Pattaya > KO SAMUI > Phuket

[ktownguy 0]

newbie here. Arrive BKK Jan 9, Montien Hotel Surawongse 3 nights, then Pattaya, 10 nights Sunshine Vista services apts.

I would then like to visit KO Samui, the awesome beaches and relaxed atmosphere. I was wondering which is the BEST part of the Island with accomodation in the BT2000 - 3000 range for about 5-7 days then head to Phuket.

Can anyone suggest how I would travel from Pattaya to KO Sunui, then to Phuket?

Thanks for your time!

[Elbow 0]

Two years ago I flew the same route with BangkokAir ( http://www.bangkokair.com/ ) out of Utapao

airport.

Prop plane.. but no complaints..some great views of the gulf's islands

Got a joiner van from a travel agent in pattaya for I think 150bt...picked me up

at my hotel...the trip to Utapao was a nice traffic free ride and took less than an hour.

The airport is a military field that shares with a small domestic terminal.

In fact it saw some considerable use during the Vietnam war era.

There's one small coffee shop.

I did take Thai Air from Phuket back to BKK as it was more than slightly cheaper

and the flight schedules were lots better.

Price wise it may be a little cheaper to fly out of Bkk ..I seem to recall that

but could be wrong..but all in all I was satisfied taking the route I did.

[spacebass 0]

I love Samui, I stayed there for a couple of months last year and have returned for a short visit from Pattaya via U-Tapao, no problems, you could go by road via bangkok which is very cheap but the journey is a total nightmare because it is so long.

 

I stayed on the beach in Chaweng Gardens Beach Hotel I stayed in a traditional fan hut for 400 bht per night but on my second visit stayed in an air con room for 800 bht for your budget they have big air con rooms with fridge and Cable a couple of beds for 1000bht if you stay a few days you can get a 10% discount. I would look at the room before you choose, Chaweng gardens is actually two businesses in one, one reception on beach one reception right hand corner of property near road.

 

Why Chaweng Gardens?

 

Traditional beach type accommadation v 3 Star modern plastic

 

Slap bang in the middle of town walk everywhere (well maybe a motorbike to reggae pub if you need to go)

 

This means right opposite Green Mangoe complex where there is a great disco and loads of bars and a couple of go gos (I mean across the road)

 

Also great place for western breakfast "the deck' 99bht, opposite by green Mangoe. Also a few Thai stall type places to eat in green mangoe cheap, and next to starbucks about 200 yds to right out of C.G.

 

Downside can hear bass at night if u you go to bed early, but what the heck .

 

Hotel is on beach which is awesome go for a walk 7am and it can take your breath away with its size etc, also right next to Chaweng gardens plenty of great beach bars, though music can be a bit loud and aggravating sometimes (am I getting old?) Also these places have accommodation you could check.

 

If you stay out of town and go in for action songthaws can be a bit of a rip off at night get motorbike and crash helmet, avoid this by staying in town. No Motornbike, no danger!

 

When you get to airport aim to pay 200bht for quick getaway , tell driver Green mangoe, if you want to pay 100/150 baht they will hangabout longer to fill bus a bit.

 

Songthaw to town goes to the right out of airport 50 bht , but a bit more uncertain about where to get out etc.

 

Forget phuket if you love Samui when you get there.

 

Got more if you want it.

[ktownguy 0]

Thanks Spacebass, I apprecaite the time you took to write. I must admit .. I have spent at least 3 hours a day trying to research this trip. lol .. my o my .. I'm going to have some fun!!

I couldn't find "Chaweng Gardens Beach Hotel" on the net. I like that it is central. All I really need is a comfy bed, aircon, clean beach, snorkle and one of them there beach massage!

Spacebass .. mind if I PM you sometime?

Thanks again!

[ktownguy 0]

Thanks to you too Elbow !!

[gs joe 1,780]

Just done a Samui trip ,

Price for one way trip from Pattaya was 3000 baht ,

this was with Bangkok air and inc minibus to airport .

I booked it with JK travel soi 8 .

The best way to get to your hotel in Samui I found, was the airport mini bus .

at the checkout desk .

 

Think about Lamai as an area to stay .

you can get around on foot there ,

has a great beach .

 

Joe

[marcortez 0]

If you want a nice clean place with all you stated and only one block off the beach, try Chaweng PR guest house.

No web presence.......just use the tourdada link below with an email.

 

She will pick you up at the airport, get you a rental motorbike, internet service, laundry service.......

It is right on the main steet running north and south, towards the south end.

 

I paid in advance for 10 days and the rate was 500 baht a night. Clean, AC, mini bar color TV, good bed and overlooks the main drag below.....and not at all noisy except for the sound trucks blasting "tonight tonight, Thai boxing Thai boxing, get there early, get there early, you will not be disappointed"

 

Now is coming on the high season so it might be more now.

This was back in October.

 

The disco, Green Mango, is the place to be seen and see, potential company for the evening if your so inclined.

 

U Tap airport is a piece of cake.......Bangkok air direct to Samui.

Get ahold of lostinspace on this board, he operates a shuttle service to any where you want to go.....including U Tap airport......

His wife is the lovely Jan.....a super nice lady......fun and drives a mean truck!!!

 

http://www.tourdada.com/

Edited December 8, 2005 by marcortez

[spacebass 0]

Thanks Spacebass, I apprecaite the time you took to write. I must admit .. I have spent at least 3 hours a day trying to research this trip. lol .. my o my .. I'm going to have some fun!!

I couldn't find "Chaweng Gardens Beach Hotel" on the net. I like that it is central. All I really need is a comfy bed, aircon, clean beach, snorkle and one of them there beach massage!

Spacebass .. mind if I PM you sometime?

Thanks again!

Yeah and as you walk onto beach from Chaweng there are ladies doing the massage under the palm trees, try not to have one! feel free to PM and send me your email and I will flood you with pics. (If you like!) I think Chaweng Gardens is a bit of a Thai Thai place so not so advertised, I believe email address is chawenggarden@yahoo.com (no 's' on garden)

 

It is true Lamai has a big impressive beach but it is as dead as a dodo, whatever turns you on!

 

Spacey,

[Lancashirelad 0]

Much, much cheaper & possibly more interesting way to get from Pattaya to Samui is by overnight sleeper train.

Stop at Sura Thani & get big bus or mini bus to ferry, then baht bus.

 

Various classes on the train from open plan fan, (very, very little money) to private 2 berth air con. (very cold!) Good restaurant/bar on board & cabin service.

 

PM me if you need more info.

[jackcorbett 2]

Here's a couple web sites for you to check out http://samui.sawadee.com/hotels/chaweng.html and http://www.sawadee.com/samui/chawengcove/ The first comprises many hotel listings for Koh Samui. The second is the web site for Chaweng Cove. We just returned from Koh Samui two weeks ago--my friend visiting from the U.S., his girl, my girl Spicy and me and we did stay at Chaweng Cove which I heartily recommend. I also have over 100 pictures that I have placed temporily online at http://www.alphapro.com/showcase/ which are nearly all from our recent trip there.

 

Chaweng Cove ran us 2000 baht a night (low season prices) and this included a buffet breakfast each morning for two. There are cheaper accomodations here as well as more expensive. Most idyllic spots would be the beach front bungaloes but there are just four of those. We got the pool side bungaloes which put us just 75 feet or so from the water's edge. Within feet of our bunaloes is a very nice outdoor bar overlooking the ocean. There was also live music in the pool area at night. I really couldn't fault this place in any respect.

 

One of my pals, who has been to Koh Samui several times, favors Lamai Beach where he's had good luck with the Weekender Resort http://www.weekender-villa.com/samui_island.htm Since we almost stayed there instead of Chaweng Cove, my gf, Spicy and I rented a motorbike which we rode to Lamai Beach where we checked out the Weekender and had lunch on the beach From what I saw I would have to concur with David that the beach is superior at Lamai to Chaweng's. During our visit, scuba or snorkeling, was out as the water was very choppy with waves up to six feet or so. During low tide there was a thin strip of sand near our accomodation and during high tide there was hardly any whereas at Lamai the strip of sand was considerably wider.

 

One of our trip high points was when we rented a car and driver through our hotel for the day during which we traveled a loop around the entire island--a distance of around 35 miles or so. We did the elephant trek where we passed a small outdoor zoo, played with the monkeys, etc, visited Big Buddha, had lunch at Big John's Resort and Seafood Restaurant, etc. Well away from the action of Chaweng or even Lamai this last place was very nice.

Edited December 11, 2005 by jackcorbett