Saikaew Beach Resort

If your plan for Koh Samet is to walk about four steps from your room to the sand and stay there, this is the sort of place that makes it easy. It sits right on Sai Kaew, the island's busiest beach, and it's run by Samed Resorts, so the standard is a step up from the wooden bungalows further along the coast. Three pools, a spa, an open-air restaurant looking out at the water, bright rooms built around the view. You could genuinely stay put for three days.

The trade-off is the beach itself. Sai Kaew is where everyone goes, which means jet skis, deck chairs and noise until late. If you want quiet sand, you're on the wrong stretch of the island. If you want a beach with life on it and a comfortable base behind you, this works.

It's a weekend run from Bangkok, and half of Bangkok has the same idea. Fridays, Saturdays and Thai public holidays fill up fast, so book early for those.