New Resorts Take Thailand's Samed Island Up-Market

The six-kilometre island 72 kms southeast of Pattaya in the Gulf of Thailand has long been popular with backpackers and Bangkok-based weekenders attracted to the island's squeaky white sands and fringing coral reefs.

The 40-villa Paradee Resort at the southern tip of Samed (sometimes also spelled "Samet") will be fully operational by 1 November 2006 and is already running at 50% occupancy. The Paradee has a spa centre with four private treatment rooms.

The four-star Le Vimarn Resort in Samed, which has a beach-view two-storey spa centre, has just finished upgrades to four honeymoon cottages, which are already popular with newly-weds.

On the same beach, the four star Ao Phrao Resort, which includes a two-bedroom hilltop suite overlooking the beach, will refurbish next year.

The three-star Sai Kaew Resort in the northeast of Samed island opened an additional 30 cottages and a swimming pool in its garden area last year and will open its La Luna Italian beachside restaurant in September.

At the northern end of the island, Mooban Talay Resort also offers international-class accommodation.

"New resort facilities on Samed island now offer a much wider range of options at the middle and upper end of the market that weren't there a few years ago," said Mr Chanchai Doungjit, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Rayong and Chanthaburi office, which is responsible for marketing this part of Thailand's eastern seaboard.

"The fine sand beaches, coral coves and seafood that Samed is famous for are still there. Now guests can enjoy them while staying in international-class resorts."

Mr Luzi Matzig, group managing director of Asian Trails, a major inbound tour operator in Thailand, said Samed's advantage was that visitors didn't need to fly to reach it. The fact that it is less than three hours' travel time by car and boat from Bangkok also helps. "I recommend Samed to repeat visitors to Thailand who have perhaps seen other famous places in Thailand already," he said. "It's ideal for honeymooners, couples and families on shorter stays."

Samed island, a 30-minute boat ride from Ban Phe in Rayong province on the mainland, has no paved roads. Most guests arrive directly at their resort by boat. The island is only 2.5 km wide at its widest part.

Resorts on Samed offer day trips to nearby islands to visit a sea turtle conservation station. The same excursion offers snorkelling at Talu island and a walk up to the archipelago viewpoint on Kudee island.

Samed itself is popular with birdwatchers and hosts a number of oriental-pied hornbills, a species indicative of healthy forest biodiversity. The island is part of the Khao Laem Ya-Mu Koh Samed marine national park under the protection of Thailand's forestry department.