Thorn Tree travel forum

1

Hi jennjack, take a look here:

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2

I had the same problem recently, trying to pre-book a decent place on Samet w/o breaking the bank. Seems all places which advertise and take bookings are the upmarket spots for 2000+ and the cheapies rely on walk-in business - true. In May the numbers are down a bit though (esp after Thai school break ends in mid-month) and just showing up and checking around is quite OK. The vast majority of western backpacker types usually cluster around Ao Pai beach at Naga, Tok's Hut, and Ao Pai Hut. Very few aircon choices there though. Toks has two aircon bungalows for around 600 baht, but they are very rustic indeed. I would suggest going down to Ao Thian (aka Candlelight Beach) which is best reached from the mainland (Ban Phe) by direct boat to Ao Wong Deuan and then a short walk over the hill south. There you will arrive at Sang Thian Beach Resort and this is a good choice. I checked it out fairly thoroughly in March this year and seemed like a very good mid-ranger with mixed air and fan bungalows, good beach, and friendly staff. Phone 038653210 from Bangkok and they will take a booking, or just show up. Sorry no website. Otherwise "Vongduern Resort" and Vongdeurn Villa" on Wong Deuan beach usually have something available for under 1000 in shoulder season. In the end I stayed at Wong Deuan Cabana for 2700/night but I had a 6 yo monster to keep happy. ;-)

3

Ao Thian, mentioned by #2, has the Lung Dum Bungalows, right on a cove with a good beach, we paid B700 last July. If you book in advance, they can arrange for you to be picked-up by speedboat in Ban Phe for about B150 per person. Tel: 01 458 8430

Make sure to specify beachfront units only, they have a few units back in the woods that are not nearly as nice and full of mosquitos.

Close-by is a trail to "Sunset Point", about a 10 minute hike to the other side of the island and a surprisingly different, rocky coastline.

4

One thing to note: Samet is moving swiftly up-market and there is an anti-farang bias. On arrival at Wong Deuan I approached several places and they looked at me and said "full" (this was in the pre-Songkran days of early April when Thai tourists are at the full). Then I went to Wong Deuan Cabana (my visual place of choice) and they again said "full". Then I started speaking Thai and told them I have lived in Chiang Mai for over three years and was travelling with my Chiang Mai girlfriend and 6 year old son. Suddenly the desk staff started pulling out all these keys for available rooms and minutes later we had the most prime beachfront bungalow with surf breaking at our doorstep. Also turned out that half the staff were from the Chiang Mai/Rai region and the owner then came out and gave me a wai and a free beer. Are Thais raccist? Yoo phukin becha!!!