White sands

[Aion]

I am returning to koh samui after seven years and I wondered if white sands in lamai was still open.

[samuijimmy]

doing a Google search brings this up.... so guess it is still there....

http://thebeachfrontclub.com/beach-hotel/asia/thailand/koh-samui/lamai-south-2/white-sands-bungalow/

[Aion]

Thanks for that. I had heard different stories about white sands , one that it was sold for redevelopment , another that it had been sold, but might still be open. It was in its day a great institution combining ever so cheap bungalows and right on a good section of beach.

[smudgekin]

No, its been closed for 2.5 years now. All the bungelows have been demolished. Sold for redevelopment.

[samuijimmy]

Oh dear!

well there are lots of other places to choose from all over Samui.... it's changed a little bit since op's last visit !....

[Aion]

Thanks for the information. What I will probably do is go to the same place and take a walk along the road until I find something I like. It will be interesting to see lamai again after so many years.

[smudgekin]

Amity bungelows next door, is a similar scene, many ex "white sanders" there.

[justanotheroldhippy]

It's a shame that most of the backpacker-type 'cheap bungalows on the beach' resorts have disappeared over recent years... My first home when I came to Samui 15 years ago was Moon Bungalows in Maenam... stayed there for months... 100 baht a night if I remember right. It was demolished and replaced with 'Mimosa'... very flash... and most definitely more than 100 baht a night! lol.

It isn't in Lamai, but there is a cracking little resort in Maenam called 'Anong Villas' that still manages to survive as a cheap 'on the beach' backpacker friendly place. I go for a swim on that beach quite regularly, and the guy that runs (owns?) Anong speaks good English and is a great guy... loves laughing! (His name is Pumin). That particular stretch of beach is wonderful too... great for swimming. It is down Maenam Soi... in fact there are a couple of similar places down Maenam soi... worth checking out if you are in the area.

[samuijimmy]

It's a shame that most of the backpacker-type 'cheap bungalows on the beach' resorts have disappeared over recent years... My first home when I came to Samui 15 years ago was Moon Bungalows in Maenam... stayed there for months... 100 baht a night if I remember right. It was demolished and replaced with 'Mimosa'... very flash... and most definitely more than 100 baht a night! lol.

It isn't in Lamai, but there is a cracking little resort in Maenam called 'Anong Villas' that still manages to survive as a cheap 'on the beach' backpacker friendly place. I go for a swim on that beach quite regularly, and the guy that runs (owns?) Anong speaks good English and is a great guy... loves laughing! (His name is Pumin). That particular stretch of beach is wonderful too... great for swimming. It is down Maenam Soi... in fact there are a couple of similar places down Maenam soi... worth checking out if you are in the area.

The cheapest places I think you will find now, are across the ring road in Maenam, toward Ban Tai ... there are several usually only marked in Thai.... they run about 250 baht a night... room with bathroom ... no frills or food! .... but about 500 metres from the beach! There are a few in Lamai too, but one needs to watch for the signs .... "24"in the sign is usually a give away for cheap places!

Anong Villa looks a bit run down these days, although friendly people there, I sometimes use as a short cut to the beach.... I understood they were more in the 800 baht range, (?) which is about as low as you will get on the beach these days... there are a few more in better shape along Soi Maeman Resort road... Shangrala, (sp?) New Sunrise and one or two more! .... names not coming to me!

Koh Phangan, still has backpacker places in 300 to 400 baht range...(a few for less) as long as you stay away from Ban Tai or Haad Rin!

[Aion]

Thank you for all of your help in this , I will look closely in lamai at the cheaper bungalow operations off of the beach , and at monthly rates as well. If I cannot find what I want in lamai I will go on to Mae nam or even to koh phangan. I plan to arrive in koh samui about mid July.

[notmyself]

Big Bell on the beach road Lamai has the old style wooden stilt bungalows for around 4-500 a night. It's in town but surprisingly quiet.

[PoorSucker]

I will go on to Mae nam

Nature bar and bungalows behind Maenam police station is what you are looking for.

There's jungle road leading there, from the police box, need 4wd, or bike.

https://naturebarandbungalows.wordpress.com/

[philthebook]

New Hut Bungalows on the beach in Lamai

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g1188000-d1389518-Reviews-New_Hut_Bungalows-Lamai_Beach_Maret_Ko_Samui_Surat_Thani_Province.html

Edited July 3, 2014 by philthebook