Koh Samui Tips

yupya1

Hi, I travelling to Samui this summer and wanted any good tips to reduce the cost!

I want to stay around Chaweng beach but are there cheaper options away from chaweng beach and how easy is it to get around?

Thanks

MsDarcy

To be completly honest? - Get a boat to one of the other islands. Koh Samui ( at least where I was) wasn't very different to the costa del sol, I'm sure there are nicer parts but i'd reccomend Koh Tao or phi phi

Phoenix Park

Couldn't agree more. Ko Samui is Union Jacks, Australian bars, Irish bars etc etc, really gone downhill and unrecognisable from being in a sunny European resort.
Boat to Ko Pha Ngan, its very close by and less touristy and it takes that little bit more effort to get to so many don't bother.

Stinicker

I was in Koh Samui at the beginning for March before they got hit by massive flooding. I found it to be mixed bag really. I stayed in Lamai which is a smaller resort than Chaweng, however both resorts were not exactly over busy and after a few days you could get bored on the island.

My days would consist of a rise of about 11am and hit the beach after breakfast and spend the following several hours trying to tan my pasty irish ass. Lamai is a typical beach resort in this sense and it has a "bar culture" similar to Bangkok or Pattaya where prostitution is evident and as a guy walking down the street I was subject to catcalls and whistles, despite it being Thailand this was very much not the purpose of my trip!

Getting around the Island is easy and the easiet form of transportation is Songthaew which are common throughout Thailand outside of Bangkok, basically you ask the driver if he is heading to the destination and agree a fare and hop in the back, sometimes if he has a small load he will circle around Town again before heading off and will pick up anyone who flags him down, so it is a bit like a personalised bus service.

Taxis on Ko Samui are a sheer rip-off compared to the rest of the country and expect to be charged like 500bt from the Ferryport at Nathon to Lamai (take a Songthaew for 100bt instead) and 500bt from Lamai to the Airport. Irish taxis are cheaper on a per km basis.

A word of warning do not under any circumstances take a bus or tour company called "Songserm" which are sold as a joint ticket by unscrupulous travel agents in Bangkok which includes overnight train from Bangkok and bus and ferry. I had over €300 of cash stolen while on their bus as they rifled through peoples belongings in the hold of the bus underneath.

Ko Phi Phi and Krabi would also be worth considering as they are supposed to be far superior to Ko Samui, if you time your travels right you could pop across to Ko Phangan for the world famous full moon party on the beach there.

If you fly to Samui expect to pay about €100 one way with Bangkok airways, I paid €115 in a last minute decision as I decided not to use the return leg of my train-ferry combo due to the hacking length of the journey and having my money stolen by the scumbags. If you intend to spend the majority of your time on Samui you can book a codeshare ticket with Bangkok airways and Etihad.

Oranage2

yupya1 wrote: »

Hi, I travelling to Samui this summer and wanted any good tips to reduce the cost!

I want to stay around Chaweng beach but are there cheaper options away from chaweng beach and how easy is it to get around?

Thanks

as others said nothing that exotic about Samui or for many of the other islands for that matter - best way to get around is rent a moped - cost you €5 a day max!

Stinicker

Oranage2 wrote: »

as others said nothing that exotic about Samui or for many of the other islands for that matter - best way to get around is rent a moped - cost you €5 a day max!

Except that they ask for your passport as collateral when you rent one like when I tried, there was no way I was handing that over! Tonnes of expats drive them on Samui perhaps they were renting from a different place, although several of the scooter places did ask me for a passport as collateral. Thailand drives on our side of the road (left) and driving on Samui is an easy going affair as you never meet anything at more than about 30-40mph, petrol is sold on every street corner from Whiskey bottles at 40bt/litre and this caters for all the expats on scooters.

echomadman

Anywhere you rent a bike from keeps your passport, its perfectly safe.

whatsyourquota

Anywhere that asks for your passport is not perfectly safe! I would never hand over my passport. What happens loads over there is they take your passport then when you comeback they say you have scratched the motorbike and ask for a hefty sum of money or else you wont be getting your passport back.
So dont ever hand over your passport.
I didnt find chaweng very expensive at all. Stayed right in the centre with two friends and stayed in a really nice place for 900 baht a night so 300 each which is just under 7 euro. It had ensuite bathroom, tv , fridge and balcony and the room was huge. It is very much like a spanish resort though and I didnt really like the beach that much.
you can definately negotiate prices with taxi drivers but there are songathews passing regularely.

Oranage2

the cost of renting the bike for a day will be the same price as one or 2 taxi journeys.

I've done a lot of traveling and anywhere i rented a car kept my passport unless you want to hand over 100s of euro instead, sure in spain they keep your passport when you stay in a hotel.

Best advice is ask somebody for a good place to rent a bike also your hotel will more than likely rent them - and dont drink or drive or do anything stupid on the bike like rally it around the beach and you should be alright. If you do crash i dont think insurance will cover it so if you do crash you'll broably have to pay for the bike to be fixed.

yupya1

Cheers for the tips, reckon i'll be hitting a full moon anyway so might check out the other islands as well.

orac53

I spent 4 week in Samui i Jan - Feb this year and really enjoyed it. If you have a few bob stay in one of the nice resort hotels on Chaweng beach which is an amazing beach. Phi Phi would be my next choice. Enjoy your trip.

Stinicker

whatsyourquota wrote: »

Anywhere that asks for your passport is not perfectly safe! I would never hand over my passport. What happens loads over there is they take your passport then when you comeback they say you have scratched the motorbike and ask for a hefty sum of money or else you wont be getting your passport back.
So dont ever hand over your passport.

This happens very regularly also with Jet Ski rental on the beaches there too and armed with this information, I decided not to rent due to them asking for my passport. Although I had not intended to rent anyway as I have never driven a scooter in my life and on holiday in Thailand would not be the best time to learn.

I have rented cars in several countries and the rental agency might make a photocopy of the passport and driving licence but they would never ask to keep it. Never had the passport request for hotels either, technically my passport is not mine to give as collateral anyway as it is the property of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Legit places usually pre-authorise a set sum on the credit card etc.

beagle001

I have given my passport on countless occasions in Thailand and luckily never had a problem.They are more concerned about the bike than your passport and only take it so you will come back with the bike and have it hanging over your head that if you total the bike they have your passport.
Best to rent of an operation from a local family in the resorts or from your hotel/guesthouse,if your concerned bring the bike in at night time to a secure part of the hotel/guesthouse.
Bike thefts are more common in Cambodia than Thailand but same rules apply use your head where you park it.
Its the only way to get around the islands in my opinion,gives great freedom and good fun.
Inspect the bike thoroughly and point out any damage,after that any new damage is you responsibility.
Perfectly fine in Thailand except I have never heard of them asking for the passport for a jetski rental.
I would avoid doing that with these lads as they are notorious chancers and if you do rent a jetski pay cash only for the time you go on it and do an inspection with the fella in advance,point out every single scrape/dent beforehand and get him to confirm its not your doing before you set sail.

beagle001

Unfortunately stinicker it is extremley common for thefts to occur during all the VIP bus trips,avoid at all cost and go on the local tansport.
They are harder to fgure out but your journey will not be a stop at every hole in the hedge or the famous 3 hour rest at their mates restaurant.
I have heard countless people getting fleeced on these buses,ipods,cameras,cash all taken from the holdall.
Keep all valuables with you upstairs by your seat,every time the bus stops take them with you even for 5 mins,you cannot trust the vip bus companies.
They send someone into the holdall while all travelers are wrecked and sleeping,they can pick the travel locks but seem to have difficulty with the heavy duty ones,i know this as they attempted mine but could not open it.
Again with all tourist buses operating to southern/eastern islands the chances are high of a theft so prepare in advance not to get scammed.

Oranage2

beagle001 wrote: »

Unfortunately stinicker it is extremley common for thefts to occur during all the VIP bus trips,avoid at all cost and go on the local tansport.
They are harder to fgure out but your journey will not be a stop at every hole in the hedge or the famous 3 hour rest at their mates restaurant.
I have heard countless people getting fleeced on these buses,ipods,cameras,cash all taken from the holdall.
Keep all valuables with you upstairs by your seat,every time the bus stops take them with you even for 5 mins,you cannot trust the vip bus companies.
They send someone into the holdall while all travelers are wrecked and sleeping,they can pick the travel locks but seem to have difficulty with the heavy duty ones,i know this as they attempted mine but could not open it.
Again with all tourist buses operating to southern/eastern islands the chances are high of a theft so prepare in advance not to get scammed.

I wouldnt say it was extremely common at all since it never happened to me once on a bus or i've never heard of anythone being robbed on one except for one when someone told me that a local tried to rob something on a night bus when she was sleeping, but thats all.

- My bag did go missing in cambodia but the tour operaters done everything they could to get it back and they did 24 hours later -

Obviously be vigilant but not everyone and everything is out to get you.

beagle001

Obviously not everyones bag can get hit but I would take a conservative guess that this happens on a daily to weekly basis.
I met many a backpacker who was fleeced by them,it's a known scam man.
I am certainly off the belief that the Thais are not out to get you but this scam is regular and has been going on for over a decade.
Most backpackers don't know it's happened to them until hours later and it's impossible to prove it.
Just keep your valuables up with you and avoid it altogether as it's a horrible journey.
Book independently from the main Bangkok bus stations,nicer service and a bit more of a novelty.

Stinicker

Oranage2 wrote: »

I wouldnt say it was extremely common at all since it never happened to me once on a bus or i've never heard of anythone being robbed on one except for one when someone told me that a local tried to rob something on a night bus when she was sleeping, but thats all.

- My bag did go missing in cambodia but the tour operaters done everything they could to get it back and they did 24 hours later -

Obviously be vigilant but not everyone and everything is out to get you.

It happened to me and it is actually a very commonplace occurrence there it appears you were lucky or maybe had noting in the bag to steal. Avoid Songserm tours and fly into the island or take the Government run bus instead.

Anyone travelling to Thailand and Samui in particular should read up on these links, I wish I had seen them before I travelled there.

http://www.travelfish.org/board/post/thailand/10891_warning--theft-on-samui---suratthani-buses

http://www.travelfish.org/board/post/thailand/7074_bangkok-to-ko-samui-scam---getting-money-back-
http://www.travelfish.org/board/post/thailand/1760_stolen-things-on-the-bus-from-krabi-to-ko-phangan
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1691746
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=577937
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1192961
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1800664
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1573361
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=893413
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1390219
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1288857
http://www.travelfish.org/travel-planning/security-gear
http://www.bangkokscams.com/scams-in-bangkok/khao-san-road-travel-agents.html
http://www.talesofasia.com/thailand-getaround.htm
http://wikitravel.org/en/Ko_Pha_Ngan#Get_in
http://www.stickmanweekly.com/Reader2007/reader4672.htm
http://www.travelfish.org/faq_answer.php?qID=130

Stinicker

beagle001 wrote: »

Obviously not everyones bag can get hit but I would take a conservative guess that this happens on a daily to weekly basis.
I met many a backpacker who was fleeced by them,it's a known scam man.
I am certainly off the belief that the Thais are not out to get you but this scam is regular and has been going on for over a decade.
Most backpackers don't know it's happened to them until hours later and it's impossible to prove it.
Just keep your valuables up with you and avoid it altogether as it's a horrible journey.
Book independently from the main Bangkok bus stations,nicer service and a bit more of a novelty.

What this guy said, I did not miss my stolen money until I had left Samui six days later when I was going to exchange some US dollars for Baht in Bangkok, I had an envelope with over €300 in Dollars, Euros and Pound Sterling as an emergency fund in my travel folder at the bottom of the bag.

When I arrived to my apartment in Samui I opened the bag and saw my iPod and laptop untouched and you would think these would be the obvious targets but they were untouched and the money taken, which I only missed several days later. They also left the small value notes and some sterling coinage I had left over from getting food and stuff at Heathrow on the way over. Such opportunistic thieves, on the way from Surat Thani to the Pier the bus briefly stopped while a local told the driver something in thai, obviously this was part of the scam to allow the scumbags underneath to get out to safety incase anyone would notice them when we got to the pier.

beagle001

Just read the above thread by stickmanweekly and it will wise up any traveler,great link and spot on.

muireann50

Gotta say I didn't like Samui at all, found it pretty sleazy. Ko pha-ngan is good, Ko Tao is lovely if you're looking for a quieter place and it has great diving, Phi Phi is gorgeous too, and theres a small palce off the Krabi coast called Railay thats bloody amazing!
Also if you're going on an overnight bus, they often give you a bottle of water as you're getting on the bus and I've heard they spike them sometimes so they can rob you while you're asleep. Dunno if its an urban legend or what but better safe etc.
Have a great time, I'm dying to go back:(

darrenh

Stinicker wrote: »

Such opportunistic thieves, on the way from Surat Thani to the Pier the bus briefly stopped while a local told the driver something in thai, obviously this was part of the scam to allow the scumbags underneath to get out to safety incase anyone would notice them when we got to the pier.

Same thing happened to my girlfriends bag on the same trip. Between Surat Thani and the pier her bag was completely gone through. When we were getting off the bus driver was throwing out everyones bags from the underneath compartment shouting "go quick, go quick, the boat is leaving". Everyone was in a panic and really believed him. Us included. We got to our hotel and saw that her rain proof cover was inside out. When we opened the bag you could see someone and gone through it. Strangely all they could take of any value was a photo album of some of my girlfriends friends and family. I had to return that direction a month later and ****ed the guy out who sold us the tickets. They tried to hush me into a corner. They were all apologies and saying this had never happened before. Bull**** obviously.

By the way my only tip for Samui is dont go. The other islands near by are far nicer. Samui is just like the Canaries except you can get a good green curry.

Oranage2

beagle001 wrote: »

Obviously not everyones bag can get hit but I would take a conservative guess that this happens on a daily to weekly basis.
I met many a backpacker who was fleeced by them,it's a known scam man.
I am certainly off the belief that the Thais are not out to get you but this scam is regular and has been going on for over a decade.
Most backpackers don't know it's happened to them until hours later and it's impossible to prove it.
Just keep your valuables up with you and avoid it altogether as it's a horrible journey.
Book independently from the main Bangkok bus stations,nicer service and a bit more of a novelty.

ok, i take it all back - i always kept my money and passport on me(i just assumed everyone done this) when i was traveling so maybe thats why it never happened to me. robberies are common though by pick pockets or when your drunk so it would be a bit naive of me to assume it doesnt happen on the busses too.

falan

We were scammed in Samui about 4 years ago by Europeans i might add. Ive been to Thailand 5 times and a couple of times scams have been tried.

We got a flight to Samui and got then got into a minibus taxi parked outside.
. All our bags were put into the back of the bus and we all sat in waiting around for about 10 mins to pull out.

Got to our hotel about 20 mins later. My friends went to check in while i me and one of the lads sat outside on the seat. A car pulls up full of people and this Euro guy gets out (who i vaguely recognised from the airport). He says hello, sits on the wall 10ft away pulls out a wad of mostly 1000 and 500baht notes, counts them right in front of us with a big smirk on his face then got in the car and they drove away.

I thought it was a bit odd but didn't think that much about it.

Me and my friend walked into the reception at this point to see our other friends frantically searching their bags.

Everybodys bag had been rifled through and had cash taken, except mine because i had a good padlock on my bag.

Altogether there was about 500eur/30000baht taken which is quite a bit over there.

The only time our bags were left unattended was whilst sat in the taxi waiting for him to pull out from the airport.

We reckon the thieves paid him something to look the other way.

So cheeky the way the guy counted the money in front of us...P1sstake:mad:

zoveress

Hi everyone,

we did a bit of a coverage on www.southeastasiatravelblog.com on Samui. Also there is a community portal in English where you can ask questions.

www.mysamuilife.com

All the best
Z.