I leave for Koh Samui in a few weeks and am looking for a centrally located, budget hotel. Malibu Beach Resort and Baan Chaweng Beach Resort seem to fit the bill but both are full (or only offer a superior room- I am a solo traveller).

Could someone recommend another hotel that is centrally located and a budget hotel, or another hotel to look into. Sawadee/huahin have been very helpful so far.

Thanks

I'm not sure what you mean when you say "Budget"...

Take a look at the "Ark Bar" on Chaweng.
It's a nice resort, in the middle of Chaweng, clean rooms, nice beach pub (the most popular on the island), nice "all day breakfast"...
The price is around 2,000 Baht, depend on the time of year...

http://www.ark-bar.com/Activities.htm

great recommendation, thanks. Did you stay there - if so, how was the noise at night?

I usualy stay there when i'm in Samui (3-4 times a year).

With the A/C running, the noise is not an issue. if you are a light sleeper, ask them a room in the second floor, close to the road. this part is less problematic...

If you look for a good budget hotel,I recommend the "Chaweng Center Hotel"
which is next to the Baan Samui Hotel(overpriced). It is located on the road, not on the beach. Take a Garden View room; Price is around 1.200 Baht.

Thanks Micha, but I left Koh Samui just yesterday. Stayed at the Ark Bar, which is in a very good location - the bar noise wasn't a problem, though some dogs on the neighboring property provided early wake-up calls.

I had high expectations for Koh Samui and I was let down a little bit. Some of the resorts looked very very nice, though. In Siem Riep currently and love everything about Cambodia right now.