Samui

[PeteB]

As a long time visitor (though not necessarily frequent) to SE Asia and Thailand - first visit 1966, I have noted many changes. As usual we stayed in the Landmark in Bangkok - as usual it was first class! We met up with some friends from Hua Hin and had a great three days.

I am sure that I will get shot down in flames over the rest of this post, but I will go ahead nonetheless.

SAMUI

It is many years since my wife and I have encountered such poor service, not confined to our hotel, but which seemed general in the Chaweng area.

I should also state that we aware of the reputation of Chaweng, certainly not expecting it to be as laid back as Hua Hin, and travelled there with our eyes open

To be brutally honest, we were not at all impressed with Samui (no we had never been there before!) and Chaweng in particular. Samui has some lovely beaches and views but, perhaps, it is now overcommercialised.

We also found that the whole island was overcrowded and, for the first time in Thailand, we felt that almost everyone was 'on the make' - if you come from Europe and like Ibiza or Grand Canaria - you will just love Koh Samui!
-------------------------------------------

"Koh Samui (and Chaweng in particular) was not to our taste at all. We were fortunate in the location of our hotel. Our research proved correct and we were on a very picturesque part of the beach, away from the noise of the main town (and the aircraft noise - only slightly further South!).

Even this was spoiled somewhat as they had closed one entrance to the hotel and were developing on the South side (not mentioned when booking). A consequence of this was that they were using the minor entrance for all traffic and this caused rubbish trucks, at 3am, to park behind our “deluxe villaâ€

[rosso]

Hello

My first visit was 9 years ago and I went 3 times again on Samui ( Lamai Beach ...) But so many things changed and they changed the Island from a bagbacker style to a high commercial one week tourist Island. Same as in Phuket. Maybe far in future I will visit Samui again, maybe ?!

regards
Rosso

[philip]

I can echo this impression, although not as vociferously. I prefer a quieter resort but the market will evolve and if the visitors dry-up, so will the get-ricj-quick operators....

[buksida]

Good to see you back again Phil.

I've always had a good time when on Samui but then I never stay in the 5 star resorts where your affluence and ease with money is expected.

The worst culprits for this money grabbing that you describe Pete has to be taxi drivers. Even when you speak to them in their own language, even dialect in some cases, they still insist on trying to charge you 300 baht for a 2 kilometer ride. They just can't see past the colour of your skin ... the worst type of scum IMO.

I first went there back in 98 when both Chaweng and Lamai were sandy strips of road ... ahhh the good old days.

[cockneyrebel]

It's nice to see someone else agrees with me about the place!!! I've had arguments in the past about this dump, and have little if nothing positive to say about it.
What made it worse was I had my room broken into and, amongst other things, had my passport stolen, whilst staying in Chaweng. I totally agree with Pete and Phil, it's now over-rated, over-commercialised, and I wouldn't go back if you paid me!! I also got the distinct impression everyone was on the make and after every single baht they could squeeze out of me.
The scenery can be very nice, but then so is Chiang Mai (apart from the lack of a beach of course) and you wouldn't believe you were in the same country.

[Gin tonic - no lime]

Another vote on PeteB and Phillip's side. I was there in 2001, rip off price for a dump of a room, right on the flight path, and in the middle of a reconstruction project (sounds similar eh Pete?) The workmen started shattering ceramic tiles at about 7:30 in the mornig for the "artistic" sidewalk they were making.. As mentioned everyone seemed to be on the take.
I can recommend Ko Lanta for a relaxing spot though. Spent about a week there in early December. Very nice beaches, and laid back atmosphere, not much in the way of nightclubs ect, but good inexpensive seafood, and a great little bar on Khlong Dao beach... "Bump Bar" great sunsets, tunes, and some talented fire show performances twice a night.

[philip]

Thanks Buksida ! How kind ! Been incredibly busy since I got back from HH end-Jan. Don't know where the time has gone.... Will be in Russia, salmon-fishing three separate weeks this year in the Kola Peninsula so the prospect of a quiet life is remoter than the wilderness !!

Have been told that Koh Chang is very nice. My girlfriend has been before and said it was charming. May give it a try. As for Koh Samui, I had a nice time there, but feel no pressing need to return. I realise it's maybe not very socially responsible but i would prefer to leave Phi Phi and Phuket for a bit.... Perhaps Koh Chang for a week, Chiang Mai for a week and Hua Hin for two weeks would be the way to do it. Two years until i retire, then I can travel more freely !

Cheers everyone.

[katyb]

You are right. Chaweng is absolutely awful.

But there is so much more to Samui than Chaweng. I've spent several months on Samui over the last few years and we never, ever go to Chaweng unless we have to. I think this year we went once.

Samui is a complete split personality. Get up to Maenam and beyond and and you could be on another island. Go west, and my god..... you're in another world! Go and have a quick look before it all disappears. It reallyis worth it.

Kate

[PeteB]

Hi Kate,

You are, of course, right to not write off Samui so easily. I agree that other parts of the Island (away from Chaweng) were much nicer. We were also there over the Easter period which, on top of Tsunami transfers from Phuket etc., did much to add to the crowded nature of Samui.

I stick to my impression, however, that the cost : quality ratio is poor on Samui and still feel that this is one of the parts of Thailand that has gone beyond its best. Even restaurants such as Poppies, which has always been well respected, were packing people in - to the extent that, whilst the food was good (not fantastic) the service was very poor.

We left it much too late to visit Samui (possibly 10 years too late) and, unfortunately, we now intend to take a break altogether from Thailand, next year.

With regard to your search for a family holiday venue in HH, I cannot be of much help - being a fan of the Anantara, of which you are already aware. Unlike PeteM, however, I would not write it off as being too far out of town. It is about 5 - 10 mins by taxi (100 baht), or by the hotel's own shuttle service. I am sure that daytime proximity to Hua Hin should not be the deciding factor - and at night I believe it is better to be slightly out of town.

Good luck

Peter