Samui Hotel Recommendations Please

[Captain Chaos]

I'm thinking about going to Koh Samui over Xmas and New Year 08/09 - was looking at Phuket but haven't quite found somewhere that fits the bill.

We stayed at the Chaweng Regent back in 2004 and that was nice enough - this time I thought maybe somewhere right up at the northern end of Chaweng or maybe one of the northern beaches like Bophut, Maenam or Big Buddha.

There'll be Mrs CC, me and CC Jnr (8) plus my parents who are in their late 60's...

Good pool and beach access essential for Jnr - and local restaurants within walking distance required for Mrs CC who flatly refuses to pay hotel restaurant prices (bless her )

Budget would be, say, Bt7 - 10k / room / night (it's peak season then)

Any suggestions from the forum please - I appreciate that there are loads of online sites but first hand experiences are always best!

Thanks,

CC

Edited April 11, 2008 by Captain Chaos

[game4shame]

Budget would be, say, Bt7 - 10k / room / night (it's peak season then)

I think you could get just about anywhere within that budget captain. accommodation costs on samui rise in peak season but not as ludicrous as phuket.

I'm too much of a cheapskate to stay in 7-10k rooms so I'm afraid I can't recommend anywhere suitable.

[koheesti]

Almost silly to post this because I don't know the name of the place or what the rooms are like. But, it's got a great pool, 50 meters from the beach, right at the west end of Fisherman's Village so plenty of shops & restaurants withing walking distance and in a more family friendly area (no girlie bars in FV as far as I know).

Anybody know this place?

[edit] - -

Forget that place. With your budget check out the Centara in south Chaweng. Gorgeous place and I think top end rooms go for 5-7k.

http://www.samui-hotels.com/csbr/

Edited April 11, 2008 by koheesti

[EllaPhangania]

Amari properties are usually well run. The one on Chaweng gets good reviews, has nicely renovated rooms and a fabulous Italian restaurant.

www.amari.com/palmreef

[Captain Chaos]

Amari properties are usually well run. The one on Chaweng gets good reviews, has nicely renovated rooms and a fabulous Italian restaurant.

www.amari.com/palmreef

Actually tried to get into the Amari when we went in 2004 but full hence ended up at the Regent - agree it did look v nice from outside

Glad to hear the Samui room rates don't suffer the comedy rape & pillaging that seems to go on on Phuket too

Thanks for the feedback so far

CC

[game4shame]

Glad to hear the Samui room rates don't suffer the comedy rape & pillaging that seems to go on on Phuket too

I have expressed my disgust at phuket accommodation pricing in the past.

my experience of seasonal adjustment on samui is approx 20%.

my experience of seasonal adjustment on phuket is approx 250%.

Edited April 11, 2008 by game4shame

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Not too impressed with Samui these days. Bophut was as dead as doornails when I visited and many places had gone out of business or were up for sale.

I'm from the old school, where we paid next to nothing to enjoy the pristine beaches and relaxed atmosphere of Samui.

Now people are being lulled into paying high prices for a much poorer atmosphere and a substandard infrastructure. Walk out of your five star hotel into a flood or traffic rushing past you as there is no usable pavement.

These days you are paying to feel that you can afford an expensive hotel room or for the staff to pretend that they like you.

When I stay, under protest, I do so at a beachfront bungalow, at one fifth or less than your suggested budget. Waking and sleeping to the sound of the sea. Surely that's the point of staying on an island?

If you insist on paying money for old rope, you can take a look at Coral Bay for North Chaweng or the Maret Suite at Laem Set in the south part of the island.

Rent a car, say from White Wave Travel on 077 413 469. They'll deliver and retrieve the vehicle. Prices are direct, not via an agent. Otherwise prepare to be 'gouged' by the various transport options on the island.

Edited April 11, 2008 by Jiu-Jitsu

[breezein]

Glad to hear the Samui room rates don't suffer the comedy rape & pillaging that seems to go on on Phuket too

I have expressed my disgust at phuket accommodation pricing in the past.

my experience of seasonal adjustment on samui is approx 20%.

my experience of seasonal adjustment on phuket is approx 250%.

I aree Samui drops its prices 20% in the low season where as Phuket cut there prices in half.

[Mark Wolfe]

10K? Mother of God!

Try sawadee.com and look for the most expensive.

[Captain Chaos]

When I stay, under protest, I do so at a beachfront bungalow, at one fifth or less than your suggested budget. Waking and sleeping to the sound of the sea. Surely that's the point of staying on an island?

Rent a car, say from White Wave Travel on 077 413 469. They'll deliver and retrieve the vehicle. Prices are direct, not via an agent. Otherwise prepare to be 'gouged' by the various transport options on the island.

OK, where?

Car - thanks, that's useful - I still have a valid Thai DL so having a bit of an explore around the island would be good

CC

[Captain Chaos]

10K? Mother of God!

Try sawadee.com and look for the most expensive.

And the point of your brilliantly insightful comment is ... ?

[Lite Beer]

10K? Mother of God!

Try sawadee.com and look for the most expensive.

And the point of your brilliantly insightful comment is ... ?

I think he meant look here.

http://samui.sawadee.com/

To be honest when I was renting in Samui I was paying 10,000 Baht a MONTH

[Captain Chaos]

10K? Mother of God!

Try sawadee.com and look for the most expensive.

And the point of your brilliantly insightful comment is ... ?

I think he meant look here.

http://samui.sawadee.com/

To be honest when I was renting in Samui I was paying 10,000 Baht a MONTH

Sure, I know sawasdee.com and often use it to make hotel bookings ... however, it is, of course, a sales portal - so the point of my thread was more if anyone would like to share any of their first hand knowledge with the forum...

Anyway, appreciate all the responses thus far...

CC

[game4shame]

Glad to hear the Samui room rates don't suffer the comedy rape & pillaging that seems to go on on Phuket too

I have expressed my disgust at phuket accommodation pricing in the past.

my experience of seasonal adjustment on samui is approx 20%.

my experience of seasonal adjustment on phuket is approx 250%.

I aree Samui drops its prices 20% in the low season where as Phuket cut there prices in half.

what does 'aree' mean?

[Jiu-Jitsu]

When I stay, under protest, I do so at a beachfront bungalow, at one fifth or less than your suggested budget. Waking and sleeping to the sound of the sea. Surely that's the point of staying on an island?

Rent a car, say from White Wave Travel on 077 413 469. They'll deliver and retrieve the vehicle. Prices are direct, not via an agent. Otherwise prepare to be 'gouged' by the various transport options on the island.

OK, where?

Car - thanks, that's useful - I still have a valid Thai DL so having a bit of an explore around the island would be good.

CC

Maybe they don't have the facility you require. No telephone or pool etc. Just a good location and a TV, hot shower, fan and air conditioning. Enough for me. Can walk the few metres to the sea if I want to swim and I have a mobile telephone with a local SIM card if I want to call someone.

Haven't decided as to whether I'm going to book up the beachfront bungalows for Christmas/NY yet. Unlikely though, as the place is just sinking to new depths in my opinion. Mainly a money grabbing exercise.

There are a few places that are still locally owned and maintain realistic pricing.

But in the main, a lot have been created for the International market.

Many seem to forget that it was the beautiful simplicity of the island that was the attraction. The accommodation was just somewhere to sleep, untill you would wake up and go outside again. A massage on the beach. A drink in a treehouse bar.

Now people spend thousands for a completely artificial experience. Seems they prefer to show how much they can afford, rather than to try and become as one with nature.

So the vendors on Samui are happy to take your cash. In fact they need it, due to the ridiculously high rents they are being charged and the cost of renewing their leases.

All because people want to OWN a piece of Samui.

Don't waste your money on over inflated accommodation. You can get decent, clean and very well located beach bungalows(with triple occupancy) on Chaweng for less than 2000 baht over Christmas.

No need for a Thai DL on Samui. An International one will do fine. Anyway, no one asks to see them. Expect to pay around 1200 baht for a Vitara or similar.

[jeztennis]

stayed at the amari in chaweng before, very very good and also prego restaurant across the road but make sure you have accomodation beach side and not over the road

centara very good aswell, very helpful staff but entrance reception a bit slippery

if you want to rent a pick up PM me and i can get you a good deal with full insurance

cheers

[happyaussie]

What a load of rubbish some contributors say about price increases between Samui and Phuket. Just like airlines and hotels in every country on this planet they have seasonal pricing, and so should they. Most properties in Samui and Thaialnd run losses during low season. High and peak season is the only time to make some of the losses back. Perhaps they should all close over the low season and put all their staff out of work.

The 2 years proceeding the Tsunami it was the Samui hotels that got greedy and over inflated increases, not Phuket. It's called supply and demand. After 3 years of downturn Phuket is now catching up.

I don't hear these guys talking about the increase in petrol, cigs, beer, food, airfares etc.

Guess what, all these increases have a flow on effect which increases the cost of doing business, and that flow on has to go somewhere, the end user.

Sorry for this long winded message. It just get's a little tiring hearing the same whinging.

Check www.tripadvisor.com a good site for getting "real" peoples reviews and opinions of hotels.

Happy holidays.

[Cuban]

Phuket - Blue Marine resort & Spa.

Samui - Nora Resort. (Small bungalows next to pool.)

Koh Chang - Amari.

All very nice and within your budget.

[Samuian]

With this Budget POPPIES...!

And besides, what "location" do you require?

[Jiu-Jitsu]

With this Budget POPPIES...!

And besides, what "location" do you require?

Be sensible. First of all, Poppies IS NOT within his budget at, 15,000 baht per night.

Secondly, he has stated his location requirements....and South Chaweng wasn't one of them(gets horribly flooded when it rains heavily).

[Samuian]

With this Budget POPPIES...!

And besides, what "location" do you require?

Be sensible. First of all, Poppies IS NOT within his budget at, 15,000 baht per night.

Secondly, he has stated his location requirements....and South Chaweng wasn't one of them(gets horribly flooded when it rains heavily).

Has it gone up that much? thought it was "only" 175 US$ the night!

And well yes, the flooding.. forgot, but then it's not every year the same.

Location: Good pool and beach access... well there in the Hotel Category many choices..

[Captain Chaos]

Thanks all for the input everyone - much appreciated. In particular, Cuban has mentioned some resorts that had caught my eye during internerd research - on the other hand I also take on board some of Jiu-Jitsu's comments about beachfront bungalows (and the saving shedloads of cash, which is always good )

Shall offer some of these alternatives to Mr CC Senior and see what he fancies - the AP's have been to Thailand several times before and are fairly adventurous (in a comfortable sort of way - and at 70-ish, who blames them?) ... so who knows, they may surprise me!

Cheers,

CC

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Nora Beach is one of those 'new' resorts...on the same stretch of beach as Coral Bay. Maybe less than one hundred metres away.

Whichever you choose, you can go and take a look at the other whilst you're there.

[Captain Chaos]

What is the west coast of Samui like? Sawasdee.com show a few places over there. Certainly looks off the beaten track and I am wondering whether you may get more for your money as a result, but it does look quiet ... Even though we'll hire a car, won't want to drive everyday (evening) so somewhere that's got a few local eateries / watering holes within walking distance is a must ...

Thanks as ever,

CC

[donna]

oh, i just though of 'the library'. check it out. very beautiful. not sure of the prices, but they are top end. if someone took ME there for a holiday, i would love them forever.

[Captain Chaos]

oh, i just though of 'the library'. check it out. very beautiful. not sure of the prices, but they are top end. if someone took ME there for a holiday, i would love them forever.

Checked out the website - looks groovy - prices "ambitious" (14k per room/night at peak season = ouch!)

Sorry Donna, you'll have to wait until I'm promoted to General Chaos before I can take you there

Thanks for the suggestion anyway,

CC