Samui BangkokTHE island of Samui is truly a pocket of paradise and the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life. It’s the perfect place for couples and families that want to take a dip in deep blue waters and collapse into white-sand beaches.
To get to the island, take a flight to Bangkok, then from there catch a flight to Samui which will take around an hour and 30 minutes. For backpackers who want to make the most out of their buck, take the bus which is an 11-hour trip, or go by train, which is a 12- hour trip from Bangkok’s Hualamphong station.
Being the third largest island in Thailand, Samui is packed with all the good stuff. Here you can find pristine white-sand beaches like Chaweng Beach; this area offers more accommodation options, restaurants and nightlife compared to the rest of the island. Lamai is the perfect spot for people who want to enjoy the beach with a more tranquil feel.
To ensure a happy and fruitful visit, offer fruit and flowers, rice and water, and burn five incense sticks before the big Buddha at the Phra Yai Temple. This 12-meter tall golden statue can be seen from the plane as you approach Koh Samui by air.
Built in 1972, it sits high on a platform with its staircase adorned with dragons. At its foot, you will find a meditation center and a market.
Samui Bangkok BeachWhen dining in Koh Samui don’t forget to include Tom Kha Gai (chicken in coconut soup) or Kaeng Phet Pet Yang (roast duck curry) in your menu for the day. With Koh Samui dubbed as “Coconut Island,” you might notice that most of its dishes incorporate coconut as an ingredient.
The truth is, you are never far from food anywhere in Samui. The island is packed with restaurants which offer a wide array of Thai seafood at reasonable prices.
Koh Samui tips to live by:
• Haggle. A lot. This island is used to foreigners, so locals might be asking too much most of the time. Practice your haggling skills; they will come in handy.
• Grab a map to have an idea of the distances of the different places on the island. Being a first-time visitor doesn’t mean that you are allowed to get lost.
• Koh Samui is also popular for its animal shows. You can catch the elephants at the Namuang Safari Park, the monkeys at the local Monkey Theater and the tigers at the Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo.
• The best snorkeling and dive sites are at Sail Rock, Nangyuan Pinnacle and Twins, Shark Island, Chumpon Pinnacle and the Koh Yippon Islands.
• And, last but not least, have fun and let go. Nothing beats spending quality time with your family and friends while soaking up the Samui sun!
Call Griffin Sierra at 898-2451 to 57 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
and ask for promo rates to Samui this summer!