If you want to get away from 21st Century living for a while, then this is the place to go. Still Less developed than Phuket (READ UPDATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS OP); Samui still retains its natural beauty. Within the island lays coconut plantations, mini rainforests and exotic waterfalls. The sea/beaches are very clean and ideal for Scuba Diving etc. With all this it’s like being in a TV advert for a Bounty chocolate bar.
Samui is quite distinctively different from other islands in Thailand. Samui’s scenery is made up from granite formations while Phuket, Phi, Phi etc are made from lime stone. You might be thinking “yeah well, so what”, but it really makes a difference. If you travel between the two islands its like they are 10,000 miles apart and not part of the same country.
The two main areas to stay on the Island are Lamai and Chaweng. Lamai has loads of bars and a few clubs that stay open until around 4am. Chaweng is about the same, only offering a few more clubs. Accommodation varies from 4UKP / night for a Tarzan style tree hut to 40UKP / night for a Palace. If you’re backpacking I would recommend one of the many Beach Bungalows. They are usually situated right on the beach. They’re great for leaping out of bed anytime and going for a swim. You will also meet other like-minded travellers and will pick up many tips this way.
My only criticism of Samui is that the Taxis tend to try and rip you off if you don’t know the price to pay. So ask the place you are staying at for an up to date price on what you should expect to pay. Or better still, negotiate a price before you set off. From the Airport to Lamai Beach should be no more tham 150B per person (Yellow Taxi) and 100B per person (Mini-Bus) Don't worry about being a bit cheeky and start with a really low price. Thai's love to haggle.
The second time I went to Samui I hired a motorbike, which was really cheap (about 2 UKP / day), but unfortunately it got stolen on the second night I had it (no insurance). So make sure when you hire a bike in Thailand it comes with a chain to put around the back wheel.
Christmas and New Year is always busy on the island, so if you are going with a family I would suggest pre booking your accommodation. If you’re backpacking it doesn’t matter because the beach is free so long as you don’t stay in one place for too long.
I also found the Thai people on this island a bit strange when compared to the rest of Thailand. They are still really friendly people, but not as welcoming as other parts of the country.
UPDATE: My brother and his wife just came back from Samui and has told me that the Island has grown since I last visited. The Island was packed out and now has a McDonalds, Pizza Hut etc. Maybe paradise for some but not for others. Travel out to the Islands around Samui for the best beaches. Use Samui as a base to travel from.
UPDATE 2: Went to Samui in September 2003. Was surprised to see how much more developed the place is. Now that the bars and clubs close at 2am Samui has lost a lot of its charm. I loved it when you could spill out of a club at 6am and crash out on the beach. Despite the 2am closure you can still find one or two places open if you ask around.
This time I stayed at the Chaweng Garden Beach Bungalow. 162/8 Chaweng Beach, Bophut, Koh Samui 84320 Tel: (077) 422265 / 230993. Chaweng Beach is the main part of the island. It was clean and quiet and right opposite Soi Mango. I stayed in a room (30 seconds walk from beach) for 750 baht per night for the room. The room sleeps 4 people! There were other places in the same area from 250 to 2500B per room.
You have a nice beach and plenty of shops and very nice restaurants. Over the road (3 minutes walk) is Soi Green Mango. You will find the best bars here. They range from the usual girlie bar to the more western style club. In Soi Mango you will meet other people both male and female from all over the world.
For my photos of Samui: http://uk.geocities.com/thai2001uk/index4.htm
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