TRAVEL INFO
COVID Travel Information (Updated Sept 6)
Traveling far from home during an on-going pandemic can feel very daunting, but we will be with you every step of the way. Please feel free to check with us on the latest rules before you book your travel to Thailand.
Vaccinated Travelers – Vaccinated travelers will need to have a copy of their vaccination certificate on hand before boarding a flight and on arrival. Children under 18 who are traveling with vaccinated parents do not need to complete any RT-PCR or Pro-ATK test before departing.
Thai pass is no longer needed.
Unvaccinated Travelers – Before coming to Thailand, unvaccinated travelers need to complete an RT-PCR or Professional Antigen (Pro-ATK) test through a clinic or medical professional. The test result must be issued within 72 hours before departing for Thailand.
Please see website below for detailed information.
https://www.thaiembassy.com/travel-to-thailand/thailand-travel-restrictions
F&B Recommendations on Koh Samui
CHAWENG AREA
Jungle Club - amazing view
www.jungleclubsamui.com/
Seen Beach Club
www.facebook.com/seenbeachclubkohsamui
SALA CHAWENG
www.salahospitality.com/chaweng/wine_and_dine/the-tent-beachfront-restaurant-and-bar/
THE NATURE SAMUI - very beautiful Thai garden/farm to table style restaurant with beautiful Thai www.facebook.com/thenaturesamui/
PHENSIRI- very good authentic Thai food on chaweng beach road
www.facebook.com/PhensiriKohSamui/
BO PHUT AREA
Chi Beach Club - good food , drinks, vibes
www.chisamui.com/
FoxTrot Bistro - sunset view at Big Buddha , good food & drinks
www.facebook.com/foxtrotsamui/
Lost Beach Bar ( Cherngmon)
Lost Beach Bar & Restaurant
Cocotam's
www.facebook.com/CocoTamsBeachBar
Cafe Darling- a lovely little cafe in Fisherman village
www.facebook.com/Darling-2348857591847381
Koh Co Town
www.facebook.com/kohcotownsamui
2Fishes
www.facebook.com/2fishessamui
KARMA BEACH
www.facebook.com/karmabeachsamui
HAPPY ELEPHANT
www.facebook.com/HappyElephantRestaurant
LAMAI
The Cliff - nice view, tapas & Mediterranean ,Grilled
thecliffsamui.com/
SOUTH/WEST BEACH
Air Bar - amazing view bar
samui.intercontinental.com/air-bar
LE KIOSQUE - in Thong Krut Beach , a small French bakery by day & cozy rum & tapas bar for sunset near Ban Sairee
www.facebook.com/lekiosquebakery
BRUNCH
MELIA (in Cherngmon)
www.melia.com/en/hotels/thailand/koh-samui/melia-koh-samui/restaurants.htm
CENTARA RESERVE (in Chaweng)
www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centarareserve/crs
NIKKI BEACH SUNDAY BRUNCH - in Lipa Noi
www.facebook.com/NikkiBeachKohSamui
LOCAL/STREET FOOD
Aroy Dee - Fisherman village
Haad Bang Por - highly recommended, far but good Thai food/seafood, Old School Koh Samui bamboo by the beach kind of style
https://www.facebook.com/Haad-bang-po-restaurant-%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%AD-1565927943638118
HEALTH CAFES
Bo Phut area - Greenlight, June Art Cafe
Lamai - VIKASA LIFE CAFE
https://www.facebook.com/vikasalifecafe/
South area - Sweet Sister ( a must!)
Koh Samui with Kids and Nanny Service
Samui is an ideal family destination – kids are welcome everywhere & there’s all sorts to keep them entertained. Thais love children and have a “more the merrier, all ages” attitude. Ensure a perfect and stress-free holiday to Koh Samui with kids, using these helpful suggestions and activity ideas. Enjoy!
https://www.thekohsamuiguide.com/samui-kids/
Our wedding is also kids friendly! We know many of you became new parents with toddlers or young kids, so we have set up kids' zone during the wedding day and included nanny service. If you would like to book nanny service for additional time on the island, please refer to this website below. If you are interested in their service (highly recommended by our wedding planner), you can also let us know and we will be happy to help you to communicate the additional booking and logistics.
https://www.nannyservicekohsamui.com
Activities Recommendations on Samui
SIGHTSEEING
Angthong Marine Park - Lots of tour operators , these are good tour companies:
Red Baron Boat
www.redbaron-samui.com/
Pig Island & Madsum Island
kosamuiboatcharter.com/en/samui-islands-tour
OR simple just go to Thong Krut Pier and ask any long tail boats there for simple snorkeling trip.
Island Safari- recommend this one which doesn't involve any animals
www.ungsafari.com/just-jungle-safari-tour.php
Football Golf
www.samuifootballgolf.com/
Frisbee Golf
samuidiscgolf.com/
BEACHES
Crystal Bay Or Silver Beach - It's actually called THONG TA KIEN BEACH in THAI - a beautiful spot for swimming, sunbath & just to be on the beach whole day! Very picturesque beach
www.arrivalguides.com/en/Travelguide/Kohsamui/beaches/thong-takian-silver-beach-39024
Taling Ngam - beautiful sunset beach
Thong Krut - peaceful fisherman beach vibe, laid back, nice restaurants, health cafe, bakery
Fisherman Village - a lot of nice restaurants & cafes, shopping, massages
Chaweng - main beach road (in normal time, it's the most busy beach)
Bang Por /Bang Ma Kham Beach - peaceful quiet beach in the north west of island lots of local seafood restaurants & cafes, sunset
GOLF
Santiburi Golf
www.santiburigolfsamui.com/
MUAY TAI CLASS
www.facebook.com/lamaimuaythai
YOGA
vikasayoga.com/yoga-classes/
www.theyogardensamui.com/
orionretreat.com/
www.thesparesorts.com/
SPA
www.tamarindsprings.com/en/
kamalaya.com/
SHOPPING
Fisherman Village
Central Festival shopping mall for Thai souvenirs ( Tops Supermarket)
Tesco Lotus (we have one in Chaweng & one in Lamai, the rest are small Tesco Express ) and 7-11 are everywhere
COOKING CLASS
Island Organic Cooking Class- nice concept, well organized & can handle large groups (in Bo Phut)
islandorganicssamui.com/
Small cooking class in south of Samui, runs by a love local Thai lady, Ying
www.facebook.com/Yings-Thai-Cooking-Home-607944262557656
Many of you will use Bangkok as a transit hub to get in and out of Thailand. Please find below travel tips and recommendations for your visit or layover in this mega city.
Where to eat
Restaurant and Bar Reviews: bk.asia-city.com is a great website for things to eat and do in Bangkok.
Zaew Pork and Fish Noodles: Delicious variety of minced pork or fishball noodle soups. Highly recommend the Tom Yum noodle soup and the pink Yen Ta Fo noodle soup. $
Taling Pling: Walkable from Thonglor Skytrain station, it’s a Thai restaurant in a home that’s popular with Japanese expats too. Recommend reservations for dinner. They have a branch at Central World (the mall) also. $$
Street Food experiences: Take the Skytrain to Silom Station and walk to “Soi Convent”. Everything on that street is yummy. You could also take the Skytrain to the Ari stop, and everything around there is yummy too! $
Food Courts: The food court in the basement of Siam Paragon Mall (take the Skytrain to Siam station) is massive. The food court on the top floor of Terminal 21 Mall (take the Skytrain to Asok station) is more local and also delicious. There’s a fancy Thai Food Court called EaThai inside Central Embassy (take the Skytrain to Petchburi station). $-$$.
Thai Northeastern Food: Papaya salad and grilled or fried chicken galore. So many delicious places but the easiest to get to: (1) Som Tum Der (take the Skytrain to Sala Daeng Station); (2) Som Tum Nua (take the Skytrain to Siam Station) and it should be in Siam Square Soi 5. $
Thai Diner: every Foodland supermarket has a 24-hour diner called “Took Lae Dee”, which means “cheap and good” (and it is!). Multiple locations, but there’s one in the basement of the Pan-Pacific Complex in Thonglor Soi 8 and one in sketchy Patpong night market in Silom. $
Riverside dining: You’ll get the riverside experience with us on 28 December already, but if you’d like to do it twice, we’d alternatively recommend romantic dining at the Thai restaurant at The Siam Hotel. $$$$
Trendy Thai-ish: 1) Issaya Siamese Club ; 2) Namsaah Bottling Trust; 3) 80/20BKK ; 4) Bo.Lan ; and 5) Nahm. Reservations needed. $$$
Eating in Malls: Food chain options in malls, aside from the food court, are really quite delicious. Popular chains at both Siam Paragon and Central World that we’d recommend: Taling Pling (as above), Laem Chareon Seafood (for Thai seafood), MK Gold (for Thai Sukiyaki), and Nara. Central Embassy Mall has Somboon Seafood, which serves its famous Thai curry crab. $-$$
Non-Thai options: Peppina for Pizza, Bacco for family style Italian, Pan Pan for Thai-style Italian, and Roast or Craft for brunch (multiple locations,including Emquartier Mall), And a ton of Japanese options.
Shopping
Jatujak Weekend Market: If you’re in Bangkok on a weekend, highly recommend you stop by Jatujak Weekend Market. It’s open on Saturday and Sundays only. Take the Skytrain to Asok Station, and switch to the subway (called the MRT), and ride it to Kampaengpetch station. It’ll drop you off right in the center of Jatujak market. You can also walk to Jatujak market from Mor Chit Skytrain station. The market sells everything from clothing, art, food, flowers and pets. Shops open around 9am.
Megamalls: Siam Paragon and Central World at Siam Station, and Emquartier/Emporium at Phrom Phong Station.
Supermarkets: Siam Paragon has a huge supermarket. Central Embassy also has an unique Thai focused one next to EaThai.
Trendy Thai boutiques: Siam is an area off of Siam Station (other side of the road from Siam Paragon mall) that has some local boutique for the young and trendy. They cater to the University students nearby. Similar vibe in the shops at Terminal 21 Mall located off of Asok Station.
Asiatique is a night market open from 4pm to midnight.