Koh Samui travel review & recommendations by dare

We just lucked out with Koh Samui. When we caught the ferry out of Surat Thani we were approached by a woman trying to sell tourists to her family’s accommodation on Lamai Beach. Rooms were B200 a night in a bungalow on the beach with bathroom and included the taxi there. We decided to go for it.

New Hut is a basic facility at the top of Lamai beach, but what more could you really ask for. Our B200 room was a bed with a mosquito net and a cold water bathroom (you don’t need hot water let me assure you). The bar is a beach bum paradise and their kitchen is good too. Try the red Fanta. And the curry. Yum.

Swimming directly outside of New Hut is hard on your feet though, it’s got a lot of broken coral/rock chunks. I'd recommend walking 10min down the beach past the Jamaican Bar (name? dunno, but you'll recognize it) and swim around there. Down the far end of the beach has some cool snorkeling too. But the beach really is excellent, white and hot and clean, much emptier then Chwang to the north.

Lamai has some awesome weather patterns and every night we were treated to an off shore pyrotechnic display of lightening and there was a regular storm that came through the beach about 3pm for an hour (for the time of year we were there). But hey, we got the beach to ourselves, swimming in the rain - Awesome.  Also good in the Lamai area - the small local food places off the beach - duck rice is awesome, pad thai even better.

Touring around the island on scooters is great fun though I recommend asking for a helmet and don’t leave a passport as bond if you can help it. Sometimes they'll accept cash or a driver’s license as bond instead. Be wary and drive safe!

If you visit the waterfalls travel up as high as you can go - it’s worth the lookout and there are cold pools at the top to swim in. But wear sturdy shoes as some of the climbing may be treacherous. And tip your 'guide' nicely.