Koh Samed. is this the beautifull Thailand?

[myluckythai]

Having been a frequent visitor to Thailand for 5 years and being a resident here now i've seen many places from North to East and South to West.,

Most of 'm are beautifull and some are actually like i just died and got to heaven.

Now having said this, i was very dissapointed when we decided to visit Koh Samed for the first time. In my mind i was thinking about islands like Koh Chang, Koh panang and others i've seen, but coming there omg.

First impression: A garbage dump that got hit by a tornado.....! And more so, way overpriced and not very friendly at all (in comparising to other places i've been).

The Island was full of garbage and not easy to get around. Most of the fairly priced resorts looked like south american jailcells, behind them there were big heaps of garbage and the roads there looked like an african jungle or something like it i can imagine, never having been to Africa. The beaches were dirty too and the service was terrible.

If you agree to pay up to, or over $100 a night ok. there are some places you can stay, but if you want my advice, KEEP DRIVING ON TO TRAT, and visit Koh Chang, much nicer, cleaner and cheaper.

sharing your view is apreciated and maybe makes me see what i didn't when i was there.

greetings

[angsta]

Is Kho Samed still infested with mosquito's? Along with Kho Larn and Phuket they are the three of most disappointing islands in Thailand IMHO.

[bocceball1]

One man's dump?.....another man's Paradise!

[Mooner]

It used to be!

Now all the locals care about is money. They just want to earn the cash today not thinking about tomorrow.

The infrastructure is f*cked. The roads are terrible and the rubbish situation is out of control. When they are not burning it they are just throwing it over their shoulders.

Thailand has a huge problem with plastic and waste. The thing is Ko Samet being a small island magnifies this ten fold.

That being said there are still some nice beaches. This time of year the beaches arent great because of the weather bringing in trash and because its low season the locals cant be bothered to clean up. They will clean up the beaches for high season!

Recently the government sent national park to take down illegal buildings that had been there for about 10 years. The workers went to work and at lunchtime ate their food then threw it in the bushes. Now the buildings are down but they have left the concrete posts sticking out of the water which looks twice as bad!

[zeichen]

Used to be quite beautiful and the beaches in the back were very quiet and peaceful. There was some big oil spill or something and other things that have polluted the beaches recently. As for being unfriendly, not my experience anywhere in Thailand. You reap what you sew in Thailand usually. They probably read your emotions about the disgust from the island and treated you accordingly.

Samet was a paradise when it catered to the younger Thai crowds only. 10+ years ago there werent many bars, or any loud partying. Now it is quite different and definitely off my list.

Koh, Lanta, Chang, even Koh Tao are better overall.

[myluckythai]

Used to be quite beautiful and the beaches in the back were very quiet and peaceful. There was some big oil spill or something and other things that have polluted the beaches recently. As for being unfriendly, not my experience anywhere in Thailand. You reap what you sew in Thailand usually. They probably read your emotions about the disgust from the island and treated you accordingly.

Samet was a paradise when it catered to the younger Thai crowds only. 10+ years ago there werent many bars, or any loud partying. Now it is quite different and definitely off my list.

Koh, Lanta, Chang, even Koh Tao are better overall.

well reaping what you sew is not the case at all here i'm sorry to say. i have a lot of experience with Thai people bussiness wise , as a tourist, as a husband of a Thai wife and friend of many Thai people. Coming from Isaan i prefer their manners any day above those of what i got at Samed. we are not all the same of course . Some people prefer living in Pattaya too, while for me that's a big nono. ah well it's a good thing we all prefer something else i guess or we all would be living in the same place .

[schbang]

We were fortunate to first visit Samet 27 years ago with a few thatched huts, a generator and candle light. Then every month thereafter. "We came, we saw, we concreted" is the Samet mantra since then. Sadly won't return, but we remember how sensational it was then. A photographer-friend broke her leg when a coconut crashed through her thatched-roof bungalow!

[umbanda]

Trash and water pollution is a big problem in most coastal cities in the world, and South America and Asia are competing to see what is the worst, but Thailand will win because most Thai people do not like beach life and subsequently, they do not care.

[KIWIBATCH]

Hub of trash and plastic bags

[jitenshaman]

Used to be quite beautiful and the beaches in the back were very quiet and peaceful. There was some big oil spill or something and other things that have polluted the beaches recently. As for being unfriendly, not my experience anywhere in Thailand. You reap what you sew in Thailand usually. They probably read your emotions about the disgust from the island and treated you accordingly.

Samet was a paradise when it catered to the younger Thai crowds only. 10+ years ago there werent many bars, or any loud partying. Now it is quite different and definitely off my list.

Koh, Lanta, Chang, even Koh Tao are better overall.

would disagree 100% Have traveled all over this country inside out and I speak quite decent Thai. In places like Samet, Samui, and Phuket, when I speak with people I see the look in their eyes right away, and it says, "damn, we can't take this guy to the cleaners, let's get someone else." It's an absolute stain mark on the entire society, one that used to be incredibly famous for how nice, giving, and polite people are. Contrast the attitudes in Samet with those you find from the average shop owner in Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Roi Et, or Phayao and you will see that you are being treated like scum. Main reason why I now avoid places like this like the plague.

[myluckythai]

haha you are probably right about the fact that they read my face already and decided i am time wasted. but one true thing too. first time around i believed the ever so friendly smile they are famous for. now i believe this smile to be something quite diferent. of course that is not for all and not all the time. Ah well every people have their pro's and con's i guess. me being dutch is no exeption on that. we have our faults too and are probably blind to it so others can comment on this too... it's not all a one way street.

[manarak]

I agree with OP, I visited Koh Samet about 18 months ago and I thought I will never visit this place again.

[SunsetT]

Even though its probably seen better days, I like Samet but havent been there for 2 years now. I like to go there for a few days to unwind when I arrive in Thailand for the Esaan winter, and maybe again before I leave for summer in the UK. It is not too far from Bangkok and I find it more laid back and less commercialised than the more well known islands down south. I have found a quiet picturesque enough beach spot I like, a very nice and not too expensive beach resort and another beachside resort restaurant next door with cheaper large Leos and a very good mixed Thai/farang menu. The sea is reasonably clean but yes the road is lousy and there is a fixed price taxi cartel operating, but I dont want to go anywhere but the beach so only need to use the road to and from the pier for the ferry trip which I also enjoy. Never noticed more than average rubbish but it might be getting worse now. The pot-holed road could be avoided completely by taking a speed boat direct to your beach/resort. If I want to visit beaches further south I enjoy walking along the coast and picking my way from beach to beach. I have never liked the most commercialised and busy Hat Sai kaew especially after an argument with one of those cocky young over-friendly over-familiar waiters who thinks he is the bees knees cos he speaks a bit better english than most Thais. This was at the biggest and most popular beach seafood bbq - the one with live music, which is the only reason it is the most popular. He created a real scene after I refused to accept a plate of crabs that my Thai family had never ordered. He just stood there with it as we continued to eat, repeating loudly that we must take it and pay for it. I got more and more angry as the evening and meal was ruined. My thai lady eventually persuaded him to take it away to put in the fridge or something irrationally Thai like that, rather than serving it to the next crab customer at this very busy restaurant.Their portions were also very mean compared to those advertised. But Hat Sae kaew is still pleasant enough for a waterside stroll. I think the best beach seafood bbqs are to be found on a smaller beach just south of Ao Phai which is at the very southern end of Hat Sae Kaew. I think it was Ao Nuan but maybe Ao Cho. But again there seems to be a bit of a cartel arrangement where all the beach bbqs on Samet are charging much the same price for a plate of bbqed this or that. I've always wanted to try Koh Chang but always been put off by the fact that there is malaria there and that when I arrive it is the tail end of the rainy season. So I play safe with scruffy little Samet which has lots of mossies but none malarial. As long as my little corner of Samet stays as nice as it has been I will return. Oh, apart from the above, I seem to get acceptable and reasonably friendly service from most, but this maybe because I have my Thai missus and kids with me, and she chats away with all staff everywhere.

[shaurene]

Is Kho Samed still infested with mosquito's? Along with Kho Larn and Phuket they are the three of most disappointing islands in Thailand IMHO.

You are right on the nail there, Khon Chang is my favourite, I have heard about Khon Samet dirty, expensive

And un-friendly.

[Stokakrishna]

kochang and koh tao are my favorites.

koh samed being dirty and expensive as it is, it's loved by thais...

[bocceball1]

WOW!!! .....what a bunch of whingers! Thailand is what it is? Its the Thai's country. You are a guest,,,act like one. Do you often visit a friends house and complain that they haven't cleaned the house, their kids are rude and unruly, the furniture uncomfortable, etc,,,,???? Maybe you do ....and you know what ....kinda of guests I don't want! And just like everywhere else in this world there is good and bad everywhere. Depends on what your looking for. Want to see the garbage, pot holed roads, rude Thai's etc. and that's what you get. Been living here in Thailand (near Samet) for 10 years and YEAH these problems exist....but you learn to go with the flow and enjoy the parts that are enjoyable.....and for me ...it's quiet a lot.

[stevenl]

On the topic of Samed, how did the cleanup go, all clean again?

[longstebe]

I remember getting sloshed there back in '03. It was alright then.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[stickylies]

all these "popular" (overcrowded) islands are long lost and a waste of money. whenever i wanna go to an island i head to little ko chang in andaman sea. no bar girls, no sextourists, no white trash, no cars, no full moon crap, no electricity, just a bunch of "post-hippies-farang" and local families taking care of them (shelter & food). never seen thai tourists there either!

[The Usual Suspect]

I guess everyone has their own take on Koh Samed. Seems a lot of folks had bad experiences there. My wife and I went there two years ago for our honeymoon. Other than the "Full Moon Party" type places down on the beach with the loud techno crap going on till all hours, we found Samed to be a really enjoyable place. Sure there was litter and aggressive vendors blah, blah, blah......but have you ever been to tourist traps like Goa in India? Holy buffalo! Those places make Samed look like a pristine tropical paradise. We stayed in an undeveloped, quieter part of the island. We had a quiet, secluded cabana right on the beach. We took walks along the shore and often didn't see anyone else for long periods of time. I wish I could remember the name of the place but I'm having a senior moment. We rented a motorbike for our stay and toured around the island. Yes, the infrastructure is bad but hey, again it has a lot to do with perspective. All in all, we had a great time, met some really nice folks, and have some great memories from our stay.

[shunima]

WOW!!! .....what a bunch of whingers! Thailand is what it is? Its the Thai's country. You are a guest,,,act like one. Do you often visit a friends house and complain that they haven't cleaned the house, their kids are rude and unruly, the furniture uncomfortable, etc,,,,???? Maybe you do ....and you know what ....kinda of guests I don't want! And just like everywhere else in this world there is good and bad everywhere. Depends on what your looking for. Want to see the garbage, pot holed roads, rude Thai's etc. and that's what you get. Been living here in Thailand (near Samet) for 10 years and YEAH these problems exist....but you learn to go with the flow and enjoy the parts that are enjoyable.....and for me ...it's quiet a lot.

It's amazing how a few years of khao pad and chang beer can 'mai bpen rai' you, isn't it? Have fun living in a garbage dump and being ok with it :-) .

[bocceball1]

WOW!!! .....what a bunch of whingers! Thailand is what it is? Its the Thai's country. You are a guest,,,act like one. Do you often visit a friends house and complain that they haven't cleaned the house, their kids are rude and unruly, the furniture uncomfortable, etc,,,,???? Maybe you do ....and you know what ....kinda of guests I don't want! And just like everywhere else in this world there is good and bad everywhere. Depends on what your looking for. Want to see the garbage, pot holed roads, rude Thai's etc. and that's what you get. Been living here in Thailand (near Samet) for 10 years and YEAH these problems exist....but you learn to go with the flow and enjoy the parts that are enjoyable.....and for me ...it's quiet a lot.

It's amazing how a few years of khao pad and chang beer can 'mai bpen rai' you, isn't it? Have fun living in a garbage dump and being ok with it :-) .

Sorry ....Don't live in a garbage dump (My guess is your home is probably closer to being a dump than mine is....wherever it is ...England???? I'm guessing by your arrogant attitude...oh well)

Here are pictures of my home country HOME ...visit a couple of times a year( on a lake) and My Thai home (YEAH its on the beach)

[bocceball1]

Sorry to the Brits ...in my previous post I referred to "Shunima" as an arrogant Brit....She's German....Now I understand

[ARGUSEYE]

Sorry to the Brits ...in my previous post I referred to "Shunima" as an arrogant Brit....She's German....Now I understand

.,,,, Understand what? I found her comment spot on and amusing. ..... And who owns the residences shown so proud here????

bocceball1???? Or his/her Thai partner? Good luck with that!

[myluckythai]

WOW!!! .....what a bunch of whingers! Thailand is what it is? Its the Thai's country. You are a guest,,,act like one. Do you often visit a friends house and complain that they haven't cleaned the house, their kids are rude and unruly, the furniture uncomfortable, etc,,,,???? Maybe you do ....and you know what ....kinda of guests I don't want! And just like everywhere else in this world there is good and bad everywhere. Depends on what your looking for. Want to see the garbage, pot holed roads, rude Thai's etc. and that's what you get. Been living here in Thailand (near Samet) for 10 years and YEAH these problems exist....but you learn to go with the flow and enjoy the parts that are enjoyable.....and for me ...it's quiet a lot.

well that a shitty way of looking at it. I tried it in a nice way but there is Always someone like you forgetting their manners . guess you blended in with the locals quite fine already! when i get guests i make sure i have a clean house and a welcome feeling for them........ or is that too much for your guests. sorry to say but there is no sense in what you state. The way you look at it is exacltly the reason why it is such a s**t hole over there . guess i wouldn't WANT to be a guest in your house if you think we should just eat your crap!

and more so i stated before, I LOVE MOST OF THAILAND. just not the ingnorant bastards that don't mind one single bit about anything else but their own few meters of space!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DavidBonnie]

Well said Jveirsel. Samet is all the negative things stated above and frankly is spoiled by the very negative attitudes of the staff empolyed there; a lot of whom are not Thai but Khmer or Burmese . . . . the mention made of the hotels looking like south american gaols made me laugh . . . .my experiences of hotels were not positive but we ran into a young British couple who had just paid 1200 baht for a sinkhole of a room a long walk from the beach, up a steep hill at the top of the 'high' street . . . they wanted to come out with us but could not because their room could not be locked and the 'hotel' (used in the loosest definition of the word) staff had disappeared . . . . have to admit the snorkelling trips were good value and very worthwhile but the restaurants . . .forget it . .. ha ha we once ordered a steak and a pork chop and when they arrived we could not tell the difference between them as they were covered in some kind of sauce. When my girlfriend asked the 'waitress' which was which she replied, 'How should i know, i didn't cook it!' <deleted> priceless!

[bocceball1]

JVIERSEL... "Having been a frequent visitor to Thailand for 5 years and being a resident here now"

Well now, I guess that makes you an expert on Thai people.....And when someone has made up their mind and is an "expert" nothing can be said to them, as their minds are closed to all.

......Oh Well....The Belgium mind being what it is.....You know what the Dutch say?

[JohnDodd]

Don't usually comment on much on this site, but Goh Samed what memories that evokes. First visit in Feb. '84 intended to

stay a few days, was there a month, so beautiful I thought I had died and arrived in Heaven, or lok sawan as my then Thai

girlfriend called it, no roads just a footpath from the landing point, and a few rudimentary thatched huts at haad sabalot.

I vividly remember walking along the white sanded beach coves, hand in hand with the most Beautiful girl I have ever seen in

my life (no sh*t) I still have the photos. In the evenings, sat eating fresh crab, placed in my mouth by that Angel Nittaya,

and later sat on our verandah smoking a spliff listening to the Stones on my cassete player. Por laew.

[myluckythai]

JVIERSEL... "Having been a frequent visitor to Thailand for 5 years and being a resident here now"

Well now, I guess that makes you an expert on Thai people.....And when someone has made up their mind and is an "expert" nothing can be said to them, as their minds are closed to all.

......Oh Well....The Belgium mind being what it is.....You know what the Dutch say?

well bocce.... im tired of your blablabla.. maybe you are the king of thailand and everybody should feel Lucky to be able to come to an audience in your magnificant house (ON THE BEACH LOL). i have different standards to my guests as you do i think. My guest are a treat to me , and i welcome them accordingly as to your guests should feel Lucky the can come visit you , reading your reply. that's fine with me stay there and i will stay in Isaan and we are all happy.. i know enough farang that aren't worth mentioning in Thailand. i'm ending my part in this discussion as it seems to go the wrong way, and i don't mind talking to people like you anyways. BTW my thai wife feels the same so i have no idea what the hell you mean by saying i should just go with this so called flow you talk about.

Thank's everybody for the replies and hope to have a healthy discussion again some other time.

oh yeah i am dutch and i am sure you have no idea what the dutch say!

[myluckythai]

JVIERSEL... "Having been a frequent visitor to Thailand for 5 years and being a resident here now"

Well now, I guess that makes you an expert on Thai people.....And when someone has made up their mind and is an "expert" nothing can be said to them, as their minds are closed to all.

......Oh Well....The Belgium mind being what it is.....You know what the Dutch say?

I can agree if people like samed for what it is like i said in my earlier post but you don´t seem to have read this, BUT Bocce.... im tired of your blablabla.. maybe you are the king of thailand and everybody should feel Lucky to be able to come to an audience in your magnificant house (ON THE BEACH LOL). i have different standards to my guests as you do i think. My guest are a treat to me , and i welcome them accordingly as to your guests should feel Lucky they can come visit you , reading your reply. that's fine with me .. i know enough farang already that aren't worth mentioning in Thailand. i'm ending my part in this discussion as it seems to go the wrong way, and i don't mind talking to people like you anyways. BTW my thai wife feels the same so i have no idea what the hell you mean by saying i should just go with this so called flow you talk about.

Thank's everybody for the replies and hope to have a healthy discussion again some other time.

oh and me being dutch i am pretty sure what they say......

OH POSTED IT TWICE AH WELL THEN ITS CLEAR HOW I THINK HAHA