Coming to Koh Samui or Koh Phangan starting mid-June, need to book ahead?

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jeffwalsh
jeffwalsh

I stayed in a delightfully small, cheap hut (40BT) on Ban Tai beach on the north shore of Samui in 2003.

I just found out my contract job is ending on June 16, so I'm headed to Thailand on June 17 for 6 weeks.

It seems like it has undergone a lot more development since then? Either that, or the smaller places that I stayed in last time aren't doing the whole Internet/online booking thing.

Would people recommend booking in advance, or is with the off-season travel and bad economy, can you find some pretty good deals when you get there?

If anyone has recommendations, that'd be great. Here's what I'm looking for:

I'm coming to finish my novel, so need a place where I can get some work done on the book. I prefer a nice, out of the way place, with close access to swimming. Would prefer a kitchenette, if possible, to cook some of my own meals. Would also prefer few English-speaking tourists, since last time I was there, it was all Thai, German, French, etc., and as long as people weren't speaking English, I could read, write, and it didn't pull my focus as much (An English couple took the cottage next to me for three days, and every little thing they said pulled my focus)

I liked Ban Tai last time (I think I stayed at Sun Beam?), since it was very remote, but you could easily jump on a pickup truck and be in Chaweng or at Big Buddha whenever you wanted.

Still debating between Samui or Phangan, so any recommendations for either place would be great.

I'm very intrigued by this place, although it is much more than I paid last time: http://www.aweresort.com/home.php

Thanks in advance for your help!

Jeff

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losing_touch
losing_touch

I stayed in a delightfully small, cheap hut (40BT) on Ban Tai beach on the north shore of Samui in 2003.

You will be hard pressed to find something that cheap these days. The cheapest possible place I have ever found on those islands is on Koh Phangan. I believe the bungalows are 80 baht per night, but I wouldn't stay there.

It seems like it has undergone a lot more development since then? Either that, or the smaller places that I stayed in last time aren't doing the whole Internet/online booking thing.

Yes, there has been a lot of development. Yes, prices are more expensive. The cheaper places don't do internet reservations.

Would people recommend booking in advance, or is with the off-season travel and bad economy, can you find some pretty good deals when you get there?

Nope, I don't really book ahead. I especially wouldn't do at the time you will be there.

I'm coming to finish my novel, so need a place where I can get some work done on the book. I prefer a nice, out of the way place, with close access to swimming.

I would suggest getting to Koh Phangan and finding yourself a bungalow to rent for a month. They are all over the island. Rent a motorbike and cruise around. You will see the signs. I highly prefer Koh Phangan to Koh Samui.

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martini79
martini79

I would syggest the east side of Phagnan with only boat access... There is an awesome place called "The Santuary" where people go to relax, unwind even detox and cleanse if you want... I think it would right up your alley...

Check it out: http://www.thesanctuarythailand.com/
I stayed there a couple years back... Well worth it!

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keppiezbt
keppiezbt

Your better off staying on the north part of the island or at a place like sanctuary but your arent gonna find anything close to 40baht per night. Cheap bungalows are about 300 and thats on the far side of the island.

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jeffwalsh
jeffwalsh

Oops, it was like $10USD a night, which at the time was 400 baht. Missed that extra zero on there. I'm not that cheap. :-)

Although Sanctuary was nice for a few days (I stayed there a few days last time), it's too expensive for the whole trip. Plus, it felt very "removed" from Thailand, if that makes sense.

I think I'm going to try Samui when I get there, and see what I can find. I'll see if I can find something near where I was last time on Ban Tai Beach. That gets me nice day trips to Big Buddha, Chaweng, and the place on the west of the island where the ferries come in that escapes me, as they had a nice farmer's market.

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losing_touch
losing_touch

So, why did you ask for anything ...

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jeffwalsh
jeffwalsh

Just trying to get a handle on things, as it seems like it changed a lot since my last trip. But I think it's probably best to just get there and see what happens... the few places I did contact could accommodate my whole 6 week reservation, which seems to indicate I shouldn't have any trouble.

I posted the first bit within 2-3 hours of finding out I'd be unemployed in a few weeks, so was just sort of seeing what people thought of Samui vs Phangan (A friend who went with me last time said Samui is way more developed than when we were there in 2003), and just to see if anyone had any specific cheap, quiet bungalows on either to check out, etc.

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