Thread: A few nights in Samui...

Bladdy hell, Moon Bungalows is still there 900-1,800B a night, but it says it's not on Chaweng but on Maenam beach?! In 1994, it was definitely on the north end of Chaweng, 'cos we walked to Lamai one day almost all the way along the sand...

Linky: travelfish.org - Samui hotels and resorts - Moon Bungalows - Pictures and Facilities

Originally Posted by BosseO

Went there 10 years ago, we rented a house at Coconut village (I think, was Coconut something anyway). Was then 1200b. a day.

From 88-92 ish I used to rent the first house up from here for a pittance, they wanted me to buy it and the land for 6k USD told them they were crazy! So moved out, Paradise and a bleedin fortune lost!
You must have been one of the few people ever to stay there, they didn't encourage visitors, Italians if I remember correctly.

^ The owner of the house we rented was a German Kurt and his Thai wife Nit.

Sweet pic's rawlins, might have to add this place to the list of places to visit in 09.
Is there beaches/place that aren't quite so busy?

Bet that kid with the red hair ended up with a nice tan !!!

Originally Posted by cimboc

Is there beaches/place that aren't quite so busy?

Simillian Islands?

Originally Posted by cimboc

Sweet pic's rawlins, might have to add this place to the list of places to visit in 09.
Is there beaches/place that aren't quite so busy?

Chaweng is the busiest beach on the Island... I didn't see that many other beaches but saw a couple of small deserted ones when exploring around on a motorbike...

Lots of beaches on this Island so I should think that you could find what you are looking for...

Will be there in may and check out if it is busy like that everywhere on the island.

Originally Posted by CB79

Have to admit I found Samui an over expensive tourist trap. The beach was alright but the nightlife was shite (although the Reggae Bar weren't bad) and the only decent-ish nightclub had the reputation for people getting shot, although we found it fine after a few dozen Singha's!!

As the previous poster said give me Samet over Samui anyday. In fact give me Phuket over Samui!!!!

Ditto. I didn't like it and thought the beach was very mediocre. I was recently on Koh Tao and, boy, was it crowded! I think Koh Lanta is still about my favorite.

Maenam Beach was always my fav. Used to be great for swimming -- flat as a lake at certain times. But, the greed mongers built up all along the beach and it's sh*te swiming (toilet waste and the resultant buildup of jellyfish).
Lamai Beach is good for swimming, too. Chaweng is crap coz of the sand break. And all those people! I went to that beach maybe once a year and always freaked at the fatties letting it all hang out (and topless jugdroppers, too). Never ever that many folks in Maenam or better yet, Choengmon Beach.
No, sadly, much better and cheaper places to go now.
DD -- Maenam Beach Bungalows or the place next door still have cheapie huts.

^ Albeit almost 2 years old.

[quote=Airportwo;555332]

Originally Posted by BosseO

they wanted me to buy it and the land for 6k USD told them they were crazy! So moved out, Paradise and a bleedin fortune lost!

That story makes me want to cry.

Nice one Rawlins and thanks for posting pics of your adventure.

Seems strange that all the flights from Utapao were booked up as I have always been able to get a seat or two even on short notice.

Is it busy on Sumui at the moment as it seems that way going on your pictures and they seem to allow topless bathing? Was not that way last time I was on a beach in Thailand.

Chaweng is busy still. Like Blackpool in wakes week. It is more enjoyable off season.
Lamai less so but better value for money.
Cheong Mon has good beaches but is starting to get more developed and therefore more expensive.
Maenam has become too industrial for my liking but offers more the budget conscious.
fishermans Village has managed to retain some elements of the earlier times without being quite as expensive as Chaweng.
Friends of mine who visited from Goa recently stayed in Bangrak. A beach bungalow with aircon fridge tv etc can still be had here for around Baht 800 a night even in high season.
Some parts of the south and west are still fairly unspoilt, but i cannot see that lasting for to long.
Google samui reef resort and Gus will sort you out a good value deal and a nice hotel room in Lamai
Chaweng, try Le Chablis/Cork and Cask.
Bangrak, try Full moon bungalows, or M Place House.
There are still apartments available in the 500baht bracket but they tend to be smaller places who don't advertise on the web.

The major issue now is flights. The cost of flying from BKK to Samui has doubled in the last 12 months. Airline owns the airport and can pretty much charge what they want.

If anyone comes high season and stays in Chaweng Beach it will cost an arm and a leg. Still value for money to be had on the island, it's just a bit harder to find.

The island authorities are determined to drive the bar scene away from the beaches and make the place more upmarket, so places like green mango will have a limited shelf life.

Off to Samui in 2 or 3 weeks, I think/hope...will have a good look about. It's been a long time.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Off to Samui in 2 or 3 weeks, I think/hope...will have a good look about. It's been a long time.

Good Luck, I was sooo disappointed when I went back a couple of years back, destroyed the place in my opinion............
In its day it really was (my) paradise.

Samui is a toilet these days , went there many times via ferry from Surat Thani b4 the airport ever existed - now it is a joke.

Head on down to Krabi

Was the reason I moved here 22 years ago. Went back 5 years ago. Never again. Phuket and Khao Lak this summer.