Koh Samui - Beach, Sun, Food & Drink - what else?

Advantages: Crystal blue waters, white sands, shops
Disadvantages: Not for the culture-seekers...

...malt vinegar) and pasta with a satisfied groan of happiness, after months of noodles! WHERE IS IT? Koh Samui is located on the southeastern ?leg? of Thailand, the first of three islands on your way back up to Bangkok, or last on your way down to southern Thailand. From Samui you can reach the mainland or visit the other islands, Koh Tao (good for diving) and Koh Pha Ngan (mostly known for the Full Moon Party). HOW TO GET THERE You can get a ferry to Samui from the mainland, which takes around 1 hour and will usually have busloads of other tourists. Expect lots of touts when getting to the otherside, unless you have pre-booked your hotel or huts. You can also reach Samui from Koh Tao and Koh Pha Ngan by ferry. National ferries are generally the cheapest way to get around on a budget but if you have more cash to spare you can...

SophieWehr 14.06.2004 · Read review
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Review of Ko Samui (Thailand)

The Kala - the undiscovered gem of a hotel on Ko Samui

Advantages: Evo friendly, ideal location - peaceful with access to nightlife, amazing views, awesome service
Disadvantages: limited to only 1 restaurant

...We stayed at the Kala hotel on a recent trip to Ko Samui, we found it through a hotel website and we got an exceptional deal for a 5 night stay. It is situated on the coast just between Lamai and Chaweng - so it is easy to get to the nightlife, but during the day you are far enough away to enjoy the serenity of the lush greenery and infinity pool. There are a variety of rooms - some come with their own private infinity pool and private massage area. There is a Spa on the grounds and there are a variety of treatments to keep any frequent spa goer happy. Make sure you book though as it can get quite busy towards the end of the day when everyone is looking for that de-stress! The hotel itself is built into the rock face and offers excellent views out over the sea, you can also take a kayak out for a paddle and I recommend that highly...

barryjnr 16.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Kala Hotel, Koh Samui

Getting to Ko Samui

Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...Its now possible to buy direct international flights to Ko Samui but mostly only from other asian countries flying with Bangkok Airways. For a trip from europe its easier to go direct to Phuket or Bangkok and then buy an onwards Bangkok Airways flight to Samui Airport. This the most comfortable option but also the most expensive. Overnight trains are OK, cheap and functional but you have to sleep. If you make too much noise the locals get very angry. There are various bus/ferry combo tickets which are by far the cheapest option but also are definately the most uncomfortable (especially the overcrowded minibuses) and are regularily involved in accidents. Remeber never to eat or drink anything offered to you by strangers on a bus or train. Unfortunately many people have been drugged and robbed this way....

howaysali 09.08.2000 · Read review
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Review of Ko Samui (Thailand)

A fantastic tropical resort paradise found in Koh Samui

Advantages: Secluded hotel & Cottages in natural surroundings ustilising natural materials. Very tasteful
Disadvantages: Quite expensive.

...Tongsai bay cottages and hotel. 5 Star resort hotel. This unique hotel is situated in its own private bay in the North East of Koh Samui with its own private beach in a natural cove. The selling point of this hotel is that it is built in natural surroundings without damaging any of the natural flora or fauna and is eco friendly. Each of the 61 cottages are dotted around the bay hidden amongst the foliage some even have trees growing through the balconies. There is also a block of 24 suites that are down nearer the beach. The resort was started over 25 by a man who after seeing the bay decided to buy it and transform it into its current day state without damaging the look of the bay. Each cottage is individually made with natural materials without impacting as much as possible on the environment. It is very secluded and away from...

garymarsh86 24.09.2009 (27.09.2009) · Read review
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Review of Tongsai Bay Cottages & Hotel, Ko Samui

Why backpackers love Thailand

Advantages: Cheapish, convenient for backpackers, decent roads, great massages, solid nightlife
Disadvantages: Poor diving, littered with tourists

...with a number of English words such as: ?hi,? ?welcome? and ?handsome.? If you want you can go in where they will have a couple of drinks with you and as the night progresses other things. Without, I hope, breaching the realms of offensive I?ll say the majority are not after good luvin?. Numerous stories implying this seem to have crept in to maybe give the backpackers yarns a bit of credibility. And then of course there?s the traditional Thai massage. Koh Samui is littered with massage parlours, which, contrary to popular belief, offer quite normal massages at, in western terms seems a ridiculously cheap price. Conveniently there was one right opposite our hotel which was where I met the lovely Lita. As a local who spoke reasonable English she gave me a crash course on how things worked in Thailand and assured me what the bar girls wanted...

Briz_Hatchings 11.11.2001 · Read review
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Review of Ko Samui (Thailand)

Backpacking in Samui

Advantages: big, choice of accomodation
Disadvantages: commercilaised,

...Being a Backpacker, I'd heard a lot about Samui, it being relatively famous on the Asia scene for the past 20 Years, so i thought i'd see what all the fuss was about. I got there via ferry from the mainland.I bought a combi ticket in Bangkok which took me down there by night bus and then the vehicle ferry across from Don Sak. There are numerous ticket versions available with options also to get there by train and ferry.With the coach down, it is better to listen to other travellers advice on which company to choose from, as some are much better than others.I found the best way was to travel by Government Bus, which is slightly more expensive, but you get a hell of a lot of legroom and a free meal. The whole trip down is overnight, and you arrive in Samui around 9 in the morning. Most people from here then head to Chaweng Beach...

rj_1973 16.05.2001 · Read review
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Review of Ko Samui (Thailand)

I love Samui

Advantages: Beautiful beaches, great food and friendly people
Disadvantages: Over-crowding

...My husband and I visited Samui as part of our honeymoon in February 2000. We booked with Kuoni and the whle trip was wonderfully smooth and unproblematic. We stayed at the Imperial Samui on Chaweng beach. Being our honeymoon, we were upgraded to a superior room with champagne and fruiit on arrival as well as heart shaped pillows on the bed. The room itself was beautiful and spacious with a fabulous bacony and a well appointed bathroom. The hotel was highly luxurious and we found the staff to be friendly and courteous. The facilities were excellent with 2 swimming pools (one saltwater one chlorinated) and also a private beach for residents. The beach was a little rocky and somewhat choppy so we made use of the saltwater pool most of the time. The hotel has a group of masseurs it emplys to give guests massages, manicures...

mrsclark 27.08.2003 · Read review
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Review of Ko Samui (Thailand)

Samui Snake Farm

Advantages: cheap entrance, interesting
Disadvantages: A little out of the main town

...Myself and my boyfriend visited Samui Snake Farm while on holiday in Ko Samui in October 2007. Getting There Samui Snake Farm is located in the south west of Ko Samui so you would need to take public transport such as a taxi to this attraction. We hired a Jeep for the day and drove ourselves here which was very easy as Samui Snake Farm was labelled on the map we followed. Admission Prices We paid roughly £2.50 each for admission which we thought was very reasonable. Samui Snake Farm Samui Snake Farm holds many different species of snakes including some of the most venomous snakes around such as the King Cobra. As we walked into the Snake Farm, we noticed a man with a HUGE snake draped round his neck. They offer for you to hold the snake and take a photo of you. We had a photo taken and were asked if we would like to buy it...

daylehall 16.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of Samui Snake Farm, Thailand

Koh Samui....Is there more to be said

Advantages: Relatively unspoiled, freindly, great value for money
Disadvantages: None, really

...Arriving in Koh Samui after what seemed like a whole day's travel from Bangkok I did wonder if I had made the right decision. Hot, sticky and tired is not the best state of mind to arrive anywhere but I have to say that the first people we met made it all worth while. I knew from experience that the Thais are natural and gregarious but nothing prepared me for the welcome at our hotel and in the resort (Chaweng) generally. Yes, Chaweng is a little more commercial than I expected but compared to Patong (Phuket) or Pattaya it was charming and quiet. There are bars aplenty and, of course, lots of "adult" type entertainments but it is never "in your face" or overtly annoying. Whilst we were there a ten pin bowlng centre was opened to tremendous fanfare. Eating out can be really cheap and cheerful or sort of mid range and fabulous...

lyntmirh 25.01.2002 · Read review
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Review of Ko Samui (Thailand)

If you want fun and sun...

Advantages: Hotter than home, tropical setting, something for everyone
Disadvantages: Expensive (for Thailand), crowds in peak season

...wedding photos) and "lady who likes to do backstroke topless" (not a good sight after breakfast) being especially memorable. The hotel also hires out mopeds and arranges car hire for reasonable rates for guests who want to explore the island. The food in the hotel is excellent, particularly the prawn cakes and curries (made from coconuts grown on-site), as well as reasonably priced. For our honeymoon, we stayed two nights at the Tongsai Bay (84 Moo 5, Boput, Koh Samui, (077)245 480, info@tongsaibay.co.th) which is at the top of the price scale for hotels on the island (we paid about £160 per night for the room, excluding breakfast). The hotel is located in a very pretty horse-shoe shaped bay. We had a fabulous hillside cottage (semi-detached but next door was empty) with a balcony overlooking nothing but a sapphire sea. There was...

pinseyt 25.04.2004 · Read review
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Review of Ko Samui (Thailand)