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#1
21-02-2007, 22:51
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Phuket vs Samui?
Hi,
Newbie planning my first trip. The tougest thing I'm finding is trying to get a "feel" for a place. I can read the descriptions, but frankly, after a while everything starts running together. I know Bangkok is crowded and noisy, Pattaya very hard core, but I'm trying to get a sense of the differences between Phuket and Samui. It's tough for me to get a "feel" for the overall atmosphere or mood of them. If it helps, I'm 45, looking for a place to drop out and relax for 3 weeks, with a little bit of mongering thrown in (although it probably won't be an every night thing). Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Mark 
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#2
21-02-2007, 22:57
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Hi Mark,
Phuket sounds like it would be more your cup of tea, I was in Samui recently and it was full of backpackers and hippy type people - which is fair enough if you like that sort of thing. Phuket is IMO a bit classier and has more variety.
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#4
21-02-2007, 23:36
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Quote:
what sort of hippie type people 5555  _______________________________________________
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#5
22-02-2007, 01:25
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Lamai on Samui is quite a relaxing environment, w/ enough nightlife opportunities for the causal dabbler. However with that goes a lack of variety over a longer stay than a week or so.
Phuket has everything a resort location should have on a grand scale. Things are more "in your face" in Patong, but much quieter in Kata which has a more limited nightlife. but for relaxation I think a stay in Kata w/ a few trips to Patong at night might be just what you are looking for.
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#7
24-02-2007, 10:01
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I would recommend Phuket too, but probably a beach or two's distance from Patong. Maybe somewhere like Surin?
What kind of nightlife are you after on your 'non mongering' evenings?
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#8
24-02-2007, 10:10
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Surin is too far out, it is as you asked important to find out what he wants when not mongering and how often he wants to monger. Karon or Kamala being next to Patong could offer an answer and both have plenty of their own nightlife. Much further out, Kata or Surin and you start making Patong quite a bit of a journey for a lot of beers and a late night to then face 30 minutes ride home, oh not to mention a near argument with the tuk tuk guys who do not like going so far out late at night.
__________________
If I havn't done it already, then i'm gunna do it today.
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#9
24-02-2007, 10:17
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Dodger, I agree about Surin maybe being a bit far out for a nightly excursion. I just got the hunch he was looking for a really relaxing time, nice beach etc, so I suggested Surin.
Heck, for 3 weeks he could always probably divide his time among a couple of destinations.
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#10
27-02-2007, 02:56
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Quote:
Not really looking for any sort of nightlife on the "non" days, actually. Just relaxing, having a good meal, hopefully close enough to hear the ocean, that's about it. I hadn't heard of Surin, so I'll check it out. Thanks! Mark
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#11
27-02-2007, 03:47
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KARON and KATA is also an option
PHUKET Thailand - Karon and Kata beach. MYSELF WOULD STAY PATONG JUST STAY A LITTLE AWAY FROM BANGLA RD.
__________________
MAY THE BEER BE COLD AND ALL YOUR BETS WINNERS 
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#12
27-02-2007, 04:02
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Patong would be too in your face. Stay nearby and travel in at night.
If you have 3 weeks then you can easily do both. Stay in Lamai on Samui- that is the ideal place for a bit of relaxing and a bit of mongery, and you dont have to travel to and from the town to do it. Lamai certainly isnt just full of hippies and backpackers. As far as 'classy', I think both Patong and Lamai / Chaweng are about the same........
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#13
27-02-2007, 05:11
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I totaly agree with LODdelights. My long time favourites are also Samui(Lamai) and Phuket(Patong). In my opinion Patong is much more party area, but you have a good (limited)choice in Lamai also. Cheers, Raval
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Be young, have fun, taste Thailand.
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#14
01-03-2007, 00:46
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I enjoyed Samui twice but I'm probably not going back. Suggest you do Bangkok for a day or two. See the sites, check out the shopping. Then, off to Patong. Perhaps a night on Phi Phi. Lots of different things to see on Phuket using Patong as a base.
I've tried to explore and see different places on each trip. This time it was Krabi for a few days. Spectacular but I was looking forward to returning to Patong. I bypassed Bangkok and flew in direct from Singapore this time. LOS is an amazing place. You'll leave a different person. Read the board for pointers. Come prepared mentally. Don't waste your money. Avoid the stupid things we've all done here first time around. Bring some imodine  Go introduce yourself to Nicke at the Mai Thai. Oh, and don't fall in love.
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#15
01-03-2007, 02:53
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pinot who did you fly with from sing-krabi ?
__________________
MAY THE BEER BE COLD AND ALL YOUR BETS WINNERS
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#16
01-03-2007, 23:22
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That was confusing. I flew into Phuket.
Why not back to Samui again? One year later the place seemed to have grown by 100% and along the way lost it's charm. I'll take Patong. More to do.
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#17
05-03-2007, 13:32
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It's a tricky one. If I was flying solo I'd probably go Phuket but a beach or two away from Patong (Kata good). If I had company (the missus or or girl you meet in Bangkok) try for Samui. Samui more laid back, Phuket better for mongering.
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#18
06-03-2007, 00:30
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I'm 48 and like Phuket a lot. Have been there several times, staying in Patong, Karon and Laguna. Haven't been to Samui, but from what I've heard its a much quieter place that appeals mainly to backpackers and couples.
Phuket has a lot going on. Some great golf, great beaches, good dining with countless options and some very hot nightlife too. Personally I play golf or go to the beach during the day, have a nice dinner and then hit the bars. Wide range of bars. Some quiet, some very busy and of course many in-between. More upscale than Pattaya overall. Avoid Laguna, as its too quiet and a long way from any real nightlife. Karon is a good choice, though you'll have to pay a 300 baht tuk tuk fare each time you want to go into Patong (I found myself going there a lot for dinner and nightlife). Personally I like to stay in Patong, but away from Bangla road which is where all the night-time sizzle is. My choice is the Thara Patong hotel, a good 4 star choice just across the street from the beach. It has a great pool, good workout room, the rooms are quiet, its just across the street from the beach and the hot nightlife is no more than a 10 minute walk away (several quieter bars are in the immediate area though if you want a quieter venue).
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#19
06-03-2007, 03:48
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I would say that is a forum myth............backpackers go to Koh Pangnan, plenty of sex tourists on samui 
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#20
06-03-2007, 04:14
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have found no real difference between the type of people in Patong vs Samui.
In both places some younger entertaiment places. do enjoy patong more the action IMHO is more in the one area there. Where samui there is 2 main areas lamai and chewang which are long streets(4km approx end to end)
__________________
MAY THE BEER BE COLD AND ALL YOUR BETS WINNERS
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#21
07-03-2007, 13:24
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You can do a 2/3/4 day trip to Samui whilst staying in Phuket, that's what I did. There's lot of tour operaters dotted about all over the place that offer trips to Samui etc. If you're not counting the pennies, think about doing what I did - keep the same hotel in Patong going and just take a small bag with you to Samui for 2 or 3 nights. This saves you having to lug a big heavy case around and also allows you chance to have a look around Samui. Then you can decide whether to take another holiday and spend most/all of the time on Koh Samui or go back to Phuket.
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Only a woman can break his spell. Pure in heart who will offer herself
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#22
07-03-2007, 20:48
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Hey Kwickie
Both places are great, but have their differences. I really liked samui, firstly for its beauty and cause its more chilled and relaxed than the fast paced phuket (patong in particular), and a great place to go for something different. It has all your shopping, nightlife and i think a bit more class than phuket. If your looking for a relaxed visit with a real tropical beach feel, then samui is your place, as eveything is practically built on the beach including some restaurants and most hotels. While there is plenty of opportunity for a bit of mongering in samui, unfortunatly the quality in my opinion is not as good as phuket (put this down to size differences in the scene), but in saying this there are a "few dimonds in the rough" so to speak. Chaweng is more full on than Lamai, with some fantastic restaurants, bars, clubs and beer bars. Lamai more relaxed and not as built up as chaweng, but i found lamai a little too relaxed for my likings!! Phuket is also a great place to go, with something to do at all times of the day. Phuket also has great food, nightlife, shopping, watersports and sightseeing, although not as relaxed as samui. Phuket is also better for a bit of "FUN" and in my opinion has a slight edge over samui. However, I agree with the other bm's if you want something more relaxed stay slightly out of patong maybe karon or something. At the end of the day, you need to chose which place you would prefer. Do some searches on the web to try and get a feel for both places. Im sure that regardless of what ever place you choose you will love it.. hence the begining of your love affair with thailand...... and you can always go to the other place next time. Have fun Jaysen
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Just Relaxxx!!!! 
Last edited by Jaysen : 07-03-2007 at 20:53.
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#23
07-03-2007, 21:24
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Do both , 3 weeks is more then enough time. Its just an hour flight to get from one to another.
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#24
07-03-2007, 22:41
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Kata or Karon could be a good choice. More chill. Some close by mongering. Patong mongering is just 10-15 minutes away. MrDK just did a stint in Karon with some Patong worked in. He may have posted about it somewhere.
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#25
09-03-2007, 02:18
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i have only been to Samui once so maybe have to go more to appreciate it
but i thought Phuket was much more beuatiful than Samui Chaewang is way over-crowded and the traffice is a nightmare I like that they had a good beach scene, but didnt think the beach(chaewang or Lamai) were anymore beautiful than the beaches in Phuket i did like that Lamai had a nice beach town feel to it
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