Koh Samui

  • Tourism News

    Thailand reopening: 20,000 total entered, 50,000 Passes approved

    Following reports that 16,595 foreigners total have entered Thailand during the first 5 days of the grand reopening that began on November 1, here are the latest arrival stats for people coming to the Kingdom or at least attempting to come to the country: THAILAND PASS Many people have struggled to obtain their Thailand Pass to enter the country, but…

  • Press Room

    Cryptocurrency is now accepted at Silavadee Pool Spa Resort in Koh Samui

    Press Release Silavadee Pool Spa Resort becomes the First Resort in Koh Samui to accept Cryptocurrency. Koh Samui, 2021 – Silavadee Pool Spa Resort is becoming the first resort in Koh Samui to accept cryptocurrency for hotel bookings worldwide. Miss Chonlada Soonthonvasu, Managing Director of Silavadee Pool Spa Resort said, “As the popularity of online booking channels grows, people are…

  • Crime News

    Police arrest British man in Koh Samui for marijuana

    A British man on Koh Samui was arrested by immigration police for illegal possession and use of marijuana, according to the provincial immigration police chief. Police say that 32 year old Paul Mathew Kennedy was arrested on Monday at his home in Moo 5 in tambon Bophut. Immigration police say an informant tipped them off to Kennedy, accusing him of…

  • Tourism News

    Koh Phangan and Koh Tao islands relax visitor restrictions today

    Joining the rush for restrictions easing as Thailand aims for the big leap to unquarantined reopening (for some) without a certificate of entry (for some) on November 1, the popular tourist islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao have eased their entry requirements starting today. The governor of Surat Thani, home to the Samui Plus Sandbox reopening as well as…

  • Tourism News

    Phuket, Samui to ease entry restrictions for domestic tourists from this weekend

    From this weekend, entry restrictions for the islands of Phuket and Samui are being eased for fully vaccinated domestic tourists. Local travellers who can show proof of being fully vaccinated will no longer need to submit to Covid-19 testing to enter Phuket and will no longer have to quarantine after arriving on Samui. The move comes as the government launches…

  • Koh Samui News

    Koh Samui sees surge in sandbox bookings for October

    Tourism officials on Koh Samui say its sandbox programme has received a boost following the lifting of its 3-day quarantine. According to a Bangkok Post report, new bookings in the first 10 days of October have already surpassed the total number of bookings since the island re-opened on July 15. Ratchaporn Poolsawadee from the Tourism Association of Koh Samui adds…

  • Koh Samui News

    Koh Samui to ease domestic entry restrictions

    It’s going to be a little bit easier for domestic travellers to enter Koh Samui… at least for those with the vaccine. Starting Friday, those who are fully vaccinated and arriving to the island off the Surat Thani coast domestically will not need to undergo a Covid-19 test. Koh Samui Governor announced the easing of the domestic entry requirements. The…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand nabs many spots in Conde Nast Traveler’s annual list

    Despite the decimated tourism economy due to Covid-19, Conde Nast Traveler still ranks locations in Thailand amongst the top in the world in their annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Bangkok was ranked 9th in the world’s “Best Big Cities” while 3 of the top 10 islands of Asia were located in Thailand, and Hua Hin earned a nod for having the…

  • Thailand News

    Updated regulations on Thailand’s quarantine period for international arrivals

    Starting tomorrow, the mandatory quarantine period for vaccinated travellers entering Thailand will be reduced from 14 days to seven. Those who are either unvaccinated, or who cannot show proof of their vaccination status, face a longer quarantine period of between 10 to 14 days. The mandatory isolation period is waived for vaccinated travellers entering Thailand through the pilot reopening projects…

  • Thailand News

    Party at luxury villa in Phuket raided, homeowner allegedly assaults police officer

    Over the weekend, a party at a luxury villa in Phuket was raided and 19 people were arrested. One officer was allegedly assaulted in the course of the raid. The house was raided in the early morning hours in the Rawai sub-district. Police arrived at the villa around 1am after being tipped off that an illegal gathering was taking place.…

  • Visa Information

    Hungarian woman arrested in Koh Samui for 10-year overstay

    A Hungarian woman was arrested in Koh Samui by Surat Thani Immigration Police for a visa overstay… of more than 4,000 days. The woman admitted to having travelled to Thailand in November of 2009 on a tourist visa and then stayed with her husband without ever bothering to apply for any visa or extension. The woman’s visa expired at the…

  • Thailand video news

    Morning Top Stories Thailand | Night curfews, Samui party arrests | September 13

    The nightly curfew for the 29 provinces classified as “dark red” zones for high Covid-19 infection rates will remain in place, at least until the end of the month. Police are warning foreigners to avoid the protests and rallies in Bangkok, as well as other areas of the country, saying that expats who join will face deportation and be blacklisted…

  • Koh Samui News

    48 arrested at Covid-19 violating luxury Koh Samui birthday party

    Yet another illegal gathering, a party on Koh Samui, was busted by police for breaking the Covid-19 emergency restrictions. Early this morning, police raided Maithy Pool Lounge & Restaurant at a luxury resort in the hills behind Bangrak on the northeast corner of the island and arrested 48 people having a birthday party in defiance of Covid-19 rules. 27 foreigners…

  • Environment News

    Island of rubbish: Koh Samui’s pollution problem remains unsolved

    No one can argue with the appeal of visiting Thailand’s exotic, tropical islands. With their glistening palm trees, crystal-clear waters, and powdery, white sands, a trip down south is what many yearn to cross off their bucket lists. One of Thailand’s most iconic islands is that of Koh Samui. As the largest and most developed island in the Gulf of…

  • Koh Samui News

    Samui relaxes re-opening rules following low tourist demand

    The rules are being somewhat relaxed when it comes to the Samui Plus re-opening model, following disappointing figures. Ratchaporn Poolsawadee from the Tourism Association of Koh Samui says that from October 1, vaccinated tourists only need to spend the first night in a SHA Plus hotel, until they get the result of their PCR test. Prior to this, international tourists…

  • Things To Do

    5 must-visit islands on your first trip to Thailand

    First-time travellers to Thailand may have seen its stunning islands in a travel guidebook. And, it is a great idea to visit the islands when you arrive. As Thailand has many types of islands for every type of traveller, it is easy to find a tropical oasis upon landing. From upscale islands such as Koh Samui and Koh Phi Phi to…

  • Transport News

    Phuket-Samui flights on Bangkok Airways resume from today

    Flights between Phuket and Koh Samui that had originally been cancelled until the end of the month have now resumed nearly a week early as Bangkok Airways relaunched the flight route with limited service. From today, the Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus schemes will be reconnected as part of the Sandbox 7+7 Extension, allowing people to arrive in Phuket, spend…

  • Koh Samui News

    2 Samui partygoers have Covid-19, raiding police quarantine

    Following the raid and breakup of a party at a luxury villa in Koh Samui 2 nights ago, it was revealed that 5 of the people in attendance at the party had previously had Covid-19, likely from the Black Bamboo Club cluster resulting from another illegal party. Now at least 2 of the party attendees have tested positive for Covid-19,…

  • Koh Samui News

    Koh Samui flights resume Wednesday despite Covid-19

    The Samui Plus international reopening plan has seen a fraction of the success of the Phuket Sandbox reopening and were hampered by the grounding of nearly all domestic flights in Thailand, despite an exception for Sandbox flights. Now the province that’s home to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao will continue the Samui Plus programme and expects flights to…

  • Koh Samui News

    24 arrested at illegal party in Koh Samui luxury villa

    Perhaps people are getting fed up with Covid-19 restrictions keeping them isolated and unable to socialize and party. Or maybe the police are cracking down more on the illegal parties that often become Covid-19 clusters or superspreader events. Either way, stories of private parties in violation of Covid-19 Emergency Decree restrictions being busted seem to be cropping up more and…

  • Thailand video news

    Thailand News Today | 7+7 approved for Phuket, new record Covid deaths | August 17

    Police deny claims that live ammunition was shot at protesters on Sunday night outside Bangkok’s Din Daeng police station. The government is seeking to press charges against red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar over protests in Bangkok on Sunday. Phuket is instituting new measures as ordered by the provincial communicable disease committee. 239 coronavirus-related deaths, a new record high, and 20,128 new…

  • Tourism News

    Tourism operators hopeful after Phuket sandbox mandatory stay reduced to 7 days

    Tourism operators in Phuket and other southern destinations are feeling more hopeful after a reduction in the minimum stay required as part of the Phuket sandbox. Yesterday, the Centre for Economic Situation Administration approved a proposal to set the minimum stay at 7 days, down from the previous 14. After this period, sandbox tourists are free to travel to other…

  • Phuket News

    CCSA approves “7+7” island hop extension to “Phuket Sandbox”

    The so-called “7+7” island hop extension to the “Phuket Sandbox” reopening scheme has been approved by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, allowing travellers from overseas who are vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter Phuket, stay on the island for seven days, and then travel on a sealed route to specified destinations in Surat Thani, Krabi, and Phang Nga. Under the…

  • Tourism News

    TAT still pushing to launch Phuket 7+7 plan despite Covid-19

    Many of the original Sandbox-style plans to reopen tourist destinations to international travellers have been delayed as Covid-19 outbreaks spread and domestic travel has been mostly shut down, but the Tourism Authority of Thailand is still hoping to launch its 7+7 model to allow Phuket Sandbox travellers to stay one week before continuing on to a handful of other destinations.…

  • Things To Do

    Top 5 family-friendly hotels in Koh Samui

  • Thailand video news

    Thailand News Today | More BKK protester v police clashes, PM revokes media crackdown | August 11

    Pro-democracy activists clashed again with police in Bangkok last evening. After widespread criticism from Thai media and human rights organisations, Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has backed down and repealed his order banning the posting of information that could cause ‘fear’. Hopes are fading for a tourism revival in the third quarter of this year after the US government cautioned its…

  • Things To Do

    Top 5 scuba diving snorkelling tours in Samui

    Koh Samui is home to many snorkelling and dive sites – each spectacular and unique. Its waters are rich in vibrant reefs, coral and marine life, thus offering memorable underwater experiences. Nowadays, these terrains are easier to explore than ever with the help of guided tours. This is why we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 scuba diving and snorkelling…

  • Things To Do

    Top 5 Island Tours in Samui

    Koh Samui has an abundance of tropical paradises to explore. Its many surrounding islands offer breathtaking scenery, serene beaches and ideal conditions for sailing, snorkelling, or simply relaxing. In addition, when travelling to these islands from Samui, journey times are relatively short. Thus, island-hopping is an easy feat and activities are remarkably varied. Listed below are the top 5 island tours…

  • Best of

    The 5 Best Cafes in Koh Samui

    Tropical beaches on Koh Samui are what is the island is most famous for, but it’s also packed with modern cafes serving up heavenly coffee and food. From Thai to wholesome cuisine and coffees of all kinds, we’ve listed the best cafes in Samui. cafe Top 5 Cafes in Koh Samui 1. Vikasa Life Samui Cafe Founded by 2 European raw…

  • Best of

    5 Best Seafood Restaurants in Koh Samui

    The waters surrounding Koh Samui are a rich source of fresh seafood. Thus, finding seafood on the island is easy with a variety of fish caught daily. From beachfront restaurants to local eateries, these are the best seafood restaurants to try. Top 5 Seafood Restaurants in Koh Samui 1. Samui Seafood Grill & Restaurant For authentic Thai cuisine, head to Samui Seafood…