Samed Thanee

Nearly didn't make the journey due to ill health but thankfully the medication helped. The mini bus dropped us off at Ban Phe speedboat pier where they have staff guiding you across to their office desks and tempt you into buying return tickets for 400baht. I was more interested in getting the cheaper but slower boat. Read it should be around 60baht but was quoted 150 at the speedboat desk. Behind this pier is another pier for the slow boat, a 5 min walk. Went to their office at around 16:00 and was told the 17:00 was 120baht. However, due to lack of customers it might not go. Just booked one way speedboat for 200baht. Upon arrival at Na Dan pier, a sign for slow boat going back said 60 or 70baht? At the pier you also have to pay National Park fee of 200baht per person ( farang price.) Songtheows wait to take you to various places but they are not cheap! Samed Thanee is only just over a km away and 100baht per person. First impressions of rooms were reasonably good. Clean, fridge, decent air con and OK shower. Basic but expected. Some bits need attention in the bathroom, loose tiles etc but for what we paid it was reasonable. Our room was at the back away from the road so nice and quiet. Bring mozzie repellant! Breakfast was included. Choice of either USA style = fried eggs, toast, ham and hot dog sausage or rice soup with meat. Also coffee and juice.It was good for us. Location is not the best, a good 2kms from the main town = 30 min walk along a narrow winding road . Recommend you hire a bike from the hotel owner - only if you can ride a bike as part of the road is bumpy. We know a guy who wrecked his bike when he was returning late and with alcohol. Hotel owner is trustworthy. We were warned by another tourist passing by not to rent from someone further up the road. Most Islanders seem to charge the same 300 baht fixed rate which is quite a bit more than the mainland but includes ⛽. Or 100baht per hour. One place by the pier offered us 3 days for 850baht but we preferred to pay full price at Samed Thanee. The Island is only around 6kms long so you can cover it in one day. The roads are not wide in places and lots of speedbumps but manageable. Read reviews that there was a litter problem but just having left Koh Lipe - which was shocking- this was nowhere near as bad. Koh Samed beaches are lovely. Our favourite was on the West Coast but too quiet to stay there for us.