Asia & Oceania group posting on GLOBOsapiens

Best spot to stay on Koh Samui - Chaweng or Lamai Beach?

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downundergal Premium account Joined: Jun 02 Points: 12936 Posts: 221 Posted: 2005-04-03 07:17:00    As usual the mind boggles with the more research that you do. I am curently trying to work out the better beach to stay between the two above. I have deduced so far but please correct me if I am wrong... that Chaweng has the better grade of sand beach but more expensive accomm & raucous nightlife. Lamai has a pretty tawdry nightlfe scene with more package tourists, a lesser beach but accommodation is better value for money!!!! Currently I am tossing up between staying at Chaweng Villa at Chaweng or Sand Sea Resort & Spa on Lamai. Open to ideas though. Is it like Bali where Kuta is the younger & more party crowd & Legian is the more upmarket, older crowd or does this not exist. Thanks for any input! Cheers, Kerrie --- Where to next? Reply    Reply with quote    Contact downundergal   britman Premium account Joined: Apr 04 Points: 17984 Posts: 83 Posted: 2005-04-03 10:14:00    Hi Kerrie, Chaweng has a lovely beach. It has a racous nightlife area and the streets are infested with touts selling all touristy thai t shirts and gifts. It has a high tourist population. If you plan on not driving it is on balance a decent place to stay. Prices on Koh Samui have shot up since the west coast tsunami traffic has migrated there. Avoid Lamai is my advice. If I was you, I would look at Bophut, the fishermans village has some superb boutique accommodation, great restaurants, pubs and a superb beach. The best hotel there has just opened and is well worth a visit - it is expensive to stay at - Amantari. The Santiburi at Maenam is also an excellent, albeit better class ***** hotel. Don't forget that the Samui Regatta is on in May and some accommodation will be at a premium. Hope it helps, Brit --- Cheers! Reply    Reply with quote    Contact britman   downundergal Premium account Joined: Jun 02 Points: 12936 Posts: 221 Posted: 2005-04-23 08:10:00    Hi Brit, I just wanted to say a belated thankyou for your advice which I did appreciate. I am in the area for 10 nights so have opted for booking the first 3 nights at a hotel in Chaweng over Lamai before probably venturing over to Koh Tao. On the way back I thought I would check out Bophut Beach as you suggested. :-) Cheers, Kerrie --- Where to next? Reply    Reply with quote    Contact downundergal