Angthong Marine Park: as good as day-trips get

May 042012
 

Let’s cover the basics of Angthong Marine Park quite quickly: it’s beautiful, and you need to go there. Actually, you’ve probably already seen it without realising. When Leonardo DiCaprio wasn’t splendidly shirtless and fighting crocodiles, his character in The Beach spent some time at Angthong’s beautiful, bright blue lake: Thale Nai, or Emerald Lake.

Angthong Marine Park Emerald Lake  

Angthong Marine Park: quick stats
  • 42 islands comprise this protected archipelago. If you’re picturing a “park-park”, replace picnic benches in your mind with, oh, three dozen more islands.
  • 41 of the islands are uninhabited. Sea gypsies are said to live on one, living as traditional fishermen. Continue reading »
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How to survive a long flight with your children

Feb 282012
 

An added bonus to a Koh Samui holiday, perhaps, is a long flight with children. Are you looking forward to it? Before reaching for sedatives, consider some slightly less drastic action.

surviving a long flight with children

We’ve rounded up all sorts of games, comforts and distractions to keep your children happy while flying to Samui. Click on any of the links below to access in-flight games, books and activities that come highly recommended by fellow parents. Whatever happens, there’s a stiff drink waiting at the other end. (For you, not for them). Continue reading »

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Sanuk: very cheeky, very funny – very Thai.

Feb 152012
 

Across Samui’s popular beaches, food and snack vendors often patrol the shore with all sorts of yummy things: fresh corn on the cob, ice cream, meat sticks…. Here we salute the man who truly knows his target audience. (Parents – this is what you’re up against).

As a tourist family – a mum, dad and small toddler – played in the waves at Choeng Mon Beach together, Ice Cream Man walked right up to the toddler and began his transaction – totally ignoring the parents. Continue reading »

Samui Jenga Championships: a really good idea?

Jan 242012
 

One of the best parts of a Koh Samui holiday is doing nothing. Glorious fat nothing! To this end, Jenga tops our list of favourite pastimes. It’s the perfect game for all ages whether poolside or barside. When was the last time you indulged your scary competitive streak and played a few rounds?

JENGA

Many Samui pubs have the game available for patrons, and you can buy your own set (mini or normal-sized) at the Fisherman’s Village market Continue reading »

Choeng Mon Beach: 12 reasons to stay near here

Jan 112012
 

Why stay near Samui’s Choeng Mon Beach? Because there’s lots to love. Here’s our totally impartial answer – 12 good reasons from its biggest fans.

  1. The sand on Choeng Mon is the softest, whitest and sugariest of anywhere on Samui.
  2. Charming, casual beach bungalows, beach massage huts and restaurants make up much of the beach-front, giving it a very personal feel.
  3. It’s just a short walk (or shorter drive)  from our rental house – not a bad morning commute?
  4. Spending time on Choeng Mon Beach still feels like you know a really good secret.

  1. It draws a happy crowd of all ages – both families and couples alike. Coming to Samui with kids? Choeng Mon sand makes perfect castles. (The Full Moon crowd and party set tends to stick to livelier (rowdier) Chaweng). Continue reading »
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Koh Samui Christmas: what to bring, what to expect?

Jan 052012
 

A new and improved white Christmas? With some planning and a measure of good cheer, a Koh Samui Christmas could become your family’s default holiday preference. Breakfast on the beach, followed by presents? A beautiful day together, then Christmas dinner – that someone else cooks and cleans up? If you distill ‘the important bits’ – whatever that might be to your family – you can have your Christmas pudding & eat it too. Here’s why a Koh Samui Christmas is our favourite kind.

What’s Koh Samui’s weather at Christmas? November is Koh Samui’s rainy season, which can run into December. However, by the end of the month, Koh Samui Christmas weather should be hot days and lots of sun. (“Should“. Christmas Day 2011 was rough seas and a big breeze – no swimming off the mince pies). If you’ve come from somewhere cold, you might not care – “bad” weather in Samui still means shorts & T-shirts. Continue reading »

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Koh Samui with kids: entertaining them out of the sun

Jan 032012
 

Is Koh Samui good for kids? Most definitely. Koh Samui is an ideal family destination – kids are welcome everywhere & there’s all sorts to keep them entertained. Thais love children and eschew a “more the merrier, all ages” attitude – as long as they’re well-behaved! Ensure a perfect and stress-free holiday to Samui with children, using our helpful suggestions & activity ideas.

A cautious note about nudity and breast-feeding: Thailand is a very modest country. While children and babies are beloved and welcome everywhere, please respect this buttoned-up culture and note that breast-feeding should be done out of public view, as discreetly as possible. Also note that children and even small toddlers should wear swimming clothes on the beach – you never see Thai toddlers undressed in public. For more detail, read more about what to wear in Thailand, as well as some dos/dont’s in Thailand. Continue reading »

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