What to Pack for your Koh Samui Getaway

What items do you need to pack to truly enjoy your Koh Samui Getaway? Read on to find out! (image provided by travel.findairlines.net) 

Before going into your ultimate holiday, you should start thinking about what to pack for your Koh Samui travel. Whether you lounge on the beach, go trekking up the hills or go on a tour around the temples, you need to be prepared with the things you will need.  If you are going on a Koh Samui travel tour, expect a holiday by the beach and luxurious accommodations in resorts like Shasa resort. Though you have exclusive amenities at Shasa resort like foreign exchange, Wi-Fi, shuttle service, airport transfers, baby sitting services and many more, you still have to bring your personal amenities.

If you want your Koh Samui travel to be stress free, then you have to be prepared. You can have all the comfort you need but you still need to bring certain things on your own. Here is a quick guide on what to pack for your Koh Samui travel experience:

• First rule is to never bring an overstuffed bag or suitcase on your trip. Only pack the things you will really wear and you will actually use. You do not want to wind up getting an overweight luggage at the check in counter and having to pay extra for your overweight bag. The whole country of Thailand is a famous shopping destination so expect to go home with more things than when you first came with. Travel light because you will be going on board and off the boats during the Koh Samui travel tour. It would be inconvenient to carry a very heavy and overstuffed suitcase during the boat ride.
• Next thing you should consider for your Koh Samui travel is the clothes, gear and shoes you will wear during the trip. Since Koh Samui is a tropical island with famous beaches, you will need lightweight clothes and swim wear. If you plan to go diving, snorkeling, surfing and etc, then you need to bring your own gear. Some beaches and resorts have gear you can rent but just to be sure, bring your own so you won’t have to pay extra for the rental. You will probably need summer clothes such as tank tops, t- shirts, shorts and basically thin layers of clothing. Bring shoes such as sandals and slippers for the beach. Protect yourself from the sun by bringing plenty of sun block, a hat and sunglasses. 
• Koh Samui travel is not complete without the parties and the night life. There are some beaches that are known for their “hippie” vibe while some offer a line of night clubs along the beach. You can chill by the beach with a beer or you can go dancing at the night clubs lined up around Koh Samui. However, be prepared with your toiletries and medicine. Carry your own supply of toilet paper or sanitary wipes and soap. If you have prescribed medicine then bring your own supply. Also include painkillers in case you get a hangover. 

Top 5 Reasons to go to Koh Samui

The majestic view of the ShaSa hotel at night. 

1. There are many reasons to go to Koh Samui but at the top of the list is the luxurious ShaSa Resorts and Residences. When you decide on going on a holiday, you think about relaxation and comfort. In Koh Samui, the best place to spend your holiday is at the ShaSa Resorts because it offers a luxurious experience for its guests. Couples can enjoy a private villa with the view of the sea from their balcony. Families can enjoy some quality time together by the pool or by the beach. There is enough space for everyone in the family. Friends can stay at the resort and get spa treatment, hydrotherapy and an overall luxurious holiday treatment. Who wouldn’t want that as their ultimate Koh Samui getaway? Since Koh Samui boasts of its beautiful, sandy beaches, ShaSa Resorts is situated near these famous destinations. It is on top of a hill that creates an amazing view of the Gulf of Thailand from the balconies and villas. Exclusive amenities for the guests include airport transfer, shuttle service, babysitting services, foreign exchange, kayak and even water sports activities, car rental and many other things.
2. The second reason to go to Koh Samui is its beaches. The world is beginning to discover the natural beauty of Koh Samui beaches that have managed to maintain its beauty despite the modern developments and the wear and tear of time. The Chaweng Beach and Lamai Beach are the most popular beaches. Guests staying in ShaSa Resorts can visit any of these two nearby beaches or just stay at the peaceful Laem Set beach located right outside their rooms. 
3. Third, the resorts like ShaSa Resorts and the beaches offer an exotic coastal experience and a refreshing holiday by the clear blue waters. Chaweng and Lamai are often visited by those looking for a beach adventure during the day and a nice club scene at night. These two beaches have restaurants and clubs lined up for tourists to choose from. However, those looking for a quieter beaches can go to Big Buddha, Choeng Mon, Laem Set and Mae Nam beaches.
4. Koh Samui is an exotic island in Thailand that is home to around 40 000 people. Most of the people who live in this island are Buddhists. They maintain the virgin rainforest of the island, the clear and sandy beaches, and the coastal features as well. The culture of Koh Samui goes alongside the modern developments like resorts, spas and night clubs. Holiday goers can enjoy a luxurious stay with modern day amenities at ShaSa Resorts and still enjoy the unique culture of the island. Since the beaches and the local shops are nearby, the guests of the hotel can go sightseeing with convenience.
5. Those on a Koh Samui tour staying at the ShaSa Resorts should not miss out on a tour of the island itself. Aside from the beaches, there are temples and local stores where visitors can take pictures and go shopping. Famous landmarks include the following: the Ancient House, Wat Khunaram Ko Samui, Big Buddha Temple, Laem Sor Pagoda Ko Samui, Samui Butterfly Garden and many more.

Top 5 Kid Activities in Koh Samui

Koh Samui Crocodile farm's are a huge Koh Samui attraction, especially amongst kids. 

Koh Samui attractions are as much fun for the kids as they are for the adults, perhaps even more so! Despite its reputation for a wild nightlife, the number of Koh Samui attractions for kids is staggering; there are all kinds of different activities available, and so here’s our list of the best of them:

1.    Shasa Resort Kid’s Club

The luxury Shasa Resort and Residences at the family-friendly Laem Sett Beach has just about every kind of activity imaginable for kids of all ages. The Kid’s Club is one of the top Koh Samui attractions for kids, with a mix of fun, educational activities for them to enjoy. They have kid’s books available in dozens of different languages, painting classes, DVDs and movies, video games consoles such as the Nintendo Wii and the Sony PlayStation 3, along with a ton of games, and they also have the largest collection of LEGO bricks in Koh Samui! Super fun for kids of all ages is assured!

2.    Koh Samui Crocodile Farm

Kids will be enthralled by the living dinosaurs at the Koh Samui Crocodile Farm, one of the greatest Koh Samui attractions there is. As well as being home to fascinating Siamese crocodiles and saltwater crocodiles, the center also has numerous other reptile shows, including snakes, caimans and lizards. Monkey shows are also available on the island!

3.    Mini-Golf

As well as swimming, some of the best Koh Samui attractions are its sporting facilities, and perhaps none is more fun for children than the excellent mini-golfing facilities at Choeng Mon, which is one of the few certified mini-golf courses in the country. What’s more, as well as the regular mini-golf course, they also have a new addition – called football-golf! Here, the kids are face with a giant-sized mini-golf course, the idea being they have to tee off with their feet and kick the ball around which is actually a pretty challenging obstacle course.

4.    Ang Thong National Marine Park

If you’re looking for a nice family day out with the kids, then you might want to check out the famous Ang Thong National Marine Park, one of the biggest and most picturesque of all Koh Samui attractions you’ll ever get to see.

This awesome national park actually lies about an hour westwards of Koh Samui, and has to be visited by speedboat (something the kids will love!). Ang Thong National Marine Park is actually an archipelago of several stunningly beautiful islands, with crystal clear waters and spectacular, unspoilt beaches. One of the bigger islands also features an inland lake and a huge cave which can be explored, something that is sure to provide kids with an epic adventure. There are numerous companies operating tours to Ang Thong, just ask at your hotel about it.

5.    Jungle Walks

Back on dry land, one of the best Koh Samui attractions that kids will love is simply exploring the lush green jungle from the base at Hin Lad temple near Na Thon. The trail follows a small river and there are a number of waterfalls and areas where you can bathe in the water or sit and just rest. Further up the mountain, there are a couple of large pools big enough to swim in.

The Best Time To Travel To Koh Samui

           

There are 3 main seasons in Koh Samui but no matter how the Samui weather is you'll surely have a good time at the Shasa Resort all year round.

            

Before you go plan your Koh Samui vacation, you should learn more about the Samui weather and when the best time to go there is. Koh Samui is an island located in Thailand and because of this, has a tropical monsoon climate. Some say that Koh Samui has two seasons, rainy and sunny, while others classify Samui weather into three categories: dry, hot, and rainy. You should know what you want to do in Koh Samui so that can take this into consideration in planning the best time to travel there.

            The dry season of Koh Samui is from December to February. Samui weather during this season is characterized as being cooler than usual and having less rainfall and some light winds and because of this, some say this is the best time to go to Koh Samui. This is because you can do almost anything you want to do such as go to the beach, visit the temples, and go elephant trekking without worrying about getting wet from the rain. This is why most people prefer to take their Koh Samui vacation during this season so be sure to make reservations early on since most nice hotels and resorts, such as the Shasa Resort, can get fully booked during this season.

            The hot season of Koh Samui is from March to April and the Samui weather during this time can be characterized by having the hottest temperature of the year. This is a good time for you to travel to Koh Samui if you can stand temperatures up to 30-degrees Celsius because there are less people than during the dry season and rain is still sparse. Aside from these, this Samui weather is the most conducive for divers. If you’re planning to see the diverse underwater life of Koh Samui and can take the heat when exploring the island, the hot season is the best time to set your Koh Samui vacation.

            Rainfall increases starting from the end of April and reaches its peak during the months of September to November, which is called the rainy season. This Samui weather is still okay for strolling on the beach but it might cause unnecessary hassle because the rain is unpredictable. Divers should not plan their Koh Samui adventure during this season because the visibility decreases when the rainfall is strong. However, if you’ve been dreaming to go to a luxurious resort, like the Shasa Resort, but want to save on accommodation fees, this season is the best time to plan your travel because most hotels have lower rates during the rainy season. Aside from this, if you like your vacation more quiet with less people, this is the best time to travel.

            Overall, any time you travel to Koh Samui will assure you a great experience but you should still choose which season and Samui weather will best suit you so that you can do everything you want to do in your travel. Just remember that if you go during the peak months, make sure you book your accommodations ahead of time because you might not get the resort you want. If you go during the hot season, remember to bring sunscreen as the Samui weather can get really hot. If you prefer the quiet of the rainy season, don’t forget to bring your umbrella as it can get rainy. Any time of the year you choose to travel to Koh Samui, choose the right accommodations, like Shasa resort, so that at the end of the day, whether it was rainy or sunny, you’re assured of a good bed to sleep in. 

Precautions To Take While in Koh Samui

            Aside from booking your flight, an important task to do before your Koh Samui vacation is to choose and reserve a nice place to stay at such as the Shasa Resorts. Choosing the perfect accommodation is important because that’s where you’ll be staying after your explorations as well as where you’ll relax during your down time. Aside from this, whenever you go on a vacation, safety should be prioritized. By staying in well-known and respectable places such as ShaSa Resort you’re assured to be safe, at least within the premises. Just like when you go anywhere, there are precautions to take while in Koh Samui. Whether it’s daytime or nighttime, you should always be aware of these.

Make sure to take some precautions while in Koh Samui. There are some well-known Koh Samui scams that can ruin your trip if you aren't careful

            Koh Samui is well known for its beautiful white sand beaches but just like any beach, Koh Samui scams can occur. Aside from this, in some beaches, there are Jet Ski rentals that are priced too high and sometimes tourists are scammed by the renters. This can make your stay a horrible one. Avoid riding a jet ski at the end of the day, as this is the time period when most of the scams occur. Scammers wil threaten you and claim that you crashed or damaged their jet ski.

            When you set off to explore the island, you’ll have to flag a taxi to take you to your destination. Taxis in Koh Samui, however, don’t have meters and most of the time you’ll have to haggle to get the right price. Sometimes, taxi drivers overcharge tourists and if this keeps happening, your shopping money can be depleted. Some hotels and resorts, like ShaSa Resort, can arrange car rentals for you and even arrange tours for you. This will assure that you won’t get scammed while looking for a way to get to where you want to go.

            If you want to end your day by enjoying the nightlife at Koh Samui, just remember to stay aware of your surroundings. When walking around Chaweng, make sure you’re not alone and take care of your belongings as assaults and robberies sometimes happen in the area. Aside from that, when going to a bar or pub, don’t accept drinks from strangers as there have been incidences of tourists getting drugged in these areas. Also, if you happen to go to the red light district, be careful as there have been some reports of sexual offences against tourists. As the night progresses, transportation can once again be a problem because they tend to overcharge when coming from Chaweng. However, if you stay in places like ShaSa Resorts, they can provide shuttles or transportation to get you back to your room safely.

            Your stay in any country should be fun and relatively safe as long as you take some precautions. Residing in the right place, like Shasa Resorts, can definitely minimize the dangers that can happen to you. However, it’s still best to be aware of your surroundings wherever you go and make sure to keep your important belongings with you. At the end of the day, when you stay alert and aware, as well as choose the right accommodations, the precaution that will keep you occupied is applying sunscreen so that your skin won’t get burnt by the sun.

Koh Samui Shopping Guide: Chaweng Beach

There are many places to buy some wonderful Thai souvenirs in Koh Samui 

When it comes to Koh Samui shopping, the opportunities at Chaweng Beach are on a par with anywhere else on the island. Most of the best shops are located along Beach Road and in the immediate area. It seems as if many of the shops/vendors are compartmentalized, divided into beachwear, sports shops, jewelry shops, etc, while there is a long thread of mis-mash shops selling everything from DVDs to clothes and fake watches running down the length of the street.

Beach Road in Chaweng is actually six km long, and so this particular Koh Samui shopping haven will take quite some time to explore.

Street Shopping

Some of the best places to find cheap goods are on the actual street itself. As you make your way down the street, you’ll no doubt come across many different stalls selling everything from t-shirts and shorts, DVDs, computer games and cheap jewelry to fake ‘designer’ clothes, perfumes and bags. You’ll also come across all the essential beach items you need, making your Koh Samui shopping experience very easy indeed, including towels, swimming costumes, flip flops, shades and dozens of other knick knacks that you probably won’t need, but will probably end up buying anyway! Street vendors typically open up for business around 11am and will continue trading until the early hours of the morning.

Khun Chaweng Shopping Centre

Located slap bang in the middle of beach road, this shopping mall makes a most welcome respite from the scorching hit sunshine that’s impossible to escape from when doing your Koh Samui shopping outside. As well as numerous western stores like Boots, Saville Row, Guy Laroche and Alain Delon, you’ll also find the obligatory KFC, McDonalds etc.

Tailor Shops

Koh Samui shopping wouldn’t be complete without a few tailor shops thrown into the mix, and you’ll find that in actual fact it has more than its fair share of them. Most of the tailor shops along Beach Road are run by Indians or Nepalis, and you’ll instantly know where they are because every time you walk past one a tout will no doubt try to get your attention. If you have the time and the inclination, feel free to take a look around and see what they offer. Although many get tourists frustrated with being constantly asked if they want to buy a suit, for those interested in buying one, it’s possible to get very high quality suits made up for less than $100, so long as you know how to bargain them down from their astronomical starting prices!

Supermarkets

In case you decide to do a bit of grocery shopping, you won’t have to do very far. Chaweng Beach actually has two very large shopping malls in Tesco Lotus and Big C. You’ll need to jump in a tuk tuk to get there most likely, but the offerings are worth it. As well as all the groceries you could possibly want, you’ll find a number of restaurants and coffee shops to relax in, as well as shops selling sportswear, clothes, fashion items, kid’s toys, medicines, cosmetics and more.

Big C and Tesco Lotus both also have a number of banks and money changing booths, and there’s even a cinema in Tesco Lotus that shows the latest movies in English. Truly, your Koh Samui shopping experience here will be complete. 

Koh Samui Travel – How To Get Around The Island

One of the many ways to get around Koh Samui is by using a songthaew

During your stay at ShaSa Resort and Residences, you’ll most likely want to get out and about and explore the rest of this incredible island. And why not? Koh Samui travel is all about going out and having fun, and there are absolutely tons of attractions to see, and what’s more, they’re all easily accessible from the ShaSa Resort.

Koh Samui travel is actually very convenient, thanks to its well developed road network, especially when compared to other islands. There’s also dozens of different transportation options, and so any part of the island can easily be reached if you fancy a day out.

Chauffeur Driven Car

For the ultimate convenience in Koh Samui travel, there’s nothing like having your own chauffeur driven car to ferry you about from one hotspot to the next. The ShaSa Resort has a number of private cars with English speaking drivers on hand, which can be rented out for day trips or simply to taxi you to the airport or one of the numerous beaches at any time of day. Simply ask at the front desk and our staff will have a car ready for you in minutes.

Shuttle Bus

Besides the private car service, another Koh Samui travel option is the regular shuttle buses that go from ShaSa Resort, to both Chaweng and Lamai beaches, and the airport. Shuttle buses leave every hour, and run from early in the morning till late at night.

Motorboats in Koh Samui 

If you would like to go island hopping one of the fastest ways to do so is by using a motorboat. People traveling in a large group will usually get a cheaper rate than people who are traveling alone. Motorboat rides typically cost about 200-500 baht, depending on the beach and the location of your hotel. 

Taxis

Koh Samui also has its very own taxi service, just like Bangkok. However, while most taxis have meters like the ones in the capital, you’ll find that very few drivers are willing to use them! Instead, many drivers will look to negotiate a fee, and you’ll need to be ready to barter quite hard for this Koh Samui travel option, as their first offer is usually very expensive. A 25 km trip should cost you around 300 baht, so if you can’t get it for that price, take another taxi.

Songthaews

Songthaews (converted pickup trucks able to seat passengers in the back) serve as a kind of bus service on the island, and are one of the cheapest Koh Samui travel options. You may have to wait around for one to turn up (though not too long), and you’ll have to share of course, and even the trip may be a little bit bumpy, but when you’re only paying 50-60 baht to go from one end of the island to the other, or 10-20 baht for a local trip, you can’t really complain.

Car and Motorbike Rental

It’s also possible to hire a vehicle of your own if you’re planning on doing some exploring off the beaten track during your Koh Samui travel. Car hire is quite expensive – you’ll need a sizeable deposit, and you can expect to pay around 1,500 baht per day. Car hire companies can be found at the airport, and at all the major beaches on Koh Samui.

Motorbikes are a cheaper option for solo travelers and couples, costing anything from 200 baht to 700 baht a day, depending on the type. These can be rented from just about anywhere – virtually every beach and even most resorts will have motorbikes for hire.

For both cars and motorbikes, you may need to leave your passport behind as a deposit, and you should have some kind of driving license, whether an international one or one from your own country.