When to Go
Best Time to Visit
December–April. The Gulf's dry season (different from Phuket's!) — Samui's wettest months are October–November, when the Andaman side is drying out.
Daily Spend in USD
Budget
Budget
$55/day
Mid-range
$130/day
Luxury
$450/day
Every tier exists: $25 fan bungalows on Lamai to $1,000 pool villas on the north coast.
With Kids
Family Travel
Choose Choeng Mon or Bophut for calm shallow water; ethical elephant sanctuaries and the Na Muang waterfalls fill the off-beach days.
Together
Couples Travel
A pool-villa breakfast, sunset at a jungle-ridge bar, and a private long-tail to Ang Thong marine park.
On Your Own
Solo Travel
Fisherman's Village hostels, Muay Thai camps, and the ferry triangle to Koh Phangan (Full Moon) and Koh Tao (dive certs) make Samui a natural solo hub.
Food
What to Eat
- Kôw man gài. Chicken rice done Thai-style — the local breakfast benchmark.
- Southern Thai curry. Hotter and more turmeric-heavy than Bangkok's — try gaeng som.
- Coconut everything. Samui was a coconut island before tourism — ice cream in the shell is obligatory.
- Beach BBQ seafood. Nightly grills on Chaweng and Lamai — pick your snapper by weight.
Transportation
Getting Around
Songthaews (shared trucks) loop the ring road cheaply by day; Grab and scooters fill the gaps.
Scooter accidents are the #1 tourist injury — helmets non-negotiable, skip riding in rain. Ferries: Lomprayah for speed.
Where to Base Yourself
Neighborhoods
- Chaweng. The long main beach — nightlife, malls, the busiest sand.
- Lamai. Chaweng's calmer sibling — good swimming, Grandma-and-Grandpa rocks.
- Bophut / Fisherman's Village. Boutique-y old town — Friday walking street, wine bars.
- Maenam. Quiet north-shore stretch — long-stay favorite, Phangan views.
What to Know
Safety
Safe overall; the risks are scooters, posted jellyfish warnings, and bucket-cocktail overconfidence.