Koh Samui
Koh Samui
Has KS recovered decent tourist numbers?
What is the public transport available if you don't ride bikes? Tuk-Tuk? or just bike taxis. I was thinking of a visit but when I was there last I had a car, but won't be doing that again so I was wondering how to get about without any use of bikes.
Any fun and games to be had there?
The flights are expensive and not particularly good flight times and multi airlines which may include the need to clear immigration in BKK and check in again (sod that). I assume with Bangkok Airlines you are checked all the way through and clear immigration in KS.
What is the public transport available if you don't ride bikes? Tuk-Tuk? or just bike taxis. I was thinking of a visit but when I was there last I had a car, but won't be doing that again so I was wondering how to get about without any use of bikes.
Any fun and games to be had there?
The flights are expensive and not particularly good flight times and multi airlines which may include the need to clear immigration in BKK and check in again (sod that). I assume with Bangkok Airlines you are checked all the way through and clear immigration in KS.
- Random Dude
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Re: Koh Samui
This is a webcam from the main street in Lamai.
https://www.geocam.ru/en/online/bondi-lamai/
Last time I was drinking beer in the bar pretty much under that camera it was pumping, in this vid it's far from pumping. If you google 'Samui webcam' there are quite a few around the place, I think there's one on the main road through Chaweng, they should give you an idea of tourist numbers at least.
https://www.geocam.ru/en/online/bondi-lamai/
Last time I was drinking beer in the bar pretty much under that camera it was pumping, in this vid it's far from pumping. If you google 'Samui webcam' there are quite a few around the place, I think there's one on the main road through Chaweng, they should give you an idea of tourist numbers at least.
- Random Dude
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Re: Koh Samui
Also, this just popped up on my youtube feed, posted about 14 hours ago so very current.
( thanks to whoever recommended this guy, I forget the name of the thread, I'm really liking his vids) I haven't watched it yet but it starts with him at the kickboxing gym in Lamai so no doubt he'll be walking around, getting a feed and beers, talking to people and doing touristy stuff.
( thanks to whoever recommended this guy, I forget the name of the thread, I'm really liking his vids) I haven't watched it yet but it starts with him at the kickboxing gym in Lamai so no doubt he'll be walking around, getting a feed and beers, talking to people and doing touristy stuff.
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Re: Koh Samui
Haven't been there after covid but before that public transport was really bad and expensive. Only options were songthaews that operated only in one part of the island, motorbike-taxis, taxis and minivans (if you pre-booked to go other side of the island for example). All of the options, except maybe motorbike-taxis, were really expensive.
Grab works there also but not that many cars available. Local taxi-mafia doesn't want to use it so they can keep the prices high.
But yeah, this is all pre-covid info. Might have changed now. Most likely not.
Grab works there also but not that many cars available. Local taxi-mafia doesn't want to use it so they can keep the prices high.
But yeah, this is all pre-covid info. Might have changed now. Most likely not.
- truffledog
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Re: Koh Samui
As soon as you get off the ferry or airport you will definitely meet the island taxi mafia (no meter used, expect to pay a few hundred for even short trips). During the day there is reasonable songthaew transport around the island (slow if long distances). At night you better stay close to where you party or the mafia will extort the max possible out of your pocket on your retunr trip to your bungalow/resort. A motorbike defintely makes sense if you want to EXPLORE the different nightvenues. There is no traffic at LATE night so pretty safe.Doc67 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 24, 2023 1:30 pm Has KS recovered decent tourist numbers?
What is the public transport available if you don't ride bikes? Tuk-Tuk? or just bike taxis. I was thinking of a visit but when I was there last I had a car, but won't be doing that again so I was wondering how to get about without any use of bikes.
Any fun and games to be had there?
The flights are expensive and not particularly good flight times and multi airlines which may include the need to clear immigration in BKK and check in again (sod that). I assume with Bangkok Airlines you are checked all the way through and clear immigration in KS.
work is for people who cant find truffles
Re: Koh Samui
I don't ride bikes, never have and never will, so I am stuck with taxis.truffledog wrote: ↑Tue Jan 24, 2023 2:58 pmAs soon as you get off the ferry or airport you will definitely meet the island taxi mafia (no meter used, expect to pay a few hundred for even short trips). During the day there is reasonable songthaew transport around the island (slow if long distances). At night you better stay close to where you party or the mafia will extort the max possible out of your pocket on your retunr trip to your bungalow/resort. A motorbike defintely makes sense if you want to EXPLORE the different nightvenues. There is no traffic at LATE night so pretty safe.Doc67 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 24, 2023 1:30 pm Has KS recovered decent tourist numbers?
What is the public transport available if you don't ride bikes? Tuk-Tuk? or just bike taxis. I was thinking of a visit but when I was there last I had a car, but won't be doing that again so I was wondering how to get about without any use of bikes.
Any fun and games to be had there?
The flights are expensive and not particularly good flight times and multi airlines which may include the need to clear immigration in BKK and check in again (sod that). I assume with Bangkok Airlines you are checked all the way through and clear immigration in KS.
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Re: Koh Samui
I don't ride bikes, never have and never will, so I am stuck with taxis.Doc67 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 24, 2023 3:04 pm As soon as you get off the ferry or airport you will definitely meet the island taxi mafia (no meter used, expect to pay a few hundred for even short trips). During the day there is reasonable songthaew transport around the island (slow if long distances). At night you better stay close to where you party or the mafia will extort the max possible out of your pocket on your retunr trip to your bungalow/resort. A motorbike defintely makes sense if you want to EXPLORE the different nightvenues. There is no traffic at LATE night so pretty safe.
[/quote]
Not a bad way to stay healthy. Better safe than sorry.
The taxi mafia will be happy to serve you at anytime if you are willing to fork out the asking price. Most big venues on Lamai and Chaweng Beach will have transport waiting in front of the door, smaller places will have phone numbers of people willing to bring you anywhere.
Things get more tricky on the other smaller beaches (like Maenam and Bophut and many others). Night transport to the main beaches is very limited and it may be necessary to book in advance.
work is for people who cant find truffles
- phuketrichard
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Re: Koh Samui
my last visit to samui was in 2016 an hated it< more expensive than phuket, fuck all to do, really shit taxi drivers when u park ur car on the streets>
I had been there in the early 80's and worked there in the late 80's with a travel magazine
WE were going to stay 5 days and after 2 nights drove back to Phuket via Khao sok park which is great and stayed 3 nights there on the lake
its good for families thou as most resorts are beach front
Been riding bikes, ( and used to race motocross/trails when bones healed easily) since i was 15
My bike before on Phuket
I had been there in the early 80's and worked there in the late 80's with a travel magazine
WE were going to stay 5 days and after 2 nights drove back to Phuket via Khao sok park which is great and stayed 3 nights there on the lake
its good for families thou as most resorts are beach front
Been riding bikes, ( and used to race motocross/trails when bones healed easily) since i was 15
My bike before on Phuket
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
Re: Koh Samui
Khao sok park looks a nicer place for a trip.phuketrichard wrote: ↑Tue Jan 24, 2023 5:43 pm my last visit to samui was in 2016 an hated it< more expensive than phuket, fuck all to do, really shit taxi drivers when u park ur car on the streets>
I had been there in the early 80's and worked there in the late 80's with a travel magazine
WE were going to stay 5 days and after 2 nights drove back to Phuket via Khao sok park which is great and stayed 3 nights there on the lake
its good for families thou as most resorts are beach front
Been riding bikes, ( and used to race motocross/trails when bones healed easily) since i was 15
My bike before on Phuket
Re: Koh Samui
Visited twice in 2000’s, last was 2009. Got my scuba certification done in my first visit.
Fond memories of the place, was partying most of the time during those days making friends from all over the globe. I remember the airplanes making an abrupt landing in that shorter landing strip. A truck making the rounds picking up and dropping off, it would make a circle around town.
The shallowness of the beach I remember, you could go out pretty far and still be able to stand up.
Not that I’m being helpful, just reminiscing.
Fond memories of the place, was partying most of the time during those days making friends from all over the globe. I remember the airplanes making an abrupt landing in that shorter landing strip. A truck making the rounds picking up and dropping off, it would make a circle around town.
The shallowness of the beach I remember, you could go out pretty far and still be able to stand up.
Not that I’m being helpful, just reminiscing.
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