Paradee Resort — a private cove at Ao Kiu, the southern tip of Koh Samet
Drive to Phe Pier, board the resort's own speedboat and ride past the crowded main beaches for about 20 minutes — to the southern tip of Koh Samet, an area called Ao Kiu. There, Paradee Resort lays out 40 pool villas with steep pitched roofs on a near-empty white-sand beach. It's a corner of Koh Samet many people don't know exists, because cars can't reach it. A 5-star luxury resort with two beaches — one for sunrise, one for sunset. Villas start from approx. THB 12,000/night.
Paradee isn't on Sai Kaew Beach or the coves where most day-trippers land. The resort sits at Ao Kiu, the southern tip of Koh Samet, the island's narrowest point — so narrow it has a beach on each side, one facing the sunrise and one the sunset. Cars can't reach it, so getting here means taking the resort's speedboat from Phe Pier. That sounds like a hassle, but it's exactly what keeps the beach quiet and genuinely private.
All 40 villas are standalone buildings with steep pitched roofs and high vaulted ceilings, each over 100 sqm. The entry-level Garden Villa sits in the garden, while the one reviews talk about most is the Beach Front Pool Villa, with a private infinity pool opening straight onto the white sand. Each has an outdoor sala for dining or lying in the sea breeze. Many reviews say you open the door in the morning and the sand and sea are right there — a feeling you don't get from ordinary stays on the island.
"From the private speedboat to and from the island to the outstanding service everywhere in the resort, this was truly one of the most wonderful holidays we've had."
What guests praise over and over is the attentive, smiling service. Small touches stick in the memory — afternoon tea served on the beach, complimentary ice cream after lunch. It's a resort that looks after guests warmly rather than being merely luxurious and cold. TripAdvisor ranks it #1 of 24 hotels on Koh Samet with 4.8 out of 5 (978 reviews), and Trip.com gives it 9.4 from 84 reviews — consistency that says a lot.
On food, most reviews say the meals are good and not overpriced for a resort of this level — fair on an island where everything has to be brought across the sea. There's a spa, an outdoor pool, kayaking and snorkelling over reefs near the beach. The overall mood leans toward calm and privacy, suited to couples, honeymooners or anyone who genuinely wants to switch off.
To be honest, the one thing guests do flag is plastic rubbish and empty bottles that wash onto the beach from other parts of the island, especially when the current pushes in — not the resort's doing, but a wider problem for these waters that the staff clear daily and still can't fully prevent. The other point is access: miss a speedboat slot and you wait for the next one, so plan your timing.
In short, Paradee suits travellers after the quietest, most private version of Koh Samet, willing to pay for calm and good service. If you want nightlife, markets or to hop between beaches often, Ao Kiu's remoteness may not fit. But if you've come to settle in for long, lazy days with the beach, a private pool and a near-empty sea — this delivers that better than anywhere else on Koh Samet.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Very quiet private beach with almost no other tourists
- ✓ Attentive, smiling service that looks after the details
- ✓ Spacious pool villas; private infinity pool opening onto the sea
- ✓ Convenient speedboat transfer — it feels like a private island
- ! High rates — best for a special trip or honeymoon
- ! Far end of the island, so other beaches and nightlife are hard to reach
- ! Rubbish occasionally washes onto the beach from elsewhere on the island
- ✓ Ao Kiu is the prettiest and quietest spot on Koh Samet
- ✓ Large villas with high vaulted ceilings that catch the sea breeze
- ✓ Beach afternoon tea and free ice cream are touches guests love
- ✓ Good food, fairly priced for an island resort
- ! You depend on speedboat slots — miss one and you wait
- ! Reef clarity varies by season; water can be murky when the surf is up
- ! High-season and long-weekend rates climb fast
- 💡If you want to tour several beaches, hit night markets or move around a lot — Ao Kiu is at the island's tip and you always rely on the speedboat → a stay near Sai Kaew Beach is more flexible.
- 💡If you're travelling as a large family with young children — the mood is calm and couple/honeymoon-oriented → check villa types and children's facilities before booking.
- 💡If you're booking a long weekend or high season — beachfront villas are limited and sell out fast → book ahead and lock in free cancellation first.