Phuket And Samui - Whats Diifferent

[frozenpuck]

So I was reading another post about what Koh Samui residents would like to see changed on the Island and some replies to the thread were comparing Phuket to Samui. I have spent around 2 and half years on Phuket during the last 7 years but each time I went it got busier, louder, dirtier and rude to the point where I didnt have such a great time last time I was there. So I am considering Samui this time but from of the replies I maybe will get more of the same thing.

So I would like to hear from anyone who has spent time in both places what they think. I read Phuket it getting its act cleaned up this true? Is Samui going downhill? I checked populations between the two and it seems Samui is a lot less congested, is this right?

Any thought s on this would be great.

Thanks

Edited January 5, 2011 by frozenpuck

[smokie36]

I would vote for Samui.....only cos the restaurants are crap on Phuket.

Mind you I love this....its Forum Wars! Surely in the interests of fair play the poll should go up in the Phuket Forum as well......with maybe a control poll somewhere else....ummmm say Pattaya......oh no hang on that's where people go when they've failed to make a living on Samui isn't it......Chiang Mai then.

[Tropicalevo]

I would vote for Samui.....only cos the restaurants are crap on Phuket.

Mind you I love this....its Forum Wars! Surely in the interests of fair play the poll should go up in the Phuket Forum as well......with maybe a control poll somewhere else....ummmm say Pattaya......oh no hang on that's where people go when they've failed to make a living on Samui isn't it......Chiang Mai then.

Nicely put (and I agree about the restaurants).

[crusty]

I would vote for Samui.....only cos the restaurants are crap on Phuket.

Mind you I love this....its Forum Wars! Surely in the interests of fair play the poll should go up in the Phuket Forum as well......with maybe a control poll somewhere else....ummmm say Pattaya......oh no hang on that's where people go when they've failed to make a living on Samui isn't it......Chiang Mai then.

No choice ! Phuket Thais are the pits (arrogant, pushy, always looking for a scrap), Samui Thais much more friendly, Chiang Mai Thais, elegant, well mannered, very friendly (could live there but no sea)

[koheesti]

Samui is smaller hence faster to get around than Phuket.

Phuket has better shopping and I think it was overall cheaper than Samui.

[samuibeachcomber]

I would vote for Samui.....only cos the restaurants are crap on Phuket.

Mind you I love this....its Forum Wars! Surely in the interests of fair play the poll should go up in the Phuket Forum as well......with maybe a control poll somewhere else....ummmm say Pattaya......oh no hang on that's where people go when they've failed to make a living on Samui isn't it......Chiang Mai then.

very funny,but seriously "no shame" to be a business flop here...............only people making any money is bangkok air!

[joe84330]

Samui is smaller hence faster to get around than Phuket.

Phuket has better shopping and I think it was overall cheaper than Samui.

as congested as samui's main road is through mae nam and chaweng, phuket traffic congestion is crazy bad in spite of having up to 4 lanes in each direction in addition to hundreds of access roads. the only shopping phuket has that samui doesn't as far as i could tell is brand name shopping and personally speaking, thailand is the last place i'd want or expect to buy international brand names.

[Birdman]

On Samui life is much more easy going than in Phuket and nature is more exotic. The whole inland is full with coconut palm trees, waterfalls and fruit plantations. At some beaches you still can get that old tropical island feeling > relaxing under a palm tree on a quiet beach next to the calm sea with a nice breeze and no one will disturb you. That is gone in Phuket a long time ago. Way too busy and too commercialised, which is also not so bad for people who prefer that and stay over there.

[smokie36]

On Samui life is much more easy going than in Phuket and nature is more exotic. The whole inland is full with coconut palm trees, waterfalls and fruit plantations. At some beaches you still can get that old tropical island feeling > relaxing under a palm tree on a quiet beach next to the calm sea with a nice breeze and no one will disturb you. That is gone in Phuket a long time ago. Way too busy and too commercialised, which is also not so bad for people who prefer that and stay over there.

I do like Phuket for a change but as you say the lack of palm trees especially on the beach means no shade ....unless you pay for a deckchair and umbrella....no thanks.

[PoorSucker]

Samui has better weather.

Average rainfall Phuket.

Average Rainfall Samui.

Edited January 6, 2011 by PoorSucker

[maccaroni man]

i had a friend from the gym move over to phuket and returned after 1yr. he said even though he liked the abundance of places to go and the airport he got tired of driving, he said he spent more time in his car in that 1 yr then he did in the previous 5 on samui. like others i like to visit phuket but samui is where i call home.

[frozenpuck]

Thanks for all the replies, some interesting comments here. Your right Crusty but it's not just the Thais, I have had my share of loud drunk aggressive rudeness from Farang on Phuket. I also agree the people and there driving habits are much more courteous in Chang Mai but I'm land locked in canada so when I get out of here I like to be near ocean.

Joe84330, thats one of the main reasons I'm considering not going back to Phuket. The roads have become so congested it's really a crap shoot wether you get into an accident even if you are an experienced and defensive driver. Nai Harn on the south of Phuket is where I used to like to go. When I first went there 10 years ago it truly was paradise. It was very quiet with one Hotel and few little mom and pop shops, restaurants, and the road to it was also very quiet. Now its like a freeway.

It sounds like Koh Samui still has some quiet little nooks and crannies, not sure I can say the same about Phuket.

Good suggestion Smokie36, I have done just that. Here is the Phuket post and poll.

Thanks for all the comments!