Avatara Resort

Dining Experience: Breakfast is served in a beachside restaurant with a diverse selection of Western and Thai dishes, fresh fruits, and a pleasant sea-view setting. While the restaurant closes early, the nearby 7-Eleven provides late-night snack options.(based on 48 reviews)

Avatara Resort, Koh Samed: A Family-Friendly Beach Getaway Rating: 4/5 stars Koh Samed perfectly captures that quintessential island tourist vibe, and Avatara Resort delivers a solid family-friendly beach experience right in the heart of it all. Location & Beach Access The resort's prime beachfront location is undoubtedly its strongest asset. Situated directly by a beautiful stretch of shallow, crystal-blue waters, it offers safe and perfect conditions for family sea bathing. The convenience factor is excellent – you're just a two-minute walk from the famous Sai Kaew Beach, the iconic Mermaid Monument, and the bustling Silversand Resort area. Accommodation & Ambience While the resort building itself shows its age, the refurbished rooms create a lovely ambience with beautiful lighting that transforms the older structure into something quite charming. We stayed on the third floor, which offered peaceful mountain views overlooking the national park forest rather than beach views. The setting is genuinely calm and quiet – exactly what we wanted for a family retreat. Important consideration: There's no elevator, so reaching upper floors requires quite a climb. As we joked, shuttling between the room and outside areas four times daily provides a workout in itself! This makes the resort unsuitable for elderly guests or anyone with mobility issues. Dining Experience The breakfast experience is delightful, served in a beachside restaurant where you can enjoy your meal with sand between your toes. The selection impresses with a good range of both Western and Thai options, including fresh fruits. The resort's beach restaurant serves quality food with excellent value for money – we tried multiple dishes and enjoyed them all. However, there's no room service, and the restaurant closes early (around 9:30-10 PM). When late-night cravings struck, we found the nearby 7-Eleven (just 5-6 minutes' walk) convenient for snacks. Room Amenities & Issues Room amenities are adequate though not luxurious. The shower area is well-designed with a spacious dressing area. However, we encountered an unpleasant odor from the bathroom drainage system that required some management during our stay. Activities & Surroundings For water activities like parasailing, snorkeling, and jet skiing, you'll need to walk to Sai Kaew Beach to find service providers – fortunately, we found excellent options there. Final Verdict Avatara Resort succeeds as a family-friendly destination that balances beachfront access, peaceful ambience, and reasonable pricing. While it has some limitations (no elevator, early restaurant closure, minor maintenance issues), the overall experience was enjoyable and memorable. Recommended for: Families seeking a calm beach getaway who don't mind some stairs and prefer a quieter resort atmosphere. Consider alternatives if: You need elevator access, late-night dining options, or luxury amenities.