hotel building. The difference usually comes down to the beach and how many steps to the water.

If you want sand at your feet, look at Maenam and Bophut. If nightlife matters more, go with Chaweng. For a quiet vacation with kids, Lamai and the eastern part of the island work well.

1. Escape Beach Resort

© Manfred Werner · CC BY-SAPhoto: Manfred Werner, CC BY-SA (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/), Wikimedia Commons

The resort sits right on Maenam Beach in the northern part of the island. Guests stay in bungalows with thatched roofs or in rooms in the main building, and the pool faces the sea (according to the hotel's official website). You can reach the shore in a minute.

A lush garden with orchids and heliconias, stone paths, and a terrace with loungers create a calm atmosphere. The restaurant serves Thai dishes, and in the evening you can watch the sunset from the wooden veranda. The tour desk arranges day trips and bicycle rentals.

• Location: Maenam Beach, 1 minute walk to the shore (according to the official website).
• Who it's for: couples and families who want a quiet beach and garden.
• Not for: those who want clubs and bars within walking distance.
• Price: Escape Beach Resort prices on Trip.com
• The catch: Fisherman's Village and cafes are a 10-15 minute trip away (according to the map), with few places nearby.

2. Ibis Samui Bophut

A chain hotel on the shore in Bophut, about 15 minutes from the airport (according to the hotel description on Accor). Rooms are modern, with air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, and the breakfast buffet is served from 6:00.

The interior design uses coffee, terracotta, and light green tones. They blend with the greenery of the park. Winding paths run through the grounds. There are large, unusually shaped pools, with a swim-up bar next to them. For kids, there's a playground and table tennis. The beach is a few meters away. Fisherman's Village and Bophut Pier, where boats leave for neighboring islands, are nearby. You can walk to the pier.

• Location: Bophut, beach at the hotel, pier and Fisherman's Village nearby.
• Who it's for: those who value chain service and predictable quality.
• Not for: those looking for an intimate, privately owned hotel.
• Price: ibis Samui Bophut prices on Trip.com

3. Viva Vacation Resort

© Kim Carter · CC BY-SAPhoto: Kim Carter, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

The resort sits on the shore of the Gulf of Thailand in a quiet part of the island. Spacious villas are set far apart, the interiors reflect Thai culture, and the windows open onto the ocean. A large garden, an adult pool, and a separate kids' pool with toys complete the picture.

The spa center offers various types of Thai massage. Guests can arrange diving and canoe trips. Show tickets can be booked for you on site. Bicycles are provided free of charge. Lipa Noi Beach starts right outside the gate, with small shops and cafes around.

• Location: a quiet stretch of shore, Lipa Noi Beach right outside the gate.
• Who it's for: couples and families who want seclusion by the sea.
• Not for: those who need nightlife nearby.
• Price: Viva Vacation Resort prices on Trip.com
• The catch: lively areas are far away, so you'll need a motorbike or taxi to get around.

4. Coco palm beach resort

The complex sits on Maenam Beach in a shady palm grove. Guests stay in spacious cottages with wooden furniture and private verandas. Kitchens are fully equipped, which makes the hotel a great fit for families. Here you can cook for yourself and save money.

The property has two pools with a pool bar, a spa, a mini-market, and car rental. The buffet breakfast includes porridge, omelets, cold cuts, fruit, and pastries, with kids' and dietary menus available. The hotel has its own stretch of beach with clean golden sand, and nearby there are shops, massage parlors, a pharmacy, and a currency exchange.

• Location: Maenam Beach, its own stretch of beach with golden sand.
• Who it's for: families with children and those who want a kitchen in their room.
• Not for: those who don't plan to cook for themselves.
• Price: Coco Palm Beach Resort prices on Trip.com

5. Smile House

Villas in several categories, from family to grand, are finished in natural wood. Each has its own carved veranda overlooking a tropical garden filled with rare plants. The hotel's concept is built around comfort and safety.

The facilities are simple but cover all the essentials: two pools, a beach with free loungers, and a beachfront restaurant. The chef will prepare any Thai dish and run a cooking class. Nearby there are two supermarkets, a market, and coffee shops, and once a week a carnival-style fair with shows takes place on the next street.

• Location: beach and garden on the property, shops and a market nearby.
• Who it's for: families and couples who value a garden and a quiet beach.
• Not for: those looking for a modern designer hotel.
• Price: Smile House prices on Trip.com

6. Baan Fah Resort

A calm option for a stay on Maenam Beach. Rooms are bright and equipped with modern appliances, and the staff is attentive and keeps service at a high level. The property has a pool, a sunbathing terrace, and gazebos for relaxing.

The restaurant sits right by the water, serving Thai and European dishes, with ocean views that change throughout the day. The tour desk organizes diving, snorkeling, and fishing, sells show tickets, and provides bicycles. Nearby there's a 7-Eleven, cafes, a massage parlor, and a night market.

• Location: Maenam Beach, restaurant by the sea.
• Who it's for: those who want quiet and simple logistics.
• Not for: fans of large resorts with entertainment programs.
• Price: Baan Fah Resort prices on Trip.com

7. Samui Mermaid Resort

The resort suits both active guests and those who came simply to lie by the sea. Rooms and cottages are decorated in light tones with bright accents, and cottage doors open straight to the water. From your room you step out into a well-kept garden.

Three pools with a pool bar and sunbathing areas, an open-air restaurant with international and Thai cuisine. Tables are arranged so you can enjoy your meal with a sea view. Guests can go diving, kayaking, and snorkeling, as well as take excursions to a crocodile farm. A 7-Eleven is within walking distance.

• Location: its own shoreline, cottages by the water.
• Who it's for: families and active couples who want excursions.
• Not for: those who want a room only in a new building.
• Price: Samui Mermaid Resort prices on Trip.com

8. COSI Samui Chaweng Beach

An urban-format hotel in central Chaweng. Rooms are done in white-and-blue and coffee-and-sage tones, with built-in appliances. A large open-air pool sits at the center of the complex, and on the roof you'll find a scenic pool with a photo zone and a snack bar.

Breakfast is served in a two-level restaurant with a designer interior, and drinks and snacks can be ordered to your room. The island's most popular beach is 400 meters away (on the map), with shops, clubs, a cabaret, a reggae pub, a supermarket, the Central Festival Samui mall, and a walking street nearby.

• Location: central Chaweng, 400 meters to the beach (on the map).
• Who it's for: young couples and those who want to stay in the middle of the action.
• Not for: families with small children, due to the noisy surroundings.
• Price: COSI Samui Chaweng Beach prices on Trip.com
• The catch: the beach is not at the hotel, but 400 meters away across the street.

9. Eden Beach Bungalows

Bungalows with an eclectic design: Scandinavian lines sit alongside Eastern details, reed mats and thatched roofs. The white-and-green palette creates a feeling of freshness and comfort.

Squirrels live in the garden and birds sing, and at the glass-walled pool you'll appreciate the designers' unusual solution. The restaurant offers Mediterranean, French and signature Thai cuisine. The hotel owns a section of Bophut Beach with loungers and umbrellas, Fisherman's Village is 7 minutes away (on the map), and a market, supermarket and pharmacy are nearby.

• Location: Bophut Beach, with a section of the beach reserved for the hotel.
• Who it's for: couples and lovers of design and nature.
• Not for: those who need large pools and entertainment programs.
• Price: Eden Beach Bungalows prices on Trip.com

10. Chaweng Cove Beach Resort

Apartments and villas are decorated in different palettes, from white-and-chocolate to soft azure. The buildings are surrounded by lush greenery and walking paths, and there are picnic spots.

There are three pools to choose from: a children's pool, a regular lap pool, and a multi-level pool. A sunbathing area and a swim-up bar are nearby. There's a gym, a game room and a library. The hotel has its own beach and restaurant. It serves Italian pastas, French soups and Eastern appetizers. Chaweng's walking street is a 5-minute walk away (on the map). This is the island's main clubbing district, and in the evening you'll be right in the middle of the action.

• Location: private beach, 5-minute walk to Chaweng's walking street (on the map).
• Who it's for: groups and couples who want both the beach and nightlife.
• Not for: those seeking complete quiet.
• Price: Chaweng Cove Beach Resort prices on Trip.com

11. Pinnacle Samui Resort

The resort offers apartments in the main building or standalone cottages. Wooden finishes, eco-friendly furniture and large covered terraces will appeal to those who value comfort. A stroll along the winding paths through the greenery and the views from the panoramic pool round out the experience.

© Elmschrat · CC BY-SAPhoto: Elmschrat, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The spa center offers massage, wellness treatments, peels and aromatherapy. There are fitness and gym rooms. The restaurant includes an indoor space with beach views and an open-air area along a palm-lined avenue. Live music plays in the evenings. Nearby there's a shopping center, a waterfront coffee shop and a pier with boats to Koh Phangan. A free shuttle runs from the hotel to all the island's beaches, so you don't need a car.

• Location: a quiet area with a garden, free shuttle to the island's beaches.
• Who it's for: couples and families who value spa and a relaxed pace.
• Not for: those who want to stay right by the water.
• Price: Pinnacle Samui Resort prices on Trip.com

12. Ark Bar Beach Resort

© Per Meistrup · CC BY-SAPhoto: Per Meistrup, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The hotel is geared toward large groups and anyone coming for entertainment. Rooms are decorated in a modern style, the staff is efficient, and the property has four bars with different music and signature cocktails.

Three pools, a large dance floor and a nightclub with live music and shows every day. Guests have access to Thai massage, in-room breakfast and billiards. A DJ plays in the evenings. The beach is nearby, and the lively part of town is all around: cafes, a reggae pub, a cabaret, shopping centers and seafood markets.

• Location: beach and bustling center within walking distance.
• Who it's for: groups and party lovers.
• Not for: families with children and those seeking quiet.
• Price: Ark Bar Beach Resort prices on Trip.com
• The catch: loud music and nighttime shows are a poor fit for a quiet vacation.

13. Samui Beach Resort

A cozy complex with a homey atmosphere. Classic bungalows with panoramic windows and convenient layouts sit in a well-kept garden with lawns, walkways, gazebos and barbecue areas.

The garden is decorated with sculptures of Apsaras and Buddha, and a small lagoon-shaped pool blends into the landscape. The hotel has a good beach with clean white sand. The restaurant prepares Thai dishes with local spices and Italian appetizers. The tour desk arranges excursions, and on your own it's worth checking out the seafood markets, Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks, the aquarium and the mummified monk.

• Location: private white-sand beach.
• Who it's for: families and couples who value a garden and a quiet beach.
• Not for: those who need clubs within walking distance.
• Price: Samui Beach Resort prices on Trip.com

14. Samui Beach Residence Hotel

© Roma Neus · CC BYPhoto: Roma Neus, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), Wikimedia Commons

An urban complex with rooms in all popular categories, from studios to executive suites. Snow-white interiors are accented with flowers and bright accessories, and the lounge area opens onto a pond with fish.

The hosts help arrange excursions and active recreation. The restaurant menu covers Thai, Mediterranean, American, Japanese, Chinese and Indian cuisine, and food can be ordered to your room. The hotel is on a busy street, with nightclubs, a cabaret, pubs, markets and shopping centers nearby. Chaweng Beach is a 3-4 minute walk away (on the map).

• Location: center, 3-4 minutes on foot to Chaweng Beach (on the map).
• Who it's for: those who want to stay near entertainment and restaurants.
• Not for: those who need a quiet beach hotel.
• Price: Samui Beach Residence Hotel prices on Trip.com
• The catch: the beach is not at the hotel, but a few minutes' walk across the street.

15. Crystal Bay Yacht Club Beach Resort

The resort spreads across gentle hills, so its grounds are large and multi-level. Villas are surrounded by tropical greenery, and the air is filled with the freshness of the sea and the scent of flowering plants. Terraces open onto wide, picturesque views.

Several pools with lighting, barbecue areas, viewing platforms, billiards, table tennis and a children's playground. In the evenings, live music plays in the restaurant and a chef's dinner is served. The beach starts right outside the gate, and a free transfer runs to Chaweng. Family Mart, coffee shops and pharmacies are nearby.

• Location: beach outside the gates, free shuttle to Chaweng.
• Who it's for: families and couples who want space and greenery.
• Not for: those who find walking on hills difficult.
• Price: prices at Crystal Bay Yacht Club Beach Resort on Trip.com

16. HACIA Leisure Resort

A resort for those who want to feel close to nature. Modern interiors, a soft color palette and well-equipped rooms, with balconies overlooking a garden filled with rare tropical plants and colorful sculptures.

The property has several pools, including a children's pool, a massage salon, a photo zone, loungers and umbrellas. Guests can enjoy billiards, ping-pong, fishing, snorkeling and bicycle rental. Lamai Beach is 400 meters away (on the map), the town's main street is a 10-minute walk, and massage salons, bars and a supermarket are nearby.

• Location: Lamai, 400 meters to the beach (on the map).
• Who it's for: families and couples who love gardens and a quiet vacation.
• Not for: those who want a room right by the sea.
• Price: prices at HACIA Leisure Resort on Trip.com

17. Saboey Resort and Villas

The villas are decorated in a classic Thai style with wooden elements, reed decor, and wall ornaments. Panoramic window-doors lead straight into the garden and connect the house with nature.

For wellness, there is a hydromassage aqua zone, a panoramic pool overlooking the ocean, and a spa. Staff can arrange diving, fishing, a trip to a water park, and island tours, and will offer you a bicycle. The restaurant sits right on the seashore, where you can pair dinner with a sunset view. Nearby are shops, bars, currency exchange points, Bangrak Pier, a crocodile farm, and a Buddha statue.

• Location: seashore, with infrastructure within walking distance.
• Who it's for: couples and those who appreciate Thai style and ocean views.
• Not for: those who need large pools and entertainment programs.
• Price: prices at Saboey Resort and Villas on Trip.com

18. Lamai Coconut Beach Resort

A complex with a strong price-to-quality ratio. Rooms in the main building and separate bungalows are done in a Thai style with modern details, and a warm palette sets a peaceful mood.

The infrastructure is well thought out: elevators, walking paths, flower beds, and garden sculptures. The restaurant prepares local and international dishes, Italian pizza, and seafood appetizers, with a separate children's menu and babysitting services. Guests have access to various types of massage, an azure pool, mini golf, bicycles, live music, and show tickets.

• Location: central Lamai with developed infrastructure.
• Who it's for: families with children and those looking for a balance of price and amenities.
• Not for: those who need a beach exclusively for hotel guests.
• Price: prices at Lamai Coconut Beach Resort on Trip.com

19. Chaweng Garden Beach Resort

A complex in a classic Thai style: cottages with pointed roofs, wooden elements, fabric accessories, and window-doors opening into the garden. A long winding pool, like a transparent river, stretches between the cottages.

There is also a massage salon and a snack bar. Breakfast is served as a buffet with fruit, pastries, cheeses, and seafood. The beach starts right at the hotel, a clean area with golden sand and comfortable loungers. Central Festival shopping center is 300 meters away (on the map), with Ark Bar, pubs, cabaret, and clubs nearby.

• Location: beach at the hotel, Central Festival 300 meters away (on the map).
• Who it's for: those who want both the beach and nightlife nearby.
• Not for: those seeking quiet away from bars.
• Price: prices at Chaweng Garden Beach Resort on Trip.com

20. Crystal Bay Beach Resort

Apartments with an elegant palette, wooden terraces, and stylish decor. Balconies open onto views of the ocean and picturesque cliffs, and the atmosphere sets a harmonious mood.

Breakfast is served buffet style, and lunch and dinner offer a large menu with dishes from various cuisines. For relaxation, there is a spa center with different types of massage and an aqua zone with a pool. Active guests can arrange diving, snorkeling, golf, fishing, and tours to neighboring islands. The beach area has clean sea and soft white sand, with two supermarkets, a fruit market, and souvenir shops nearby.

• Location: beach with white sand and cliffs.
• Who it's for: couples and those who want a quiet seaside vacation.
• Not for: those who need a center with clubs.
• Price: prices at Crystal Bay Beach Resort on Trip.com

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

How much does a three-star hotel on Koh Samui cost?

The price depends on the season and area. In Chaweng and Lamai, rates are higher in high season; in Mae Nam and Bophut, it is quieter and cheaper. Check the exact cost for your dates on booking sites; we provided a link for comparing rooms in each hotel description above.

Which area of Koh Samui should I choose for a first visit?

Chaweng works well for a first trip: a long beach, cafes, shops, and clubs within walking distance. If you are coming for quiet, choose Mae Nam or Bophut in the north. Lamai sits in the middle: quieter than Chaweng, but with restaurants and markets nearby.

Do three-star hotels have their own beach?

Not all of them. Escape Beach Resort, Chaweng Cove Beach Resort, and Samui Beach Resort are right by the water. COSI Samui Chaweng Beach, Samui Beach Residence Hotel, and HACIA Leisure Resort are located 300-400 meters from the shore (on the map). Check the distance to the beach in the hotel description.

Do I need to book an airport transfer in advance?

Samui Airport is small; from Bophut it takes about 15 minutes to reach it (according to the official ibis website). A transfer booked in advance saves you from haggling with taxi drivers at the exit. The drive to Chaweng takes about 10 minutes (on the map). Check prices when booking; they depend on the hotel's area.

When is the best time to visit Koh Samui?

The dry season falls in the winter and spring months, and most of the rain comes in autumn (according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand). In high season, hotels are more expensive and worth booking in advance. In low season, prices are lower, but some beach establishments close.

In short: what to book

In short, the choice comes down to the area and type of accommodation, and then budget decides.

Compare rooms across the island in advance. Book your airport transfer before you fly. That will save you time.