Hello,

Thought I'd introduce myself here. I'm from London in the UK and am a freelance writer.

This forum post represents the first stage in preparations before myself and my girlfriend move to Koh Samui for 6-12 months on January the 14th 2013 (provided the world is still here and/or flights are even necessary...)

I'm about to start looking into the visa, jabs and living costs situations. I wanted to make this post to say 'hi!' and to see if anyone replied with any essential links or info I should check out.

Thanks in advance for any questions answered over the coming 3 months.

Mark

I lived there in 2006, very nice. Enjoy yourself.

I would say though, if you can work anywhere in Thailand, you could choose a better island..

Stay safe, lots of farangs getting in trouble there lately

Stay safe, lots of farangs getting in trouble there lately

Hi Yoslim, I'm curious; I've never had trouble there before, what sort of trouble is going on lately?

Stay safe, lots of farangs getting in trouble there lately

Hi Yoslim, I'm curious; I've never had trouble there before, what sort of trouble is going on lately?

http://www.thaivisa....25#entry5720800

German Tourist Stabbed To Death

http://www.thaivisa....on-koh-phangan/

Israeli Tourist Injured And Raped

http://www.thaivisa....ting-blai-leam/

Man Shoot to Death

and that's only the tip of the iceberg

Wow, pretty scary.

I wonder why Samui in particular? I wonder if other islands are safer?

I would suggest to stay away from the islands. Too many mafia style operations going on, plus it is bloody expensive. Find somwhere else on the main land to stay, cheaper and hopefully much more safer!

Wow, pretty scary.

I wonder why Samui in particular? I wonder if other islands are safer?

It might be worth pointing out that one of these deaths was not actually on Samui, but at the Full Moon Party next door. I don't think they are truly representative of Samui in general, although I would agree that Chaweng is rapidly descending into the mire..... but there are plenty of other quieter areas on the island.

It might serve you better to take a look in the Koh Samui forum, where the locals might be able to give you the best advice.

Good luck!

I would suggest to stay away from the islands. Too many mafia style operations going on, plus it is bloody expensive. Find somwhere else on the main land to stay, cheaper and hopefully much more safer!

Yes, I agree.... I forgot to add in the previous post, you will need very deep pockets if you are determined to live on Samui. Look around more before you commit yourself.

I would suggest to stay away from the islands. Too many mafia style operations going on, plus it is bloody expensive. Find somwhere else on the main land to stay, cheaper and hopefully much more safer!

Yes, I agree.... I forgot to add in the previous post, you will need very deep pockets if you are determined to live on Samui. Look around more before you commit yourself.

Also it seems easier to do a visa run from inland than from an island...

Violent crime pales into insignificance when you look at the number of road deaths in Thailand. If you plan to travel on a motorcycle then lessons are a good idea or better still look into the cost of buying a car.

It is good you are forward planning as there are many things to look into.

I stayed on Samui at Lamai beach for 6 months and saw no violence but plenty of broken bones from bike accidents.

Also note this site focuses mainly on the negative aspects of Thailand and not the many many positives.

Good luck

Time to consider changing your handle to "I Love Rain".

Stay safe, lots of farangs getting in trouble there lately

Hi Yoslim, I'm curious; I've never had trouble there before, what sort of trouble is going on lately?

http://www.thaivisa....25#entry5720800

German Tourist Stabbed To Death

http://www.thaivisa....on-koh-phangan/

Israeli Tourist Injured And Raped

http://www.thaivisa....ting-blai-leam/

Man Shoot to Death

and that's only the tip of the iceberg

German stabbed to death, what a lot of croc, it is not determined if he was stabbed in a bar brawl or motorbike accident.

Attempted rape not rape. NOT on Samui but KPG FULL MOON PARTY.

Man shot to death, Thai V Thai.

Why don't you get your facts right before posting such dribble.?

Sure you are going to have crime in Samui. same as any other place in Thailand or the world for that matter.

Not everyone hangs around bars , not everyone goes to the full moon party .

There is a lot more to Samui then bars & getting smashed everyday.

To the OP, many normal people live there & have done so with their families for many years. Go & spend sometime fhere & judge for yourself.

Living costs? Samui can be more expensive, but not more then BKK , Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin etc..... depending on what lifestyle you wish to lead. Accommodation varies in cost, certainly a lot cheaper then BKK , food? depending on what your choices are, from street cart to five star hotels.

Travel? Air travel to the island is expensive, monopoly by BKK air, but there are different alternatives. Airports Suratthani & Nakhon Si Thammarat, with transport to ferry, bus travel.

Visa runs? There are organised companies or private groups that organize these, not so much of an issue.

You are going to get very different views. Some of these are based on fact, some on ignorance . Perhaps worth your while having a look at the Samui forum.

I apologise if my post seems harsh to some, but I believe in balanced reporting of facts & not just hearsay or assumptions.

I think I might move this there . so you can get a more balanced opinion good or bad from the locals.

Cheers & good luck.

Time to consider changing your handle to "I Love Rain".

Really? What are the rain statistics for Samui? Please let us all know. What a statement.

Before you choose where to live in Thailand ask yourself what you are looking for from Thailand. Samui has its pros and cons as do all islands. Don't listen to the doom mongers here. I have been in Thailand over 9 years and never had the slightest trouble anywhere. I say trouble often finds trouble makers. Crime here is far less than back in the UK and you can leave bags of shopping hanging from your motorcycle whilst you look round the market and it will still be there when you return.

Do a little on line research and have a look about. Thailand has some wonderful places each with their own benefits. Just find one that suits your needs. Browse some of the different regional forums here. There is a wealth of information to be had and if you can't find what you are looking for ask

I have never looked back

You will get many answers to your questions and a lot of belloni as well (see yoslim). Best is to PM the people who gave you a more realistic reply and then focus your questions on a particular subject. Good luck and welcome.

It seems to me, that all the Samui doomsayer don't live here. I do live here since over 20 years and have experienced in all the years no danger at all. Quite the contrary. Knowing also many Farangs, who work and live here since many years, everyone feels great. Sure, "heavy traffic" on the ring road nowadays, the internet isn't perfect, prices at some places can't match the wishes of unskillful low-cost people...

...but it's the best place, if you like a real tropical palm island, where you still can have the feeling to be far away from all, with nice beaches, lush tropical forests, fresh seafood and simultaneously most of the comfortable, modern world an island in Thailand can offer and, I would say, most reasonable Expats

Stay safe, lots of farangs getting in trouble there lately

Its not dangerous here. The guy is moving here and has politelyasked for information so could you either help him or start a separate thread to vex your own personal discontent

Time to consider changing your handle to "I Love Rain".

I am struggling to understand this one - we are in the middle of a drought here on Samui.

Rain - I wish!

Enjoy, stay away from sleezy areas late at night as per any place on the planet and your be fine.

My Advice:

Get your visa sorted before arrival

Start to learn conversational Thai NOW

Buy clothes , personal hygiene goods here on arrival cheap as chips in big C etc

Use unused weight gained in baggage by doing above,to stock up on favourite tea bags

Ignore all the woe is me posts, Samui is fine weather is lovely and tropical hot and dry or hot and wet and the average Thai is friendly enough

Enjoy, stay away from sleezy areas late at night as per any place on the planet and your be fine.

My Advice:

Get your visa sorted before arrival

Start to learn conversational Thai NOW

Buy clothes , personal hygiene goods here on arrival cheap as chips in big C etc

Use unused weight gained in baggage by doing above,to stock up on favourite tea bags

Ignore all the woe is me posts, Samui is fine weather is lovely and tropical hot and dry or hot and wet and the average Thai is friendly enough

As is the average 'native' expat. Welcome to Samui.

I wouldn't even considerliving in Samui it'sviolent, expensive and overrun with mafia and criminal wannabe expats...but then again six monhs will go in a blink so no big deal anyway.

Enjoy.

I wouldn't even considerliving in Samui it'sviolent, expensive and overrun with mafia and criminal wannabe expats...but then again six monhs will go in a blink so no big deal anyway.

Enjoy.

What's a criminal wannabe expat? Please explain.

I wouldn't even considerliving in Samui it'sviolent, expensive and overrun with mafia and criminal wannabe expats...but then again six monhs will go in a blink so no big deal anyway.

Enjoy.

What's a criminal wannabe expat? Please explain.

May be something he has failed to achieve

Book into a hotel for your first week or two while you travel around and look for a more permanent residence. There are many houses for rent here, at good price es, but you have to hit the pavement to find them.

It's all pretty clear cut to me, the Samui knockers on this and many other threads in the Koh Samui forum likely do NOT live here.

Those who are telling you what it's really like are probably expat residents.

They're the ones to listen to when deciding whether or not to come here for a holiday or live.

The others should apply for Rooo's job vacancy here:

When you get here PM me and I will direct you to a lovely Thai language teacher who can help with basic communication and also cultural insights. SE part of the island.

It's all pretty clear cut to me, the Samui knockers on this and many other threads in the Koh Samui forum likely do NOT live here.

Those who are telling you what it's really like are probably expat residents.

They're the ones to listen to when deciding whether or not to come here for a holiday or live.

The others should apply for Rooo's job vacancy here:

http://www.thaivisa..../588819-wanted/

There is some good advice on this forum. It's true that those who hate the place don't live here.

It's not perfect but the living is a lot easier and nicer than in the UK.

I have been coming here for over thirty years and lived here permanently for the last ten.

Most things are available although slightly more expensive than on the mainland, it's not a big deal.

Choose where you want to live carefully as there are some areas which can be very noisy.

The major problem here is the driving. If you drive always knowing that someone will do something dangerous and stupid you will never be disappointed.

All in all, I like living here.

When you get here PM me and I will direct you to a lovely Thai language teacher who can help with basic communication and also cultural insights. SE part of the island.

Unfortunately the most cultural thing on Samui seems to be screwing the farang for as much money as possible as many times as possible. The rip off starts as soon as you arrive. Take a taxi and you'll find out irrespective of which part of the island you go. The OP doesn't say if he's been to Samui before. If so then he'll already know many things. He doesn't say what his requirements are. If he wants Blackpool with the sun then sure it's great. If he wants remote tranquility he can get it but i personally wouldn't feel comfortable living in such a place. Unless things have changed visa runs could be fairly described as white knuckle horror trips where your life is certainly in danger. There are many expats who are good decent people. There are many who are not. Also you can't get jellied eels or pie n mash.

Once again the 'serial posters' & 'ne'er do wells' are out in force with the intention of trouncing the island in the hope that the OP will reconsider. All the OP needs to do in order to thoroughly enjoy Samui is to apply some common sense.

Does anyone in the above group know where I left my car keys?