I am planning a vacation in Koh Samui, Thailand, next July, with my wife & 2 children (15 and 13). Could anyone help me with the following?
1. What are the best beaches? We are looking for a place that is not overcrowded, and yet not isolated.
2. We would like to be able to scuba dive close to where we will be staying..
3. The budget is around 250 US$ per day, for accommodation.

Any recommendations?

Pierre

in july $250 is a huge amount so you could have almost any place you wanted...

for 1/3 of that i stayed at the peace resort, but i don't think they have any bungalows that are comfortable for 4...

pansea is a beautiful property but the fine beach is a ride away...

the meredien is issolated but might suit your purposes....not sure any hotel provides good scuba close by....??

look at this hotel site as a start:

www.huahin.20m.com


jamesA may have much better suggestions for you

Well, the best beaches are Chaweng and Lamai, but they are also extremely crowded. Another good option that had a fairly good beach and is not too far away from the action (5 minute cab ride to Chaweng) is Choeng Mon beach. There are some nicer resorts on that beach and it is not too crowded, but still has enough to do. As Bob suggested, go to the hauhin site and search for hotels by beach (the same as sawadee.com site). Check out something like the Imperial Boathouse. It is supposed to be a very nice resort.

There is really no good scuba off of Koh Samui. You usually have to take boat trips out to surrounding islands for scuba. You can stay on one of these islands, but they are not as built up as Koh Samui, so finding really nice accomodations could be more difficult. Koh Tao is the good scuba island.

We will be on Koh Samui in June, staying at the Sala Samui, but this is more of a honeymooner's hotel and not really recommended for kids.

I loved stayg in the Chaweng regent resort in Samui. Next to the action but very quiet and nice. Hghly recommended.

I think Bophut gives you plenty of accommodation choice, quiet enough but easy access to Chaweng for evenings restaurants and entertainment etc.
At a good place like A garden deluxe family room should be around $115 , but if you want more space there are lots where you will easily get 2 seperate rooms well within that budget, beachfront bungalows at Peace resort you could get 2 of them well within your range.
Do not that rates go up mid July to cater for visitors from Europe who flock there for end July and August so if you can go earlier in July it will be cheaper and less busy as it does get busy into the late July/August time.

Zazeen Boutique resort was the one I was referring to for about 115 per room