Bophut, Koh Samui

Bophut is on Koh Samui's north coast, home to Fisherman's Village and a run of beach resorts. It is calmer than Chaweng and aimed at couples and families. Nightlife is low-key, with hotel beach bars and lounge bars. Chaweng's bars and clubs are a short ride along the coast when you want a livelier evening.

Relaxed and polished. The evening is about dinner in Fisherman's Village, a walk along the walking street and a drink at a beach bar. It is far from a red-light scene, and the crowd is mostly couples and holidaymakers. Chaweng is the next stop for a livelier night.

No. Bophut lists no red-light hub, beer bars, gogo bars or clubs. The adult-adjacent listings are 3 massage shops: Angel Care, Le Karn and Nakee Health Massage. For bar-girl venues, Chaweng's Soi Green Mango is the closest. The bars here are mostly hotel and beachfront lounges, which suits a drink and a view rather than a punting night.

Of 15 places, 9 are bars, 3 are massage shops, 1 is a market, 1 is an attraction and 1 is a mall. The bars include Anantara Bophut Beach Bar, Coco Tam's, Hansar Beach Bar and Magical Garden Lounge Bar, so it leans towards resort bars.

Bophut is calmer and more couple-friendly, with 15 listings against 23 in Chaweng. Chaweng has Soi Green Mango, clubs and a beer bar, while Bophut has beach lounges and Fisherman's Village. Choose Bophut for a quiet stay and Chaweng for nightlife.

Stay in Bophut if you want a resort-style base near Fisherman's Village, with Chaweng a short ride away. Start with dinner and a beachfront drink. If you hope to bring a guest to a resort, check its policy first. The walking street in the village is the easy place to eat before deciding whether to stay in or go on.

By taxi, songthaew or Grab or Bolt from the airport and Chaweng, since island taxis rarely use meters and you should agree the fare. The village is walkable, but you need a ride between beaches. Walking between the village restaurants and the beach bars is easy, and a ride is only needed to leave the area.

High prices and late rides. Resort bars cost more than the beer bars, so check the menu. Taxis are scarcer and pricier late, so arrange your return. Hilly roads make scooters risky at night. Hire scooters carefully, photograph them first and leave cash rather than your passport as a deposit.