Samui for me all daylong for longer term chilled living.In samui you know you are on an island and retains its charm. Phuket feels overdeveloped and feels as if you’re on the mainland. Each to their own.
We live over the border and visit Phuket a couple of times a year - but never Patong, Karon or Kata. These places, as with much of Samui, are crowded with package tourists. You can stay right down south of Phuket, quiet, beautiful, no mass tourism - but still be within a 300 baht taxi of anywhere else.
Over the border ie not in Thailand? Malaysia? I agree re those places in Phuket. The south is beautiful. I also think the north will become much more popular in the next 5-10 years like Nai Yang or Mai Khao. Thanks for the comment.
Phuket has never really appealed to be honest…. Far too busy for me! If I had to choose it would be samui for sure! Although without a doubt, Koh Chang, Koh Lanta are more my vibe! I’m living in Hua Hin at the moment so mainland but I need myself some island visits soon as! Nice video mate!
The thing is, on paper Samui wins for me also. There’s just something about Phuket that always feels like home, I know the island so well so I think I’m a little biased. Hua Hin is my favourite place in Thailand overall so far, will be back very soon. Koh lanta appeals to me a lot but haven’t tried it yet. Thanks for the comment
Did Koh Lanta in Feb this year and loved it. Done Phuket, Samui, Phi Phi, Lipe, Lanta and Phan gan. Samui my favourite followed by Lipe. @@joshbonthemove
Have you ever been to Samed island(Rayong province)or Phi Phi island(krabi province)..!!?⁉️ Kho Railey(krabi),Kho Kradand(Trang province),Simirun island(Pangnga province) Crystal clear water and fine white sand beaches...too hard and difficult to compare!!!‼️ Parts of thailand there are many different and beautiful places...for sure that's quite really unique..Public utilities and all conveniences depends on your choice.♀️♂️
Healthcare --> Medical fee in Thai private hospital/clinic is way cheaper than in the west (also with the solid service). Supermarkets (and malls) --> Yes they open 7 days a week and mostly around from 10am to 10pm. Eating out VS buying your own ingredient --> Very tricky one, cause there's the various class of restaurant in Thailand; from 1-2 USD of noodle bowl to 30 USD of wagyu steak with truffle sauce. That go the same for the palce you buy your own ingredient; from a local wet market to the hi-end supermarket inside shopping mall.
Healthcare is great if you choose private, although relatively expensive. Public hospitals are “good” but you get what you pay for! Being from the UK and being expected to wait months for tests or treatments it feels amazing to get “almost” immediate attention to issues here in Thailand. Supermarkets are generally open 7 days a week, usually from 8/9am to 22/23hrs daily… baring this there are always a 24hr 7/11, usually within a stones throw for the basics. 24hr chemists are also common and you can usually find what you need generally within a reasonably short distance. Despite what many people say, buying in and cooking for yourself if you have the facilities is cheaper in 9 out of 10 scenarios than eating out. Although you can in effect spend as much or as little as you want while out. Vegetables I would say, at least from the supermarket are comparable to European prices and imported goods are considerably more expensive. Chicken and pork are relatively cheap at between 85thb and 125thb per kilo. You can on the whole eat cheaper cooking yourself if you meal plan well. Regardless of what you decide there is an abundance of food courts offering really cheap meals most places for between 40-70thb. I’ve recently made a video detailing many of the menu’s and food court prices here in Hua Hin if you want a more in depth look at what’s available on the cheap. Hope this helps 👍🏻
An epic place to stay is Skye Beach. I've stayed there twice and am already booked to stay there again in Jan 2025. Expensive yes, but the place is beautiful and super quiet.
spice is a preservative, so if you go for non-spicy you may in fact be opened up to more issues with food... speculating- not canon, but I think a safe assumption... try the spicy...
I found it so expensive there and I’m from the UK!! I stay in Chaweng, because that’s where I’ll be going out for a drink mostly so I don’t wanna have to get a taxi home, if I visit any of the other places I tend not to drink (as I’m a smoker not drinker), so that’s when I rent a moped and visit the other smaller villages.
Helmets for bikes have been compulsory for many years. Many choose to ignore this, but do so at your own risk. When the mood hits the cops they will set up check points and stop everybody without a helmet. Then the keep the bike and you need to go to a station and pay the fine. Then you get the bike back.
I lived in thailand for a year. Thai people were so welcoming and lovely and brave. The only thing i hated were the old wrinkly pervs with young, really young thai girls. Also, those wild dogs like wtf 😂 But yeah, thai people are so kind. Some of them were scammers and not nice. But the majority were the best to me. Will always love thai people.
Josh Lived in issan for four years visiting sumui for a,month every year, One month bungalow rental 6000 baht not brilliant but just a place to sleep, bike rental 3000 baht for the month you're right at that price they have seen there better days I'm a cheap charlie and living in sumui for a month on 25,000/30,000 baht
Thanks for the comment Chris. Tbh I’m not usually one to splash out on things either but I accepted for this trip to samui it wasn’t going to be a money saving one. I could get on board with a month here each year, it has a holiday feel, not sure about living
Regarding Samui, we stay at Lamai and always come back. We’ve been to Koh Chang, Koh Tao, Hua Hin, Ao Nang, Railay, Koh Lanta, and Rayong. I guess it depends on what you like and what you’re looking for. I agree it is a bit more expensive, but it is also much easier to get that tropical island feeling without having to travel too far from Bangkok. However, the flight prices are getting ridiculous. When traveling with kids, I prefer this place much more than Phuket.
For a holiday I think samui has it all, as a feel to live here longer term/ setup longer term, I’m not sure. The monopoly that Bangkok airways has on samui airport is a bit naughty for the prices. Thanks for the comment
Great tip about the scoother, def going to check that out when we get there i feb. Going to be staying in lamai, but traning in chaweng. So a nice scooter will be great! Thanks mate.
This guy produces superb holiday videos, packed with friendly and useful information . His are among the best i have ever seen on RU-vid and i recommend them wholeheartedly. The videos without narration or commentary should be banned completely, because they offer no information to new travellers.
So is this typical for Thailand? $5-$6 for simple room with no A/C but with maybe hot water? Not that hot water would matter much in a place with no A/C. The only time you really need it is if you're waking up early for a flight/bus/train and have to be out of your room early and really need to be clean for your trip. Needing to have a shower, being all sticky and oily, and having to travel? Horrible feeling and so unnecessary. Even wiping yourself down with a wet towel can do much. Then your skin breathes so much better not encased in an oily slurry.
The insane design of these rooms means you'll get woken up by everyone walking/talking by in the hallway. Mindless design. I guess that's their idea of "natural light". Would be better to just use ducting from outside and keep it like a cocoon. It would have at least have fresh air, be dark and quiet at night (if the door sealed well) which it probably doesn't. Still it's great you showing low cost accommodation. Not everyone is comfortable blowing a grand a month in cheap countries for a hotel. Most posters run out of money for this very reason.
I am Puerto Rican and Thai mixed I am 20 years old I been to Puerto Rico but not Thailand 🇵🇷🇹🇭 I been to 🇵🇷 3 times it is a nice small Spanish Caribbean us terrority island 🇵🇷🏖️💙💙
Good video, lots of suggestions and explanations, dos and don't s however 2 major issues you did not mention or talk about are 1) the Thai king (royal family) do not under any circumstances dis insult or say bad things bad them 2) drugs Thailand has the death penalty, if you choose them be careful
I ve been Samui many times, lived in Chaweng, Fishermans and Choeng Mon. But next year heading for Lamai! Thats the place for me! Like big waves, good nightlife and big variety of accomodation. I think you left Lamai out in your vid...?
Thanks for the comment, I was in Lamai last year and didn’t love it. I did mention it but didn’t cover in detail. I thought it was nice but didn’t feel like somewhere I’d like to stay long term
@@joshbonthemove Thanks for your reply! What I meant is that saying 'Thai people' broadly can sound like you're talking about everyone. Using 'some Thai people' makes it clearer that you're referring to a specific group, rather than generalising about the whole population. It’s just a small tweak to be a bit more accurate and respectful. Hope that makes sense!
Nice work Josh. Always found Samui the most expensive outside of say Mai, Rai, Phuket. Air fare, local taxis, it always felt like entrapment, with no other options (have done the ferry's, buses, trains, never did the bikes...older now, just wanna get there). What I love about Samui was it really felt like I'd been on an island, away from mainland hustle n bustle which I also love. Lamai / Chaweng beaches, beautiful clear water. Loved conversing with the locals and coming out of covid, last visit, Aug '22., I felt lucky enough to "just be" and feel the Samui love / vibe. Not a cheap place, yet if you get the chance to come, absolutely. Nice work again. Cheers mate. 🙏
Thanks Mark. You’ve summed it up pretty well from what I’ve felt being here. It’s got a unique charm and feels like a genuine island, defo not a cheap place but there’s something nice about it here, even if it’s not my favourite place in Thailand. Cheers mate 🤝
We visited Crystal Bay last year and it was covered in trash. Both on the beach and in the sea. It was after a couple of stormy days, so this may have been the reason but we were so disappointed.
I’ve done similar elsewhere in Thailand. I’ve got a video of the same beach in phuket looking like paradise and then filthy 72h later. A bit of luck, a bit of timing. Thanks for the comment!
