Chaweng Beach , Koh Samui Thailand
Chaweng beach
It 's well known that Chaweng Beach is Samui's most popular
and lively beach. It could be found that there are many best hotels
are built along the seven kilometers stretch, together with an endless
number of bungalows, beach bars, restaurants, discos and shops.
The strip splits naturally into three sections, with the resort
town located in the central area. In recent years it has blossomed
into the island's second largest town, and is a magnet for visitors
from all over the island. All of the attractions are easily accessed
by the road which runs parallel with the beach.
This wonderful beach has the greatest concentration of venues,
and most of the nightlife at the central of this area. A good choice
of music venues ranging from traditional Thai to jazz, rock to roots-reggae,
are serve for someone who are crazy in songs, moreover; many of
them keeping open until dawn. There are plenty of bars and restaurants
right on the beach, offering a dreamy view of the Gulf in the quieter
evening. The good chance for food lovers can find just about anything,
both are Thai and western fare, especially, fresh seafood to offer
you every day.
The great recognize one thing in Chaweng is night dive off therefore,
it 's not strange to find many diving accessories shops along the
beach side. However, Chaweng still maintains the classic image of
a palm-fringed tropical beach that attracts many tourists to visit.
Daytime activities:
Many watersports are available
Kayak rentals can be found in front of many hotels (single kayak
150B/H, double 200B/H). You can easily access the two islands near
the reef with or without a guide, but don't forget your snorkeling
equipment (150B/day) as the reef facing the ocean is still intact
and many tropical fish are awaiting you there!
Other watersports are available around the center of the beach,
with Samui Ocean Sports offering catamarans (800B/H) and windsurfing
(300B/H). The wind is at its best from December to February, on
this side of the island. It is an excellent place for beginners
to take lessons (800B/H) as the bay is quite shallow -- it's never
a problem as you can always just walk back to the beach. For advanced
windsurfers, the winds get stronger before rains or early in the
morning and they're better outside the reef.
After enjoying some watersports, relax and treat yourself in one
of the many Thai massage salas (small, open wooden houses) which
can be found almost everywhere on the beach. They offer manicures
and pedicures, hair braiding and other body treatments which will
leave you both relaxed and refreshed.
Nightlife:
Green Mango nightspots
A good choice of music venues can be found in the area, ranging
from traditional Thai tunes to jazz, rock and reggae. So whether
you want to relax or dance the night away, you won't be disappointed!
Located in the center of Chaweng is the famous Green Mango Square,
which is one of the two "hot spots" of Samui. Here, numerous
naughty bars and shows warmly welcome you, along with many other
smaller, counter-style bars. The well-known Reggae Pub, established
more than 14 years ago, features popular live and loud concerts.
It's located on a small island in a lake, on a back street of Chaweng.
Transvestite shows and bars can also be found in the middle of the
main street.
Traffic is usually difficult and gets busy after dark. It is recommended
that you drive very carefully or use a taxi to get back to your
hotel, especially if you have been enjoying the night scene a bit
heavily. If you are driving a motorbike, remember that under Thai
law you must always wear a helmet (even if you see many locals ignoring
the law).
Shopping:
Thai silk shop on main road
Travel and tour offices can be found all along the main street,
as well as Internet cafes with various prices (about 1B/Min). There
are plenty of vendors selling everything from imitation sunglasses
to watches and Louis Vuttion (as spelled on the bags). Many CDs,
DVDs and video games can be found at amazingly cheap prices, but
be aware that some movies are actually shot with a standard video
camera directly in a movie theater! You might hear people laughing
or even heads passing by the screen! Subtitles are done in a rush
and can be hilarious! It is sometimes better choose your CD's from
a shop which has a CD player and ask for a check first, unless you
wish to surprise your friends with one of these "handmade"
CD's. Anyway, you are not supposed to buy these.... but well, we
leave it up to you.
Many nice handicrafts and fashion stores are now open in trendy
shops -- enough to provide you with hours of window shopping. A
3 storey shop on the south end of Chaweng has all the Thai handicrafts
you could wish for, but it can be more expensive than smaller shops.
In the past few years foot massages have become very popular and
they're an excellent way to recover from a day of walking! You will
find a foot massage shop nearly every 50 meters (about 300 Baht/H),
from the most basic setting with mattresses in an empty room behind
a window wide open onto the street, to cozier and more elegant salons
like "Classic 2" at the very south end of the street...
difficult to resist.
As everywhere in Thailand, Tailor shops are flourishing absolutely
everywhere, mainly run by Indian people. Have a Armani suit or a
Chanel dress made in 24 Hours is one of the most amazing challenge
they will propose you. If you do not want to spend hours thinking
about which design you would prefer, a good way is to bring a picture
from your own home catalog. It is usually enough to get a fairly
close result. Better expect 48 hours and don't hesitate to ask for
adjustments (and discount) if not satisfied with the first result.
Where to Dine:
Specialty of Samui:Tom Yam Cha Muan 
Dining is one of the highlights of any trip and Chaweng offers a
tantalizing variety of local specialties and continental menus.
Most of the hotels serve a wide selection of local dishes, some
of them while sitting in your own sala directly on the beach, with
a relaxing view of the bay. Unless you specifically ask for your
dish to be spicy, most restaurants will serve your food milder than
the locals prefer it. Probably one of the most unique features of
Koh Samui evenings, is the dinner right on the beach, borded by
the quiet waters of the lagoon. Many bars prepare lie down cushions
with mats to end the evening with a romantic cocktail... but don't
forget mosquito repellent.
Dining right on the beach!
On both sides of the main street you'll find so many restaurants
that it often becomes difficult to decide! Samui Seafood offers
a menu featuring delicacies from the sea in an original setting,
reclined on cushions Thai-style, for a real tropical feeling. Two
Japanese restaurants and a Korean barbecue are good alternatives
if you feel like something different. Excellent Italian dinners
await you at Juzz'a Pizza in the Green Mango Square. And of course,
if you feel homesick all the classics are now on Koh Samui with
Burger King, Pizza Hut and even Starbucks.
Some Recommended Restaurants:
Budsaba - Thai and Asian cuisine - Muang Kulaypan Hotel, north
part of Chaweng - 077 422 305
Betelnut - California/Thai fusion - south part of Chaweng - 077
413 370
Vecchio Napoli - Italian cuisine - 077 231 229
Samui Seafood - open from 11.30 am to midnight - 077 413 221
Will Wait - Thai and Continental food - reasonable prices - 077
422 613
Chaweng Villa - Thai and Seafood, right on the beach
How to Get around:
A Songtaew Taxi
The best way to go from place to place is to ride a songtaew, a
dark red, covered pick-up which hoots its horn about every 10 meters.
Prices can vary depending on the mood of the driver, but it should
be around 20 B/person for a ride within the Chaweng area. You can
also use a motorbike taxi, easily recognized by the drivers' colored
jackets, for 10-20 B depending on the distance.
If you rent a car and are not familiar with the Thai way of driving,
you will realize that driving and parking here can be difficult
exercises. Renting a motorbike is the easiest way to get around
the island but it is also the most dangerous. Don't forget to carry
your driver's license and to wear a helmet as the number of bike
accidents is quite high in Samui. Motorbike and car rentals can
be found in all the tourist areas and usually cost about 120-150
B/day for a bike and 800-1,000 B/day for a car (usually a Suzuki
Caribbean, in more or less good condition). Big bikes can also be
found in Chaweng, though only experienced riders should consider
renting them given the dangerous driving conditions. Prices vary
depending on the model and your bargaining skills.
Partner Sites
www.samuihoteltour.com
| www.samui-hotels-links.com
| www.hotel-samui.net
| www.1samui.com
| www.samui-hotels.info
| www.ko-samui-hotels.net
| www.samui-map.com
Provided
by Tourism Authority of Thailand
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