The Lost Resort Koh Samet — a Budget Guesthouse in a Quiet Lane Near Ao Phe, Koh Samet
Let's be straight from the start: The Lost Resort Koh Samet is not a beachfront resort with sea views — it's a budget guesthouse tucked into a quiet lane on the Ao Phe–Ao Tubtim side of Koh Samet, and it's British-owned · the selling point is one of the cheapest rates on the island, from around THB 800/night for a simple AC room with a TV, fridge, hot water and en-suite bathroom · it's roughly a 5–10 min walk to the beach · it suits budget travelers who want a cheap bed and plan to spend all day out on the sand far more than anyone expecting a plush seaside resort · rated 3.2 out of 5, ranked #13 of 24 hotels on Koh Samet on Tripadvisor — numbers that tell you plainly this is a budget place to stay, not a luxury one
The big picture and who this suits — to put it as simply as possible, The Lost Resort Koh Samet is a budget guesthouse built around the idea of "sleep cheap, then go out and enjoy the island" · it isn't a beachfront resort, there's no fancy lobby, no lavish breakfast buffet, and it doesn't sell you a balcony over the waves · what it does sell is a simple AC room in a quiet lane from around THB 800/night, which is noticeably cheaper than the average stay on Koh Samet · the British ownership gives the place a backpacker-guesthouse vibe mixed with a friendly, casual feel · the people this really suits are budget travelers, couples on a tight budget, or groups of friends who plan to swim, hang out on the beach, and eat and drink by the sea all day, then come back just to shower and sleep · if you're after a sea-view resort, a pretty pool, or hotel-level service, this isn't the answer, and you should look at the resorts on Hat Sai Kaew or Ao Prao instead · but if your main goal is to keep accommodation cheap so you can spend on activities and meals, this place does its job for what you pay
Location and getting there — the thing you most need to be clear on with The Lost Resort is that it's in a lane, not on the beach · the place sits on the Ao Phe–Ao Tubtim side, which is a fairly quiet zone of Koh Samet, not as lively as Hat Sai Kaew · from the guesthouse it's about a 5–10 min walk to the nearest beaches such as Ao Phai or Ao Tubtim, partly along a slope · Hat Sai Kaew, the island's main beach, isn't far — you can walk or hop on a songthaew · getting to Koh Samet starts at Ban Phe pier (around a 3 hr drive from Bangkok, or a minivan/coach to Ban Phe), then a passenger ferry or speedboat across to the island, landing at Na Dan pier or the Ao Phe pier, then a songthaew into the lane to the guesthouse · one thing the real reviews agree on is that, despite the "quiet and away from the bustle" pitch, the lane itself is a road with motorbikes and delivery trucks passing through, so at times you do hear traffic — it isn't dead silent like a resort in the forest · if you don't have your own transport on the island, be prepared for the uphill walk and for flagging down songthaews, which charge per trip
"The room was small but clean enough and the AC was nice and cold — really cheap compared with everywhere else on the island · a few minutes' walk to the beach, perfect if you're here to sleep cheap and be out all day and aren't expecting anything fancy."
Rooms and décor — the rooms at The Lost Resort are simple guesthouse rooms that match the price · what you definitely get is AC, a TV, a fridge, hot water and a private en-suite bathroom · some rooms have a small balcony looking out over the tropical garden around the property — not a sea view · some reviews mention thoughtful touches for a budget guesthouse, such as insect screens and a TV that takes a Firestick for streaming · a frequent compliment is that the beds are comfortable and the Wi-Fi is fast and works well in the room, which surprises a lot of people for a guesthouse at this price · but to be honest, there are plenty of complaints about the state of the rooms too · several reviews mention the building feeling old and worn, some metalwork being rusty, and the recurring issue of cleanliness and inconsistent changing of bed linen and towels during a stay · the overall picture is a room that's "fine to sleep in" for anyone who sets their expectations at budget-guesthouse level, but you'll be let down straight away if you expect hotel-level polish · the honest advice is to ask to see the room before check-in if you can, and if you're staying several nights, request linen changes and cleaning at intervals
Facilities and the pool question — this needs to be spelled out because a lot of people get it wrong: The Lost Resort does not guarantee a swimming pool · the information from different sources doesn't line up, and some don't mention a pool at all, so if a pool matters to your trip, call or message the property directly to confirm before booking — don't assume there is one · what genuinely exists and gets mentioned is the shady tropical garden around the property, a terrace/seating area, massage service, bicycle rental, a kids' play area, parking, and free Wi-Fi throughout · the overall feel is a guesthouse-in-a-garden, quiet at night, suiting people who like simplicity and nature · the thing real reviews warn about most often is mosquitoes · because the place is in a lane in the middle of a garden and off the beach, mosquitoes come out in numbers in the evening, so bring your own repellent or spray and make good use of the insect screens and closed doors and windows
Food and nearby spots — food isn't this place's selling point · reviews of the breakfast lean middling to so-so — some say there is breakfast but nothing special, others say you'll find better food at the beach and the restaurants around the island · the upside of the location is that, even though it's in a lane, it isn't far from Koh Samet's beachside dining and bar zone — walk out toward the beach and you'll find seafood places, made-to-order joints, and the island's beach bars · so a lot of people use The Lost Resort just as a place to sleep and eat out for the most part, which fits a style of keeping accommodation cheap so you can spend on meals and activities instead · one tip is to bring some drinking water and snacks over from the Ban Phe side, since prices on the island run higher than on the mainland, as is normal for tourist islands
Service — the service at The Lost Resort is where reviews clearly give a two-sided picture · the good side: a fair number of reviews say the staff are friendly and kind and helpful with laundry and small requests, and the British owner means English communication with foreign guests works to a degree, even if the other staff don't speak much English · the side to watch: there are reviews, especially older ones, that criticize the service and the management's attitude as unfriendly at times, plus slow service in the restaurant · because it's a small guesthouse-level place, the service standard comes down mainly to the people and the timing — there's no chain-hotel system behind it · in short, if you approach it casually and set your expectations to the price, most people will get reasonable care, but you shouldn't expect full-on professional service
What real reviews say (the good and the bad) — pulling from Tripadvisor and Booking.com, the picture is fairly consistent for a budget stay · on the praise side: very cheap compared with other stays on Koh Samet, fast Wi-Fi that works well in the room, comfortable beds, cold AC, quiet at night and good for resting, some staff kind and helpful, and a few minutes' walk to the beach · on the watch-out side: the most-mentioned issue is inconsistent cleanliness and room upkeep, especially not changing bed linen and towels during multi-night stays · next is lots of mosquitoes in the evening because it's in the middle of a garden and off the beach, the building and some fittings being old, worn and rusty, the "not really beachfront" location that means an uphill walk, and the noise of motorbikes/trucks in the lane during the day · overall, the 3.2 out of 5 and the #13 of 24 ranking on Koh Samet on Tripadvisor reflect its position accurately — a budget stay that covers the basics, but not one that will impress on luxury or polish
"You get what you pay for — the room is basic and clean enough, and the internet was surprisingly fast · but the mosquitoes in the evening were brutal, so pack repellent, and it isn't beachfront like I thought, you have to walk up a bit of a hill to reach the sea."
Price comparison and value — The Lost Resort's biggest strength is the price · AC rooms start at around THB 800/night on weekdays, cheaper than the Koh Samet average, which usually climbs into the thousands of baht per night · compared with beachfront resorts on Hat Sai Kaew or Ao Prao that start at several times the price, The Lost Resort delivers value in the sense of "sleeping near the sea on a budget" · but that value comes with trade-offs: no sea view, no guaranteed pool, an old room, inconsistent cleanliness, and an uphill walk to the beach · put simply, it's worth it for people who weigh the "price per night" most heavily and use the room just to sleep, but it won't be worth it at all if you're expecting an island-resort experience · over long weekends and high season (November–April), accommodation rates across the whole island go up and cheap rooms like these fill fast, so book ahead and compare prices across several platforms first
Things to know before you book — a few things help you avoid disappointment · one, understand that this is a guesthouse in a lane, not a beachfront resort, around a 5–10 min walk to the sea with a slope · two, bring your own mosquito repellent and spray, since the evenings are full of mosquitoes, as the reviews consistently warn · three, if a pool matters, ask the property directly to confirm before booking — don't assume there is one · four, if you're staying several nights, request linen and towel changes and cleaning at intervals from the start · five, ask to see the room before check-in if you can, and pick one in better condition · six, this is a small hotel that may not be on every online booking platform — Booking.com has a listing, while on Agoda try searching the hotel name directly, and check the price and availability against your dates before you pay
The verdict — from all the real reviews, The Lost Resort Koh Samet is a budget stay that covers the basics at one of the cheapest rates on the island · if you're a budget traveler, a backpacker, or a couple/group of friends who plan to swim and explore the island all day and just want a clean-enough AC room, fast internet, and a comfortable bed at a light price near the sea — this place does that and is worth the money · but if you're expecting a beachfront resort, a sea view from the balcony, a pool, spotless cleanliness everywhere, and hotel-level service, this isn't the answer, and you should add to your budget and stay on Hat Sai Kaew, Ao Prao, or Ao Tubtim, which are actually beachfront · the key is matching your expectations to the price — once you understand it's a budget guesthouse in a lane and not a luxury resort, The Lost Resort is a workable choice for anyone who wants to do Koh Samet on the cheap
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Very cheap compared with other stays on Koh Samet
- ✓ Fast Wi-Fi that works well in the room
- ✓ Comfortable beds, cold AC, quiet at night
- ✓ A few minutes' walk to the beach
- ! Cleanliness and linen changes during a stay are inconsistent
- ! Lots of mosquitoes in the evening, as it's in a garden and off the beach
- ! The building and some fittings are old, worn and rusty
- ✓ Good value on price per night for budget travelers
- ✓ Basic rooms that are clean enough, with AC, TV, fridge and hot water
- ✓ Some staff are friendly and helpful
- ✓ Quiet-lane location, good for resting
- ! Not beachfront — you have to walk uphill to the sea
- ! No guaranteed pool, ask before booking
- ! Plain breakfast and slow service in the restaurant
- 💡If you're expecting a beachfront resort with sea views and a pool — this is a guesthouse in a lane, a 5–10 min uphill walk to the beach, with no guaranteed pool → add to your budget and stay on Hat Sai Kaew, Ao Prao, or Ao Tubtim, which are actually beachfront
- 💡If you're serious about cleanliness and room polish — reviews criticize the old rooms and inconsistent linen changes → ask to see the room before check-in, request linen changes at intervals, or choose a higher-tier stay
- 💡If you're worried about mosquitoes and insects — the place is in the middle of a garden and off the beach, and the evenings are full of mosquitoes, as reviews warn → bring your own repellent/spray and keep the insect screens and doors and windows closed