Koh Samet – The Good, The Bad and The Chinese

By Dan Cheeseman

 

 

The Changing Face of Koh Samet

 

Living in Thailand offers many benefits and one of those is being able to escape to one of the many beautiful beaches, in fact some of the beach offerings are world class.

 

I have always had a soft spot for Koh Samet as it was the first island I ever visited back in 2006, but in more recent years I have been disappointed in the island, in fact I have been a left a little sad by how it has changed.

 

Koh Samet was once a charming tiny island with dirt tracks linking the various beaches, the only access was via a ferry or occasional speed boat and you were more likely to bump into a back packer than a seasoned tourist.

 

Now you are more likely to literally bump into a one of the hundreds of Chinese tourists there, as on some beaches it is busier than a crowded train in rush hour.

 

Full story: https://danaboutthailand.com/2018/08/01/koh-samet-the-good-the-bad-and-the-chinese/

 

-- DAN ABOUT THAILAND 2018-2018-08-02

I took a Thai 'gf' on a trip to Koh Samat when I first came to Thailand ( a few years later than you 2009).

Nobody there but us after 5pm or before 10am, empty restaurant tables out to the sea of an evening.

Had the complete beach to ourselves, nice clear water. Never made it beyond the fringe of trees around the beach and our hut.

I had the time of my life.

Edited August 2, 20187 yr by BritManToo

Been 3 times.

 

8 years ago - Great

 

6 years ago - Good

 

3.5 years ago - Awful

 

I wouldn't go again. 

Went in 1989,like most Thai islands i visited in the 1990s have no doubt it will be ruined.

Everywhere is the same and so sorry to hear Koh Samet is now dead. My Viet Nam friends are complaining as well. My home city in USA just 20 minutes south of San Francisco is inundated with them. Just disgusting. 

I went there in 2016. Soon as I heard those ruddy jet skis I was back on the boat outta there.

1 hour ago, andy said:

The Chinese are a convenient scapegoat but the island was ruined by the Thais themselves (mostly the weekenders from Bangkok and the officials who were supposed to be treating Samet as "national park").

In my opinion, a perfect example of "hitting the nail on the head". 

Post of the week, for me.

Spot on.

There are good and bad in all tourists BUT,    Chinese money rules,    there is not one place that is not ruined by these mass booking people-------places to get away from them-----ISSAN.      Shocking examples are Koh Lhan, Samet, Pattaya and Jomptien.  Try staying in most hotels these people put you off your food at mealtimes----so LOUD,    arguing at reception  cramming into overcrowded lifts.   Walking street is a joke.  Like being on an old school trip.

Most of the money never rarely sees the Thai people at local level,   few beach chairs rented,   street vendors not a sniff, at most bars,  not any Chinese in numbers...   TAT  think their money is better than all the other tourists money----stupid TAT.

I have since 2010 gone to Koh Samet every year for 1 week in January.

Still very happy and will enjoy the Island again in January 2019.

 

Maybe I am not so fossy as I am living near Pattaya all winter, with poor beaches.

 Ao Prao Resort the best beach and decent tourists  !

Edited August 2, 20187 yr by Nielsk

57 minutes ago, Nielsk said:

I have since 2010 gone to Koh Samet every year for 1 week in January.

Still very happy and will enjoy the Island again in January 2019.

 

Maybe I am not so fossy as I am living near Pattaya all winter, with poor beaches.

 Ao Prao Resort the best beach and decent tourists  !

 

Are you lazy to go somewhere nicer and worth the price ?

 

 

It's the Thais who have ruined Koh Samet, not the Chinese.

8 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

It's the Thais who have ruined Koh Samet, not the Chinese.

 

Yes I read before that the army closed the bar and caught the weed sellers, is it true ?

 

 

The thing is.. Theres loads of islands to go to, if you want the beach shack and Crusoe experience.. 

 

Gradually they change, electric comes, trash comes, concrete trails and basic roads get put in.. The shacks turn into cement bungalows and budget resorts, a few build pools.. It gets to a standard where they book and reserve online.. The tours come.. The crowds come.. And then you have a 7/11 and its half way to ruined. 

And the very reasons you liked that island are not there. 

 

So go find a new one.. There is so much undeveloped coastline.. So many places you can go and chill, on the main land or on islands, its kind of silly to complain, just adapt. 

The only legit complaint is the coral reefs I remember in the 90s are gone, bleaching and water temps probably the biggest aspect. Sure I could go diving to depths and find even that, but I did love the ease of putting on a mask and fins and just exploring a reef in swimming distance to the shoreline. 

7 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I took a Thai 'gf' on a trip to Koh Samat when I first came to Thailand ( a few years later than you 2009).

Nobody there but us after 5pm or before 10am, empty restaurant tables out to the sea of an evening.

Had the complete beach to ourselves, nice clear water. Never made it beyond the fringe of trees around the beach and our hut.

I had the time of my life.

my first trip around 20 years ago !     ahhhh,  those were the days, my friend.

of course,  anything would be nice if i could go back 20 years !

places change, the world changes... sorry to say, just too many people and some of the changes are not for the better... 

 

I was in Pattaya in 1974 - - sleepy little beach town w/a few bungalows - - nothing there [if it was indeed the same place?]

10 hours ago, LivinLOS said:

The thing is.. Theres loads of islands to go to, if you want the beach shack and Crusoe experience.. 

 

Gradually they change, electric comes, trash comes, concrete trails and basic roads get put in.. The shacks turn into cement bungalows and budget resorts, a few build pools.. It gets to a standard where they book and reserve online.. The tours come.. The crowds come.. And then you have a 7/11 and its half way to ruined. 

And the very reasons you liked that island are not there. 

 

So go find a new one.. There is so much undeveloped coastline.. So many places you can go and chill, on the main land or on islands, its kind of silly to complain, just adapt. 

The only legit complaint is the coral reefs I remember in the 90s are gone, bleaching and water temps probably the biggest aspect. Sure I could go diving to depths and find even that, but I did love the ease of putting on a mask and fins and just exploring a reef in swimming distance to the shoreline. 

 

 

18 hours ago, marko kok prong said:

Went in 1989,like most Thai islands i visited in the 1990s have no doubt it will be ruined.

That was around the time I first went there, lucky enough to find Samet Ville then, no road there, they had a private boat from Ban Pae once a day

 

. I think it was B450 for a hut including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Food was fantastic

 

Lights out around 11pm, so just sat at the restaurant with a big bucket of large Singha on ice and a lantern

if you stay away from the obvious tourist beaches there are still wonderful little resorts to go to. the thai side of the island.

Wrote a blog a month or so ago about Ko Samet called paradise lost ithink and slated it then goes back on a long wknd holiday and complains ?

Stupid is as Stupid does. Must be running out of material.

How about going to nice quiet beach down the end of the island on Tuesday and see what its like.

Ironically probably lives in Pattaya?

On ‎8‎/‎2‎/‎2018 at 11:50 AM, gaff said:

 

Are you lazy to go somewhere nicer and worth the price ?

 

 

Yes You are rigt I am too lazy for long rides.  I prioritise Beaches !  I have been to Koh Chang which also is a lovely Island, but too far away for me. Not a question about price. Pattaya -Koh Chang Taxi  5 t 35 min (277,4 km) via Rute 3. The relatively small distance between the city of Pattaya and the resort island of Samet (less than 100 km) allows very quickly and with maximum comfort to reach the destination by taxi. I am + 70 now  ! 

34 minutes ago, Nielsk said:

Yes You are rigt I am too lazy for long rides.  I prioritise Beaches !  I have been to Koh Chang which also is a lovely Island, but too far away for me. Not a question about price. Pattaya -Koh Chang Taxi  5 t 35 min (277,4 km) via Rute 3. The relatively small distance between the city of Pattaya and the resort island of Samet (less than 100 km) allows very quickly and with maximum comfort to reach the destination by taxi. I am + 70 now  ! 

 

Koh chang is a dump, only southern islands are worth going.But Samet ok also.