Ko Samet

Ko Samet is the postcard island south-east of Pattaya, off the Rayong coast — famous for squeaky white sand and clear water, with a string of beaches from lively Sai Kaew to quieter southern coves. It's the biggest-hitter beach within day-trip range, and many people turn it into an overnight.

It's further than Koh Larn and needs a bit more planning — a drive to Ban Phe pier then a short ferry — but the beaches repay the effort.

Set your expectations to the right size. Ko Samet is not a large island in the way Phuket or Ko Samui are, and people who arrive expecting that scale leave disappointed. It comes in a weekend, fun-sized package — small enough to cross in minutes, and better for it.

One thing almost nobody does: Ban Phe is in Rayong, and Rayong itself is an overlooked seaside town with good beaches and better restaurants than its reputation suggests. If you are making the ninety-minute drive anyway, it is worth building a night there into the trip rather than treating it purely as the place the ferry leaves from.