corkman

Thanks for the tips guys.

I'll be arriving by air, and usually I just use Grab Taxi to get around. In the end, it is cost neutral or cheaper. Although for first timers to Samui, car hire is great. But I'll be doing less exploring, and more relaxing than your average visitor, having been there several times a year over the last two decades ????

Great to hear that ferries and hotels etc. are busy. Firstly, great for the local economy. This crisis has been devastating, I'm sure. Secondly, a few more restaurants etc. may be open, so more choice for evening entertainment (BTW, I'm travelling with my GF, so no delusions of picking up chicks ????????????).

Can't wait to get there. Hope the weather is good ???? 

By the way, anywhere with a good choice of fresh seafood? I like the place next ti co-co-tams, but last time that was closed. Any alternatives i.e. the type of place with fish etc. on ice, to choose from? Chawaeng, FM Village, or whatever.

Thanks.

On 3/21/2021 at 9:32 PM, khunPer said:

In my modest view, don't expect too much.

 

There are at present indications of that part of the usual nightlife might reopen by April 1st. However, If you dream about getting soaking wet during Songkran, staying beachfront is a benefit, so you can take a swim...????

Hi Khun Per,

I'm actually not a fan of the 72hr non stop soaking, and the inevitable sickness that follows. So that's music to me ears ????

But hopefully there will be some "dry" celebration in the usual places with a good DJ and lively crowd along Soi Green Mango such as Hust, Green Mango, and a few others; and of course CoCo's, SEEN, Chi Bar, etc. 

Flight seem quite busy / booked. That's a good sign. 

Hi Everyone,

Following a great 10 days in Samui at Christmas & New Year, I am optimistic that Songkran will be great too ????. Booked Malibu Beach Resort 10th to 18th (8 nights) opposite Central Festival on Chaweng.

Trying to make a loose plan for what to do. Is it fair to assume that it will be a similar state of "openess" as it was over Xmas, with a few night venues open on soi Green Mango and Fisherman's Village, then not much else? 

Authorities are planning "no water fights" in Bangkok, I assume that will carry through to Samui too? Any news on that? I have not been to Samui during Songkran for several years, so I don't know if there any Mecca that folks are usually drawn to?

I would love to peoples insight as to what to expect, just for general interest and so I can plan ahead a bit. 

Thanks in advance.

Thanks for that! I am in Wattana / Khlong Tonight, which is not listed there. So apparently I would be ok to travel after all. I'll call the government office in Samui tomorrow morning to confirm.

Last I read, any visitors to the island need to quarantine for 2 weeks, effective from yesterday. That must translate to zero nightlife, or very close to it.

I received a message and an updated link (TAT Website) stating that all visitors to Samui must now quarantine for 2 weeks.

I'm cancelling my trip at the end ofnthis week.

Unless someone can tell me that they are not really quarantining everyone?

I feel sorry for myself, and the hotel and anywhere else that I was planning to spend money.

1 hour ago, khunPer said:

That you will find many places, and especially "fresh air" be the beaches.

 

You can rent rooms or bungalows from next-to-nothing in many of the open smaller resorts, within walking distance to a number of nice restaurants.

 

The only aber dabei is the specified definition of "comfy room", which can be anything from a fan hut, to a beach front villa with private both indoor and outdoor spa, so it's purely depending of expectations and life-style. The latter villa however, is available on "book one night, and get one night free"-offer, and some week-ends they seems to be very full.

Comfy = clean, bright, concrete floor and walls, bed that doesn't creek, air con & hot water, bit of space and a table to work on laptop, and balcony with a chair to chill out. 

I got a nice 35sqm room at Malibu, including breakfast, for about 850 baht per night. 5 mins to the beach and pool, 5 mins to Central Festival food Court & starbucks. Tops is there too, so I can stock up on booze and make my own cocktails if I like. Beers on the beach, no problem: buy a 200 baht cooler box and ice, drop in a 6 pack, and have a picnic. Sunset beers, same - just need to book a 300 baht grab ????

I'll take a trip over to Bangrak near the market, bound to find some Thai open air seafood etc. there. 

1 hour ago, khunPer said:

Things has changed since Christmas, Surat Thani province is partly on a lockdown, which might partly include Samui, especially as two C19-cases has now been reported on the island.

Thank khunPer. I am monitoring the situation closely. I have tentative bookings which don't need to be confirmed until Tuesday next week. All I need is comfy room, fresh air, WiFi, and somewhere to eat ????

30 minutes ago, Neilly said:

 

The following was put out a couple of days ago (12th)...not sure if Sukhumvit is in one of the 'red' areas or not...

 

Source: https://www.facebook.com/samuiinfobynicha/

 

 

Thanks for this. I am in the sub district of Wattana, Khlong Toei which is not on the list above ????

2 hours ago, DrPhibes said:

Don't forget the Samui  Personal Health Declaration done online (see the Bangkok Air link).  Can only do it on the day you fly as it won't let you change the current date (tried).  Good luck, hoping for some peace and quiet and clean air in a few days.  Just sad to Tamarind Springs closed for now as I was looking forward to the steam cave and cold pool.  Jump back and forth 3-4 times and it's like you had 2/3 bottle of wine without the side effects.

I was in Samui over Xmas and New Year and BKK airways gave us a scan bar code thingy when we checked in. I assume it is the same thing. 

Yes. Clean air. View of the stars. Peace and quiet. Looking forward to it ????

I have heard that smaller bars are open and restaurants will serve beer etc. Hopefully that's true ????

45 minutes ago, DrPhibes said:

You will need to pay close attention to Bangkok Airways.  I'm leaving in 3 days and have had 3 flight changes in the last 3 days, 1 of them had me arriving in Samui before I even left Chiang Mai.   

 

You might want to also watch the provincial restrictions: https://www.tatnews.org/2021/01/tat-update-summary-of-provincial-covid-19-control-measures-as-of-6-january-2021/

 

And the Samui airport requirements via BKK Airways:  https://www.bangkokair.com/eng/health_screening_for_traveling_to_samui

Thanks for your reply. Very helpful info.

So at the moment the guidance is that for Bangkok (one of the 23 "highly controlled" provinces) we need to register morchana and undergo a health screen when we arrive in Samui. I guess that means take our temperature, and promise to be good, and they'll send us on our way.

I'm a bit flexible on flights so if I get stuck for a day or two either way I'm not worried. But good to know and thanks for the heads up!

Thanks again.

Hey Guys (and Gals),

I live in Bangkok, lower Sukhumvit. My (thai)GF and I were thinking to escape the madness and "work from home" from the beach in Samui for 10 days. Planning to travel down next week on 21st January, via Bangkok Airways.

Does anyone know the latest on whether we need to "Quarantine" and just exactly what "Quarantine" means? My plans will be (a) relaxing at the hotel, (b) having a few beers at any place that is open, and (c) going for some nice dinners at any place that is open (The Cliff, Coco's, Prego, etc.).

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Yes. lots of taxis parked up on the road side. But from past experience (about a year ago) you click on GRAB and the same guys respond, except they charge 300-400 baht instead of 500 up.

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

Grab is still here and rides are plentiful.

Excellent. Thanks. Samui here I come! Woohoo!!! (arriving tomorrow avro ???? )

Hi Everyone,

Pre-COVID, Grab Taxi was active on the Island and it was easy to get a driver any time day or night. Is that still the case, or have all the drivers left the island?

Thanks in advance.

Any sign of restaurants etc. opening up along Chaweng Beach toad? I'll be arriving Wednesday. 

Last time was in Koh Toa (3-4yr ago) the village around Sairee was quite nice. 2 or 3 streets linked by the main road at one end and the beach road at the other end. These streets were light traffic, walking streets, with a good selection of boutique restaurants and cafes serving everything from burgers to Indian food to pizza to sea food.

To me, KPN feels a bit jaded. So if I was going to spend a week chilling out, I'd do KT. Early afternoon beers on the beach, a nice meal in the evening with a bottle of wine, then an early night and repeat next day.

That said, both islands are probably a ghost town with COVID in effect. So maybe try and find out how many places are actually open.

Note aside. If you go to KPN and prefer to avoid the crazy party thing, then stay away from Haad Rin for a day or two before and after the full moon party. Google the dates. The place is simply awful at that time.

On 12/4/2020 at 9:54 PM, khunPer said:

Exiting news...

Source: Sound Club

 

To my knowledge, one of the two partners in Black, is the owner of Sound Club, I remember some of the people in first photo, they worked in Sound Club before Black opened... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So is Sound going to be up and running soon, to replace Black I assume? 

How is the soi holding up, following the sad news of Black? Will Black reopen any time soon?

So Sound is making a come back?

10 hours ago, khunPer said:

This might be sad news for many, but Black Club is burning heavily tonight...

 

Oh dear, just when things were looking up for "the soi". So the overflow of revellers will spill over to....???

Great updates guys, especially Khun Per. I'm looking forward to me trip on 23rd. I guess there will be a mini surge of visitors, so should be able to have a few fun nights.

Is anywhere advertising for a half decent Xmas day dinner? I don't mind (actually, I would fancy) a traditional carvery in an Irish or British style pub, rather than a fancy (half cold) buffet. Any options? Need to book?

22 hours ago, khunPer said:

Not much, if anything at all, going on at Chaweng's beach road, but 7-Eleven by Soi Green Mango is open.

 

A few of the beachfront resorts have reopened with full service, perhaps 10-15 percent of them.

 

There are some restaurants open in Central Festival, but also many closed, especially those aiming on mainly tourists as customers.

 

Other areas on Samui are much more lively than Chaweng and Lamai – and also with open bars and pubs – and plenty of restaurants open. Driving on the Ring Road in the evening it seems almost all open from Nathon to Bo Phut, I just did the trip today.

 

However, if you are looking for nightlife like Chaweng's, you need a transport to get to there. It's hard to predict what will happen this New Year, or rather where people will head out for a countdown, but Ark Bar might be a good suggestion, if it's fine weather.

 

Take for example a look at Bang Rak, Fisherman Village, and Maenam Beach. W in Maenam might also arrange parties – little high-end – I often hear their music in week-ends.

Thanks KhunPer. I'll be keeping my eye out for updates via posts like this. I've got got one of those "refundable" bookings so I can rebook somewhere else if needed.

Hopefully XMAS and NYE will produce a surge of domestic tourists during the week from Xmas to NYE (Friday to Friday), which might encourage a few places to open up temporarily, and presumably there's no shortage of GRAB drivers these days, so its easy enough to take a trip to a different spot each evening while I'm there.

Cheers.

I'm still in two minds which beach to stay at when I visit for a week in December (covering xmas and new year). I've booked a place in the middle of Lamai beach, as I was under the impression that there was a little bit more life there than Chaweng.

The photo-logs I've seen in Chaweng in recent months are depressing. But from this thread, it seems that Chaweng might be a better bet? I'm not looking to pick up girls, I'll have my GF with me, but Hush and a few places like that would be fine for me. 

Is there a few restaurants open near the entrance to Soi green mango? Say within 100-200m? I'm not fussy about the style, just as long as I have a few places to choose from. If I could stay within a couple of mins walk to an open 711, a handful of restaurants, and a choice of a few lively bars, then I'd be happy ????

Seems like Chaweng would be a better bet?

15 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

osted 28 minutes ago

'when I pay thousands of $...... but you haven’t been for the last 20yrs right? '

The above poster is a troll.

It did not cost 'thousands of $' to come and stay on Samui 20 years ago. Unless - you flew first class and stayed in the one 5* resort on the island.

(If you stayed in that resort, the beach was and still is pristene. No encroachment.

Back then, Bangkok to Samui return was 3,000 baht and there was only economy.

Visa on arrival - free.

Airport tax 200 baht

Yup, that's my point. When he did visit it did not cost 1000's...... and now hasn't visited for 20yrs or more so really has no idea about the place. Troll, as you say.

Good old days with the 3000 baht fares, and international fares half the price too. 

On 10/1/2020 at 12:50 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

When I pay thousands of $ to go to LOS ( visa, flights, insurance, hotels, transport, restaurants etc ) I don't expect to be blocked from walking along the beach at any tide level.

Some things are IMO very bad in LOS,  some being

-the lack of consideration for pedestrians everywhere ( IMO because the officials responsible think only low class people walk )

-the legal or ignored destruction of Thailand's beaches.

It would not hurt anyone to leave the beaches walkable at all times. Encroaching whether legal or illegal is selfish and inconsiderate, and there is no reason to do so.

when I pay thousands of $...... but you haven’t been for the last 20yrs right? So what exactly are you paying thousands for?