I was on Koh Samet about 5 years ago,
lovely ride over on the ferry, and there's several different piers, we got off at the 3rd one I think,
no idea what the name of it was. Only to be met by a very butch LB who rents out the scooters
he/she was not really farang friendly, but my mate spoke Thai and she warmed to him :)
ended up giving us a good deal, but getting them out of the small ferry area was tricky.
Great hotel we stayed at, pool was top notch, with a bar you could swim up to, and order drinks
and food. Of a night, there's not a great choice, and seems to be Lb heavy if you ask me.
Though they were all very pleasant and we had a laugh with a few of them.
The beach is great fun, with different shows as you walk along, from jugglers to fire eaters,
take plenty of insect repellent though, I got eaten alive,
and not the way I wanted.
;)