I Thought I'd Hate KOH SAMUI 🇹🇭 Here's Why It's the BEST ISLAND in THAILAND

[@kellybico1515]

Loved this video - all of the beaches looked amazing, places I'd want to visit!

[@ayngelina]

It’s a tough place to beat once you get away from the crowds 😊

[@juliebabin]

It clashes so much with most of videos from Thaïland packed of people and tourist traps! I love that you show another aspect of these beautiful islands.

[@ayngelina]

Honestly the main area is basically spring break Cancún complete with a Hooters but also dispensaries every third shop. I hated it until I realized it was so much better outside the main town.

[@ExpatGringo]

Did they use a forklift to bring Alan's pancake?😂 Those beaches were gorgeous! ❤

[@ayngelina]

You have no idea how many times he’s ordered pancake and it’s one giant a$$ cake

[@peterbrandt7456]

We have been to Indonesia quite a few times and expected a similar experience when we finally visited Thailand in June last year. One of our biggest surprises on Koh Samui was that the water was a milky brown/green with zero visibility the whole week we were there, which we assumed to be what those waters always were like. Imagine my surprise seeing the crystal clear waters in your shots!

[@ayngelina]

Oh interesting! What month were you there? To get the beautiful drone shots and even really good shots on the ground the sun has to be all out to get the beautiful colours from sun reflection. When we first arrived at Silver Beach and at Lipa Noi the sun wasn't really out and it had rained heavily that morning so there was a lot of sediment that made the water very cloudy. Once the sun really came out the wate settled and I rushed to get more footage. I did see beautiful water all over Thailand BUT to this day nothing in Thailand nor Indonesia beats what I saw in the Perhentian Islands video. The water there was so incredible. El Nido Philippines (coming up starting this weekend) was close but Malaysia has insane beaches and few people know about it.

[@peterbrandt7456]

@ayngelina we were there in June. The water colour was unvarying the whole week we were there, regardless of time of day (I'm a water baby, so I was constantly heading into the water)... as I recall, you could not see your limbs as you swam.

[@ayngelina]

Oh yikes! That is pretty terrible

[@grifsfoodandtravel]

Koh Samui looked so amazing. It's been so long, I need to visit and see how it has changed. Looked like you guys were super relaxed and enjoyed your day.

[@ayngelina]

Chaweng beach is beautiful but I find the spring break energy to be so off putting

[@grifsfoodandtravel]

@@ayngelina That's what happens as we get older...lol.

[@ayngelina]

I am very happy you said old-er instead of old 😂

[@mangoking787]

Thailand is the best country in the world. I will be going to Koh Samui in the next couple of months. I have been to Phuket 10 times. This will be my 3rd trip to Kh Samui. There is not a day that I go to bed, without seeing some of the Islands. I am from Perth. The only problem foreigners cannot buy a property in Thailand. But in Australiaanybody can come and buy property which is a shame.

[@ayngelina]

We ended up spending 5 weeks there and just talked about going back. That said, I think owning is a very western ideal and once you reach a certain age...with this economy 40, it's not worth buying as an investment and it's better to rent and invest money elsewhere that will have better returns. But also, I have to admit to an unpopular opinion that I think only citizens should be able to own land in a country - it prevents locals from being edged out from owning due to foreigners raising prices. The thing about Australia, and my home country Canada, is that we don't need to worry about that, Although in Canada we're in housing crisis so really no one can find a house anyway!

[@spiritof1983]

Lipa Noi isn't the beach with the most locals. Better to check out the south of Koh samui, around Nathon. With Samui you get a mix of beaches from white sands to mud flats so manage your expectations. Nathon has a Malay fishing village with fair food choices for locals and those looking for Muslim food. Very little tourists around this area when I was there last year. Foreigners are mainly long stay and those working in Samui. The other area to go is to Khanom District on the mainland in Nathon Si Thammarat province just south of Surathani/Koh Samui. About 40 km from Don Sak (Samui ferry point on the mainland). While Khanom does have a few foreign owned outlets (used to be more. Now predominantly local owned) largely the area is frequented by local tourists and the 'farang'/foreigners are long stay. South from Samui along the eastern shore mainland all the way to Narathiwat and the Malaysian border, tourism is predominantly dependent on Thais and the occasional Malaysian. Check out Songkhla city area and Ko Yor island and to the north for more secluded beaches. The other place (non-beach) is in Phattalung province.

[@ayngelina]

We did go to Nathon during our time there as Alan is Indonesian and we knew there was a Muslim population but in this case we were loony for sunset. Thank you so much for all this information! I’m definitely using it when we return 😊

[@mangoking787]

You are lucky. I can go for holidays only for 8 nights. I have a property with sheep and Emu's and being a farmer. I find it hard to have someone to look after my place.

[@ayngelina]

Yes having a job where I can work remotely has been tough to create but it affords the luxury of having more days to travel.

[@janjacko1079]

There is not monsoon season in Ko Samui right now. It starts later than in the places of Andaman sea. Check more info about part of Thai bay

[@ayngelina]

We were there in November but how’s the weather there now because Cambodia is like a frying pan. We are so hot 🥵

[@janjacko1079]

@@ayngelina Oh i get it

[@ripe_avocados]

Thank you for sharing. I love quiet beaches.

[@ayngelina]

I do too 😀

[@ColinWard-hz4dp]

I like how you included Bang Po, but you didn’t show it. Bang Por is our favourite area on Samui…sunsets are pretty great in Nathon as well

[@ayngelina]

That was the beach I showed after Hug Samui

[@floathamburg1319]

If you are looking for something special, go to Koh Tarutaru national park. It is in the south.

[@ayngelina]

Sounds interesting, what do you recommend doing there

[@floathamburg1319]

Just beautyful beaches off the beaten tracks. I have never experienced finer sands. When I was there some years ago, there was just one sentence mentioning this national park@@ayngelina

[@paulmanning4901]

Nice vid. Nice vibe

[@ayngelina]

Thanks for taking the time to leave a kind comment 😊

[@GustavoDCarro]

Amazing bird s sound❤

[@ayngelina]

It made my day, I’m so happy you also appreciated it.

[@GustavoDCarro]

@@ayngelina animal talk to humans, humans don't put attention

[@333meg.pisces]

Hi! Do you know how the weather is goong to be in December usually

[@ayngelina]

I was there last December in the first week and it was fine but every season is different

[@tcredlin4795]

hi new subscriber im an aussie photographer coming back to samui in April 3rd time since 2022 I love this place my previous fave was Boracay in the Philippines (amazing place.too) im looking at doing model sunset shoots this year and the west side is a must go to for that obviously your video is a great resource for me plus ill ask the local models their preferences too cheers T

[@ayngelina]

Thank you so much for subscribing! If you discover local tips please share as I hope to be back in Thailand in May

[@HeyWattsUpCycling]

Hi i have to leave a comment here. @ 6:30sec those roads look PERFECT! Im a cyclist if my name didnt give it away and i just moved from Miami to Pattaya and the roads here are completely 100% unrideable on a racing bicycle. Is all the main road loop up and around from the bottom up the east side to the north side all that smooth and clean? many thanks

[@ayngelina]

From memory I think it was smooth driving the whole way. The biggest issue you’d have, probably similar to Pattaya is drunk foreigners or those who just don’t know how to drive in general. But we saw cyclist groups all the time.

[@pg618]

Hoping to be in Koh Samui next month I am a writer and I'm looking for a long-term, very quiet place to rent near a food market and restaurants but not expensive. Can you sugges a location? Thank you very much.

[@ayngelina]

I'm not sure what expensive is to you but Koh Samui is a big touristy island and has tourist prices with it. But we found a place I think ended up being 350 for the month. The farther you go from Chaweng the better you'll be and the cheaper it is. If you want to be in a big town you could look at Mae Nam which is definitely less than Chaweng and I am sure less than Lamai, which is second most touristy to Chaweng. If you don't mind having much of a kitchen you can stay in Bang Rak. We negotiated a monthly price with J & Ariya Hotel, which was brand new last year and it was so clean and very large. They are also really great people. It's next to a Mini Lotus for small groceries and it doesn't have any cooking but we bought a coffee maker and used the fridge for things like fruit, yogurt, bread etc. It is much cheaper to buy food already made than to cook with takeaway meals costing $1.50 and there are so many places around selling food. Most Thai people don't cook so everyone is out in the morning picking up breakfast and at the end of the day eating out. If you're planning to get a scooter then I'd just go remote as there are markets and food everywhere. But if you're going in December you're in luck because it's low season as it's the start of rainy season. We were there last year and it didn't rain every day, sometimes it would rain for an hour or two in the afternoon but it's enough to scare off people wanting a sun holiday. I looked at a lot of apartments on FB marketplace and most wanted 600 for the month. Later I discovered our hotel and many other also do better monthly rates than apartments. You may want to book a hotel for 2-3 nights and just check out a few in person to see what you want.

[@pg618]

@ayngelina thank you very much

[@ayngelina]

Happy to help!

[@phoopwintpwintthu6149]

is there fire show everyday or only weekend?

[@ayngelina]

I’m pretty sure every day. Since Chaweng is mostly for tourists you’ll find things are available 24/7.

[@socialmoravec]

I never understood "Beef/steak salads" Oxymoron.

[@ayngelina]

I like steak and I like salad. On top of that I hate western breakfast food so it was perfect for me.

[@chantal9768]

Khao lak is a very beautiful place to go next . ❤

[@ayngelina]

Thank you for the recommendation. Now that Thailand has opened up to 60 day visa free for Canadians and Indonesians I am planning a trip back this fall. I'm looking for the next beach destination, where we can stay at least a month. People who know me have said I would not like Phuket because it's too developed and not enough local food. Do you have any suggestions?

[@midiacoste7506]

It's so important that this single use plastic thing is stopping in Thailand! The amount of waste created is insane! I think this is one of the last things that sets Thailand apart from being a modern country! Lovely video, by the way!

[@ayngelina]

I’d love to just blame Thailand but I think most western countries are just as bad. We just don’t see where our plastic goes. We are fooled to think it’s recycled when it’s not and a lot of it is actually shipped to countries like Indonesia.

[@user-im1jq3lw2l]

Does grab work in Koh samui?

[@ayngelina]

Yes but there is a taxi mafia in Koh Samui, I think it's mostly in Chaweng. So in a couple of cases the driver told us we needed to walk a block away to reach it.

[@ambrosejoseph4843]

I heard them. 🌞

[@ayngelina]

They were awesome right. It reminded me a bit of the mangroves in Ecuador

[@SundarHarris]

Thanks your video ear honey tastes

[@ayngelina]

Most welcome 😊

[@shopshop6499]

ขอบคุณที่มาเที่ยว ประเทศไทย ค่ะ🎉😊

[@ayngelina]

ฉันอยากกลับมาในอีกไม่กี่สัปดาห์แต่กลัวว่ามันจะร้อนเกินไป ปลายเดือนเมษายนจะมีที่ไหนเย็นกว่านี้อีกไหม?

[@ant2312]

Been to Samui twice, prefer Kho Samet

[@ayngelina]

I’ve never been there, what do you like about it?

[@leapintothewild]

Aw man, didn’t realize weed was a thing in Thailand, just not on my radar. I just prefer to be alert. 😆 Glad to know about this choice! Looks amazing ❤ (that cute bag-bah-bah music around 13:00 is like a British 1960s film 🎶)

[@ayngelina]

They introduced it legally after the pandemic to jumpstart the economy. And still new every third store in tourist places are dispensaries. It’s not so obnoxious in Bangkok and actually I think many of these busing will fail as organized crime takes over this industry

[@leapintothewild]

@@ayngelina Well, I really hate that for the country as well, hope it doesn't end up like Colombia and Ecuador. It's still high on my list and always good to know reality, so it'll just be a new filter to see it through.

[@ayngelina]

Well the weed has always been there, as much of SEA but it’s just legal now. That said places like Malaysia and Indonesia may be more appealing to you as it’s not accepted…outside Bali

[@eternitywithjesus777]

So do Asians call us Gringos too? I love the beaches. Is there other things to do? Are there mountains?

[@ayngelina]

They don’t 🤣 in Indonesia it’s bule, in Thailand farang, I think Barang in Cambodia and I’m not sure about the Philippines because I think there are several words.

[@travelaroundlife]

thanks

[@ayngelina]

You're welcome!

[@freepoor]

Ko lanta, kho chaing, ko samet

[@ayngelina]

I was thinking about this area for 2025

[@CJ-Photo]

Im very sad to see garbage on the beaches.

[@ayngelina]

Me too. So much is brought in from the ocean.

[@NapoleonDynamyte]

Koh Samui sucks. Sorry

[@ayngelina]

Where did you stay?

[@joostroelens8710]

So many disturbing American people in Thailand

[@ayngelina]

Possibly, I only saw Australians, Europeans and Russians and I’m Canadian.

[@olivergastelumjr3755]

Are you from Canada?

[@ayngelina]

Yes I am!

[@GroupCaptain-LionelMandrake]

Thailand and Koh Samui have got some of the most dangerous roads in the world. The amount of people that get killed every year is horrific. mopeds and motorbikes absolute death traps in the hands of moronic tourists. waste, rubbish and filth on the beach do not make it the best place for a holiday.

[@ayngelina]

I agree the reason it's so dangerous to drive is because of tourists. I see many tourists driving without shirts, shoes or a helmet. Also you have people who have never driven before. Because they are on holiday they think it's ok to be driving after drinking, smoking or who knows what they are taking. I don't hide garbage in my videos if I see it on the beach. I usually show it as it's a reason to talk about single use plastic - a huge concern of mine.