Travel Notes

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



Dining Recs

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!)

Childcare

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


Things to Do In Koh Samui

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

Things to do in Bangkok

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.​ ​