Wednesday 11th October
Our journey continued from Phuket to Koh Samui with Bangkok Airways, it was great to arrive at our next destination within 55 minutes. The Melati Hotel and Spa private car service was approximately 15 minutes away from the airport, costing 500 Thai Baht / $23.00 Aud for two persons one way.
On arrival, we were greeted at reception with a tropical beverage. The Melati Hotel and Spa premises is quite big and tucked away from the main street with security in front of the hotel entrance like all the hotels on the island.
Concierge escorted us via buggy to our Grand Deluxe room on the second floor. The bedroom and living area were quite big with a desk, mini-bar and fridge. As advertised we had a separate shower room and an outdoor tub on a private balcony with a sofa overlooking views of the resort.
The afternoon was spent lazing by the swimming pool taking in the sun rays til evening.
Melati’s Kan Sak Thong Restaurant has a stunning traditional ambiance so I was surprised that the restaurant was practically empty. The food was sensational.
Thursday 12th October
Early morning started at 100 Degrees and East headquarters for the Angthong National Marine Park tour.
Angthong National Marine Park is a marine national park in the Gulf of Thailand in Surat Thani Province. The whole day tour cost 4,950 Thai Baht per person approximately $230.00 AUD per person.
The snorkeling takes place in the northernmost islands of the Marine Park, whilst the central islands we visited the stunning Emerald Lake. We also had the opportunity to kayak along the islands with time to relax and swim.
For the steps at the Emerald Lake, please ensure you have good walking shoes as you will find it hard to cope in thongs/flip flops. Other than that the tour company has everything you need like towels, beach mats, lunch and all refreshments.
A great day out and well looked after by 100 Degrees East staff.
http://www.100degreeseast.com/
Returning to our hotel, we arrived in time to get ready for our Sunset buffet dinner at the resort. Dinner on the beach was perfect and the food well done.
Fire dancing after dinner was entertaining & a must see in Thailand.
Grand Finale for the evening is always a game or two of pool.
Friday 13th October
This day we lazed by the pool and took a stroll around Fisherman’s village.
Here you’ll find a few restaurants open for lunch with a view of the seaside.
Sunset tours are a great experience and what a better time than on holidays.
Our half day into the sunset on the Sanora vessel was from 2:00-6:00pm, with our hotel beach pick up. Our choice was to anchor at Koh Phang Nang, where we had plenty of time for a swim but to be honest we merely had a quick dip. Felt a little uneasy swimming out at sea, safety in numbers people.
The crew of two were nice and served champagne and nibbles when anchored.
Be wary, sailing back to the hotel was quite choppy after 5pm.
Returned to Fisherman’s Village in Bophut for the night street markets, here you will find a range of items from t-shirts, sarongs, toys, jewellery, bags and much more. You won’t go empty-handed. If you like street food you’ll love it here.
James enjoyed some chicken skewers before dinner.
http://www.kosamui.com/bophut/fishermans-village-walking-street.htm?cid=ch:OTH:001
Kruba Thai Restaurant in Bophut, is located by the seaside with a choice of inside or outside seating. The ambiance is traditional and unique where you will enjoy authentic Thai cuisine and Southern Thai.
We continued the evening with drinks at Coco Tam’s, a cool bar along the beach where our timing was impeccable for the fire show. Managed to score a table in prime position to see the fire show at 9.30 pm.
http://cocotams.business.site/
Saturday 14th October
Took a stroll around the resort before catching a taxi to see the Big Golden Buddha Wat Phra Yai, on the northern side of Koh Samui. You can actually see the Big Golden Buddha by air when approaching Koh Samui.
The 12 metres tall Golden Buddha was built in 1972 within the Phra Yai Temple complex.
The Phra Yai Temple complex has a marketplace with religious souvenirs, hats, t-shirts, dresses and more. You can also dine here.
Make sure to walk along the beach where you will find 3 tall statues.
From here, we caught a tuk-tuk to Chaweng Beach. We walked for 23 minutes from the top of Chaweng Beach where Elephant Beach Club is located all the way down to Coast Bar and restaurant at Centara Grand Beach Resort. Coast Bar and restaurant is another of my favourite dining spots in Koh Samui. It’s a perfect place to unwind for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I recommend enjoying a casual meal & divine cocktails at sunset. The chicken caesar salad, sliders and chicken wings were a hit with us.
http://www.coast-beach-club.com/
Sunday 15th October
Mid-morning, we had a sensational couple’s massage by the resort’s pool then strolled around Fisherman’s village in the day, a time when there is a minimal crowd and you can see what’s around more clearly. Here you’ll find souvenir shops, massage parlours, and restaurants either by the beach or with a glimpse of the seaside. Great bargains for t-shirts or bags, you won’t go home empty-handed.
From here, we caught a tuk-tuk into Chaweng & walked around Chaweng nightlife, it was dead. Hung out at a bar for a couple of cocktails. Returned to the hotel in time for last evening poolside drinks where “BEST” knows best at the pool bar.
Dined at Kan Sak Thong Restaurant Thai restaurant at the resort again. Hands down the best Pad Thai and Best Thai Restaurant I have dined out worldwide.
Monday 16th October
After checking out of the resort, we enjoyed our morning by the pool and said goodbye to “Best” the Best Cocktail bar tender.
We were actually supposed to be flying back to Sydney on this day but after the Paradise Beach incident in Phuket, we decided to extend our trip by 3 nights to experience Chaweng Beach on the southwest coast of Koh Samui. Please click on the following link to find out what happened – https://christinetravels.com/2018/10/16/phuket-the-place-youll-visit-more-than-once
Next stop, Centara Grand Beach Resort located on the beach in a great location not far from restaurants, bars, shops, massage parlours and markets. The resort is situated at the quieter end of Chaweng Beach and you will find no issues catching a tuk-tuk or taxi from here. The Samui International airport is only 15 minutes drive away.
Our Premium Deluxe Ocean Facing room was furnished with a King bed, a partially open bathroom and a balcony/patio with ocean views.
If you don’t mind being on the quieter side of Chaweng you will love this resort’s huge swimming pool and the stunning beach setting. Just a shame it was a quieter season.
Spent the day lazing by the pool drinking cocktails and enjoying pool service from Coast Bar & restaurant. The best cocktails and scrumptious food.
http://www.coast-beach-club.com/samui/
Approximately 15 minutes walk away, we dined at Drink Gallery on Chaweng Beach Road a unique restaurant/bar that is located at The Libray Hotel. The Drink Gallery Tapas Bar serves authentic Thai tapas cuisine at affordable prices ranging from $99.00 Thai Baht / $5.00 AUD per dish. To name a few, you will enjoy the Massaman curry with potatoes and roti, prawn pad thai, chicken skewers, crispy chilli squid, steam fish and more. 5 – 6 tapas dishes are enough, don’t order too much at the beginning. There’s daily live entertainment too. The Lemon Meringue cocktail is my favourite here.
http://www.thelibrarysamui.com/drink-gallery/
Tuesday 17th October
Started the morning with a takeaway coffee at Piccolo, a cafe at the resort.
The day was spent relaxing by the pool with my fabulous pink flamingo. Sunset drinks at Coast bar was a must, James enjoyed his Tikki cocktails and me Cosmopolitans.
The Thai cuisine theme night at the hotel’s Palm Grove restaurant was not as good as we had expected. The young new waiter making my Pad Thai forgot to add the Beef and had to do mine again.
Besides the food that evening, the live band entertainment was enjoyable.
https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/csbr/restaurant/palm-grove/
Wednesday 18th October
We started our morning with a 42-minute beach walk from Centara Grand Resort past the Elephant Beach club, the furthest one can walk.
Returning back to Centara we stopped by Kevin’s Bar along Chaweng Beach a few steps away from Centara Grand Resort. Kevin bar was empty, not a sole at this quaint little random bar. We said we would return in a couple of hours for afternoon cocktails.
The weather was sensational for hanging by the pool practically all day, gotta love relaxing holidays. Definitely getting used to these beach holidays versus big city adventures where you exhaust yourself roaming from one place to another.
A couple of hours passed by so quickly and the next thing I knew we were enjoying a few cocktails back at Kevins Bar and by this point began to become rather pissy. A great little spot that other beach siders seem to only now notice once we were there. I wish Sydney had something like this, alas Australia is so conservative!
Sunset drinks continued by our resort pool with my flamingo floatie, gotta love it when everyone goes back to their rooms to get ready for early dinners.
Had such a fun relaxing day so the best way to end our final night was with Thai Tapas at Drink Gallery again.
Thursday 19th October
Our last morning in Koh Samui, we strolled down to a quaint cafe next door to Drink Gallery for Breakfast Burritos then last minute souvenir shopping at the market place across the road.
It was sad to see our 3 week holiday come to an end but at the time had a feeling we would return. The people are easy going and the food is delicious. Koh Samui is just a great place to take in the sun and unwind.
Besides the crazy medical mishaps, overall we had a fabulous time in Thailand and would love to come back and do it all over again.
christinetravels 