Koh Samet

[Lancelot]

I just visited Koh Samet for the first time last week and WOW! Great place and such an easy trip from Pattaya.

But I digress...

My lady and I left East Pattaya -on my mini beast Honda 110- around 0945 and we were at Ban Pe at 1100. Such an easy ride, about 77 kms to the pier. Stopped for a bite to eat near the pier, then bought our tickets to Sai Kaew (Main beach.) Round trip on the ferry was 100 baht per person; parking the motorbike for three days inside their storage shed was 50 baht per day.

Had to wait a little while for the ferry -I think they wait until they have enough passengers for a profitable trip- but it was pleasant enough and no big deal.

We landed at the pier on the west side of the island, then we walked about 1 km to Sai Kaew beach. Before you can enter the beach, you must pay the 400 baht National Park fee, but I flsased my Thai drivers license and I got the Thai price of 40 baht, thank you very much.

We stayed one night in a 500 baht fan room and had a great seafood dinner on the beach. There was a HUGE fire show with so many performers that we finally left because of the keroscene (?) fumes. Those guys really put on a show.

We moved to Wong Duean beachfor the second and third nights, again staying in a 500 baht fan room. Great beach and I could still see my feet even when I was waist deep in the water. I was impressed with the beach vendors; they were polite and no understood Mai ow krab (No thanks.) One vendor -#20 on his shirt- served great chicken. When my girl asked for a discount, he cleverly replied "No have discount chicken today" with a big smile. Grilled chicken 60 baht, som tam, 50 baht, sticky rice or kanoom jin, 10 baht a serving. I bought a few large bottles of ice cold Leo beer for 65 baht at the convience shop.

Rain moved in on Friday, so we decided to pack it in. Even though I had purchased tickets from another ferry company, the Wong Duean ferry accepted my original ticket and 20 baht for the 70 baht fare back to the main beach. Cheaper than taking a 200 baht song taew for a short 3 km ride.

If you haven't been to Koh Samet, get your kiester there quick. Really great beach!

Lance out!

[Lancelot]

Map

[Tonto21]

Nice one Lancelot!

I've not been there, I think I'll give it a go.

[TIPSYBOB]

Nice one Lancelot!

I've not been there, I think I'll give it a go.

Totally agree with you Lancelot. Wong Duaeng is the beach to go to in Kho Samet. My favorite for the last 20 years. For a R&R with your significant one , unbeatable. A couple hours from Bangkok but not the hassle of Pattaya, Phuket, Samui sex scene. Pristine water.

It is also a National park. Great walking from beach to beach, left or right.

[bartender100]

Nice one Lancelot!

I've not been there, I think I'll give it a go.

Totally agree with you Lancelot. Wong Duaeng is the beach to go to in Kho Samet. My favorite for the last 20 years. For a R&R with your significant one , unbeatable. A couple hours from Bangkok but not the hassle of Pattaya, Phuket, Samui sex scene. Pristine water.

It is also a National park. Great walking from beach to beach, left or right.

I disagree about Wong Duaeng, its got very touristic, to get that away from from it feeling try Ao Wai beach , Samet Ville their website is top notch, pick your bungalow before you go there.

[dddave]

I thought the Park fee had been reduced to B200. Have they pushed it up again or were they maybe asking a bit extra for themselves?

[sokal]

Map

The last time I was there I noticed allot of gays around the beaches, they where everywhere. I don't know if its a koh samet thing, did you notice ?

[tranquillize]

I thought the Park fee had been reduced to B200. Have they pushed it up again or were they maybe asking a bit extra for themselves?

I also thought it was 200 baht...

[Lancelot]

I thought the Park fee had been reduced to B200. Have they pushed it up again or were they maybe asking a bit extra for themselves?

I also thought it was 200 baht...

At Sai Kaew beach the sign said 400; at Wong Duean it said 200. Make your best deal I guess

[Lakegeneve]

I thought the Park fee had been reduced to B200. Have they pushed it up again or were they maybe asking a bit extra for themselves?

I also thought it was 200 baht...

Last time I went to Samet (May 08) is was 200 bhat as it had been in the years prior to that. (However I paid the thai rate as I was with a group of 20 Thais).

Did it go up to 400 and back down in the ensuing period???

[Bedrockguesthouse]

Nice one Lancelot!

I've not been there, I think I'll give it a go.

If you feel like a beer with an aussie before u jump on a boat pop into bedrock guesthouse bar & grill in Ban Phe. We are before Tesco and after the big 7-11 on the right

cheers Mark

[Bedrockguesthouse]

I thought the Park fee had been reduced to B200. Have they pushed it up again or were they maybe asking a bit extra for themselves?

I also thought it was 200 baht...

Last time I went to Samet (May 08) is was 200 bhat as it had been in the years prior to that. (However I paid the thai rate as I was with a group of 20 Thais).

Did it go up to 400 and back down in the ensuing period???

its 200 hundred baht thais 20 baht anyway if your with a thai get them to do a deal for you. i havnt never paid more than 20 baht and in many cases paid nothing. Thai driving licence guarantees thai price

cheers Mark