Where to Stay in Rayong?
12 Hotels We've Written Up
Compare Prices on 3 Sites!

The top score in this guide at 9.4 — Paradee is a 5-star luxury resort of 40 pool villas at Ao Kiu, the southern tip of Koh Samet that cars can't reach, so you arrive by the resort's own speedboat from Ban Phe. That's exactly what keeps the beach so quiet and private. Real guest reviews praise the attentive service, the near-empty beach and the large, airy villas, though some mention plastic litter drifting in from other parts of the island and the remote location making it hard to go out. TripAdvisor ranks it #1 of 24 hotels on Koh Samet. Best for couples and honeymooners who want to switch off completely.

Le Vimarn is a 5-star Samed Resorts property on Ao Prao Beach, on Koh Samet's quieter west coast, with 31 hillside cottages and villas, scoring 9.3. The draw is Ao Prao itself — quieter than Hat Sai Kaew, with water clear enough to snorkel coral straight off the beach — plus sea views from rooms set into the slope, many with a terrace soaking tub. Real guest reviews praise staff who remember your name and the woodwork that blends into the hillside, while noting you must take a resort speedboat into Ao Prao, in-resort drinks are pricey, and the bay is so quiet there's almost nothing outside the resort. TripAdvisor #2 on Koh Samet. Best for couples and honeymooners.

Rayong Marriott is a 5-star Marriott beachfront resort on Wang Kaew Beach in Klaeng that you can drive right up to — no boat needed — and it's the most-reviewed 5-star here at 508 reviews, scoring 9.0. The draw is a long private beach, three saltwater pools and acres of space for kids to roam all day. Real guest reviews praise the size of the grounds, the breakfast and the international brand standards, while noting the remote location with little nearby and some parts starting to show their age. Best for families who want a private beach and several pools with big-chain reliability.

Sai Kaew is a 4-star Samed Resorts property right on Hat Sai Kaew, and the most-reviewed hotel in this guide — 581 reviews, scoring 9.0. The draw is a central Hat Sai Kaew location where you can walk to everything — the sea, restaurants and nightlife — plus three pools and an evening live-music fire show. Real guest reviews praise the location and convenience, while being clear that Hat Sai Kaew is the busiest beach on the island and some room zones still await renovation. Best for those who want to be in the thick of Koh Samet's buzz.

Tubtim Resort is a wooden-bungalow resort right on quiet Ao Thapthim beach, with the highest score in the mid-to-value tier at 9.2. The draw is the white sand of Ao Thapthim, where you can walk straight into the sea from your porch, traditional Thai wooden bungalows and a restaurant by the waves. Real guest reviews praise the beachfront setting and the easy-going island feel, but are honest that the resort has run since 1981 — the bungalows are rustic and some show their age — and reviews are still few (43). Best for those who like an old-school island vibe at an accessible price.

Ao Prao Resort is a 4-star Samed Resorts boutique property on the same Ao Prao bay as Le Vimarn, but starting at a lighter price, scoring 9.0 from 190 reviews. The draw is the same quiet, clear-water Ao Prao with snorkelling off the beach and hillside rooms with sea views, at a price more reachable than the luxury resort on the same bay. Real guest reviews praise the beach and the value, while noting the boat transfer into Ao Prao and that some rooms still await renovation. Best for those who want the Ao Prao feel without paying 5-star rates.

Kantary Bay is a 4-star hotel and serviced apartment by Mae Ramphueng Beach on the mainland — drivable, with in-room kitchens, scoring 9.0 from 157 reviews. The draw is spacious apartment-style rooms with kitchens, two pools and plenty of activities, ideal for families or longer stays, with food and convenience stores nearby. Real guest reviews praise the room size and value, while noting Mae Ramphueng is a public beach across the road, some rooms are older and there can be road noise. Best for families wanting a beachfront kitchen room at a friendly price.

Vimarn Samed is a sea-view resort on a headland between Ao Phai and Ao Wong Duean, with the sea on three sides, scoring 9.0 from 148 reviews. The draw is wide-open sea views from the balcony, a pool facing the sea, and a short walk to both Ao Phai and Ao Wong Duean beaches. Real guest reviews praise the views and the calm, while noting that the resort sits on a cliff rather than right on the sand, some rooms show their age, and opinions on breakfast are mixed. Best for those who love an elevated sea view at a value price.

Star Convention is a 4-star city hotel in Rayong Town with big rooms, where you can walk down into the Star IT Center mall, scoring 8.8 from 123 reviews. The draw is larger-than-standard rooms, good breakfast, two pools, a gym and sauna — handy for work, conference, transit or longer stays. Real guest reviews praise the room size and value, but are honest that the building is older and this isn't a beach resort: if you've come for the sea, you'll need to drive on to Ban Phe or Mae Ramphueng. Best for budget-minded travellers using the town as a base.

Centara Q is a 4-star Centara boutique resort on Mae Phim Beach in Klaeng that you can drive right up to — no boat, scoring 8.2 from 132 reviews. The draw is the long, quiet Mae Phim Beach, sea-view rooms and a beachfront pool at an accessible price. Real guest reviews praise the beach and the friendly service, but are honest that the resort has run for years, some areas show their age and it's fairly far from town — hence its place near the end of the guide. Best for those who want a quiet drivable beach in the 4-star bracket.

Banphe Hostel is the cheapest stay in this guide — dorms from just ฿450 — right next to Ban Phe Pier, scoring 8.9 from 66 reviews. The draw is being closest to the pier, so you can walk straight onto the boat to Koh Samet, plus a warm hands-on owner, a shared kitchen and free bikes. Real guest reviews praise the location and the owner's care, while being clear that the building is older, fan rooms get hot and bathrooms are shared. Best for budget travellers crossing to Koh Samet who want to sleep right by the pier.

Stay Samed is a value Koh Samet hostel within a few minutes' walk of Hat Sai Kaew and the pier, scoring 8.7. The draw is clean air-con dorms with privacy curtains and an in-house café serving all-day breakfast — ideal for solo travellers or backpackers who'd rather save on the room and spend on activities. Real guest reviews praise the clean dorms and the location, but are honest that reviews are still very few (5), it's not on the beach, there's no sea view from the rooms, and some private rooms look older than the photos. Best for budget-focused backpackers.