Noob Needs Help!

[123thai]

Hi guys!

I've never been to Thailand before but now its time!

A mate and i are planning on going to Koh Samui in January but we can't decide where to stay.

We wanted to stay on Chaweng Beach but we are having trouble finding a beachfront bungalow and for the right price. (1500 a night)

Now we are thinking about staying at Lamai but we are not sure how far away from Chaweng it is?? Is it far? How long would a taxi take to get there?

It would be nice to stay in somewhere a bit less full on than Chaweng beach but have Chaweng town nearby for nights out.

We are also planning on going to the full moon party in january. How long does the ferry take to get there and how much is it?

Sorry for all the questions guys. Any info would be brilliant!

Jay.

[H2oDunc]

Bungalow in the heart of Chawang in your budget try tradewinds. It is where I put friends that want to party. I also advise people to keep their bungalow here on Samui. Go to the full moon party then come back in the morning to your bungalow and crash. Lots of bungalows are broken into during the party as they know people tend to be out all night.I also advise people to take the larger ferries opposed to the faster speedboats that run all night. The bigger boats are much safer. The trip takes around 30 minutes. The party is supposed to be free but some will try to charge you a couple of hundred baht. Don't be tempted to buy any drugs and don't swim in the sea. It is the party toilet

[Rooo]

Again have a look at hotel reviews & pricing here:

http://www.agoda.com/asia/thailand/samui.html

[Tropicalevo]

Bungalow in the heart of Chawang in your budget try tradewinds. It is where I put friends that want to party. I also advise people to keep their bungalow here on Samui. Go to the full moon party then come back in the morning to your bungalow and crash. Lots of bungalows are broken into during the party as they know people tend to be out all night.I also advise people to take the larger ferries opposed to the faster speedboats that run all night. The bigger boats are much safer. The trip takes around 30 minutes. The party is supposed to be free but some will try to charge you a couple of hundred baht. Don't be tempted to buy any drugs and don't swim in the sea. It is the party toilet

Very good advice. Especially the bits about the full moon party. Take NO valuables other than cash and a copy of your passport. (A lot of first timers get wrecked and loose everything.)

If you want to party in Chewang, do not stay in Lamai - it's a long journey when you are pissed and not on straight roads. Lamai is cheaper - and that is why.

Somewhere beachy and not full on, but cheap - PS Villa on Choengmon. Only 10 - 15 mins to Chewang. (Not sure of their prices these days though.)

[123thai]

Bungalow in the heart of Chawang in your budget try tradewinds. It is where I put friends that want to party. I also advise people to keep their bungalow here on Samui. Go to the full moon party then come back in the morning to your bungalow and crash. Lots of bungalows are broken into during the party as they know people tend to be out all night.I also advise people to take the larger ferries opposed to the faster speedboats that run all night. The bigger boats are much safer. The trip takes around 30 minutes. The party is supposed to be free but some will try to charge you a couple of hundred baht. Don't be tempted to buy any drugs and don't swim in the sea. It is the party toilet

Thanks for the advice H2oDunc. Makes sense.

The plan was to keep the accomodation in Samui and just return there the next day.

In regard to drugs, are all the stories true about buying some weed? I hear that the people who sell it to you will then go off and tell the police who will come and arrest you and its about 50,000 baht to get released??

Is it a total no no to try and get some weed? I dont want other drugs. I don't do all the rubbish. Just something to smoke when i go on holiday is all. Chill out time and all that jazz.

[123thai]

Bungalow in the heart of Chawang in your budget try tradewinds. It is where I put friends that want to party. I also advise people to keep their bungalow here on Samui. Go to the full moon party then come back in the morning to your bungalow and crash. Lots of bungalows are broken into during the party as they know people tend to be out all night.I also advise people to take the larger ferries opposed to the faster speedboats that run all night. The bigger boats are much safer. The trip takes around 30 minutes. The party is supposed to be free but some will try to charge you a couple of hundred baht. Don't be tempted to buy any drugs and don't swim in the sea. It is the party toilet

Very good advice. Especially the bits about the full moon party. Take NO valuables other than cash and a copy of your passport. (A lot of first timers get wrecked and loose everything.)

If you want to party in Chewang, do not stay in Lamai - it's a long journey when you are pissed and not on straight roads. Lamai is cheaper - and that is why.

Somewhere beachy and not full on, but cheap - PS Villa on Choengmon. Only 10 - 15 mins to Chewang. (Not sure of their prices these days though.)

Hi Tropicalevo.

Why do i need a copy of my passport?

And how far is Lamai from Chaweng? I dont mind if its only a short and cheap taxi ride.

Thanks.

[123thai]

Again have a look at hotel reviews & pricing here:

http://www.agoda.com...land/samui.html

Cheers Roo. Its a good site!

[bobo42]

Thanks for the advice H2oDunc. Makes sense.

The plan was to keep the accomodation in Samui and just return there the next day.

In regard to drugs, are all the stories true about buying some weed? I hear that the people who sell it to you will then go off and tell the police who will come and arrest you and its about 50,000 baht to get released??

Is it a total no no to try and get some weed? I dont want other drugs. I don't do all the rubbish. Just something to smoke when i go on holiday is all. Chill out time and all that jazz.

Yes, those drug-scam stories are basically true. The bribe amounts could even be far more than 50k, depending on who catches you and how much they think they can fleece you for. Its also very, very possible that you wouldn't be able to bribe your way out of it and end up going to court and possibly imprisoned - even for just a little weed. Yes, its readily available - yes, you'll see other people doing it - and yes, you may or may not be able to bribe your way out of it. But read the papers, tourists get caught for possession all the time, and its not a simple matter of a ticket or fine (like some of our home countries), people can spend weeks in jail just waiting to see a judge. While you are here, you are at the mercy of the Thai justice system, and even weed is a serious matter - I wouldn't recommend it. There's lots of other stuff to keep you plenty happy, you won't need it.

[Lite Beer]

Hi Tropicalevo.

Why do i need a copy of my passport?

And how far is Lamai from Chaweng? I dont mind if its only a short and cheap taxi ride.

Thanks.

Copy of passport for I.D purposes.

Lamai is about 10 minutes by road from Chaweng.

There is no sutch thing as a cheap Taxi on Samui. They are a rip off.

[123thai]

Hi Tropicalevo.

Why do i need a copy of my passport?

And how far is Lamai from Chaweng? I dont mind if its only a short and cheap taxi ride.

Thanks.

Copy of passport for I.D purposes.

Lamai is about 10 minutes by road from Chaweng.

There is no sutch thing as a cheap Taxi on Samui. They are a rip off.

Hi mate. Any idea how much a taxi from Lamai to Chaweng would be then?

And thanks bobo. I'll steer clear of weed on this trip then.

[tw25rw]

Hi Tropicalevo.

Why do i need a copy of my passport?

And how far is Lamai from Chaweng? I dont mind if its only a short and cheap taxi ride.

Thanks.

Copy of passport for I.D purposes.

Lamai is about 10 minutes by road from Chaweng.

There is no sutch thing as a cheap Taxi on Samui. They are a rip off.

Hi mate. Any idea how much a taxi from Lamai to Chaweng would be then?

And thanks bobo. I'll steer clear of weed on this trip then.

They have baht buses.. I went once and paid 100 one way and 200 the other.. Helps to talk money first...

[Jiu-Jitsu]

My advice to you would be not to stay in Lamai, but Chaweng or further north. The further south you are, the further you will be from the boats to the FMP. Look at Bang Rak, Bo Phut, Choeng Mon or North Chaweng. There is certainly beachside accommodation within your price range, even on Chaweng.