dwoon

Hi,

Could anyone advise whether there's fireworks for sale in Phuket.

I did some searches and came across an article that it has since been banned in Phuket. Is this correct?

Thanks

Well, I didn't do much of the beaches. The only one that I went to was where I stayed in north Lamai.

The sand was fine and waters clean (but not crystal clear). There seemed to some natural breakwater about 250 meters out and at low tide, I could see many wading out upto those distances and it'd be like waist deep. So it was basically sheltered and no strong waves.

As a 1st visit, I didn't laze about on the beach .... but spent more time driving around the island.

Quiet interesting the criterias from a first time visitor from SIN:

- Traffic condition

- The food prices

- Internet

- Roads

- the service & attitude of the Thais on Samui

- shops

- Tiger zoo

- proper parking lots were hard to find

- dangerous

How was the beach??

BTW the main criteria from European tourists on a beach destination...

Yes, I noticed that many caucasians (dunno if they were europeans) like to hang about just outside the 7/11 outlets in Lamai or Chaweng to have their beers.

I think some europeans criteria is comfortable seating outside 7/11 to drink their beer purchases.

Unfortunately I did not drive inside but bypassed it on my way to the Big Buddha.

I drove into the mountains to find out what Magic garden was ..... and was I disappointed to find some statues planted into the hillside. It was interesting though as I dorve through a durian plantation which were bearing huge fruits, when some trees were barely 3 meters tall. Bought one to try in town and was I dissapointed. If any of you are wondering.... the real durians would smell 3 to 4 times stronger.... and its taste would be sweet & creamy. What I got was watery and it tasted like pineapples. I was expecting inferior quality from Thai durians.... but this was really

Just returned from 8 nights on Samui.

As a 1st time tourist there, this is what I noticed/observed about the place and thought I'd just put this up.

Thanks for the post.

Did you get to Fisherman's Village? I just had a friend staying for two weeks and FV was his favorite part of Samui by far.

Just returned from 8 nights on Samui.

As a 1st time tourist there, this is what I noticed/observed about the place and thought I'd just put this up.

- Traffic condition is considered alright but the roads are really in bad shape. Even the major landmark like the "Big Buddha".... the road leading in is a real killer for any car's shocks.

- The food prices is high in general. A fried rice/noodles in an eatery cost anywhere from 80 to 120 bahts. These prices are no different from where I come from (Singapore). Up market restaurants prices are also on the high side (Like Dr Frogs & Zico's).

- Internet is expensive and not as widely available as I was expecting.

- Roads are really muddy and dusty. Even if it didn't rain, the roads would have water puddles and mud. (probably caused by people purposedly wetting the roads.... wonder why)

- Somehow, the service & attitude of the Thais on Samui doesn't seem sincere nor as nice as compared to those in Phuket or Bangkok. The Seatrans Ferry ticketing booth attendant was rather rude on both Samui & Donsak locations.

- Alot of shops don't seem to open till past 2pm.

- Tiger zoo was really expensive for that level/standard.

- Beach front areas like Chaweng or Lamai have narrow roads and proper parking lots were hard to find (so parked by the side of the road at times and was told to move off by the shops at times)

- I didn't feel the place to be any more dangerous as compared to say Phuket, Bali or Bangkok.

Well, it wasn't too bad a stay...... though things can be improved. I would probably return for another trip..... but not too soon though.

I did some searching and came up with this http://bluechipwireless.com/. It mentions that the service covers North Lamai and I'm not sure how strong the signals are as I'll be staying at the Renaissance. (Definitely not from the room... but maybe from the pool?)

Do you happen to know if wireless is accessible from Renaissance from this WiFi provider? I don't think I wanna pay the resort 802 bahts/day for their in-house wired LAN access.

Apart from the IT centre which btw looks cool. Are there any other options?

Cheers.

Hello

i don't know who to ask so i decided to post it here.

I am looking for internet service provider here in koh samui which doesn't require a whole land line tel phone and .....

i went to True UBC but they told me that their internet service is available only in bangkok. Can u guys help me pleaseeeeeee?

No internet is killing me.

Thanks all.

You can try one of those wireless modems, into which you insert a sim card. They are availale from the shop left side of IT centre, Lamai.

Or use Wifi in an area with reception.

Or you can use Wifi in the IT centre or plug one of their LAN cables into your laptop.

Hope this is of some help.

Say guys....... how's the weather nowadays? We're into the 1st week of Jan '09 and I'm wondering whether the rains have lessened.

Thanks so much. Appreciate it. But when I looked further...... it says :" Available for residents in Thailand or Thai work permit holders only."

Went to their webby for Centara Samui Villas. Didn't see any offers..... even "latestays" prices are higher than those published 1 month ago.

Can you advise how do I go about getting these rates? I've been waiting for them to drop, but they've seem to have increased instead.

http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/packag...ppyHolidays.asp

Went to their webby for Centara Samui Villas. Didn't see any offers..... even "latestays" prices are higher than those published 1 month ago.

Can you advise how do I go about getting these rates? I've been waiting for them to drop, but they've seem to have increased instead.

Sorry if this has already been mentioned, but I really can't be arsed reading through all this long thread. I was in Bkk recently and saw on the front page of the Bangkok Post an advert of Special seasonal promotion prices for Centara Hotels around Thailand. Wait for this! Centara Samui was being offered at 2200 baht for the 1st night and second night free! For all non mathemeticians, that's 1100 baht per night! Up in Hua Hin there was a similar 2 for 1 deal but the prices were around 7000 or 9000 baht a night. ( can't remember which). Says a lot really.

Cheers.

Can anyone advise whether I can get 95RON petrol in Samui?

I've heard conflicting reports that 95RON petrol is no longer being sold in Thailand. (Only 95 Gasohol is available)

Appreciate if someone can confirm.

If its available, is it by any chance called "Alpha-X 95" rather than "Gasohol 95"?

Thanks for the assistance.

BTW, what the price of it? (I saw in PTT webby it was 21.39 bahts/ltr) Is this accurate?

Thanks Mark for the feedback. Will check out the Peninsula.

Cheers.

Southbot's advice can only be described as totally wrong in almost every aspect.

I know this area intimately, and can tell you that there is only one group of rocks that impede one's way to Lamai proper, that in front of Star Bay Resort. Unless the tide is very high, you can wade around them, or if not, climb over the one big rock in your way.

It takes about 35 or so minutes to walk and you will cross one run-off creek, which at this time of the year is easily waded. Even during the rains this November it was only thigh-deep (I walked it then). The distance is probably a kilometer or so. I have walked it many times. Make sure you do it in the morning or evening since in the day it can get hot.

As for the Renaissance, it is costly and isolated -- meaning you can't walk to the nightlife or food shops or anything in Lamai village. It is a nice place, no question, and if you don't want to have easy access to anything, it's great (if you can afford it).

I would recommend finding something along the main beach in Lamai. The Peninsula is a place in the same category as the Renaissance, and you can walk (easily) to all that Lamai has to offer.

Hi,

Would you be so kind as to give some feedback on your stay at the Renaissance?

Perhaps also some feedback on the nearby amenities, convenience of location, road conditions, any floods there, attractions nearby, etc....

Thanks.

I'll be staying at the Renaissance Hotel on Laem Nan beach in a few weeks. Anyone know how far it is to Lamai beach? is it just a 5-min. stroll, or will i need some wheels?

I believe the bank which provided the finance/ mortagage will take it back & hog it off, to cover back as much of the outstanding loan as possible.

The amount still outstanding after such a procedure will be written off as bad debts after unsuccessful attempts to recover it from the borrower.

Here´s a question for you guys.

Let´s say i borrow money from investors and maybe even Thai banks. Buy prime property on the island, open restaurants in prime location where nothing stays empty for long, and then split the country. Maybe never come back. I´m using coco story as a example to show what i mean, nothing else. I beg everybody to please leave further comments on coco, Alan or Bruce out of this thread as it will get the thread closed quickly. Please.

I´m just curious what will happen with for instans a good location restaurantbuilding, i perfect condition, if owners never come back. Will it stay empty forever or is there something in the thailaw that eventually gives the rights to use it to somebody else? Or will it simply be squatted? Question goes for property aswell. What happens with the unfinished developments that "owners" fled before its halfdone? How long will unfinished projects stand around and wait until somebody else step in and take over?

Where is the Thailaw on this matter? There´s another thread about samuis future, and i didnt want to highjack that one so i opened this, but point being i kind of see a chans where Samui 10 years from now is an island filled with these unfinished projects that nobody can tuch. Prime location, downtown chaweng restaurants, areas where everybody want to rent, nice buildings standing empty because the owners gave up or ran out of finance. Surerly there must be some limits were the Thai´s just say "screw this, take the land back and use it"? Or is there not?

I know (take sloaneys as ex.) if you have a lease or rental contract and split town, the minuite your rent is up the owner just move on. But if i buy a few buildings that everybody wants, and let them be empty, and skip town. How many years would they legaly have to wait around for me? And how long would they do it in real life?

Just curious.

Thanks....

Can anyone advise what are the bank's operating hours on a Saturday? Probably will head to one in Hatyai, to book the afternoon tickets.

Most bank offices are closed on Saturdays in Thailand.

Can anyone advise what are the bank's operating hours on a Saturday? Probably will head to one in Hatyai, to book the afternoon tickets.

Thanks.

Okay.... I'll go check if there's an Ayudya Bank here in Singapore and enquire.... though I seriously doubt they provide this service, even if they have an overseas branch here.

Sorry I didnt read your OP correctly.Then try to go to one once you hit Thailand.Anyway good luck & have a safe trip.

Arrrggghhh..... guess travel agents are of no help, even when I enquired and willing to pay them the premuim to do the booking.

Read the reply I got:

Thank you very much for your e-mail.Regarding to the seatrans ferry booking.

Now they changed the system you don't have to boook in advance take your car there and get on the queue.

Best Regards,

Ms. Tatsani Aromsawang(Kaew)

Travel Consultant

Address: 44 Samsen Rd. Pranakorn, Bangkok Thailand 10200.

Phone: 0-2629-4262

Fax: 0-2629-1563

**email removed per forum rules**

Okay.... I'll go check if there's an Ayudya Bank here in Singapore and enquire.... though I seriously doubt they provide this service, even if they have an overseas branch here.

Thanks all for the feedback & advise.

However, I don't have any Thai bank account to allow me to do the advance Seatrans booking. Moreover, I'm not even in Thailand or even close to it.

Guess my easiest option is to just keep my fingers crossed when I reach the Raja terminal (maybe around 3pm?) Any idea how long it takes to drive from Sadao to Donsak? I'm being safe & intend to hit the Thai immigration at 8:00am, just when they start operating.

Cheers.

Sorry Roo, I didn't quite get that last part about "you go to office & present your ticket & pay."

Can you help to clarify on this bit? The VIP ticket is a return ticket with an open date which entitles one to join the VIP line. Isn't the return ticket already paid for? Is there another fee to pay on the return leg using the VIP ticket?

And another clarification.... the VIP ticket entitles one to queue in the VIP line.... that is only for the return leg or does it also apply for the outward trip too? (i.e. both ways)

Could you be so kind as to advise the price of the tickets?

Thanks for your assistance. I trying to gather all the necessary info before my trip in Jan 2009.

BTW, is there any such thing as Chinese New Year closures in Koh Samui? Or is it just another day w/o any festivities?

You can't book Raja in advance.The only way to get on the ferry in a decent time & avoid a long wait is ,when you get there book a VIP ticket, it simply means a return ticket with an open date.This will entitle you to join the VIP line & get on the ferry before the one way ticket holders.Mind you,it could be a one ferry wait there too.Same applies for return leg, just make sure you go to office & present your ticket & pay.

Good luck.

Yes the ticket is paid for, you just present it & they give a card with a # & boarding time.You only have to pay for passengers.I would honestly avoid Raja now, they are so old & smokey.Better bet to go via Seatran,you can book through any Ayudya Bank (the yellow one).You book exact departure date & time,a much better experience then Raja.Again that only applies to car & driver,have to pay seperately for passengers.

Thanks

How safe is Samui, in general?

Do tourists get robbed regularly there?

Anything to look out for?

Thanks

No problem, just stay from the ladyboys and the yellow taxis.

Sorry Roo, I didn't quite get that last part about "you go to office & present your ticket & pay."

Can you help to clarify on this bit? The VIP ticket is a return ticket with an open date which entitles one to join the VIP line. Isn't the return ticket already paid for? Is there another fee to pay on the return leg using the VIP ticket?

And another clarification.... the VIP ticket entitles one to queue in the VIP line.... that is only for the return leg or does it also apply for the outward trip too? (i.e. both ways)

Could you be so kind as to advise the price of the tickets?

Thanks for your assistance. I trying to gather all the necessary info before my trip in Jan 2009.

BTW, is there any such thing as Chinese New Year closures in Koh Samui? Or is it just another day w/o any festivities?

You can't book Raja in advance.The only way to get on the ferry in a decent time & avoid a long wait is ,when you get there book a VIP ticket, it simply means a return ticket with an open date.This will entitle you to join the VIP line & get on the ferry before the one way ticket holders.Mind you,it could be a one ferry wait there too.Same applies for return leg, just make sure you go to office & present your ticket & pay.

Good luck.

How safe is Samui, in general?

Do tourists get robbed regularly there?

Anything to look out for?

Thanks

Did your car survive? I would believe that your intake would have been way submerged if the water level was past your hood's height.

Thanks guys for your feedback... so end Jan 2009 , here I come.

Lamai ringroad already well flooded.

How is Chaweng / Maenam ?

Improved drainage desperately needed.

I was in Samui three years ago, same problem, whole Island flooded, went on for weeks. Thais wont spend money on infrastructure... Glad I left, Samui was and is now a toilet.... Good riddance to the place and the corrupt administration there.

This post is a classic example why you should´nt post about a place you left 3 years ago.

This years heavy rain showed flooding in Ban rak village wich never flooded before they rebuilded the road and drainingsystem. .

I heard yesterday (ok, just rumor) that the draining was never finished. They never did the part that leads to the sea!

Otherwise same areas as usual. Before maenam, bophut lights and so on. Took them to long to put in the pumps this time. The maenam flood was actually over the hood on my car before they started pumping the water out.

Anyway, today seems to be a sunny day.

Hi Everyone,

Apologies for hijacking this thread... but seeing that this is bout the closest relating on what I need to enquire. Thanks in advance.

I'm planning a drive trip to Samui during the coming 2009 CNY (24th Jan to 31st Jan). I've done some searching online and read that Dec to Mar is usually the dry season. Can I safely say that end Jan is a very safe period to be driving to Samui?

The last thing I want, is to get caught in a flood in Thailand and requiring a major overhaul on a hyrdo-locked engine.

I'll be driving all the way from Singapore, so if anyone is knowledgeable on the weather in southern thailand and foresee adverse weather conditions during that time, please sound off as well.

Thanks for all your feedback & assistance.

Cheers.