Has anybody stayed at the Central Samui Hotel, what is it like for people with walking dificulties ? I would appreciate any information.

I haven't stay there but I've walk around the property and know friends who have used the property.

One of the best big hotel on Chaweng beach, rooms are large and comfortable. With regard to walking around the hotel. From the lobby to the beach was fairly flat(just walk pass the pool and you'll be on the beach) and there are numerous lifts for the hotel itself.

If you have specific question like wheel chair access or something along that line let me know and I'll ask for you.

may i suggest the peace resort to you if you have walking difficulties...its on bophut beach which is a gentle slope and from the resort it is one or two steps down...the resort is compact and all on flat ground and there are walkways which are smooth...good restaurant which is reasonable on the property....10-15 minute ride to chaewang bch

Thanks for the sugestion but I am already booked, did not know I was going to have knee operation when we booked.

the whole area is quite flat ...you should not have much of a problem...much of the main street in chw.beach town has a paved sidewalk and the street is well paved, unlike other places in thailand...you should be ok...just take it slow...

Nobody stayed at this hotel then.

on the topic of koh samui, what is the chaweng beach area comparable too? i am thinking of staying at poppies for 4 nights in january (if rooms are available) but i don't have a great sense of what it's like there.
is the island remarkably beautiful?
is the water blue and sparkly clear?
is it laid-back?
some of the stuff i read makes it sound over-run and loud, with some road that is dangerous honking along the beach

john44, when are you planning to go? We will be there in mid September and I can post when I return.

my only comment about poppies is that i thought too much was crowded onto the property and thus it seemed crowded...

Thanks lbrown7 I am staying there in February providing my Knee operation is successful, I expect to be on one crutch by then.

Any info would be appreciated, I can be reached at Email [email protected]

Thanks.

alibi
From my own personal experience, I found Samui to be more laid back than Phuket. Chewang is the "major" beach, with the most activity. Is it strikingly beautiful? I'd say no. Is it a place to veg for a few days? Yes. I stayed at the Regent Chewang, but visited Poppies (mentioned earlier on this thread) and thought I would like to stay there on another trip to the island.

One of the best days we had on our 4-day stay on Samui was when we hired a driver and went around the island. You can rent vehicles yourselves, and yes, there is one main road (which can be dangerous, depending on how you drive) so you won't get lost. The driver stopped at many beaches and little towns and let us get out and browse.

I have not returned to Samui since the tsunami (I know that Samui was not hit). The problem is one of more tourists going to Samui now, and not going to Phuket. According to a friend who flies for Bangkok Airways, Samui flights/passengers are up a big per centage and Phuket is way down. Samui is probably going to be much more crowded than I had experienced in summer of 2002.

I am headed to BKK next month for two weeks and hope to return to Phuket to see with my own eyes how it has come back since the devastation in Dec 05. A return to Samui will be saved for another time.

Carol

That should be Dec 04... sorry.