Koh Samui shopping: bye bye to your Baht

A Samui souvenir? Whether it’s a wooden elephant or a silk wall hanging – it’s no difficulty parting with some Baht in your hunt for a take-home piece of Thailand. Thai triangle cushions travel well in an extra duffel bag, and silks pack lighter than anything. Here are a few things to look forward to about Koh Samui shopping…

• Thai silk – Jim Thompson Silk. Wide range of 100% silk items in traditional and contemporary designs: clothing, furniture and accessories. Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui, 38/2 Moo 3, Bophut, Chaweng Beach     
  
• Jewelry. (Only buy jewelry from authorised shops with TAT license – scams are common.) Classic Gems in Chaweng offers hand-made, 14 or 18 karat jewelry and a certificate of authenticity to boot. Have something custom-made and delivered in just three days – won’t you look the star? Opposite Samui Central Beach Resort in Chaweng.

• Thai crafts & triangle cushions. Visit Bophut high street, Nathon town or Fishermen’s Village to find wooden carvings, silk wall hangings, and the ubiquitous Thai triangular cushion. Any of these provide the perfect Samui take-away. (Beware: while many of these shops are quite happy to sell you Buddha statues or images, they can’t (legally) be taken out of the country).
• Local Samui rum – Magic Alambic rum . This delicious local rum (in a variety of flavours) come boxed in handsome wooden boxes. Alambic’s amongst our favourite Koh Samui attractions. 44/5 Moo.3, Namuang.
• Art. Copies of famous paintings are available all over Samui. For a truly special keepsake – ask the artists if they do commissioned or custom work. Many do.
• T-shirts/postcards/paraphernalia. They’ll basically come to you.

To our point of view, any of these would make great presents for a Koh Samui Christmas. Plan to do a lot of shopping? A digital luggage scale saves any panic about excess baggage fees – 

Clip the strap around your suitcase handle, push a button, pick it up & find out its weight – to the gram. You’ll know exactly what to squeeze into your carry-on after a successful Samui shopping spree.