Boater

I agree, they are a nuisance to holidaymakers as are the tailors who try to stop you and try to shake your hand, but as far as anyone actually getting taken in by their 'winning' scratch cards and sales talk, I can't believe there is anyone left who can be so gullible as to go innocently to be 'sold' timeshare in their offices.

Timeshare has been around for as long as I have (well nearly) and you can't tell me that there is anybody on mother earth who has not heard of it by now and if anyone does agree to go to a sales presentation then they must be genuinely interested in owning a week's holiday in an apartment. Up to them.

Same remarks apply to 'fractional ownership' and although no doubt I will be told 'it is not the same thing' sales methods are similar.

i am suprised the real time share people like the marriot don't put the squease on these people as it is ruiening the business for proper time share people

Marriot went out of business n the island...

I think they still run the Renaissance?

Agree with BigC, i've got family friends who have Anantara club membership, and they get great deals all over the planet, including Samui. They make the most of it, and it is worth it for them.

i was in Chaweng this arvo didn't see one timeshare tout at all though, thankfully

think they have sundays off

I agree, they are a nuisance to holidaymakers as are the tailors who try to stop you and try to shake your hand, but as far as anyone actually getting taken in by their 'winning' scratch cards and sales talk, I can't believe there is anyone left who can be so gullible as to go innocently to be 'sold' timeshare in their offices.

Timeshare has been around for as long as I have (well nearly) and you can't tell me that there is anybody on mother earth who has not heard of it by now and if anyone does agree to go to a sales presentation then they must be genuinely interested in owning a week's holiday in an apartment. Up to them.

Same remarks apply to 'fractional ownership' and although no doubt I will be told 'it is not the same thing' sales methods are similar.

i am suprised the real time share people like the marriot don't put the squease on these people as it is ruiening the business for proper time share people

Marriot went out of business n the island...

ONYX’s top management claims it is now on schedule to become one of Asia’s leading hospitality providers with an estimated 51 properties by 2018.

This year alone the group will open five properties including the Amari Dragon Bay in Sanya, China, Amari Ludhiana in India’s Punjab state, the Amari Doha, the Ozo Hong Kong and the Ozo Sri Lanka.

PETER HENLEY

One more property is due to debut here in Thailand, Amari Hua Hin. The 223-room property should open this June and will be one of the first in the group to feature the spa brand, Breeze Spa.

ONYX has launched two new spa brands: Breeze Spa and Mai Spa, which will focus on mid and high-end markets.

On the renovation front, ONYX will invest Bt1 billion to refresh its three existing properties in Thailand: Amari Watergate Bangkok; Amari Coral Beach Phuket and Amari Orchid Hotel Pattaya.

ONYX president and chief executive, Peter Henley said Myanmar is a another emerging destination as the group’s owners, Italian-Thai Development, won a contract to build a major deep-sea port and industrial estate in Dawei.

Construction will start soon on a project in Samui, the Ozo Chaweng Resort Samui that will have 208 rooms

http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2012/03/onyx-sets-expansion-goals/

A MECHANIC from Bitton died on holiday in Thailand when he was hit head-on in a collision while riding a motorcycle home after a night out with friends.

Jamie Jenkins, 32, was only a week away from coming home after a four-month trip when he died in the accident on February 1 last year.

​

1. 
   Jamie Jenkins
   

Mr Jenkins was riding a Yamaha motorbike on the popular holiday island of Koh Samui when he was hit head-on by a local Thai man riding another motorcycle.

An inquest held at Flax Bourton Magistrates' Court heard that the Thai man had inadvertently ridden into Mr Jenkins' lane, causing the accident in which both men died.

Reports from the Royal Thai Police found that no fault lay with Mr Jenkins, but that the accident had been caused by the other man's negligent driving.

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Mechanic-killed-bike-smash-Thai-holiday/story-15480544-detail/story.html

i thought the article was referring to people on Loah Koh and Sam Sato !!!

it wont let me upload pictures !!!!

Car Details

2 Doors, Manual 6 speed, Coupe, Diesel, 81,700 miles, Metallic Black with Red Coral Dakota Leather, 2 Owners. BMW Service History, Heated Seats, DAB Digital Radio, Cruise Control, Front & Rear Parking Sensors, Xenon Headlights with Powerwash, 19" M Sport Alloys, Front Fog Lights, Electric Seat Adjustment, Electric Windows, Remote Central Locking with Alarm, Dual Zone Digital Climate Control, iPod/AUX Input, BMW Professional Stereo, Auto Lights+Wipers, Front Centre Armrest, DTC Traction & Stability Control, ABS Brakes, PAS, Multiple Airbags, Tinted Glass, Rear Headrests, BMW Stop/Start System,

Pictures

sometimes MediVac can assit in urgent cases, alternatively, as he did have medical insurance and due to negligence on the UNI side for not paying what they should have, ask or right to Andrew Drummond and the Daily Mail to put out a small appeal in the paper? , some kind hearted citizen might donate the money to help your brother cause .. ( i would do , but i dont have those funds available )

Good Luck

Why Am I looking for him? I'de rather not say.

Preggers then ...

on a serious note, good luck

seems they have update Chewang as well ....

Bravo to them ... i do remember reading some time ago a Brit Royal even uses the Spa ...

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa was honoured with the award for Destination Spa of the Year: Asia & Australasia at the World Spa awards hosted in London last night.

The World Spa Awards took place at the Park Lane, Hilton after an expert panel of 7 international judges selected the finalists during a vigorous process including two site visits per application. Kamalaya faced exceptional competition from across the world, and was shortlisted alongside three other finalists Chiva-Som International Health Resort, The Dheva Spa & Wellness Centre at The Mandarin Oriental, Chang Mai and Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat on the Gold Coast Australia.

The awards included two categories across multiple territories allowing the best spa and hotel resorts to be recognised geographically. The two awards for Hotel Spa of the Year and Destination Spa of the Year were segregated into regions encompassing Asia & Australasia, America (North & South), Africa, Middle East & Africa as well as Europe. Following a visit from both an “official” judge and a “mystery” judge the final winners in each category were selected for best practice, excelling in client service with a well researched and comprehensive menu of treatments, high quality training and having a point of difference from the opposition through implementation of innovative ideas amongst other criteria.

http://www.etravelblackboardasia.com/article/82230/kamalaya-koh-samui-is-awarded-destination-spa-of-the-year-asia-amp-australasia

Maenam is probably more up your street these days.

agree ...

I wonder if it has changed much in 10 years? yes

Is it still the quiet, beautiful place I fondly remember? - no

Also, if there's any areas that a lone traveler should avoid would you mind to please point them out to me - Lamai

its part of the Thai Navel / Army Base

well i completely agree with the comments below in the article , and would personally never use them again or trust them .. and yes they are the same law firm here.. utter crooks at every level

6) - Best Pizza on the island -7 years on the Island, the best place is the Pizza shop next to lamai boxing, run by an italian gent, cant remember the name

Second this suggestion, just north of the lady boxing, next to the big PX pharmacy.

Pizza Napoli, also has a small sign "Boomerang Pizza", their old name I think. The Italian gent is Antonio, and his wife runs the front area and she is a real character. I just call her Mama.

yes that is the place ! ,

I doff my cap Boater....where do you find this stuff?

just came up on my FB feed....

anyway , might be time to point him to Thaivisa , and start posting some serious samui issues to his Page ! ... i will start with the 20% increase on the Bar Fine at dream girls ... crime against humanity !

Just noticed a New Facebook group has started on Samui

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Samui-Progress-Group/263930060353313

It looks like the Mayor of Samui ... is he starting a group similar to the Mayor of Pattaya?

as the group is only new today, it looks like he is pointing towards fixing the over head cable situation?

anyway, the group is in Thai, not like the pattaya group which was in english

well it might be a start

That is crazy. Even if there had been a meeting of any sort previously that is no reason to be shooting like that from moving m/c.

Maybe they need horses and some cowboy hats.

have you watch Thai Soaps? .. its the Norm to shoot people .. cant lose a fight , hence no lose of face !

What market is telegraph travel aiming at? Fair enough about people's opinions, nothing different of what we sprout on here.

its an upmarket paper here in the UK , so high end travelers .... you wouldnt see anyone under 50 reading the paper

[...Mrs Nergiz Tinc, 26, of as-yet unknown nationality...]

[...Mr Serkan Tinc, 33, from Turkey...]

do we need Kojak or Columbo for that case?

Absolutely stellar reporting -- I am amazed at the detail and accuracy of the reporting !

Who would think that Mr and Mrs Tinc travelling in the same minivan, would both be from Turkey.

" of as-yet unknown family name and nationality" -- a case for Colombo indeed -- how can you determine a person's, age, first name and marital status, and not accidentally stumble over their family name and nationality.

"Mrs Lubeznaya Galina, 56, from Ukraine" -- Kojak would know that Galina is a first name and Lubeznaya is a family name .

..but really, should all of these names be in print before relatives have been notified ?

Mr and Mrs Tinc where on there honeymoon, and Mrs Tinc died, it is reported in the other news source ... very sad, and harrowing picture of the husband, the picture tells a thousand words what his feelings must have been , so tradgic

No doubt it will either be located on one of Samui's crappy beaches (ie: awful sand, seaweed and rocks), or located a long way from the beach. I say this because it tends to be in Samui that the more upmarket the hotel, the worse its location - most people who book have no clue till they arrive and they aren't budgeting for repeat business. They will also no doubt charge 700 bath per hour for WiFi and a charge for a host of other things that are free in many resorts.

i have a feeling it will be located in Choeng Mon, there is a 147 rai piece of land there that has been earmarked for a 5 star hotel for a while

and my recommedations for 2012 are as follows

1) - Best Sunday Roast - Red Fox lamai Carvery ,

2) - Best Full English .. Though Sweeny Todds still holds this title - Sweeny todds, followed by The Coffee Club Full English

3) - Best Curry HOuse on the Island - Was Kush untill it shut, followed by the curry house at the entance to Tops Supermarket

4) - Best Steak on the Island - The Shack !

5) - Best Place for Lamb Chops - ( must be served with mint sauce ) - The Cliff Bar and Grill ( note Bondi, same owner , the lamb chops are not the same quilty )

6) - Best Pizza on the island -7 years on the Island, the best place is the Pizza shop next to lamai boxing, run by an italian gent, cant remember the name

7) - Any thing new and exciting to eat / visit - a few but cant remember the name !

8) Best all you can eat buffet - the one next to ice bar !, second place goes to the one near the fishermans traffic lights

9) THE BEST BURGER ! - Difficult one ... few places, 1) Piri Piri Chicken, 2) The Shack 3) Catcandoo ... difficult choice, as different times i have been , different quilty

The comments section below the article would put anyone off going to Samui.

oh dear ! , and these are holiday makers coming from the horses mouth !

I just love these fluff pieces spouted by some hack on a freebie advertising a box of <deleted> as if it were Terry's Gold.

Samui, "that fabled island" ia like any other resource peddled by the Thai to earn as much revenue as possible from a market which to varying degrees is as clueless as a Koala bear looking for a mate in McDonalds.

The beaches are nice as indeed is the topography, but from afar. Close up and you get hit with that unmistakable stench of rancid urine mixed with faeces. The problem is, there is no functioning infrastructure. Thai don't do urban planning or anything that won't yield an immediate profit. Thus, all those beautiful people visiting that fabled land take a dump and with all those other unpleasant bodily functions the product has to go somewhere. Mostly, it's into a cesspit. The cesspits overflow and on rainy days the effluence flows down onto those paradisial beaches and thence into the sea where the tides wash the dross back onto whichever beach is next in line.

Best make sure you get your Hep A before you go swimming.

But then, beautiful people paying stupid money for ersatz paradise might think they're immune from their own crap.

and

You have it spot on there. I have just returned from a week there and can clearly say that if you like holidays in an overpriced cesspit then Samui is for you.

After even the shortest rainfall the place stinks of raw sewage and the sea is covered in a brown sludge. The beach around Chareng is like a giant ashtray. The infrastructure simply has not kept pace with the massive increase in hotel rooms.

The food and drink is way overpriced, far more than we pay here in Hong Kong. There is no public transport system and the taxis are run by a "mafia" with extortionate fares demanded for even the shortest visit. Negotiate with the driver? You must be kidding!

I really do wonder is Michelle Chan has ever set foot on Samui, because what she is writing about sure isn't the place I have just returned from. (and will never go back to).

What Ms. Chan also fails to point out is that there is absolutely no rule of law there. The foreigner has no rights whatsover, you are on your own, with a totally corrupt police force.

i would like to see what the TAT has to say about this ..

but serious , i know there are the moaners ect here, but from an outside point of view, samui really needs to sort its act out !