Monthly Archives: March 2010

Officials visit Samui

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Members of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council led by its chairman, Somchai Vasaratchatrakoon, recently visited Samui to learn how the island was managing its tourism industry. The council is the legislative arm of the Bangkok metropolitan government.

Samui mayor Ramnet Jaikwang said that during their three-day (Dec. 1-3) visit, the councilmen tried to study various aspects of the island’s administration, including infrastructure development, wastewater and garbage management, transportation, crime prevention and dealing with environmental problems.

Ramnet said Bangkok planned to step up its tourism efforts. And Bangkok officials want to learn from Samui and Phuket, one of the country’s top tourist destinations, on how to keep tourists happy. Continue reading →

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W Retreat Koh Samui

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Conferences in Thailand will take a hip twist from June 2010, when the W Retreat Koh Samui opens for business.

The 75-villa property will be the second W Retreat to open in Asia-Pacific after the Maldives and comes ahead of the highly-anticipated W Retreat and Spa Bali in Seminyak, scheduled to be completed in late 2010.

An all-villa beachfront resort set on the north shore of Thailand’s famed Samui island, W Koh Samui will bring an alluring new dimension of cutting-edge design, contemporary lifestyle, and exhilarating experiences to Thailand.

“W Retreat Koh Samui will redefine the way we live and play, delivering a fully integrated contemporary lifestyle experience with the signature W twist,” said W Retreat Koh Samui  general manager, Coetzer Deysel.

“We are delighted to bring our world of ‘Wow’ to Koh Samui, one of the coolest islands in Southeast Asia,” he said.

A modern paradise of vibrant foliage, unspoiled golden sand and warm island breezes, W Retreat Koh Samui will offer panoramic sunrise and sunset views of the Gulf of Thailand from its exceptional beachfront location. Continue reading →

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Koh Samui caters to all budgets

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Shattering the calm of a warm afternoon in the Samui township of Lamai, two vans prowl the streets with loudpeakers espousing the delights of two beach parties organised by the rival Ark and Reggae clubs, promising music and fun lasting until 2am.

It’s a reminder that while Koh Samui in recent years has climbed to the top end of Thailand’s tourism market juts like Phuket , it still caters to the backpackers and budget travellers who in the 1970s first “discovered” the then-undeveloped island, on the Gulf of Thailand 700km south of Bangkok.

Non-fancy accommodation is still available around Samui from around 400 baht ($A14) a night, but on and around the cliffs overlooking the sea is now a growing warren of resorts with matchless views, five-star furnishings, exquisite cuisines and infinity swimming pools – at umpteen times the cost.

And these deluxe havens of privacy are attracting more and more attention from the ranks of the rich and famous.

American singer Britney Spears was reported staying at one of the newer resorts during our recent visit, and we were told that British soccer star David Beckham has invested in a million-dollar villa here. Continue reading →

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