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Think about what you want from your Ko Samui resorts vacation.
Young couples seeking a private, romantic and tranquil setting will
probably be happiest staying at a medium-sized hotel or a bungalow
resort in Mae Nam, Bophut, Choeng Mon, Coral Cove, or anywhere on
the southern or western coasts. Families
with active and sports-loving youngsters, and those who don't want
to be more than a few minutes from nightlife and shopping, might opt
for Chaweng, located on the east coast.
Chaweng
Chaweng
beach |
Chaweng is the largest tourist resort on Koh
Samui. It has two big attractions, one is the beautiful
sloping beach of white sand, superb for swimming and
snorkeling. Watersports are available at several locations,
including dive centers, jet skiing, para sailing and
waterskiing.
Beach vendors sell food and souvenirs. During
the months of January through to April, the sea can be rough but on these occasions other sheltered
beaches can be easily reached.
The other attraction is
the 'Strip', a road running behind the beach where there are
numerous shops selling an assortment of merchandise,
souvenirs, clothes, tailors, pharmacies
etc, also many restaurants of varying prices and
ethnicity, the choice is huge. These are all open very
late, and there are several night spots with entertainment,
dancing and live music until the early hours. Taxis can be
taken to and from the other resorts, they are frequent and
easily obtained.
The island's liveliest resort area, it is home to many of Samui's larger hotels with their recreational options, as well as Samui's most robust commercial center, with its many restaurants, bars, nightclubs and discotheques. Further south but also on the east coast, Lamai is almost as bustling as Chaweng, but the lodgings tend to be built on a smaller scale and are more economical
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Maenam
Maenam
beach | Maenam is more laid back, and cheaper, than
other resorts, and there is not much in terms of
nightlife.
There is a 4 kilometer sandy beach, with lots of
watersports activities, fishing trips are also easily
arranged. Souvenir sellers and food vendors stroll the beach
which is lined by small restaurants. There are unspoilt views
of the neighbouring Koh Phangan island.
The village has
two main streets with several small restaurants and shops.
Maenam is one of those places on Samui where life carries on
regardless of visitors, who are made most welcome, so Thai
life can be observed. There are many pleasant walks and cycle
rides in the hills above the village for nature lovers.
For
people who want a quiet peaceful holiday but with the
occasional venture to some bright lights, Chaweng is easily
accessible.
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Choeng Mon
Choeng Mon
beach | Choeng Mon is a beautiful bay with a lovely
sandy white beach lined with casuarina trees and some small
restaurants. There is a small island opposite
that can be reached at low tide.
On the main road nearby there are
shops, tailors and a selection of restaurants serving Thai and
western cuisine. For those wanting nighlife Chaweng is a 10
minutes taxi drive away.
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Laem Set
Laem Set
Beach |
Laem Set is a very secluded unspoilt quiet
area just beyond the village of Ban Hua Thanon. It is quite
rocky which means good snorkeling, there is a long reef, but
perhaps not such good swimming. It has great atmosphere and
nature lovers will find this part of the
island idyllic, specially as there are several places of
interest nearby to visit, a snake farm, butterfly farm and
tiger, aquarium and bird sanctuary, as well as two health spas.
Within walking distance is the Muslim
fishing village of Ban Hua Thanon where there is a market, and
the intricately painted boats of the fishermen can be seen.
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Nathon Town
The islands capital Nathon
town |
Nathon is the island's capital, it has two
main roads operating on a one way system. There are several
banks, Samui's main post office, money exchanges and a variety of
shops. There is a large pier with lots of boats ferrying in
supplies, a small bus terminal, and a food market. Taxis there will go to any other part of the island. Souvenirs can be
bought cheaper than at the other resorts. Along the road
running beside the sea are several small restaurants which
serve excellent Thai food. Nathon is well worth visiting to
get a feel of true Thai life.
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Lamai
Lamai
beach |
Lamai is the second largest entertainment
district on Samui and is excellent for those seeking a lively
holiday. For daytime it has a beautiful beach lined with palm
trees and small restaurants. Lamai is fringed by large green hills. There
is an assortment of beach activities, snorkeling, jet skiing
etc, with vendors selling food and souvenirs along the beach.
On the road at the back of the beach are
many shops, tailors, massage parlours etc. as well as many different
restaurants serving Thai, European,
Lamai beach
sign |
Japanese and many other types of
food.
At night the choice is very varied with lots of
hostess bars, nightclubs with live music and bars showing all the latest national football
games along with alot more.
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Bophut
Bophut
beach |
Bophut has a reputation for peace and quiet.
It is in part, a typical Thai village, but it has cuisine
and architecture in some places that give it a mediteranean
feeling. It has a pretty main street comprising of old Chinese
wooden shop houses, many converted into stylish boutiques and
restaurants of many nationalities, French, German, Italian and
Spanish included.
The beach there has
watersports and a pier. Bophut is a great place to dine as there is alot of variety. Even staying elsewhere and having a stroll along
its small main street after dinner is romantic, peaceful
and gives all the flavour of the East.
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Chaweng Noi
Chaweng Noi
beach | Located south of Chaweng beach. Chaweng Noi is
a curving sandy beach in a rocky bay. The beach is lined with
palm trees and has many small restaurants
towards the south of the beach. It makes for an ideal location
for those wanting a quieter alternative to its lively big
sister Chaweng.
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Coral Cove
Coral Cove
bay |
Coral Cove is located half-way between the
main resorts Chaweng and Lamai where the road climbs and dips
around the coastline. There are two small sandy beaches which
are hemmed in by Jurassic style bolders and
rocks. This area is one of the best for snorkeling around
Samui.
There are a few restaurants attached
to bungalow resorts. Nightlife can be found in Chaweng and
Lamai, about a 10 minute taxi drive to both ways.
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Ban Taling
Ngam
Ban Taling Ngam
bay |
A remote secluded area ideal for those who
want perfect peace and no distractions other than the
beauty of the scenery and views over the sea
to the islands and mainland.
There is a flat sandy beach but you have to
be careful as the coral can sometimes make swimming
difficult.
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Lipa Noi
Lipa Noi
beach |
South of Nathon, the main town, at Thong
Yang beach is one of the best places on the island to see the
beautiful sunset.
There is a wonderful beach too,
fringed by palm tress and the water is shallow, so it is very
safe for children and those nervous in deep
water.
Nightlife is very subdued.
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