Hi all,

Just a little background, we're travelling LOS for a month 5th Dec - 6th Jan. Been to LOS before and have our route 'pretty much' sorted. The GF and I have agreed on Kao Tao for some fun diving from Dec 26th - 30th (back to BKK for new years)

So, to get to Kao Tao on the 26th we need to be close by. It looks like being on Samui for the 24th / 25th would make most sense.

Now, I have never researched Samui as it's a place we preferred to avoid, so we're clueless essentially. Main reason is that we want to chill out and have a bit of fun on XMas day and want to be easily able to get the ferry on the 26th to Tao.

As someone who hasn't a clue, can anyone recommend even a general area that would suit us to stay for these dates? We're mid-20's and like a bit of fun. However, these 2 days we'd prefer luxury and chill-out, so not bothered about activities etc. A nice resort within close proximity to a beach is fine.

Budget would be about 2,500 baht per night, if possible. However, if this isin't realistic for these dates we'll pay whatever the going rate is.

Many thanks

PS. Yes, we are well aware of the headlines about Kao Tao in recent weeks. I'd prefer not to have the thread de-railed, just stick to the question at hand

Having a quick look on Tripadvisor, 'nice' places seem to be in the region of about 4,000 baht per night on Dec 24 / 25 so looks like this would be a realistic budget

Good beach - but not a great time of year - Choengmon.

Lots of restaurants. Something like the White house is close to the 4,000 baht range. A bit of luxury, close to Bangrak for the ferry the next day. Quiet village atmosphere and close to the airport

http://www.samuithewhitehouse.com/

Spa facilities for the GF. Chill out for the 24/25th and then head for KT.

Only thing to watch - some resorts insist on compulsory Gala Dinner. eg Christmas Day! This can be an expensive turkey.

Other hotels in the same range (or more) are on that beach. Some eg Sala Samui - min 3 nights over Christmas. I am afraid that your choices might be limited.

Good luck

2500 won't be considered "luxury" on Samui and certainly not during those dates where all hotels will price their rooms up to twice as much their regular rates.

I don't think you'll find any beach side hotels for that price and most places would have been booked by now. Anything which are now still available will cost a lot more.

Perhaps look at Samui Buri Resort in Maenam, nice looking hotel with a number of good restaurants around a quiet area ... beach is OK and close to Lomparayah ferry to get you to Koa Toa.

Just do a Google search! I think in your price range... & does not say anything about having to include the Christmas dinner rip off!

Thanks for all the help guys, will book somewhere in the next day or so once we confirm our plans.

I had forgotten about the 'dinner gala' crap on XMas day... last time we were on Phangan... none of that nonsense

If you intend to use the Lomparayah catamaran ferry that departs from Maenam Beach to Koh Tao, then the ferry has a shuttle bus service that can pick you up at your resort. Xmas/New-year normally considered peak season at Samui, so advisable to book ferry tickets and transfer in advance – sometimes also many or most resorts can be fully booked.

In the area close to the ferry and further round Maenam Bay and neighboring Bo Phut Bay you can find a number of nice resorts within your budget range, and also lots of luxury resorts that may be above your initial budget (some of them even very up-end). Most resorts are on the beach side of the Ring Road around the island, many beach front. The two bays are fairly quiet, but some restaurants, and not much happens after 10pm. In Bo Phut you will find the both cozy and trendy Fisherman Village with lots of restaurants and relaxing chill out cafés.

Xmas Day the 25th seems to be held by British oriented folks only, so if you are looking for some arrangements that day, you shall probably find it in some British style pubs or restaurants, many of them makes special arrangements.

Fun out is mainly Chaweng Beach – which is the preferred destination for young and younger people – here are a huge number of resorts in various price levels from fairly modest to luxury, most of them beachfront or beach side. Along the Beach Road you have shopping facilities and mall, cozy cafés and pubs, and a huge variety of restaurants. Middle on the northern half of Beach Road is so-called Soi Green Mango-area with the nightlife discos, and on the beach side some beach-parties, like the famous Ark Bar. Xmas night is one of the year’s biggest party-nights. If you decide to stay in Bo Phut or Maenam you shall count around 500 baht (each way) for a taxi to/from Chaweng.

Wish you a good trip...

Now THAT is a reply! Thank you so much

We would like to party a little on XMas night so would it make sense to stay on the Beach Rd area? We don't mind the taxi ride if the accom. in Chaweng is nicer. The GF really does just want to relax on a nice beach on XMas day, with a mix of nightlife.

If you could make a recommendation on that basis i'd be very grateful!

Now THAT is a reply! Thank you so much

We would like to party a little on XMas night so would it make sense to stay on the Beach Rd area? We don't mind the taxi ride if the accom. in Chaweng is nicer. The GF really does just want to relax on a nice beach on XMas day, with a mix of nightlife.

If you could make a recommendation on that basis i'd be very grateful!

Chaweng Garden Resort is a possibility - had my friends staying there earlier this year and they were very pleased and price was fair (extremely fair for central Chaweng) – quiet bungalows right in the area with the many restaurants, cafés, shopping malls, amusements, bars, etc. etc.

http://www.chawenggarden.com/

Younger folks seems to prefer Ark Bar Beach Resort that have lots of very nice fairly new rooms at an affordable price, but a bit crowded and not very private. The few leftover Ark Bar bungalows I think is below today’s standard. Beachfront is a good restaurant, but also the beach in front of Ark Bar is very crowded, and they do play music all day and evening (loud, some “older people” says far too loud), but great beach party place at night with an outstanding atmosphere...

http://www.ark-bar.com/

Both are right in the center of the amusements and everything is within walking distance. But there are plenty of other possibilities at Chaweng Beach, both affordable and up priced – mind you, Xmas is peak season – but I don’t know them well enough to give recommendations. A few of the older resorts are a bit outdated (but not their price).

Sometimes more easy than explain is to show Google Earth Map, the coordinates upper-left-box are for Chaweng Garden Resort. Satellite photo little outdated (old), so the new shopping mall is not there, but I placed the name at it’s position. If you look at the satellite map, you can see what beach resorts have bungalows – often the name will appear when you zoom in...

I also had friends staying at Baan Chaweng Beach Resort & Spa 2 years ago, but I think that’s more up price than Chaweng Garden Resort...

Hope you will succeed in finding a good place to stay and enjoy your Xmas “party” holiday
– do we see you in Green Mango at Xmas night after midnight…?

khunPer - Thanks for all the info you provided. We decided to book into 'Behind the Scene' (private room). Initially we thought we would want beachside resort but when we thought about it, we're actually going to be partying the nights we are on Samui (and exploring on scooter during the day).

So, we just went for clean, basic accommodation.

We will go for luxury beaches on Koh Lipe etc... (we still have to organise that)

If you can recommend any 'must sees' on Samui, please do let me know. As I said, during the day we would like to rent a scooter (I never had any problems re. scams last time I was in Thailand) and explore the island, and then at night time we want to be in the heart of the action and party

Thanks “alt”,

Normally “must see” on Koh Samui will be the “mandatory Trip Around the Island”. Get hand on a map (free at boats/busstation/airport) or use Google-map for planning.

Around the Island “must see” tour (choose your own favorites ):

1) Start at Big Buddha at the end of Bang Rak beach.

2) Close by, about 1km towards Plai Lem is the Chinese Budai (Buddha) and the 18-arm goddess Guan Yin in Wat Plai Lem.

3) Back on the Ring Road going south there is a view point just after Chaweng Noi with a nice view over Chaweng Bay.

4) Further south, just after Lamai, are Hin Ta Hin Yai, Grandfather & Grandmother that seems to be the “must” for all Thais – especially Hin Ta rock appears on many a photo.

5) Muslim Village, Hua Thanon, a few kilometers further south where the Ring Road is turning 90 degrees is an old fisherman village with (many) wooden houses – just before that on the land side (R/H) is a fairly new and quite special Chinese Hainan temple.

6) After Muslim Village continue on the Ring Road some 3 kilometers Westward, on left hand is the small Wat Khunaram that in my opinion is the most outstanding “must see”, the unique “mummified monk” Loung Por Deng.

7) A few kilometers more you will see signs at right hand side for the waterfalls Namuang I and II. The 18meter high #1 is easy to visit, and you can have a nice cooling swim in the pond or shower in the waterfall itself. Elephant trekking “in jungle” is available with 30 to 60 minute rides.

#1

The 80meter tall #2 fall is further back. At the parking there is a small tourist-style zoo. You’ll need to walk some 2-3 kilometers on a path up the big waterfall.

8) If you wish to continue on the Ring Road, you come to the harbor town Nathon. Just before, at the traffic light with crossroads, at right is a way to another waterfall (the road end there), preferred by Thais for a cool down bath (not much space for swimming) and a nice Buddhist temple. If you take the 2-3 kilometer (very nice) jungle path walk, you can get up to the main waterfall (count 1½ to 2 hours for the walk up there and back).

9) While in Nathon you can visit a typical Hainan Temple. Nathon has one-way roads, so you need to pass the harbor front and go back on 2nd road, or just park the scooter and take a walk – there are some shops and cafés for refreshment and a food market in evenings. Thais seem to prefer “Will Wait” restaurant on 2nd for soup (talked about as best on the island) or lunch (close before evening). Just after Will Wait on left (land side) is a small lane (soi) leading to the Hainan Temple; the “original inhabitants” of Samui are Chinese Hainans.

You can continue on the Ring Road North and East through Bang Por, Maenam, Bo Phut and back to Chaweng.

Wish you a good sightseeing & party holiday...

May I please add one little thing more, as you intend to drive on a scooter? Samui is infamous for it’s traffic.

Please use helmets – know it’s not extremely cool – both for your own safety and for the risk of a police check; the latter may steal a couple of hours from your sightseeing time if fined.

Please drive carefully and not too fast, some cars do make hazardous overtakes and you cannot be sure other vehicles in the traffic behave the way you are used to from a Western country.

khunPer - Thanks for the excellent reply again. I will print off your reply and use it when on Samui.

re. Helmets - I have been riding bikes for years. I will NEVER ride without a helmet. I put up many hundreds of miles on a bike on my last trip to Thailand and always wore a helmet. I came across a police check one time and many people were pulled over as they were not wearing helmets... The police took a quick look at my licence and waved me on

PS. Do you think scooter is powerful enough for Samui? Last time I was in LOS I had a CBR250 and a Kawasaki 650. However, as Samui is a small island and I will probably see most of it in a day, i'm guessing scooter is OK?

phunPer - I may PM you next week if that's OK, just to get an idea of a fair taxi fair to my accommodation from the airport

Good to hear you’re an experienced bike driver...

I’m not – one day and night at Samui was more than enough for me – so I cannot give any advice of size of motor, but many people use small bikes (up to 3-4 people onboard) and as speed limits are 40-50 km/h that seems Okay.

Taxis at Aiport – meaning the well-known “Taxi Meter” – are not allowed inside and only available outside the Airport gate in front of the 7-elleven store. If they accept to drive on meter plus 50 baht surcharge (which they shall), you are Okay, if not (which is more likely) you shall expect 500-600 baht for the short ride to Chaweng.

Option is the Bangkok Air shuttle minibus, that will drive you to your destination (or nearest resort or named spot) for probably 200 baht a person (perhaps some other poster knows actual charge?); there is a counter in the “arrival hall” just after you have picked up your luggage – also a private car (limousine) service that may not be that much more (or same) as a taxi driving without the meter turned on...

You are welcome to PM me.

Spend an afternoon at the Jungle Club.

Spend an afternoon at the Jungle Club.

Just Googled it - looks like a nice place to hang out for an afternoon.

Although some people complain about prices

Spend an afternoon at the Jungle Club.

Just Googled it - looks like a nice place to hang out for an afternoon.

Although some people complain about prices

If you want cheap beer go to Pattaya.

Spend an afternoon at the Jungle Club.

Just Googled it - looks like a nice place to hang out for an afternoon.

Although some people complain about prices

When you see the journey to get there, you might have some sympathy for the prices. eg - no one delivers there

I thought most restaurants did their own shopping? At least most of the Thai restaurants do.

But I have a hard time believing that for example Betagro won't deliver to Jungle Club just because it's up on a small hill, while they sure deliver to places such as Conrad which is up a hill as well as furthest away corner of the island.