SOS (well, kind of) from Koh Samui
Jun 10th, 2007, 04:59 AM
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SOS (well, kind of) from Koh Samui
So we survived Bangkok, thrived in the north, and even managed to make some wonderful elephant friends at Anantara (even though mine felt the need to run off on me. with me on it) only to end up in Koh Samui at a place that can best be described as well, there aren't many nice words. Cheap perhaps?
So we're looking to relocate. Any suggestions? Price range isn't too huge of an issue, as we'll probably stay where we are another day or two, just to avoid repacking again.
Four Seasons is booked...Anantara has some openings, but we feel the need to expand our horizons a bit. Suggestions? Right now we are on Lamai beach and it is so not our scene, so somewhere quieter would be ideal.
Thanks fodorites! I'll buy you all the ever popular croaking frogs in return for any help
So we're looking to relocate. Any suggestions? Price range isn't too huge of an issue, as we'll probably stay where we are another day or two, just to avoid repacking again.
Four Seasons is booked...Anantara has some openings, but we feel the need to expand our horizons a bit. Suggestions? Right now we are on Lamai beach and it is so not our scene, so somewhere quieter would be ideal.
Thanks fodorites! I'll buy you all the ever popular croaking frogs in return for any help
Jun 10th, 2007, 06:24 AM
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The Regent Chewang is nice. I stayed there in about 2003 or so. The tides come in and go out, however, on this stretch of the beach, so it isn't always great for swimming. We stayed in one of the beach-front suites.
Carol
Carol
Jun 10th, 2007, 07:44 AM
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we really liked the peace resort...its very simple and not lux at all, but the price is right and the pool is fabulous...get a beachfront bungalow...
tell us where you are now and what is wrong with it so others do not make the same mistake...
pansea is very nice on th enorthshore...
meredien is also nice, but issolated...
tell us where you are now and what is wrong with it so others do not make the same mistake...
pansea is very nice on th enorthshore...
meredien is also nice, but issolated...
Jun 10th, 2007, 12:41 PM
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Jun 11th, 2007, 05:09 AM
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Thanks for all the help - we still haven't 100% decided what we're going to do. We're going to give it another night so this time we make the right choice!
The hotel is the Lamai Wanta. It's 1200 TBH per night, and doesn't include anything except two towels and a place to lay your head. It is right on the beach, with a pool, but other than that, nothing to recommend it. It's very noisy, both from people staying there and from street noise and the manangement is apathetic to say it kindly.
While it had decent reviews on trip advisor, it's just not for us at all. Although it seems to be very popular with a wide spectrum of people (lots of families, singles, etc) I surmise it's because of the cost and nothing else.
The hotel is the Lamai Wanta. It's 1200 TBH per night, and doesn't include anything except two towels and a place to lay your head. It is right on the beach, with a pool, but other than that, nothing to recommend it. It's very noisy, both from people staying there and from street noise and the manangement is apathetic to say it kindly.
While it had decent reviews on trip advisor, it's just not for us at all. Although it seems to be very popular with a wide spectrum of people (lots of families, singles, etc) I surmise it's because of the cost and nothing else.
Jun 11th, 2007, 05:58 AM
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that's only about $35 per nite....i can't think at that price that they would offer much at all....a pool...towels, etc....what more could you expect for $35....
the other places you mention must be way over $100 per nite if not $200....
the other places you mention must be way over $100 per nite if not $200....
Jun 11th, 2007, 10:15 AM
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If you are still in Lamai browse through the reviews on
http://www.r24.org/beachsiam.com/samui/hotels/
Or better still wander around and spot which place looks nice and friendly and ask to see the rooms.
I agree this time of year B 1,200 won't get you great but like anywhere there are still small well run places.
or take a quick look at some very recent Samui reviews, Al's might be ok for you
http://www.res24.com/review/posts.ht...=beachsiam.com
Now those are from 'people who have booked and stayed there'.
Where you mentioned in the past I saw some reviews that i just 'shook my head at', places that were honestly dumps being given great ratings, till I noticed that just 'anyone' can bang in a review, there is nothing to say anyone has stayed there, one place ( not Samui ) was given top ratings as 'better than any 5 star hotel'....it was actualy a converted shophouse where you shared a shower room !!! And yes, it was rates higher than 4 star places.
I would look at reviews where they are actualy from guests who have stayed at not just where anyone can submit, that is why I don't bother with that site anymore.
Good luck, if lamai is the problem take a ride up to Bophut, have a cold drink, look around, I think you will find a different 'sort' of person staying up there, different beaches attract a 'different crowd', Bophut tends to be more relaxed and not for those wanting to all night party, if you get the idea.
Take a trip tomorrow, I think it is worth it, I have a feeling you will find something !!
http://www.r24.org/beachsiam.com/samui/hotels/
Or better still wander around and spot which place looks nice and friendly and ask to see the rooms.
I agree this time of year B 1,200 won't get you great but like anywhere there are still small well run places.
or take a quick look at some very recent Samui reviews, Al's might be ok for you
http://www.res24.com/review/posts.ht...=beachsiam.com
Now those are from 'people who have booked and stayed there'.
Where you mentioned in the past I saw some reviews that i just 'shook my head at', places that were honestly dumps being given great ratings, till I noticed that just 'anyone' can bang in a review, there is nothing to say anyone has stayed there, one place ( not Samui ) was given top ratings as 'better than any 5 star hotel'....it was actualy a converted shophouse where you shared a shower room !!! And yes, it was rates higher than 4 star places.
I would look at reviews where they are actualy from guests who have stayed at not just where anyone can submit, that is why I don't bother with that site anymore.
Good luck, if lamai is the problem take a ride up to Bophut, have a cold drink, look around, I think you will find a different 'sort' of person staying up there, different beaches attract a 'different crowd', Bophut tends to be more relaxed and not for those wanting to all night party, if you get the idea.
Take a trip tomorrow, I think it is worth it, I have a feeling you will find something !!
Jun 12th, 2007, 04:31 AM
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We decided to just go on with Anantara - we booked their island discovery package and are looking forward to a chance to at least see some of the other islands.
Bob - you are right that you can't expect much for 1200 baht a night, but we were hoping to get lucky. Four out of our five hotels so far have been under $75 a night, so we thought perhaps this was just a good low season deal. Lesson learned.
I think part of our mistake was simply feeling overwhelmed with all the research we had done already and not picking a beach place out ahead of time. We just kind of winged this part of our trip, knew we wanted KS due to it being drier on this side, and knew to avoid the moon party beaches, but other than that, we were pretty clueless. Lesson learned again.
I can say that this is now day fifteen of our trip and even with us not really loving this beach or the hotel, every day has been just so awesome and such a wonderful experience. Thailand really is just that incredible. So still quite a positive outlook and we keep talking about what we want to do when we return, and we haven't even left yet!
Bob - you are right that you can't expect much for 1200 baht a night, but we were hoping to get lucky. Four out of our five hotels so far have been under $75 a night, so we thought perhaps this was just a good low season deal. Lesson learned.
I think part of our mistake was simply feeling overwhelmed with all the research we had done already and not picking a beach place out ahead of time. We just kind of winged this part of our trip, knew we wanted KS due to it being drier on this side, and knew to avoid the moon party beaches, but other than that, we were pretty clueless. Lesson learned again.
I can say that this is now day fifteen of our trip and even with us not really loving this beach or the hotel, every day has been just so awesome and such a wonderful experience. Thailand really is just that incredible. So still quite a positive outlook and we keep talking about what we want to do when we return, and we haven't even left yet!
Jun 12th, 2007, 05:51 AM
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kat, part of the difficulty is that you have gotten low season prices elsewhere in Thailand, but it's now high season in Koh Samui.
Anyway, glad you are enjoying yourselves. I expect the Anantara will be much more satisfactory.
Anyway, glad you are enjoying yourselves. I expect the Anantara will be much more satisfactory.
Jun 12th, 2007, 06:48 AM
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You should like it better as you are going from a $35 room rate to a around $230. It could be that coming from the luxurious Anantara in the north this budget hotel was quite a let down although I would be more inclined to think that the beach area and the party atmosphere turned you off more. After all you did stay at other budget places and had no complaints.
Enjoy the rest of your holidays
Enjoy the rest of your holidays
Jun 12th, 2007, 09:11 AM
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i will be very interested in your comments about the anantara at KS...it was being built when we were last there...
live and learn...there is no reason why some thai places are fab and others less so...
beach prices are out of whack generally i find however..
it is mandatory that you make plane reservations for a return within 14 days of arriving home!! well maybe 15
live and learn...there is no reason why some thai places are fab and others less so...
beach prices are out of whack generally i find however..
it is mandatory that you make plane reservations for a return within 14 days of arriving home!! well maybe 15
