Thailand4Families

Where to stay with kids

Koh Samui with kids

The Gulf-side island, with a different weather pattern to Phuket and Krabi. That makes it the usual pick for UK summer holidays. Calm bays, easy short transfers, a bit pricier to reach.

A note from Ron

Koh Samui is my answer for UK families travelling in July and August, when the Andaman side is rough and red-flagged. Choeng Mon and Bophut are the easy picks with little ones. Getting there takes a bit more planning, either a flight in or a flight plus a ferry, so sort that first.

Best monthsJan to Aug (wettest Oct to Dec)
Good forUK summer holidays, calm bays
Family hotels4

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Family hotels

Filter by your kids' ages and how many of you there are. Room names are exactly what to search for on the booking page.

Kids' ages
How many of you

Melia Koh Samui

Choeng Mon, on the beach · Checked 24 Oct 2026

Under 55-11
Rooms for 5+
None listed. Five of you means two rooms.
Kids club
Yes, free. Ages not published.

Heads upNo lift, so strollers are hard work, and the main pool gets crowded. Family Suites are set up for 2 adults + 2 kids, so 5 of you means two rooms.

More details
  • Under 5: Kids' water park with shallow-entry areas, calm beach.
  • 5-11: Free kids club and splash park.

Pools: Beachfront pool with a kids' water park and shallow areas.

Beach: On Choeng Mon: soft sand, calmer water.

Walkable: Yes, to Choeng Mon's small high street.

Sources: The Koh Samui Guide, TripAdvisor family reviews

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Anantara Bophut Koh Samui

Bophut, on the beach · Checked 24 Oct 2026

5-1112+
Rooms for 5+
  • Two Bedroom Family Suite, sleeps not published. 114 m². Ask the hotel how many it takes
Kids club
Baan Ling Noi, 9am-6pm. Ages not published. Some activities cost extra.

Heads upNo kids' pool, and reviewers say the pool's planting and layout make it hard to keep an eye on little ones.

More details
  • Under 5: No dedicated kids' pool.
  • 5-11: Kids club, short walk to Fisherman's Village.
  • 12+: Watersports lessons for 12+ and a walkable village.

Pools: One big infinity pool. No kids' pool.

Beach: On Bophut beach: sheltered, shallow water.

Walkable: Yes, under 10 minutes to Fisherman's Village.

Sources: The Koh Samui Guide, TripAdvisor family reviews

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Holiday Inn Resort Samui Bophut Beach

Bophut, on the beach by Fisherman's Village · Checked 24 Oct 2026

Under 55-11
Rooms for 5+
  • 2 Bedroom Family Suite, sleeps 5. Per booking-site listings, so confirm
  • Connecting family rooms. Reviews say some open onto the playground
Kids club
Jungle's Book, free, up to age 12. Under-4s with a parent or sitter. 9am-9pm (closed 5-6pm).

Heads upSlippery tiles around the pool, and some suites hear the bar and the night market.

More details
  • Under 5: Splash pad and play park. Under-4s can join the club with a parent.
  • 5-11: Free Jungle's Book kids club up to 12, open into the evening.
  • 12+: Older kids may outgrow it.

Pools: Splash pad and kids' play park.

Beach: On Bophut beach. Reviews say the sand is coarse.

Walkable: Yes, a short walk to Fisherman's Village.

Sources: Holiday Inn Samui (kids club), Holiday Inn Samui (rooms), TripAdvisor family reviews

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Santiburi Koh Samui

Maenam, on the beach · Checked 24 Oct 2026

Under 55-1112+
Rooms for 5+
  • Two Bedroom Duplex Suite, sleeps 5. 5 adults or 4 adults + 2 children
  • Two Bedroom Deluxe Beachfront Villa with Jacuzzi, sleeps 6. 6 adults or 4 adults + 2 children
Kids club
Yes, from about age 3-4 (sources differ), 9am-6pm.

Heads upMaenam is very quiet with little to do outside the resort. The evening kids club only runs on Thursdays.

More details
  • Under 5: Shaded kids' pool, flat grounds, club from about 3-4.
  • 5-11: Kids club, playground and trampoline.
  • 12+: Two-bedroom suites and villas give teens their own room.

Pools: Separate shaded kids' pool.

Beach: Directly on Maenam beach.

Walkable: Flat grounds, but little to walk to outside the resort.

Sources: Tropical Sky (rooms), The Koh Samui Guide

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Nothing matches all of those. Try resetting one filter, or ask in the group.

Still not sure? Post your dates, your kids' ages and the two places you're stuck between in the group. Families who've just been there are often happy to chime in.

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Five or more of you? Every room that sleeps 5 or 6

Which area?

Pick the area first. It decides your days more than the hotel does.

Choeng Mon

Quiet bay with soft sand and a small, walkable high street.

Under 55-11

Calm water and short airport transfer.

Walkable: yes

Beach: Calmer water, soft sand.

Bophut and Fisherman's Village

Sheltered beach next to Fisherman's Village and its old wooden shophouses.

Under 55-1112+

Shallow, tame water, and evenings out on foot.

Walkable: yes. The village gets crowded, keep kids close

Beach: Shallow and sheltered.

Maenam

Huge, mostly empty beach with flat roads, very quiet.

5-1112+

Good for families who want quiet. Little to do outside the resort.

Walkable: flat, but not much to walk to

Beach: Long and empty.

Lamai

Busy like Chaweng but calmer, without the big nightlife.

Under 55-1112+

Best swimming toward the south end.

Walkable: yes

Beach: Reviews differ on waves. A rock-sheltered pool at the south tip.

Chaweng

The island's busiest strip and nightlife.

Why families often skip it: loud and near impossible with a buggy. The south end is calmer.

Getting there

From Samui airport

Short hops: about 10 minutes to Choeng Mon, 15 to Bophut and 20 to Maenam.

The mainland route

Fly to Surat Thani, drive to Donsak pier, then take a fast ferry (about 45 min) or the car ferry (about 1.5 hours). Allow about 3 hours door to door, and check which Samui pier your ticket lands at.

Car seats

Ask when you book. Private transfers on Klook offer them as an add-on, and shared transfers usually can't promise one.

Beaches with kids

Choeng Mon

Soft sand and calmer water, an easy toddler beach.

Bophut

Shallow and sheltered. Some stretches have coarse sand.

Lamai (south end)

The rock-sheltered pool at the southern tip is the calmest spot.

The one rule

Red flag means no swimming. On the Gulf side the roughest seas are usually Oct to Dec.

Things to do with kids

Ang Thong Marine Park by big boat

Not recommended for babies and toddlersAbout 8 hoursPark fee THB 300 adult, 150 child, cash

Strong sun and sometimes rough water. The big boat is steadier than a speedboat. Check there are kids' life jackets.

Check on Klook

Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem

All ages1-2 hoursFree (donations welcome)

About 72 steps up to the Big Buddha. Cover shoulders and knees.

Na Muang 1 waterfall

All agesShort walk from the car parkFree

Can be crowded. Na Muang 2 is a 30-minute uphill walk, better for older kids.

Fisherman's Village walking street

All agesFridays 5-11pmFree

Street food and stalls. It gets busy, so keep little ones close.

Santiburi day pass

All agesFull dayIncludes food and drink credit

Pool, beach and kids club for the day, handy if your own hotel has no kids' facilities.

Check on Klook

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