Phuket vs Koh Samui
 

Hello,
we're thinking of going to Thailand for 8 days during the Easter perido (1-9th of April) and i would like to know which island (phuket or koh samui) is best in terms of beach/swimming, great scenery etc.
Also if we decide Phuket, is PhiPhi worth a 1-2 nights stay there or should we just do a daytrip there? Thanks!

firstly, where are you coming from? if it is very far away, 8 days is a really short period to adjust to the trip and then enjoy yourselves???

phuket is much larger than samui, or at least it feels that way when there...it is also much more go-go with more honky tonkness....phuket is far more advanced than is samui in its infastructure for tourism, although samui is gaining fast...

personally we much preferred samui

Tell us more of what you are looking for, it may be that other places might suit you better, or not as the case may be.
Tell us if nightlife or shopping is part of your requirements or you are more intested in just relaxing, swimming, whether snorkeling holds any interest and how important scenery is, whether you weant a busy touristy place or something quiet and relaxed.
There are plenty of choices so be as wildly specific as you want.
It might be that krabi could suit you better, maybe a quieter beach on Phuket or Samui, or some other place entirely.

We're coming from Greece, so we wouldn't want just to relax next to a pool all day. (we can do that in any resort here without the 10 hours flight). We would like to experience something different than here.. enjoy tropical scenery, a new culture and swimming so we definitely want great beaches!
Although i have one question which may seem silly, but i was wondering how the beaches look with low tide. We don't have tide in Med so i'm not familiar with that. Can you still swim? Does the beach look 'ugly' somehow?
One more thing.. from what i read i'm sure we won't like the tacky feeling of Patong for example. We are in our early thirties, so we would like some nightlife (don't like staying in the hotel all day), but something a little bit more upscale.
Thanks!!

Hi

It has been a few years since I went to Phuket and Samui. But at the time I found Samui to be better but it depends on what you are looking for. The last time I went to Thailand I went to Ao nang outside Krabi. You can check out my trip report on http://gardkarlsen.com/thailand2002.htm

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Our youngest son is currently on a business trip to Thailand for one month. He arrived at Koh Samui on Thursday 11th and rang home yesterday. His opinion is that since his last visit to Samui around a year ago,the island has gone downhill fast. VERY seedy and commercialised. Lots of ex-pats settling here and getting to feel not unlike the Costa Del Sol! Of course, you can get away from all of this but the general feel of the island is affected.
John is in diving insurance and will be visiting various diving destinations during the next month. I have asked him for a report from each one.
Back to your post cristine. PhiPhi is without doubt worth a 1-2 night stay.
Tropical scenery, swimming and definitely fabulous beaches. In my opinion you will also experience some of the culture of Thailand if you go to the right part of PhiPhi, though many regulars on this forum may disaggree.
My wife and I will spend two weeks at PhiPhi in Feb/March, as we do every year. And here we are in mid January, I feel like a big kid waiting for Christmas!!!
So in short Phuket vs Samui?? Phuket is my advice.
You will find pics and info on our site at
www.leightravelclub.com

Oh and check the Jamie Monk link on our site. An English guy who has lived in Phuket for several years. A goldmine of information for anyone heading to Phuket.

Leigh your photos of Phiphi beach make me want to be there NOW! :-)
We'll definitely consider staying there 2 nights!
How about the tide? Is the beach always perfect or half day it's ugly due to low tide? (this goes for phuket as well).

I wouldn't say the beaches are ugly at low tide. The tidal range varies according to local geography.At some parts you will find that the coral is exposed at low tide...quite interesting. At Laem Tong Bay swimming is possible anytime.