Samui Open for Business?

[Tropicalevo]

Hotels within easy walking distance from where I live  -

Six Senses opened up last week but The Bay (3*) is still closed until later in the month.

I doubt if The Tongsai Bay closed - they used to have guests that stay for 12 months of the year and they are currently offering beach front bugalows for 4,500 THB.

Ritz Carlton also open at 5,000 THB for garden bungalows.

Idyllic Resort say that they are closed but they definitely have guests.

Further afield but connected to Six Senses -

Sala in Choengmon never closed and I understand that the Sala in Chaweng is now open.

Most of the villas that we manage are still full but unless they extend the visa amnesty, August could be quiet. Mind you, still lots of weekenders coming down from Bangkok and guests are arriving from other areas now for a look at Samui. (Phuket, Hat Yai and even Chiang Mai.)

Edited July 8, 2020 by Tropicalevo

[Birdman]

On 7/7/2020 at 10:55 PM, khunPer said:

Not "all", because all the big ones that closed on "my" beach – and the smaller ones also – are still closed: however some of the smaller resorts might open a section in a week-end if there's demand enough for it.

 

Where do you stay and see all big ones are open?

????

Your home is Menam? Saree, Santiburi, W, Paradise, Fair House Villas, Coast, Napasai ... are not open yet? 

[khunPer]

13 hours ago, Birdman said:

Your home is Menam? Saree, Santiburi, W, Paradise, Fair House Villas, Coast, Napasai ... are not open yet? 

I can't see around the bay-corner to Napasai, and I'm not sure about Fair House Villas, but Mitska Wan might be open (there are light); but all others seem closed and the ones I pass on my daily beach walk are indeed extremely closed, together with some unnamed more affordable resorts; however a few affordable accept guests for rooms, but not fully open, so no hotel restaurant service.

[khunPer]

I just passed by Chaweng this afternoon, seems like not much change since I walked the beachfront a few weeks ago. This time I just drove down the beach road, but all the resorts having entrance by the road, i.e. the major resorts, and the ones you can peek into like Ark Bar and Al's, are still closed with one exception only: King's Garden has just reopened, the sign in front says "Open 7/7". Chaweng Garden Resort have been open for some time, as I've mentioned in a post before, and also Sala further north – the never closed down – whilst The Library that stayed open in the beginning and closed later is still closed.

 

Certainly not "all" has reopened...???? 

[Tropicalevo]

I drove from Plai Laem to Chaweng tonight. Lots of big hotels open outside of Chewang but....

Zombie town in the centre.

Choengmon - Melia and Sala open

Nora Buri, Eranda Spa, Nora Beach Resort, Anantara, Breiza, Sala in north Chaweng all open.

Then as KhunPer says - hotels closed in Chaweng with one or two exceptions. Many are being re-furbished.

A few bars/restaurants on the beach open but not many customers when I walked by at 18.00.

Chaweng needs foreign tourists and lower rents if it is to survive.

A few restaurants/bars open on the beach road - Delaney's, The Duke, Indian etc but everything on the side sois and most on the Beach Road are closed.

I ate with friends on the beach at OP Bungalows. Very good seafood.

There is more life in Bangrak, Fisherman's village and Maenam. (Lower rents and a local population in those places. No one lives in Chaweng. It is a holiday hotspot.)

Chi Beach Club (Bangrak) is still playing loud music everynight.

Stay away from Chaweng. Visit the other 95% of Samui.

Friends went to Napasai in Maenam today. That is definitely open.

My feeling is that Samui is open but Chaweng is closed.

 

[Maha Sarakham]

On 7/9/2020 at 11:09 AM, Tropicalevo said:

My feeling is that Samui is open but Chaweng is closed.

May very well be the case, but I think a lot of visitors feel that Samui = Chaweng.  I've personally never been a fan of the area, I preferred the Choeng Mon to Maenam area better.

[khunPer]

Chaweng nightlife update:

More nightlife has opened with Green Mango Club from last night till fairly late, however the front sound-stage only – Hush (disco) has been open till midnight since July fist, as well a number of the bars – Black is open in the outdoor bar/café from 7 pm and the indoor night club opens 11 pm till late (later than the others).

 

 

GMC was fairly crowded last night – something like half full of a normal crowded house, so comply with Covid-19 space-regulations – and it had a good joyful atmosphere.

 

Lots of young folks were walking in soi Green Mango, and many looked like foreigners.

 

Black seemed to be very crowded – to get in you need to pass a disinfection device that spray something on you and has UV-light – looked extremely crowded, however mainly a Thai audience place. Also the parking areas in the back of the clubs were quite full, the one one next to Black stuffed to the edge.

 

Even Chaweng is still fairly closed down in the beach road – both Ark Bar and the big Henry Africa pub are still closed – the revival of the party nightlife has begun...????

[Tropicalevo]

Tonight I went to a friend's bar in Maenam to watch the F1.

Bangrak was pretty 'open'.

Most of the closed bars were already closed before March. (Rockin Horse/Cocktail etc) It is not a 'girlie' or western bar village.

About 90% of the other bars/restaurants were open. Some were busy (Secret Garden/Chi etc) and others were more quiet. What else on a rainy and cold Sunday night?

Salefino is up for sale and I have heard that The Social will not open again. (Greedy landlord.) Everywhere else looked open.

Restaurants were open in the small area of Fisherman's village that I drove through and on the ring road, the girlie and music bars in Maenam were open. Customer traffic was light at 19.00 heading out but they were still open when I came home at 22.00.

Overall view - a pretty average night on a cold and wet Sunday. (Hamilton in his Mercedes won the F1 GP!)

[khunPer]

12 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Salefino is up for sale and I have heard that The Social will not open again. (Greedy landlord.) Everywhere else looked open.

There has always been bars and restaurants for sale, and some not reopening due to increased rent or lease, that's normal.

 

There might be little more closed business this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but also due to some owners did not change their concept when the tourism changed; i.e. little less Western tourists coming now (2019) than 5-10 years before, and much higher number of families with children.

 

I would not recommend anyone to place their savings from hard work in buying a beer bar on Samui, even if the offered price is an outstanding rare bargain...????

[Birdman]

Bars, especially beer bars, the last thing in my mind. One likes that, Patong or Patty the places to be.

[Tropicalevo]

Just some thoughts on visitors to Samui.

Villas are 80 - 90% booked most of the time since March

In the villa rentals, we are seeing 5 types of guests.

1. Long term expats (booking six months at a time)
2. Short term expats visiting whilst prices are low
3. Tourists here since the lockdown (leaving end July?)
4. Thais from other provinces visiting Samui whilst prices are low
5. Teachers - from overseas and teaching on line as well as other teachers from Bangkok for the school holidays (ending end of August)

Guests are finding lots of places to eat and drink - apart from Chaweng.

Guests (short stay) are also finding lots of things to do

Some guests just chill out in the villa and have food and drink delivered whilst enjoying the views and the pool

Other villa developments near by are seeing a similar pattern

So yes, Samui is open for business where I am.

[khunPer]

Seems like the demand for 5-star accommodation is higher than affordable ditto on Maenam Beach, as Santibury has reopened from today – there are light, and service, and even music and customers in the beachfront restaurant "The Beach House" – whilst the neighboring quite big, but affordable resorts, extremely affordable compared to Santibury, are still dead almost as a Dodo; "almost", because one of them have had one beachfront bungalow longtime inhabited during the lockdown.

 

[corkman]

.

Edited July 15, 2020 by corkman

[corkman]

On 7/14/2020 at 6:00 AM, Birdman said:

Bars, especially beer bars, the last thing in my mind. One likes that, Patong or Patty the places to be.

Respectfully disagree on that one. I come to Samui regularly. I'm not a sexpat or meth-packer, but I enjoy a little bit of beach side silliness at Arkbar, a chat with a fellow expat or traveller in a "bar" bar, and I'll even stop off in a so called girlie bar for a game of pool while the misses is having a nap or I am waiting for her to get ready. For those of us that live in Bangkok, the slower pace and casual attire is a nice change. Patpong I hate, and Pattaya is arguably worse!

[KhunBENQ]

On 7/10/2020 at 1:09 AM, Tropicalevo said:

There is more life in Bangrak, Fisherman's village and Maenam. (Lower rents and a local population in those places. No one lives in Chaweng. It is a holiday hotspot.)

I read through some of the informative posts here.

I will visit Samui from next week (flights booked).

Sounds like the Meanam area is currently at least not as dead as Chaweng?

Basic stuff is available (accommodation, food, convenience stores, scooter rental)?

 

Thanks for all comments.

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

I read through some of the informative posts here.

I will visit Samui from next week (flights booked).

Sounds like the Meanam area is currently at least not as dead as Chaweng?

Basic stuff is available (accommodation, food, convenience stores, scooter rental)?

 

Thanks for all comments.

Maenam, Bangrak Fisherman's village all open as normal. Scooter rental will be pleased to see you.

[khunPer]

A few photo shots from Saturday 18th July nightlife in Chaweng with excellent party atmosphere and quite "open for business"...

 

 

[CG1 Blue]

On 7/20/2020 at 6:34 PM, khunPer said:

A few photo shots from Saturday 18th July nightlife in Chaweng with excellent party atmosphere and quite "open for business"...

 

 

Thanks for the update.  Is that inside Black club? I assume not enough customers yet to fill Black and Green Mango, hence you didn't go to GM? 

[khunPer]

2 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:

Thanks for the update.  Is that inside Black club? I assume not enough customers yet to fill Black and Green Mango, hence you didn't go to GM? 

Yes, that's inside Black Club, 75 percent or more of the guests are Thais – including some of the well known birds from the nightlife – whilst the packed Black Bamboo pub outside, which plays more alien-friendly music, is about 50 percent foreigners, and the other 50 percent mainly are Thai ladies.

Some of the foreigners, and at least equal number Thai ladies, seems to begin the night in the town at Hush, "Samui's #1 HipHop RnB venue", in soi Green Mango – just like before the lockdown, where also Ark Bar's beach party and Henry Africa's were places to start the party – whilst Green Mango Club only has the front sound stage open, and sadly enough it's not that crowded; yes I did go there...

 

 

However, always look at the bright side of life, if you suffers from claustrophobia, GMC can be a great place on a weekday night...

 

The Beach Bar in Chaweng Noi has been open some nights, and when it's open the Black Club is closed – it's same ownership – whilst the outdoor Black Bamboo pub remains open.

 

 

[CG1 Blue]

6 hours ago, khunPer said:

Yes, that's inside Black Club, 75 percent or more of the guests are Thais – including some of the well known birds from the nightlife – whilst the packed Black Bamboo pub outside, which plays more alien-friendly music, is about 50 percent foreigners, and the other 50 percent mainly are Thai ladies.

Some of the foreigners, and at least equal number Thai ladies, seems to begin the night in the town at Hush, "Samui's #1 HipHop RnB venue", in soi Green Mango – just like before the lockdown, where also Ark Bar's beach party and Henry Africa's were places to start the party – whilst Green Mango Club only has the front sound stage open, and sadly enough it's not that crowded; yes I did go there...

 

 

However, always look at the bright side of life, if you suffers from claustrophobia, GMC can be a great place on a weekday night...

 

The Beach Bar in Chaweng Noi has been open some nights, and when it's open the Black Club is closed – it's same ownership – whilst the outdoor Black Bamboo pub remains open.

 

 

Thank you. It's really great to have a 'man on the ground' there to give the real story. 

 

Funny you mention some of the well known nightlife birds are going out. I thought most had gone home to the family. You think these are the ones who actually live permanently on the island (even born there), or have some of the ladies come back from their family break? ????

 

In any case, I assume all of the foreigners you see are expats,  given that tourists aren't allowed in yet. 

Edited July 22, 2020 by CG1 Blue

[khunPer]

17 minutes ago, CG1 Blue said:

Thank you. It's really great to have a 'man on the ground' there to give the real story. 

 

Funny you mention some of the well known nightlife birds are going out. I thought most had gone home to the family. You think these are the ones who actually live permanently on the island (even born there), or have some of the ladies come back from their family break? ????

 

In any case, I assume all of the foreigners you see are expats,  given that tourists aren't allowed in yet. 

I know of some nightlife birds that are staying permanently on the island, and I've heard that others returned as fast as they could – domestic travelling was banned for a period – as it was too boring and difficult to stay at home (probably up Isaan somewhere around Nakon Nowhere). But that's just the few I know, most are only well known faces, smiles without name and background knowledge.

 

The girls I know that are born on the island, are not the ones normally mingling with foreigners, but you might see them in Black Club and The Beach Bar, and other places where young Thais are hanging out for a night in the town, including Thai band venues which hardly any farangs visit. But again that's only the young native girls I know of, I cannot generalize.

 

Here are quite a number of "stranded" tourists – at some point (23rd April) the governor of Surat Thani mentioned that there were 10.000 stranded on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. Some resorts have had guests all the time during the lockdown, and also many rental villas.

 

At the moment quite a number of domestic tourists are coming, especially during week-ends – including some Westerners from other parts of the nation – Bangkok Air had both to expand number of daily flights, and change a few routes to the bigger Airbus aircraft instead of ATR-72s. A poster mentioned a few weeks ago up to a week-end that the queue-line by the ferry in Don Sak was around four hours without reservation, even after they had doubled the number of departures to half-hour interval, instead of only "on the hour".

 

I cannot say if all foreigners I see are expats, but most faces are not familiar – or perhaps I notice and remember cute night-bird smiles better than aliens...

[PoorSucker]

21 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:

Funny you mention some of the well known nightlife birds are going out. I thought most had gone home to the family.

They have boyfriends sending money. 

[Tropicalevo]

Went to Bangrak last night.

 

M & M bar had 15 - 20 people in there drinking whilst I was there. (18.30 - 19.30)

Whilst I was having a beer (or three) four or five groups of Thais were walking by, probably looking for somewhere to eat.

Moved on to Antica Locanda for food. The restaurant was full with a few tables filling again as they were emptying.

So, some villages on Samui are pretty normal and defintely open.

I am sure that things will be more quiet in September but happy if I am proved to be wrong.

 

 

[khunPer]

4 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

Moved on to Antica Locanda for food. The restaurant was full with a few tables filling again as they were emptying.

Glad to hear that, it's a good and recommendable place to dine...????

[Tropicalevo]

A light heared observation in this Covid world.

I am told by different hotel staff that Six Senses, Ritz Carlton, Tongsai Bay, Sala etc are all quite full or at least busy this long weekend.

Pulled out of the petrol station to head home and two Food Panda bikes passed me.

They both turned into the Ritz Carlton.

So, even though there are plenty of folk splashing out on the newly-priced rooms, they are definitely not splashing out on the fine dining.

Have a great Sunday everyone  ???? (I started with the Full English at Secret Garden today. Yummy.)

[Tropicalevo]

Comment from some of my staff today.

Too many Thais come to Samui. Wet market in Bangrak ran out of seafood yesterday.

So they went to Makro - depleted stocks there as well.  ????

 

[Maha Sarakham]

Saw an article that 17,000 Thais came in to Samui and Tao over the holiday weekend.  Guess that's something?

[corkman]

I first went to Samui about 20yrs ago. At the time, Chaweng was hardly a "lost paradise" but there was no McDonalds at Chaweng (had to go Lamai), there was plenty of 150-200 baht per night "fan bungalows", Ark Bar was literally a beached Ark, and P&P was one of the "posh" places. Stayed at P&P a couple of years back for nostalgia sake..... 555.

 

Converting the 10-20 bars on Soi Green Mango into 3 or 4 super-pubs was the death of the place.

 

Getting to the point, I wonder is Chaweng close to what it was 20yrs ago?

[khunPer]

31 minutes ago, corkman said:

I first went to Samui about 20yrs ago. At the time, Chaweng was hardly a "lost paradise" but there was no McDonalds at Chaweng (had to go Lamai), there was plenty of 150-200 baht per night "fan bungalows", Ark Bar was literally a beached Ark, and P&P was one of the "posh" places. Stayed at P&P a couple of years back for nostalgia sake..... 555.

 

Converting the 10-20 bars on Soi Green Mango into 3 or 4 super-pubs was the death of the place.

 

Getting to the point, I wonder is Chaweng close to what it was 20yrs ago?

Ark Bar 20-years ago (2000-2001)...

 

If you are thinking about Chaweng's night life it's same-same but different (talking about pre Covid-19).

• Green Mango Club is about the same – however I presume numerous of the girls have changed, but some might be the same.
• Reggae Pub is unfortunately quite dead now, and the bar-area on the peninsula is little less active than before.
• Full Circle Club has been torn down – they are constructing Hard Rock Hotel at it's remains – and changed twice, first to Sound Club, which is temporary closed (probably for 6 years), and now Black Club, which is it, even right now packed with a queue-line waiting outside last weekend.
• Sweet Soul Café has recently closed, just before the Covid-19 lock down.
• The Club – the after-party place after first Reggae Pub, and the Green Mango – has changed a couple of times, first to Solo Bar, and now it's called Sports Bar.

 

There are still numerous bars in soi Green Mango, including Viking Bar that has been there almost as long time as Chaweng, but a number of the right hand side pubs of the entry merged to Henry's Africa, which is the only "super pub" and actually a quite cozy place with a huge crowd of customers.

 

Soi Green Mango two more years than 20 ago, i.e. 1998...

 

The 200 baht a night fan-only Chaweng-bungalows has long gone, mainly replaced with several star resorts, but a few 299 baht a night places are still available around the island, but not in Chaweng. You can probably still find around 800 baht bungalows there, even some of the old Ark Bar Beach Resort buildings, whilst places like Silver Sand has vanished...

–and also legendary Charlie's Hut...

 

"Lost paradise"it might be in memory for some, I'm not sure today's young luxury-packers would agree to change to old style, apart from perhaps only a few days for the experience of "how the World once was"...????

[CG1 Blue]

48 minutes ago, khunPer said:

Ark Bar 20-years ago (2000-2001)...

 

If you are thinking about Chaweng's night life it's same-same but different (talking about pre Covid-19).

• Green Mango Club is about the same – however I presume numerous of the girls have changed, but some might be the same.
• Reggae Pub is unfortunately quite dead now, and the bar-area on the peninsula is little less active than before.
• Full Circle Club has been torn down – they are constructing Hard Rock Hotel at it's remains – and changed twice, first to Sound Club, which is temporary closed (probably for 6 years), and now Black Club, which is it, even right now packed with a queue-line waiting outside last weekend.
• Sweet Soul Café has recently closed, just before the Covid-19 lock down.
• The Club – the after-party place after first Reggae Pub, and the Green Mango – has changed a couple of times, first to Solo Bar, and now it's called Sports Bar.

 

There are still numerous bars in soi Green Mango, including Viking Bar that has been there almost as long time as Chaweng, but a number of the right hand side pubs of the entry merged to Henry's Africa, which is the only "super pub" and actually a quite cozy place with a huge crowd of customers.

 

Soi Green Mango two more years than 20 ago, i.e. 1998...

 

The 200 baht a night fan-only Chaweng-bungalows has long gone, mainly replaced with several star resorts, but a few 299 baht a night places are still available around the island, but not in Chaweng. You can probably still find around 800 baht bungalows there, even some of the old Ark Bar Beach Resort buildings, whilst places like Silver Sand has vanished...

–and also legendary Charlie's Hut...

 

"Lost paradise"it might be in memory for some, I'm not sure today's young luxury-packers would agree to change to old style, apart from perhaps only a few days for the experience of "how the World once was"...????

Sweet Soul Café closed? That's a shame! I liked sitting there watching the night build up, seeing all the people filing into Green Mango before going over there myself. 

 

Sweet Soul has been on that corner ever since I first started to stay in Chaweng in 2001 - I think. Although in recent years it has been mainly a Thai hang out.  It used to be a great party place back in the day -  packed out with a good mixture of Thais and tourists. 

 

I agree Henry Africa is a decent venue. But I still miss the small bars it replaced. Especially Blessing Bar.