Koh Samui Travel Blog by James Cutajar
I’m a Maltese guy (yeah from that tiny island – Malta) and lived on that rock for 30 years. After 30 years I bought a 1 way ticket en-route to Asia. That was back in 2019 about 1 year before the world went in total chaos complete with lock-downs and quarantines. Meanwhile my first stop was Thailand and went from North to South and everything in between.
‘Koh Samui on my list’ travel blog is created to inspire, inform and for any advice related to this gorgeous island to help you plan your dream holiday in Thailand. In travel blog you’ll find everything you need to know to put together a solid travel plan and have the most amazing adventures in Koh Samui and beyond including Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
How I plan trips
For best hotel prices
To plan transport
To find tours
Overview
You’re probably looking for travel advice related to Koh Samui. Maybe just a quick overview to help you get started before putting together a travel plan. On this page I have covered all the basics that you should know about Koh Samui. You’ll find weather information, how to find things to do in Koh Samui, booking hotels and areas to stay in Koh Samui, how to get to Koh Samui and more.
Koh Samui Weather
For the best weather visit Koh Samui between mid December and February to enjoy sunny days with comfortable temperatures
ATTENTION!! – Koh Samui and the nearby islands experience daily and yearly tidal variations. During the Southwest monsoon from around March to October, tides are unusually low due to seasonal wind shifts, making many beaches unswimmable.
Things to Do in Koh-Samui
WAIT!! Did you know you can use Tour Platforms like →Viator for travel inspiration? While the platform is to book tours and activities, it’s really convenient to get an idea about the most popular activities and things to do in Koh Samui (and any other destination)
Wether you book activities as a tour or plan everything independently is up to you. But at least you’ll have an idea of what are the most popular activities without going through loads of travel blogs.
Booking Hotels in Koh Samui
Finding your dream hotel in Koh-Samui is easy with →Agoda. Thanks to its user friendly platform offering a wide range of accommodation from budget to luxury beachfront options, you’re sure to find something that meets all your requirements.
You may also want to know where in Koh-Samui you should base yourself. In that case, scroll down for an overview for the areas to stay in Chiang-Mai.
Where to stay in Koh-Samui
Koh Samui is a big island so its important to correctly choose your hotel in a part of the island that meets both your travel style and budget. The majority of hotels and amenities are concentrated in the North Eastern portion of the island. This portion of the island is where you’ll find the famous Chaweng, Lamai and the charming Fisherman’s Village.
Chaweng
Chaweng is the main tourist destination in Koh Samui. It’s one of the nicest beaches in Koh Samui with white powdery sand and clear shallow waters. The main beach-road is lined with resorts, restaurants and bars. Green Mango is popular club in Chaweng and the surrounding area is loaded with bars and beach clubs such as Ark Bar and the fancier Elephant beach club.
Lamai
Lamai strikes the balance for convenience and affordability. Compared to Chaweng its more laid back. There’s loads of restaurant options and bars but its more chill. There’s a nice beach that quickly slopes down and gets rather deep. Overall Lamai is great for families that want things to do at night in Koh Samui but want to avoid the main entertainment hub in Chaweng.
Fisherman’s Village (Bo-Phut)
For families and couples I would recommend the Fisherman’s Village in BoPhut. It’s a nice seaside village, the beach is nice, there’s upperscale resorts along a pedestrianized road that is lined with chic cafes and cocktail bars and western restaurants. And for a unique experience there’s also a nice night market complete with food, drinks and souveniers.
Getting to Koh Samui
There are a few options to get to Koh Samui. Some are more convenient while other take longer but are cheaper. Travel style and budget are the main factors that will dictate which is the best option.
Below are your options ⤵
Flights
There are regular flights to Koh Samui from both Bangkok airports and also from Phuket. Bangkok Air has a monopoly since they own Koh Samui airport. So the convenience comes at a cost. Another option is to fly to Surat Thani and then take a 30 minute ferry to Koh Samui. It will take a little longer but will be a lot cheaper.
Bus+Ferry Combo
If you have the time to spare, or budget is a priority, then the bus+ferry combo tickets are the answer. Basically these tickets are a package that includes bus transport directly to the pier and the ferry to Koh Samui. Its organized by the same company so you don’t need to worry about missing your connection. This option is usually cheaper than booking everything separately.
Train and Ferry
If you want a unique travel experience book an overnight sleeper train from Bangkok down to Surat Thani. When it gets dark the train seats will be converted in bunk beds with clean sheets. The train arrives early in the morning and then you’ll need to take a ferry to Koh Samui. This will also save a 1 night hotel cost. Just make sure to book the train well in advance because air conditioned sleeper carriages sell out in advance.
Where to eat in Koh Samui
There’s no shortage of places to eat in Koh Samui. Wether you want western cuisine, there lots of international restaurants to choose. And if you want affordable and all so tasty Thai food, just walk a minutes out of the tourist area and you’ll find loads of great local eateries.
Coco Tams: One of the trendiest places to start your evening. Located in fancy fisherman’s village, Coco Tams offers really good cocktails and food and an incredible sunset spot followed by a fire show. Come here early (5 pm/ish) to find a spot.
La Fabrique French Bakery: We often crave a crunchy sandwich or baguette stuffed with various ingredients like Italian ham, cheese, tomatoes. This place has a few other bakeries around teh island including Lamai and Chaweng.
ANNIE sweetery and eatery: Craving something fresh and healthy? Go Annies and you won’t be disappointed. We went to their resto in Lamai but there is another in Chaweng.
Gusto Italiano: This place delivers an authentic Italian pizza, probably even better than those in Italy itself. And pasta? Well I can guarantee that will be delicious too.
Pichet Restaurant: A big open air local restaurant just outside the fisherman’s village. Just go there and the waiter guide you and recommend what is the speciality for that day.
Beryl Bar: This place is basically jus a shack and pretty much far away from everything and literally at the end of a dirt road road. It’s on the waters edge of a really gorgeous beach with no tourists. Come here for the hip vide.
Thai Kitchen: It’s authentic Thai food, affordable, the resto is typically Thai but the food is presented in a fancy way.
How to get around Koh Samui
Koh Samui is a popular tourist destination and offers a number of travel modes to get around the island. Songtaews are the main public transport and are pick-up vans with benches fitted in the back. Taxis are easily available in the touristic areas. Rental cars are a convenient option which will most likely be cheaper than using taxis. And for adventurous travelers, renting a scooter is the way to go.
If you’re going to Koh Samui during the peak season and want to rent a car, make sure to reserve in advance. This will result in getting a better rental price and have more car option. I suggest using Rentalcars.com because they find the best deals from both local and foreign car companies.
And finally
Check out my other website Bangkok on my list and The Travel Deck for Asian destination guides.
Quick Resources ⤵
Book your dream hotel and find the best deals in Thailand. Wether it’s the beach or the city, Agoda offers a wide range of hotels at the best prices all on an easy to use booking platform.
Plan transport with ease on the 12Go platform. Just enter origin and destination. Bus+ferry combo tickets are also an available hassle free option to reach the famous islands.
Explore more of Thailand and be inspired with Viator. Book unique experiences and create lasting memories. Just enter the destination in the search and find the best tours either join in or private.
HEY, just so you know…
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