(ภาษาไทย) One of the best reason to go to the islands is the FUN and the SUN…
But our trip to Samui is more than fun or sun because it’s also a Full Moon (Party)!
If you are an office worker, I’m sure that you’ll be working that calendar for a long holiday. And me too, when I found that this is a good long holiday weekend (Friday-Sunday) and it’s just the right time to combine our trip with the Full Moon Party which will be on Saturday night!!! Our timing couldn’t be better!!!
No need to waste time, we booked the flight to Samui right away (but it’s expensive for the direct flight!!!)
Anyway, it’s Samui (TH: สมุย) – NOT Samet (TH: เสม็ด). It sounds very familiar but it’s different islands.
Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand (different side of Andaman Sea) and in Surathani province. Samui is a fairly big island, it’s the 3rd largest island in Thailand (Phuket and Koh Chang are the 1st and the 2nd)
There are many famous islands around Samui, so when you go to Samui you can combine the trip to other Islands. The most famous islands nearby Samui are Angthong National Marine Park , Koh Phangan (Full Moon Party), Koh Toa, Koh Nang Yaun, etc.
Samui is now the second-most popular place for island destinations in Thailand (the first is Phuket).
Chaweng and Lamai are the most popular (and pricy) beaches in Samui. Unfortunately, those 2 beaches are overcrowded in high season (October – March).
Koh Samui may not be the country’s most beautiful island, but it is still an oasis of natural beauty with its white sandy beaches, dazzling coral, luscious lagoons, picturesque waterfalls, swaying coconut trees and crystal clear water.
Samui is big enough for serious exploration for the adventurous.
If you are looking for real quiet and beautiful beaches in Samui, you may consider to stay or visit Choeng Mon, Nathon, Bang Rak, Bophut are more peaceful choices.
As I mentioned earlier we flew there by direct flight, and it’s now only one airline “Bangkok Airways” available from Bangkok to Samui (because the airport is a private originally built by this airlines). But the other flight offers only to Surathani (the land province of Samui), then you would need to take another boat to Samui Island. Check out Thai Airways, Air Asia and Nok Air for your domestic flight.
Please note that Visa-on-Arrival and Visa-free entries are available at Samui Airport for some nationalities.
Most of the locals (me too) can’t effort to pay for air tickets, it’s insane prices for domestic flights if you compare with the other parts of Thailand. If you are on a tight budget you may consider the Bus which is a lot cheaper but it takes longer.
About Hotel in Samui…if you do have the beach in mind, you may just check in Agoda or Tripadvisor for the hotel promotion in that area.
For us, we got the quotation from the tour company and they quoted only 2 hotels for us, Dara Samui and Chaweng Resort. They are in the same area but Dara Samui is a 4 star-hotel when Chaweng is posted at a 3 star-hotel.
But Dara Samui offered the best rate and even a better promotion package for our group. So why not we take this chance?!?!?!
And guess what? We are impressed for overall about this hotel. Great location, just 5 mins walk to the night market, and nice beach in the back of hotel.
Dara Samui is the best choice that we would like to recommend, it’s posted about 5,xxx – 9,xxx baht per night on Agoda. Or contact us if you want to see we can offer you a better rate…
Another interesting hotels in the same area are, Chaweng Blue Lagoon Sesort, Al’s Laemson Resort or Mercure Samui Chaweng Tana Hotel… they looked good to me…
For our 4days/3nights in Samui…
We arrived at Samui on Thursday night (13th February), after we all checked-in at Dara Samui Hotel. We just walked to find some seafood at the night market (open every night).
Friday 14th February…Happy Valentines!!!
It’s our first full day in Samui but we decided to go to Angthong Marine National Park for kayaking and snorkeling paradise by speed boat (they have a cruise tour as well but no long tail boat – it’s too far away).
Our trip cost 1,700 baht ($57) per person with Grand Sea Discovery tour company. Read more for our trip with this company, we were a little disappointed and posted this as a drama trip. But read until the end, it wasn’t that bad – just one silly person!
The trip included, snorkeling, kayaking and sightseeing (soft drink, water and lunch). But you are required to pay for Angthong Marine National Park at 200 baht ($7) per person (คนไทยสี่สิบบาท)
Saturday 15th February…
Actually, yesterday (14th) was the day for full moon but it’s the same day for Makabucha, one of the most important Buddhist day. So the Full Moon party moved to take place today.
So we planned for a half day tour around Koh Samui and the full night tour to the Full Moon party… busy day & night for us!!!
Start with our first half day (9am-1pm) – the Samui City Tour, this is the promotion package from Dara Samui Hotel.
The tour offers a various things to see, start with the View Point where you can see a nice view of Chaweng Beach. Then visit the crazy rocks “Grandma and Grandpa rocks”, and guess what? They have a waterfall in this island!!! Before we ended our tour, we also visited 2 temples for the mummy monk and the biggest Buddha image. Wow!!! – read more (soon)!
Then about 7pm, we are getting ready for the Party!!!
We paid for the speed boat to bring us from Samui to Pa-Ngan Island at 900 baht ($30) per person. But we paid another 200 baht ($7) to upgrade our ticket to be the VIP ticket (no need to wait in line!!!)
I met a bunch of my Thai friends overthere, it’s so much fun but guess what? I think I was the oldest woman in that party!!!
By the way, you can have another choice to just stay in this island but during Full Moon Party. Many hotels and resorts required to stay at least 4nights.
Read more about this crazy party (read more).
Sunday 16th February, we woke up almost mid-day and then we tried to get our flight and arrive back to Bangkok about 3 in the afternoon…
It was a great trip – I wish I can go back there again…if I can catch the promotion flight ticket 😉
The summary of prior expenses (per person)
| Bangkok Airways ticket (Bangkok – Samui) | 10,220 THB | $340 |
| Hotel Dara Samui – 3nights included Breakfast – Airport transfer – City tour & Lunch |
6,500 THB per person | $216 |
| Angthong National Marine Park tour (speed boat) Note: Excluded Admission fee (Thai 40 Baht, Expat 200 Baht) |
1700 THB | $57 |
| Speed boat to full Moon Party (round trip) Note: Excluded the upgrade VIP ticket +200 baht |
900 THB | $30 |
| Total | 19,320 THB | $644US |
***Exchange rate 1USD: 30Thai Baht
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