Surat Bound?

[Petesear]

Anyone on Samui/Tao at the mo'? is really busy there? have they upped their prices? my brother arrives here next week and I'm not sure where to go... Cheers

[ProfessorFart]

Reports are that Samui is rammed at the moment. If you have bookings, check with your hotel.

[sbk]

Absolutely, you need to book in advance. Koh Tao is mainly for divers so if you are going there and not planning on diving you will have to search around for a place to stay that allows non-divers. Samui is packed I have heard, god knows Koh P is too, not that there aren't places to stay, just takes a bit of searching.

[jaidam]

Absolutely, you need to book in advance. Koh Tao is mainly for divers so if you are going there and not planning on diving you will have to search around for a place to stay that allows non-divers. Samui is packed I have heard, god knows Koh P is too, not that there aren't places to stay, just takes a bit of searching.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Nonsense.

Some visitors to Koh Tao dive.Most do not and have no interest in diving.

Similarly a few resorts are for divers with the vast majority of resorts for normal visitors.Funnily enough if you try to book at some busy dive resorts and wont dive they may turn you away.

Koh Tao not really busy at the moment.Last year busier and you will get a bungalow at any resort.

For the non divers.

Partying,decent restaurants,hiking,rock climbing,game fishing,relaxing on the beach,swimming,sunbathing

[sbk]

Amazing, most people I have met have said that many places won't accept you if you won't dive with them. Also interesting that you think most people don't go to Koh Tao to dive when I can say, as the owner of a bungalow resort on Koh Phangan, that 90% of our customers who go to Koh Tao do so to dive.

Also, if you look at the date the OP was writing it was immediately after New Year, every where on this side was extremely busy.

[jaidam]

Amazing, most people I have met have said that many places won't accept you if you won't dive with them. Also interesting that you think most people don't go to Koh Tao to dive when I can say, as the owner of a bungalow resort on Koh Phangan, that 90% of our customers who go to Koh Tao do so to dive.

Also, if you look at the date the OP was writing it was immediately after New Year, every where on this side was extremely busy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you talk to the same people every day?Because they are still wrong.

Ill concede it was very busy after the tsunami but not so much now.

If I had to say how many tourists to Koh Tao are divers, maybe 20%.More likely 10%.

[sbk]

Smart alecky comments are unattractive. I have run a resort on Koh Phangan for over 3 years and lived on the island for 16. So, I would guess I have talked to at least a few different people. I reiterate, 90% of our customers go to Koh Tao only to dive.

[peterzxr]

Please, please, please - i've seen this before recently on a post about the FMP.

Can you all please take a breath, think about it a bit and realise that locals (farang or not) actually do have better / more up to date local knowledge than most.

sbk how do you cope?

[sbk]

With a laugh. People are funny, whether they realize it or not. What amazes me is the aggressiveness coming from some posters. For heavens sake! It is an online forum, not a challenge to your manhood!

[booma]

Amazing, most people I have met have said that many places won't accept you if you won't dive with them. Also interesting that you think most people don't go to Koh Tao to dive when I can say, as the owner of a bungalow resort on Koh Phangan, that 90% of our customers who go to Koh Tao do so to dive.

Also, if you look at the date the OP was writing it was immediately after New Year, every where on this side was extremely busy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Do you talk to the same people every day?Because they are still wrong.

Ill concede it was very busy after the tsunami but not so much now.

If I had to say how many tourists to Koh Tao are divers, maybe 20%.More likely 10%.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'd say even 20% is way too low, maybe 20% go there to only dive.

Everyone i meet is there for diving/snorkeling in one way or another

If you want non diving accomodation heading for the hills is a good bet!

[elliss]

i recently had problems with accomodation

on samui , the tourist places , prices are

over the top, that,s if you can find a place .

i opted for the ferry port of nathan .

walk around , about six places to stay .

for around 650 bht . good food market here .

[jaidam]

Please, please, please - i've seen this before recently on a post about the FMP.

Can you all please take a breath, think about it a bit and realise that locals (farang or not) actually do have better / more up to date local knowledge than most.

sbk how do you cope?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Erm yes but,

Jaidam is and has been resident in Koh Tao for many years,as a holder of a work permit and running a business in the tourist sector I feel I am qualfied to offer an opinion.Note sbk is a koh Phangan resident.

2 myths that Lonely Planet is responsible for.

1)the water at Koh Tao's beaches is too shallow to swim.

2)Non divers will have problems finding accomodation.

Both not true and also slightly damaging for the non-dive related businesses at Koh Tao.

Heres a quick example.Heading south from Maehaad town there are resorts by the sea all the way to Chalok Ban Kao.Let me see.Starting at Sensi Paradise,then Jansom resort,Charm Churee,Sai Thong,Siam Cookies,Tao Tong,Sunset,Moondance,Black Orchid,and Viewpoint.How many of these are dive resorts.Answer= none.Some will sell you a dive course if you need one but none will ask anythng about diving when you check in.

Like another poster said, if you head to the hills there are many more resorts to choose from.

I hope nobody is put off coming to Koh Tao for a beach holiday after reading that they must be a diver to get a bed for the night.

Regards

[sbk]

Perhaps, but every single customer I have had that has come from Koh Tao has made the same complaint, if they aren't diving there are few places that will take them. And whether or not you like it, most people I have encountered go to Koh Tao to dive. Sorry if that is bad for your business but it is a fact. Just like it is a fact that alot (probably most) people come to Koh Phangan for the parties and don't see the other sides of the island. Something I also do not like but I don't stick my head in the sand and say it isn't true.

[peterzxr]

Ok then. So in summary I reckon that:

1. 90% of people who pass through KPN on the way to Koh Tao are going there to dive (per sbk and no rerason to doubt her).

2. A lot of other people go to Koh Tao direct from Chumpon and may initially just be interested in a quiet place to stay

My question is therefore, what percentage of these "chill out" visitors end up either diving or snorkelling with a dive school?

Any advance on 50%???