Haad Sai Kaew (White Sand Beach) is the longest, busiest and was once the most beautiful of Ko Samet's beaches.

Pricey bungalow operations line the beach, along with karaoke bars, restaurants and shops while the beach itself is covered in deck chairs and inner tubes with jet-skis and banana boats whizzing by all day long.

Popular with Bangkok-based Thai and expat families along with day-trippers from Pattaya, the best thing about Haad Sai Kaew is the array of good seafood places that make a reasonable evening choice. At night about a dozen restaurants invade the sand with their inviting mats and pillows. This is a lovely spot for a meal under the stars followed by an evening stroll along the one km stretch of white sand. Try an after-dinner roti from one of the carts on the beach.

As an accommodation option for backpackers it's on the pricey side, but it is still worth a trip to have a look.