Koh Samui For The Rookie?

[misterme]

After years popping down to Phuket and enjoying Patong and Karon, I'm ready to give the Gulf Side a shot.

I am soliciting advice and experience for my 1st Trip to Samui.

I enjoy a walking neighbourhood as opposed to an isolated resort. A little nightlife, discos, street food, etc. Am happy in a guesthouse, but love to splurge and go 5 star a few times a month.

It's not my first time to Thailand. I've lived here on and off for years, but I know ZERO about Samui... and am tired of people telling me that I'm missing out in that regard.

Your comments appreciated. thanks in advance.

[suegha]

I'm sure you will get loads of comments on this, some may not be positive! I, however, love it. I think it has something for everyone. Cheap right through to top end. Some great beaches, some busy resorts, some not so busy. All the things you'd associate with Thailand. From your post, you might enjoy Lamai, nice beaches, some night life, some good restaurants. You could get accomodation clase to everything and be able to walk everywhere. Then hire a car or bike when you need to go further afield. Best thing to do is pay a visit and see how you like it! Easy to leave if you don't - easy to stay if you do!

ps Ban Rak might be also a good bet, not as busy as Lamai, still close to everything.

[Belgarath]

I have at times tried to speculate why I like a certain place, and not another. Probably it depends on many things, first impressions, nice or bad people one has met there, and so on.

I like my back street of Bangkok too, out near Khao San Road, where I am always the first and last weeks of my stay since 7-8 winters. Nice to hear from people there "welcome back!" and then settling with good food and an assortment of interesting people passing, just the right distance from the noise of Khao San Road. More travellers around, with a story to tell, than 5-star dwellers.

I enjoy Samui after - is it 4 times there? A month or so each time, and I plan to stay longer coming winter. I have a Swedish colleague who means it is nothing, he very much prefers Phuket thou he is all over - a businessman doing business and pleasure there since 1-2 decades - at least I know his Thai wife here is his wife since 10 years.

Some planning in advance, reading travel stories good and bad, then no serious negative surprises will pop up.

[lazeeboy]

I have at times tried to speculate why I like a certain place, and not another. Probably it depends on many things, first impressions, nice or bad people one has met there, and so on.

I like my back street of Bangkok too, out near Khao San Road, where I am always the first and last weeks of my stay since 7-8 winters. Nice to hear from people there "welcome back!" and then settling with good food and an assortment of interesting people passing, just the right distance from the noise of Khao San Road. More travellers around, with a story to tell, than 5-star dwellers.

I enjoy Samui after - is it 4 times there? A month or so each time, and I plan to stay longer coming winter. I have a Swedish colleague who means it is nothing, he very much prefers Phuket thou he is all over - a businessman doing business and pleasure there since 1-2 decades - at least I know his Thai wife here is his wife since 10 years.

Some planning in advance, reading travel stories good and bad, then no serious negative surprises will pop up.

if you read some of the threads on samui you will not come , samui is as safe or safer than anywhere in the world ,use common sense and you will be just fine ,upset the locals and taxi drivers and then your going to be in trouble ,enjoy your stay ,i have for over 13 years

[southbot]

Hi.

Samui is OK. I have lived here 12 years now. Same as other places it has some problems.

Guest House eh?

Moby Dick Guesthouse in Chaweng is not too bad. If you want to be on the busiest part of the island.

It is in a back soi, some bars and clubs around. They have a good restaurant, Irish style I think.

Plenty street food around there all day, about ten minutes walk to the beach.

There are other guest houses on Samui, not so many. Some of the smaller resorts are not too expensive either.

Chaweng and Lamai are the busiest beaches. Maenam and Bophut less so. Lipa Noi and Taling Ngam much, much less so.

Just search google or yahoo for "samui guesthouse", you will find plenty in there, budget bungalows, guest house, etc.

If you have ben in Thailand plenty but not seen Samui I think you need to come see yourself.

Be sure to get some wheels and check out the rest of the island, there are busy beaches, deserted beaches, all the usual tourist stuff... plenty to do and see. Please wear a helmet if you ride a bike around, the traffic here is dangerous to say the least.

Have common sense and have fun.

Cheers

[chinthee]

I've been to Samui for holidays a number of times, and agree with Soutbot that the Chaweng area is the best for your purpose, and especially in that area around the Moby Dick (which is also one of the main naughty bar areas). There is a starbucks close to there, lots of good restaurants, etc..

Moby Dick would be VERY noisy at night in the middle of the beer bar area. You can get quiet oceanside a short walk from there though. Last time I went, I found a nice little resort close to the Marketplace supermarket that I read up on first and it got good reviews. I'm trying to think of the name but can't place it. It's next door to the other one I tried on a different occassion. Also, can't remember THAT name. You enter it directly behind Marketplace market. That location is good if you want a good health club to work out at too, there is Samui's best one (I think) in that same plaza as Marketplace. Come on somebody, help me out with these names - brain cramp setting in at an early age.