BANGKOK (NNT) - The Travel+Leisure magazine’s 2021 survey has named Thailand’s Koh Samui as the seventh best island in the world and second in the Asia region.

 

The votes for the “World’s Best Awards 2021” were collected from readers between January 11th and May 10th, as destinations across the world are slowly reopening to tourists.

 

The top two spots were held by Greece’s Milos and Folegandros islands, followed by St. Vincent and the Grenadines. India’s Andaman Islands led the list of the five best in Asia, followed by Thailand’s Koh Samui and Bali in Indonesia.

 

Meanwhile, 4 Bangkok hotels were voted onto the Travel+Leisure magazine’s list of the world’s best 100 hotels for this year. The hotels are Capella Bangkok (4), Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (41), Four Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River (55) and The Sukhothai Bangkok (73).

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-09-14

 

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Voted by whom? Plastic bag fans and littered beach lovers?

They clearly haven't been to Koh Samui in a couple years... it is a shadow of its former self at the moment.

Here's what Chaweng looked like when it was the world's best island. Taken in December, 1979.

 

 

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Travel+Leisure magazine’s 2021 survey has named Thailand’s Koh Samui as the seventh best island in the world and second in the Asia region.

Fantasy island.

Last time I went you can not even get a glance of the sea from the road anymore. unlike Thailand's 3rd biggest island. 

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

Last time I went you can not even get a glance of the sea from the road anymore. unlike Thailand's 3rd biggest island. 

Seriously, you need to get out more often if you believe that statement.

Try leaving the bars and drive around the island. Chaweng is not Samui.

Was there not so long ago on a 90 day report to the IO took a drive round the island the place is decimated and will take years to get back to normal ,having said that prior  to Covid businesses were closing due to unrealistic rents  

This is by far some of the most ridiculous drivel I have seen in a long time. Do they even know what Samui looks like at the moment? These are images I took during my past two trips there, over the past 12 months. The beach roads in both Lamai and Chaweng. Granted, the whole island does not look like this. Maenam has fared a bit better, and so has Bank Rak.

 

However 1,000's of businesses have closed. It looks a bit apocalyptic. 7th best? More like 607th best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely island.

 

To bad Bangkok Airways charges an arm and a leg.  Otherwise they'd see a lot more visitors.

 

 

 

Such a shame there are so many haters, angry old foreigners and outdated information. This is positive news for the people of Koh Samui, many are on the bones of their <deleted> from the pandemic effects on tourism. Most with little or no Government handouts like most other countries. Thai's don't get 'paid to stay home'.

 

Attached are two shots I took at 8.30 am yesterday September 14, 2021 on Chaweng beach. It is beautiful, the water is crystal clear and the beach is clean and inviting.  All the powerlines have been removed and are now underground and the roads will be finished along the main strip in the next 12 months. The main ring road of samui has been resurfaced and widened, soon to be marked with lines and bike lane. 

 

The locals, including myself who have lived here over 10 years spend their money supporting the local businesses.  Resorts that haven't focused on locals and kids are suffering. Those that have are doing as well as can be expected.

 

TOMORROW September 16 there will be an announcement. Tomorrow we will find out when Koh Samui becomes a full Sandbox. If it isn't October 1, it will most likely be October 8, 2021 when the Samui Plus+ Travel Model ends and the new Samui Sandbox begins. Great news for Samui businesses. A visitor will still have to do 3x PCR tests but they won't have to quarantine.

 

 

Haters will always hate which is a shame as Thailand has suffered and this is good news.

 

 

 

Why isn't Noman on the list. I heard that Noman is an island.....

WAS the 7th best. Now a zombie apocalypse.

Say what !!!!! I can think of a dozen island that <deleted> all over the island mentioned along with Samui as jaw droppingly more beautiful. 

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

This is by far some of the most ridiculous drivel I have seen in a long time. Do they even know what Samui looks like at the moment? These are images I took during my past two trips there, over the past 12 months. The beach roads in both Lamai and Chaweng. Granted, the whole island does not look like this. Maenam has fared a bit better, and so has Bank Rak.

 

However 1,000's of businesses have closed. It looks a bit apocalyptic. 7th best? More like 607th best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

- And still same old outdated pictures with hanging wires you have posted before...????

It's a free World, so those that don't like Samui, don't need to come...

On 9/15/2021 at 5:16 PM, khunPer said:

- And still same old outdated pictures with hanging wires you have posted before...????

But, as defensive as you are about shedding light on Samui at this time, they are still relevant and taken within the past year. As we know, if someone visits the Lamai or Chaweng Beach roads, this is what they see. I hear it regularly from friends living there. 

5 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

But, as defensive as you are about shedding light on Samui at this time, they are still relevant and taken within the past year. As we know, if someone visits the Lamai or Chaweng Beach roads, this is what they see. I hear it regularly from friends living there. 

I live on Samui, and I come in Chaweng and Chaweng Noi - where you once stayed a number of years ago - five days a week, so I pretty much know what it looks like...

 

Chaweng's beach road is a tourist center, just like Phuket's and Pattya's equivalent areas, so the road suffers from lack of tourists, and closed entertainment venues; the whole Thai nation suffers, not only Samui. However, during the extended "low season"-period both the beach road, and the Ring Road, and the island in general, have been upgraded with for example underground cables in Chaweng, and new tarmac and new rain water sewers all over the island. Share some up to date photos, and also photos from the rest of the island, which is so much more than Chaweng's and Lamai's beach roads, if you wish to show what is relevant...????

I liked Samui best back in the early 90's.  Haven't been there in 20 years now.  I probably wouldn't recognize the place.  As someone else mentioned earlier, the airfare charged by Bangkok Airways keeps a lot of people away.  Sure you can fly to Surat Thani for a lot less or take the overnight train but it makes getting there that much longer.

On 9/15/2021 at 11:46 AM, MrJ2U said:

Lovely island.

 

To bad Bangkok Airways charges an arm and a leg.  Otherwise they'd see a lot more visitors.

 

 

 

I would never pay BA's scalper prices and going via Surat is a PITA.

On 9/15/2021 at 8:16 PM, khunPer said:

- And still same old outdated pictures with hanging wires you have posted before...????

Yeah like about 7 times now. Why do so many people think Chewang represents all of Samui. It such a small part of the whole parcel of what the island has to offer

30 minutes ago, Henryford said:

I would never pay BA's scalper prices and going via Surat is a PITA.

Going by Surat Thani is great. Nothing better to start a visit than with a trip across the Gulf of Thailand.

.

 

Magazines make their ratings after soliciting $$$.

 

You pay, you get good rating. 

 

I could float some of my dog's poop in the Andaman, give Travel and Leisure a million bucks, and guess what island would be number one?

 

 

I didn't see Canvey Island on that list...........................

Nominated by "TAT"

The world number 1 of predictions.

5 hours ago, Hanuman2547 said:

I liked Samui best back in the early 90's.  Haven't been there in 20 years now.  I probably wouldn't recognize the place.  As someone else mentioned earlier, the airfare charged by Bangkok Airways keeps a lot of people away.  Sure you can fly to Surat Thani for a lot less or take the overnight train but it makes getting there that much longer.

In a way it's good if Bankok Air's fares keep some tourists away, the island's infrastructure can hardly cope with the ones already arriving - before Covid closure, of course - and those that came by cheap commuting fares before the airfield opened, can still arrive using same cheap fares as before by train or bus, plus boat or ferry...????

On 9/15/2021 at 11:41 AM, spidermike007 said:

This is by far some of the most ridiculous drivel I have seen in a long time. Do they even know what Samui looks like at the moment? These are images I took during my past two trips there, over the past 12 months. The beach roads in both Lamai and Chaweng. Granted, the whole island does not look like this. Maenam has fared a bit better, and so has Bank Rak.

 

However 1,000's of businesses have closed. It looks a bit apocalyptic. 7th best? More like 607th best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicely uncongested  ????

 

Deleted - old post.

These voters never been to Chang or Kood.

13 hours ago, Sparktrader said:

These voters never been to Chang or Kood.

Too "small" for these pitchmen (and women) who are basically pimps for the major hotels and tourist industry.