Arriving In Samui In A Few Weeks Can Use Some Help

[chaimdan]

You guys were so helpful with my previous post (arriving in samui without accomodations), I thought I might ask you one more question. I've been researching Thailand for months already, and have received such conflicting reports it's so confusing.

I arrive in Samui in August on a Monday afternoon (from Chiang Mai) and I fly out of Phuket the following week on Tuesday (back to the US via HK).

I am looking for a place that is on the quieter side, private, but very picturesque. Either on the beach or just above the beach with a nice view (preferably a small bungalow/chalet or the like). I need it to be nice/luxurious (if at all possible in my price range of $150 a night). Is Samui a good place for me, or would Ko Tao/Phangan better suit my needs? Ko Tao (or actually Nan Yuang) seems beautiful, is it considered to be nicer? I see some nice villas but they are way above our budget, I'm assuming the agents make a lot of money off of them, is there anyway to get a villa direct at a cheaper rate?

I am traveling with my wife and 1`yr old baby.

And lastly, I am thinking of flying to Phuket Sunday and spending my last two days there at the JW Marriott... The main reason is that the price of this luxury hotel is just $150 and it seems to be a fabulous place... Ko Samui doesn't seem to have anything even close for such a low price. Would you guys consider this a mistake to go in August or does it make sense for the above reasons?

[suegha]

$150 a night??? I didn't think you could anything so expensive on Samui. What sort of place are you looking for? I have stayed in the most fantastic places for $20+ a night!

[RAZZELL]

$150 a night??? I didn't think you could anything so expensive on Samui. What sort of place are you looking for? I have stayed in the most fantastic places for $20+ a night!

Where?

RAZZ

[cobra]

$150 a night??? I didn't think you could anything so expensive on Samui. What sort of place are you looking for? I have stayed in the most fantastic places for $20+ a night!

I assure you, you can spend $300 - $500 a night in Samui if that is one's wish,

Certain upper end resorts, (The Sala near Bohput, and the new Dara in Chaweng to name a few),

$20 a night doesn't get you much these days, even in low season,

it's more like ~$60 for something clean and comfortable.

[Rooo]

Have you tried Sawadee.com?

[chaimdan]

Thanks a lot guys.... Just to clearify....

This is a once in a life time trip for us, we're coming from the US and I can't predict any future trip. So we are really looking for something that is more than just comfortable and clean, rather a place that is more secluded, hammocks and palm trees would be nice.... on the quieter side of things.

Before finding accomodations I would really like to pin point a general location to visit. Is Ko Tao better suited to our needs than Samui? (Ko Tao sounds more tropical, quieter and peaceful....) or perhaps Phangan?

As far as accomodations are concerned, I would prefer a place with private jacuzzi (but I know it's unlikey I'll find someting like this in Samui for my price range) nice settings, view etc... private...

The only place in Samui I saw that might be of interest is the Samui Cliff View resort.... but I can't say I'm completely satisfied...

THANKS SO MUCH GUYS FOR YOUR HELP IN MAKING THIS A SPECIAL TRIP FOR US.... greatly appreciated.

[H2oDunc]

Thanks a lot guys.... Just to clearify....

This is a once in a life time trip for us, we're coming from the US and I can't predict any future trip. So we are really looking for something that is more than just comfortable and clean, rather a place that is more secluded, hammocks and palm trees would be nice.... on the quieter side of things.

Before finding accomodations I would really like to pin point a general location to visit. Is Ko Tao better suited to our needs than Samui? (Ko Tao sounds more tropical, quieter and peaceful....) or perhaps Phangan?

As far as accomodations are concerned, I would prefer a place with private jacuzzi (but I know it's unlikey I'll find someting like this in Samui for my price range) nice settings, view etc... private...

The only place in Samui I saw that might be of interest is the Samui Cliff View resort.... but I can't say I'm completely satisfied...

THANKS SO MUCH GUYS FOR YOUR HELP IN MAKING THIS A SPECIAL TRIP FOR US.... greatly appreciated.

Hi, If quiet and luxurious is what you are after try and take a look at Tipwimarm, Check on the spelling. Its on Koh Tao and is first class. If you want to be pampered and have a nice place on a beautiful part of the island its tops. Nang uan isnt at all worth the money you pay. We stopped in one of the top bungalows there earlier this year. The accom is about 20 years out of date , the food in the restraunt is mediocre and expensive and you cant go anywhere without it costing you. Also high end and nice is Jamirrikhiri another nice boutique typeresort well away from the backpacker majority. Hope you enjoy your hol where ever you end up

[donna]

theres also 'the library' on samui. new boutique hotel which looks stunning on their website. some of my hotel guests have stayed there and absolutely raved about it.

[mlkmnz]

Given the small amount of time you're here, I'd suggest staying on Samui, you'll end up losing valuable vacation time by the time you land in the afternoon and manage to find a ferry that takes you to Koh Tao in the afternoon (I dont even know if there are any then), plus if you wanted to take your 1 yr old to an attraction theres nothing on Koh Tao. I can recommend World Resort in Bophut, individual bungalows to stay in, if you were wanting to spend $150ish you could get one of their bungalows on the seafront. Its a good safe place for kids, rooms are clean, beach is pretty and not overly crowded, and staff are friendly. Stayed there a couple of months ago before we rented a house with a 7mth old and 2 year old and it was perfect. Can get details here:

http://www.sawadee.com/hotel/samui/world/pictures.html

Renting an individual house per day is going to be expensive, although you're right, agents rape and pillage, if you were renting direct from the owner it might be cheaper but then again there is an expectation by owners of the sort of property I think you're after (a nice beachfront house with mod cons, not a shack) that they should get exorbitant amounts of cash per night. So for short term, a resorts probably going to be cheaper than the $300+/night for the top end beachfront properties. Check out all the resorts on Sawadee.com, and check the visitor comments as they're pretty spot on.

[sbk]

Agree with mlkmnz, since you have such a short time, island hopping is probably out.

Imperial Boat house in Choeng Mon looks fabulous. check them out.

[Samuian]

try here: The Santiburi - Mae Nam Beach

Mae Nam Resort - Mae Nam Beach

Zazen Resort - Bophut

Peace Resort - Bophut Beach

The Tongsai Bay Resort - Tong Sai Bay - Choeng Mon Beach

These would be places at locations I would recommend regarding your preferences and circumstances.

The Beach Villas you been asking for are available as well but they might be a bit above the mentioned budget.

Ban Bang Po Beach

Napasai or Pansea Villas - Ban Thai (Mae Nam)

Four Seasons - Koh Samui (Top End)

After many years of experience in the hospitality industry on samui I would recommend these places.

Edited July 19, 2007 by Samuian

[chaimdan]

H2oDunc: Thanks for the recommendation. I actually did some reading about them and it was one of the places I was interested in Ko Tao along with Ko Tao Cabana and the Jamahkiri (if only I had a little more money) and the Anankhira.. Have you seen any of those? and how would you compare them? Is Ko Tao really nicer in these regards to Samui??

Mikmnz: Thanks for the suggestion, I took a look and the hotel itself looks great (the seafront especially) the only thing is that I am looking for something more secluded. I want to have a mostly empty beach or just be on a mountain by the water with only hotel guests there.

Samulan: Thanks a lot for all your recommendations. They seem great. Aside from two of them they were all above my budget, and those that weren't were at locations that were not as private as I was hoping for.

Would anyone know if there are any similar resorts on Ko Samui to those on Ko Tao, beachfront resorts usually built on a slope or mountain, with bungalows or chalets at or below $150?? they are very quiet and private... Or any other suggestions greatly appreciated..

Am I looking for something that doesn't exist on Samui?

[farang 55]

Friends who visited Samui stayed in Zazen (www.samuizazen.com). Really beautiful small resort and very nice bungalows. Right on the beach and I think in your price range. My friends just loved it.

[mlkmnz]

Am I looking for something that doesn't exist on Samui?

I think you really need to see the island in person - If you're wanting completely isolated modern accomodation, then yes, its hard to come by especially at that level. This isnt a large island by any means (can circumnavigate it in an hour) and good beachfront real estate is a very finite valuable resource, even the expensive places aren't still purely "isolated". Given the cost of the land developers try to get as much land useage as possible, having one place with nothing around it for half a kilometre in every direction just wouldnt be worth their while. So its all a bit of a compromise really, there are quieter beaches like Bophut and Maenam which still have people around you, but theres certainly no hustle and bustle.

I don't know what your travel dates are, but we're vacating the house we're renting on the 9th of August if you are interested. Its on a hill overlooking the sea, theres no neighbours for a good 100m and its only 5 months old with all the mod cons. Its costing us around $90 USD a night (but thats over a period of months), and if you were interested I could enquire about it for you. Can email pics too if youre keen.

[suegha]

$150 a night??? I didn't think you could anything so expensive on Samui. What sort of place are you looking for? I have stayed in the most fantastic places for $20+ a night!

Where?

RAZZ

I have stayed in both Spa resorts @ 1000 baht for ac double bedroom, excelllent restaurant and swimming pools. The beach is obviously on the beach, even the rooms further back are 1 min walk. The Spa prices start at just 900 a night.

www.spasamui.com

I have also stayed in fully equipped bungalows 5 mins walk from the beach in Ban Rak for 1000 baht a night (can't remember the name). So there are plenty of nice places around for 1000 baht. Okay, so that's £30, I was thinking in pounds sterling! So that's about £16 a night. So why waste $150???

[easternfunk]

chaiman,

Check this place out. I have not been there, but it looks to be about what your looking for. I might be staying there myself in August.

http://www.thesparesorts.net/content/view/27/68/

[chaimdan]

I think you really need to see the island in person - If you're wanting completely isolated modern accomodation, then yes, its hard to come by especially at that level. This isnt a large island by any means (can circumnavigate it in an hour)

I'm wondering if it's only an hour drive around the island, would it make any sense for me to rent a car upon arrival and drive around the island and inquire at places which look nice? I arrive at 12:30pm, so I should have plenty of time to finalize something. Let me know what you think.

Thanks for the offer I PM'd you.

[RAZZELL]

So why waste $150???

Because you can?

RAZZ

[mlkmnz]

I'm wondering if it's only an hour drive around the island, would it make any sense for me to rent a car upon arrival and drive around the island and inquire at places which look nice?

That could be an idea, a Suzuki Jeep will set you back about 600 baht a day ($20ish USD), and you wouldnt need to drive the whole island as most places are found between Lamai and Maenam (about 35 mins driving, although you'd obviously take longer if you were stopping to look at places). Only possible issue I could see is issues with vacancies or possibly a higher room rate for walk in customers. Although you would also have the option of renting a house as opposed to a resort, and there are signs everywhere offering places for rent.

[mlkmnz]

I have stayed in both Spa resorts @ 1000 baht for ac double bedroom, excelllent restaurant and swimming pools.

Is there an expectation or obligation to partake in the (not cheap) spa treatments? And is it a place for a 1yr old? Seems pretty reasonable otherwise.