Koh Samui has become one of the must-visit destinations in South East Asia over the past few years thanks to its beautiful beaches, chilled out vibe, and relatively easy access. Although the island isn’t particularly large, the different sections offer visitors a different experience. The two most popular areas of Koh Samui are Chaweng Beach and Bophut. While you can find many hotels in each area, if you’re traveling in a larger group – with family or friends – your best bet is to rent a private villa with Villa Finder.

Chaweng Beach

Arguably the most popular area in Koh Samui, Chaweng Beach has something for everyone. The main strip is quite lively and has plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops making it popular with a younger crowd. I spent three nights in Chaweng and I loved that the beach was minutes away, there were many dining options, and the area came to life at night. That being said, it was a bit crowded at times and felt a bit too touristy for my liking.

If, like me, you want all the conveniences of Chaweng, but are looking to stay in a more secluded area, I would highly recommend renting a villa through Villa Finder. Although most of these villas aren’t right on the beach, the facilities, views, and services they offer are incomparable to what you’ll find at many of the more generic beachfront hotels. Although you’ll feel like you’re a million miles away from everyone, the villas are all a quick 10~ minute drive to a variety of restaurants. If you’re wanting to optimize your time in the villa, you can always ask the staff to prepare and cook up an incredible meal for you and your guests.

Bophut Beach

Head to the northern part of the island and you’ll discover the tranquility of Bophut Beach. This area isn’t as built-up and touristy as Chaweng, and still retains much of its former Thai-Chinese influence and charm. Bophut’s chilled out vibe makes it a great area for families or those that are more interested in relaxing than partying. Although I didn’t stay in Bophut, I went to the night market by the Fisherman’s Village (held every Friday night) and loved the wide range of street food offered.

Most of the villas from Villa Finder around Bophut Beach are privy to a prime beachfront location and are absolutely stunning. These villas can fit anywhere from four to eighteen people in them and are equipped with everything you could possibly need. Need something a little extra? Villa Finder can make just about anything happen to ensure your vacation goes exactly how you want it.

About Villa Finder

Villa Finder began in 2012 and sets themselves apart from the competition by offering guests the complete experience: all villas are personally inspected by the team and from the moment you make an inquiry on the website, the Travel Consultants work to ensure they understand your needs and what you’re looking for during your holiday. Afterwards, they source out the villas that best fit the client’s needs. Once the villa is chosen, the Guest Relation team can take care of any other requests – from something as simple as an airport pick up to a romantic dinner or in-villa massage. One thing I really love about Villa Finder is that for every booking made, a tree is planted in Sumatra, Indonesia. Currently, Villa Finder has over 1,000 villas in Bali, Phuket, Koh Samui, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius.

This post was written in collaboration with Villa Finder.