Filed under: Caffe Miffy, samui, scam-o-meter, thailand, Travel | Tags: Caffe Miffy, samui, scam-o-meter, thailand, Travel
It’s a nice island, less crowded than Phuket and therefore a better option IMMO. Unfortunately they overdo setting prices to taxis rides (rip-off warning) and leisure activities.
If you want to ride an elephant, do it around bangkok, if you wan to dive, go to Maldives, if you want to sail, do it at home. But if you want to pay two or three times the prices you will pay at home (assuming Europe, USA, Australia or Japan) this is the place for you. Last, do not expect service and safety standards like at home.
and “can only be reached by a 30 minute walk”
and for 100 BHT will take you there.
But I use Father Bunny shoulder and did it in 7 minutes!!
is just an open market where they try to sell you the same
good you can buy everywhere for one third of the amount.
nice intimate places to loud pseudo Irish Pubs
and up with watered margaritas and badly mixed mojitos.
Buy them in Seven Eleven, go to the deck and that’s it!
northeastern point. May be the nicest, of course the most
expensive. The only problem you’re their hostage and
if you want to visit your Seven Eleven or Family Mart
expect to walk 2 kilometers one way or to pay 400 BHT
it’s not the best we have had, but it’s ok.
Chaweng beach close to Sareeraya hotel
Filed under: Beaches, consumer behaviour, idiots, rip-offs, scam-o-meter, scams, Travel | Tags: Beaches, consumer behaviour, idiots, rip-offs, scam-o-meter, scams, Travel
Ko Samui, or just Samui (Ko means island) is located in the southeastern part of Thailand. On the southwestern part you can find Langkawi, where we were past summer (but Langkawi is Malaysian).
What can you expect? Almost the same weather, the same beaches and the same people (visitors). That is right partly, and I will try to explain some details to those of you interested.
Let’s start saying that just out of the plane my Scam-o-meter ™ was flashing deep red when we was forced to que up for a taxi, and the taxi charges us for 8 kms 400 THB, almost two time the amount you pay from Bangkok airport to city center (45 minutes or more including tolls).
The hotel is just something “cool” and it stands over the mediocrity that surrounds it, but do not deserve the money they ask for it, several moon to earth distance is the amount between what you pay and what you get.
Hopefully we’re not in Chaweng, the busiest area, the longest beach and a mixed flavour of the worst Ibiza, Mallorca, Salou and Lloret you can imagine.
Plenty of well educated man and semi-naked local and foreigner women night parties really promise the eden type of paradise you were dreaming about. Beer is cheap and you get the usual 2 for 1, 6 x 2, etc.
But READ that if you are visiting this paradise!!!
- if you are entering a taxi or any transportation, let the ripper (they will rip you) know how much are you willing to pay (all of them will robb you but more than 300 BHT is severe punishment). Try to walk a little bit bro.
- if you rent a scooter, do x-ray any scratch and missing part if you don’t want to fight or to pay the whole shit several times (some steal their own vehicles to charge you)
- do not rent any engine operated water vehicle (jet ski, boat, etc) if you don’t want to get ripped off with multiple traps (existing damage, etc)
- If asked, DO NOT EVER let your passport as guarantee, you will become their hostage.
- As a basic rule, bargain even in McDonalds and say NO to everyone, then think a little and say “may be” and finally say “my friend, i am not stupid, just take it or leave it”
Miffa Chan 