My wife and I are headed to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia at the end of this month for our 25th wedding anniversary. Your videos on Thailand and Vietnam have been so helpful. We’re staying in Karon Beach area down in Phuket, but you made Koh Samui look so great we’ll have to check it out in the future. Keep up the great videos!
In Phuket you have lots of beaches which are hidden, long beaches, lonesome beaches in the North - you can walk on Mai Khao beach for kilometers without seeing anybody.
What a bombshell at the end!!!🤣You caught us completely off-guard by saying Koh Samui lol. I feel like y'all just had a completely different experience from us in Phuket & I feel like it's solely because we stayed in Patong rather than Kamala. It makes us want to go back to Phuket just to give it another chance. Although I will say, I don't blame you. That lady with the restaurant next to y'alls Airbnb was outstanding. We LOVED Koh Samui & fell completely in love with it for some of the things y'all mentioned (restaurants on the beaches in Fisherman's Village, night markets), & there were some HUGE grocery stores but they were in the center of the island. Hannah & I have talked about going back to Phuket, & we'll 100% stay in Kamala Beach next time because it seriously has everything (without all the touts😅). Our biggest recommendation to anyone going to Phuket is EXACTLY what you guys said. Definitely don't stay in Patong unless you're looking for a party scene🤣 Koh Samui really is a dream though. We're already trying to work it into our plans for next year. EXCELLENT video guys!!!
We really enjoyed Koh Samui and would definitely go back; we just wish we had a vehicle to get to those huge grocery stores. 😆 We are already planning next year's SE Asia adventure!
That is the downside of using public transportation. The freedom that we would have if we could afford to rent a car would allow us to get to some of those places that we otherwise miss. Someday we will get there!! 😃
I have always relied on you two for so many reasons , primarily because you ride that fine line between backpackers and luxury travel. I always know that I can find my kind of travel advice from you. Also, I always know that at some “ two thirsty” will crop up and that always tickles my funny bone. Thank you both for being so genuine and approachable. Take care and happy travels👍🙏🤙✌️🍻
Thank you so much for the kind words, we very much appreciate the support! And yes, two thirsty here in the hot, humid weather of SE Asia comes up more often than not! 😂
Hi, Jeff. We have learned so much about what we like in a destination over the last year in a half of travel. We will continue to search for that perfect spot, maybe someday we will find it. 😀 Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie Well I hope you find that spot, but I also hope you continue to travel, and doing the videos. I've learned a lot from them, and enjoyed them as well 🍻
They are both such great locations! We loved Nai Yang in Phuket, near the airport. Very much a beachy, island vibe. Very laid back and friendly. We didn’t explore as much of Koh Samui as we were there for a very relaxing resort week, but this video has made me want to go back and explore more of the island.
Song Taew = two rows, referring to the 2 rows of seats in the back. Did you notice everyone approach the driver first? In other places they have a set route & you just wave them down & hop on. When you get off you pay the driver 10 baht (in Pattaya & Jomtien anyway) If it turns a corner & you want to go straight, you just ring the bell, get off, walk a little in the right direction & jump on another. I've not yet been to Koh Phuket or Koh Samui, but I've got 30 days on Samui coming in June/July. Thanks for the vids guys 👍 🇦🇺
Thank you, Shane! You would think that we could remember that!!🙄 In Chang Mia it is a set price, which we prefer, we don't like to haggle much but we do like the ease of jumping on and getting around town. You will enjoy Koh Samui! Thank you for watching and safe travels!! Cheers!!🍻
You won't regret it! There are plenty of places to eat, the beach is excellent, and finding transportation to the rest of the island is easy. Enjoy your trip and safe travels! Cheers!!🍻
Absolutely, I couldn't agree more. While Phuket takes the lead in several categories, the overall atmosphere on Koh Samui exudes a more enjoyable and laid-back vibe.
Great video Brian & Carrie. I wanted to suggest the next time you find yourself in Phuket, there are quite a few other beautiful beaches. Surin Beach the Thai government has kicked all the vendors and party zones off the beach and it's very beautiful. You also have Layan, Bang Tao, Nai Thin, Banana Beach, Freedom Beach & Nai Harn. All worth spending some time at. May I also suggest visiting Krabi at some point as there are many beautiful beaches as well as many tours that take you up Phang Nga Bay with all the mangroves, caves ect. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts :)
These are all great tips for our next visit! Thank you so much. The difficulty for us using public transportation is we miss out on some of the outlying places. Thank you for watching our channel! Cheers!!🍻
Fantastic video , very informative. I was blown away by your Koh Samui video so I’ve booked for next March, 2 nights in Bangkok,6 nights in a beach front resort in Chaweng & 5 nights beach front boutique hotel on Bangrak so a mix of party and chill . Thanks for videos they are brilliant. Happy Travels to you both 🍻
John, that sounds like the perfect itinerary!! Thank you so much for watching and commenting, we very much appreciate the support. Safe travels! Cheers!!🍻
Great video! There are many big Supermarkets on Samui, Lotus, Big C, Tops, Tesco, Lotus, Makro as well as many small local fresh food places to buy fruit, veg, fish, chicken etc. You can also negotiate in taxis, depending on the area and how busy they are will influence your success but I think the trucks are more fun. I would agree regarding street food, it’s harder to find on Samui (depending where you stay) compared to Phuket. I’m visiting both islands again next year but Samui still wins for me 😄
Brian: LOVE the shirt! Should have bought three. Once again, another great video with excellent content. Let's travellers know how much it will cost, to the dollar for travel like you have shown in your videos. Top notch. You show place after place that you don't have to sacrifice quality long term travel with amazing experiences while doing so on a budget. You show the old adage that "take care of the nickels and dimes and the dollars take care of themselves". $260 for a month for two at the grocery store is a joke at less than $10 a day. Happy travels in Kuala Lumpur!!
Thank you so much Robert for your support. We really appreciate it and it encourages us to continue doing what we are doing 😊. There are so many wonderful places to travel that are affordable, making it accessible to anyone who wants to travel. Cheers 🍻
Very interesting. It just goes to show you that regardless of how many categories a place may excel in, the most important thing is how you feel in it. Cheers!
Awesome video, and thanks for the insightful comparison. We've been to Phuket several times and loved each visit. Our initial trip was the most enchanting, with its untouched authenticity. Over the years, though, we've seen more development, crowded beaches, diminishing views, and a noticeable shift in local attitudes, seemingly becoming more entitled and materialistic. It's clear how money can alter people's nature, even if it does bring wealth. Nowadays, I'm drawn to less touristy, more undiscovered destinations like certain areas in Indonesia (excluding Bali), Cambodia, or quieter locales in Malaysia. Here's to a wonderful 2024, filled with health, happiness, and success!
Thank you! I can only imagine how it's changed over the years. We look forward to visiting Cambodia soon as we've heard it's much less touristy and still has a much more local feel. Happy New Year!!
You made the right choice samui after going 30 odd times is my permanent home in a couple of weeks once you get the skills and want to get on a scooter your idea of where to holiday will be samui
Koh Samui was our winner between the two based on the chill vibe. Having a scooter would have made Phuket more enjoyable but ultimately we believe that Koi Samui still wins out. Thank you for watching!! Cheers!!🍻
Such a helpful and mindful review. Thank you! We are going in January and leveraged your video for planning. Can’t believe Koh Samui won your pick at the end 😂😂😂
I admire your determination Guys, you are doing excellent viodeo with lots of information, could be really helpfull for full time travellers. For me personally, despite loving travel I would never go full time (nomads). I love my job. Why would I retire early? I love my house. Why would I sell it? I love my family, why would I leave them? I love travelling and seeing new places. I do it whithout compromising the rest. We travel 2-3 months a year. Been everywhere in the world (well, almost) Africa is the last continent to visit and we will do it this year. But... I am so happy to come back to my home and sleep in my bad! Seeing my kids and grandkids sharing all amazing experience we had. Going to my gym and jogging in the park next to my house. Coming back to your friendly routine after travel is so relaxing. I cannot even imagine how tiring it is to travel practically non stop. And what is next? you settle eventually one day. Are you going to buy a house, or rent? Where>? at home or someplace far away from your kids and grandkids? cutting connection with your family is really tough as well You have each other, for sure. but is it enough?
Hi Angela! Thank you so much for watching 😊. You makes some really great points, all of which anyone deciding on the path of full-time travel has to weigh out. The beauty is it's a life we can all structure to look exactly how we want it to, what fits best. We truly love the freedom of full time travel, having no set schedule, and knowing we can return home to connect with friends and family whenever we want or need to. It sounds like you are very well traveled and have found the best path for you... That's awesome!! Hopefully you are able you check Africa off your list soon. Safe travels 😊
Thanks for the info! I would have found it a nice plus if when you were talking about locations you input the text of the location on the video so listeners can see it. It's very difficult to hear these locations and translate them to a map to see where you're referring to like the beach names and what resorts you needed to go through to get to them. Also when you talk about a flight from here to there, how much did you pay and how much were the little red trucks, etc. etc.
Agree 100% with your analysis. Samui wins hands down purely for me as it has that small island chilled vibe where as Phuket just doesn’t have that vibe. Been to Phuket 4 times and Samui about 20 +. I think having a car would also make a difference in Samui regarding accessing the bigger supermarkets eg Lotus and Makro Great video 🙏🏻
Thank you! That is nice to read from someone who has been there many times. Not having our own transportation does limit us in a few ways. Hopefully, someday we can afford to rent a car. Thank you again for watching our channel! Cheers!!🍻
In Samui there's a place called Big C, supermarket. Probably good to rent a jeep or car if you're staying a month. Easy to drive in Samui, likely score a good rental deal with your AirBnB host.
A car rental is a great option for the ease of getting around the island. For us, as budget travelers, we have to be watchful and a month rental is quite steep 😢. Thanks so much for watching.
I lived in a beach house at the north end of fisherman’s village ( next to anantara) for 5 years and now Phuket for the last 10… at one point I had to commute between both islands for a 3 month period - still don’t know which one I like better lol cheers nice video!
Great vlog. Keep up the great work! It's nice the way you present information, like a lot of educators do presentations; organized, informative, and to the point. I'm glad that I accidentally came upon your vlogs a few vlogs back. I look forward to seeing other places you will be traveling to and although I've been to a lot of places over the decades and on all major continents, it's good to get current information in case some places have changed a bit. I hope you also eventually end up in Africa. Ghana, Morocco (Marrakesh), and Tunisia were my favorites. I did Tunisia and Morocco solo in the early/mid 80s and Ghana solo twice, in back-to-back years, in the early/mid 2000s. I think you guys will really like it there. It's a laid back vibe and the people are great, especially in Ghana. Greetings from Los Angeles
All of those places are very intriguing to us and we will eventually get there. We always need to find places outside of the Schengen so any of those places are easy enough to get to from Europe. Thank you for all of the continued support!! Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie Yes, get out of the Schengen. There's a big world out there!!! The only continent that I haven't been on since starting my solo travels as a young teen in the early/mid 70s, is Antarctica. I don't do seriously cold weather. LOL! Also, the Bahia region of Brazil is fabulous and should also be put on your list if you haven't already been. I was there around 19 years ago. A close friend of 5 decades, left here and permanently moved there, 9 years ago. She retired very early, as did I, but she lives in a house right on the beach in Bahia. Greetings from Los Angeles
We actually ended up booking the exact apartment you did - very good location I thought. I highly recommend anyone who is used to driving on the left rent a car on Samui. It offers you such a different experience. We found a supermarket nearby and a great wine shop just down the road from the apartment in Bangrak. I too wish the Songtaews in Samui had a set price Brian - I hated the haggling the few times we had to do it. I am 100% with you... Phuket may win on paper but like you Samui won for us - been three times now and the traffic in Phuket killed it for me.
Good comparisons I have been to both of these islands but personally I actually preferred Koh Samui over Phuket. I actually didn't enjoy Phuket that much although Surin, Kamala and Kata beaches were nice, and Big Buddha and Karon Viewpoint was good too but far too touristy, too many scammers and don't get me started on Patong (yuck!). But I do agree with the comparisons with airports, hotels, accommodations, foods, activities, shops, but I do prefer the laid back vibe like Koh Samui but overall I feel Krabi is better than Koh Samui and Phuket
We agree with your analysis. Ultimately Koh Samui, in our opinion wins out over Phuket for all the reasons that you mention. We have heard nice things about Krabi, one day we may have to visit! Thank you for watching and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie Krabi is a good mix - not too busy like Phuket but not too quiet or relaxed like Koh Samui either - it has a good vibe. You have the shops like 711 stores, restaurants and a few bars (nothing like Patong area in terms of party and clubs). Access to Phi Phi Island is quicker than in Phuket, plus they have Railey as well as other island hopping tours like the 4-Island Tour and Hong Island Tours. I think Krabi has the perfect balance compared with Phuket and Koh Samui IMO
@@Ben_____777 For going to places like Krabi Town, Klong Muang Beach, Tiger Cave Temple, Hot Springs and Emerald Pool, I just used a driver to take me around. I stayed in Ao Nang and many of the tours were island hopping tours
Easy to remember TUK TUK, after my first trip there I realise I needed my own transport so my second visit I rented a moped never ridden a moped in my life but I learnt in Phuket
Both are such great locations; i wonder if you guys have been to Krabi ? Would you do a comparison of Samui vs Krabi please…. Thank you again for all amazing helpful enjoyable videos with your awesome research
Yes, definitely a surprise there at the end after Phuket wins almost every category but you prefer Samui. 😅 Of the two, I've only been to Samui, but that was 25 years ago. I did have a great time and it was even more of a chill vibe way back then. Feeling like I've got to give Phuket a shot next winter, but yeah, may wind up going to both. 🤣 Thanks for the video!
Koh Samui is much more built up now then 25 years ago I'm sure but still has a nice, easy, vibe that we enjoy. We were actually told that we could skip Phuket by others but decided that we wanted to know for ourselves and glad that we did. We really enjoyed the island and especially Kamala Beach. If you can, go to both!! As always, thank you for the support!! Cheers!!🍻
Trying to arrange a family trip to Phuket for later in the year and after watching your previous video settled on Kamala Beach. Possible that we will book the same hotel as we feel that this is the best fit for us. We haven't been to Phuket but visited Koh Samui 6 years ago and loved it, we intend to make it back in the future.
Two thumbs up to my two favorite Washingtonians !!! Go Seahawks !!! Go Mariners !!! No liquid sunshine in Thailand !!! I used to live in Everett and that was lots of liquid sunshine all year round. More power to both of you and keep on having fun !!!!
I lived in phuket five months. It's huge. When I went to koh samui by ferry it's a bit shock to me. Even difficulties to find cheaper accommodation for longer term and food availability, finally I found myself in peace with this koh samui back in 2002.And lived there for 2years.If like to go for a city I'd just take a ferry ride to' Surathani' stay there for couple of days and come back koh samui. Koh samui under jurisdiction of Surathani borough.Almost everything there as phuket town. Phuket beaches are vibrant.By lowering expectation muh I found out Koh samui much quiet and lovelier place for me and my soul. Back in 2002-2004.Don't know now.
Nice comparison. These are two places in Thailand we haven't visited yet, so your insight is appreciated, especially since your perpetual travel style seems very similar to ours. This is our life - not a vacation, so we need access to certain things. We also prefer to not rent cars or motorbikes. Walking is our preferred mode of transportation for the free exercise. So walkable places and public transportation/grab/songthaew's (little red trucks) are important to us. We also need access to grocery stores and local markets for fruit and vegetables. So again, thanks for that info. You mentioned a lack of grocery stores on Samui, however, I do notice at least two major stores on Google maps. It does seem like it would require some form of transportation to access them, so definitely less convenient. Like you, we prefer our beach destinations to have a more chill vibe, so Samui would seem preferable despite being a bit less convenient. Fortunately, our lifestyle allows us to visit both whenever we like. Cheers and safe travels.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Yes, there are grocery stores in Koh Samui, they just were not convenient enough for where we were staying. We have found that the 7-11 stores are adequate enough for our needs and you can always find fresh fruit stands somewhere. The Grab was very useful for take-out as well. It is nice to have the option to visit both Koh Samui and Phuket if you like. We will be getting away from the beach all together in mid-July while we travel through Europe for 3 months. Again, nice to have the option!! 😀 Thanks again for watching and commenting! Safe travels. Cheers!!🍻
Totally agree with you Koh Samui is also my favourite airport by far so far, for the same reason's you have mentioned. I felt it to be totally relaxing and the beautiful plants and flowers I'd say is part of that. I was totally not expecting the free snacks and drinks there also, that is usually reserved for wealthy people that can afford/prepared to pay for VIP lounge access
Nice video… I’m considering retiring to Thailand in a few years and have been doing some research too. I also am looking for some place a bit more relaxing, such as Koh Samui… Have you considered or gone to Krabi? It’s a boat ride from Phuket. I’ve heard Ao Nang is another good place in the Krabi town area… Railay beach is in that area…
We did consider going while in Phuket but decided to go on the Maya Bay excursion instead. We may go next year when we are back in the area. Thank you for watching and good luck on the retirement plans!! Cheers!!🍻
Thanks for that very insightful info on those 2 locations. My wife and I just arrived in Thailand a few days ago and was wondering how you guys are combating the mosquito issues like preventing bites (impossible) and keeping them out (impossible again) of your house/condo/hotel rooms?
Hello! We did end up buying some bug spray toward the end of our stay, but it wasn't too bad. Now that it is a month later in the season, I'm sure it is much worse than it was. Hopefully, it doesn't ruin your stay! Good luck and thank you for watching our channel!! Cheers!!🍻
Hi again. My wife and I have booked our flights for March and we fly direct into Phuket. We have looked into flying from Phuket to Da Nang and the prices are very reasonable. Would you recommend that we travel around Thailand ( Ko Samui... Phi Phi ) Etc Or 1 week in Phuket and 1 week in Da Nang ?
For a two-week vacation, we would stay a week in Phuket, do a couple of day excursions, and then fly to Da Nang. Make sure you get the visa to enter Vietnam online. Hoi An was a high lite for us and an easy Uber from Da Nang. Thank you for watching and safe travels. Cheers!!🍻
@23:05 did you mean two and a half weeks or months? Since it's a max stay of 45 days I think now, not sure if it's reverted to the original 30 day limit...
We left for Vietnam for 30 days in between our time in Thailand so we stayed 45 days twice. Our cost breakdown video coming out next week will explain how we traveled, where we stayed, and how much we spent overall while in Thailand. Thank you for clarifying!! 😀 Cheers!!🍻
I think Koh Samui lost out in quite a few areas due to inaccessibility issues due to not being able to ride a scooter. However you are right about there only being a couple of decent supermarkets.
Very true, Paul. We are at a disadvantage by using only public transportation, not only in SE Asia but in countries like Romania as well. For now, renting a car is out of our budget. Thank you for watching and commenting!! Cheers!!🍻
Hello Brian and Carrie! I found your channel recently and I'm really enjoying your Thailand series, as I am planning a month long trip in December, including 3 days in Koh Samui and 6 days in Phuket! I wondered if you can share the details of the Phi Phi Islands tour you did. Would you recommend this particular company? Thank you very much!
Hi! Yes, we would highly recommend the company and tour we went on. Here is the link to the one we did: simbaseatrips.com/tours/phi-phi-sunrise-2/ It was a wonderful day ❤️. Thanks so much for watching!!
@@BrianandCarriethank you so very much for sharing the link with me! And thanks to your video and recommendation, I also decided to book accomodation in Fisherman's Village in Koh Samui. All the best to you both! ❤
I’ve watched two of your videos and I feel we have very similar taste when it comes to travel. So my question is: if Phuket won all categories, what would be the reason the go back to Koh? What would you do different this time?
Agreed mostly but mostly too that you says if you were to go back next trip, it would be Koh Samui. Personally it's Samui for me for sure even though they lose out in transportation, hotels, food, supermarkets but what the heck we go to enjoy the place not for all these..... Also one important thing , Samui alomg with it's people are much more friendlier.
Koh Samui is just more relaxing and why else do you go to a beach location in Thailand then to relax? Koi Samui for us!! Thanks for watching David. Cheers!🍻
Did you need a visa for 2 1/2 months in Thailand? We are going there in September and I read that if you stay less that 45 days, you do not need one. My husband and I LOVE you guys!! We are hoping that some day our paths will cross.
We stayed in Thailand for 45 days, before leaving for Vietnam. We then returned to Thailand for another 45 days so we didn't need to extend our visa. Thank you so much for watching our channel and safe travels to Thailand, you two will have a wonderful time!! Cheers!!🍻
Samui in a landslide. On Samui use Food panda or Havgover, not Grab for food. There is street food markets every night in Samui, but May be hard to find for short term tourists. The array of 5 star hotels in mind boggling. I love the Andaman and PHuket is a seriously fun place. But for longer stays… it’s Koh Samui. And ur right, that airport is a gem!
Hi, Todd. Thank you for all the great information. We agree that Koh Samui is more our style, we loved our month-long stay and could see going back. We do know that there are large grocery stores on the island but without our own transportation they weren't convenient for us to use on a regular basis. Thank you for watching and adding these tips!!! Cheers!!🍻
At the airport you are not getting free snacks because that airport is privately owned and it is the most expensive to fly into and out of especially internationally. If you are flying from another country then fly into Bangkok or directly to Phuket.
As a budget Solo traveler which islands in Thailand are the best for privacy, making friends & suitable to stay for couple of days each, Pls help, I need tips..
@@BrianandCarrie I know where you mean now. Easily the best and most beautiful airport you can fly from. Flew in at night and departed early morning. You see how amazing this airport is during the day.
That's a tough question!! We would say Thailand simply for the food. The Algarve has great beaches and climate so it really isn't a bad choice. We would still pick the Algarve for a long-term stay.
Just a question i plan to visit samui for 2 days and was wondering are there like taxi service which is available for the entire day. Would you recommend such a service just for more privacy
Yes there were taxis available, but they can be quite pricey. We only used it to go from the airport and back, otherwise the red trucks are the main for of transportation.
I’m traveling in a few weeks to Thailand, may you update me with the requirements for USA travelers to Thailand, it’s a little bit confusing. Thanks so much
Couldn’t find grocery stores in Samui?? There’s several Tescos, Makros and Big C on the island. Also a big difference between the two is Police checks everywhere in Phuket. Even with a proper license and helmet, it’s an inconvenience you won’t have in Samui.
Hi Marc. There are grocery stores on Koh Samui but not close to where we were staying. Without our own transportation, we were limited to smaller convenience stores. The Big C in Phuket was easy to get to and had everything that we were looking for. We heard a lot about police checks but never encountered any. Good thing!! Thank you for watching and commenting! Cheers!!🍻
Very very hard comparison to make comparing Samui with Phuket. Samui is a tiny island, Phuket is vast and covers so many different towns. Not really a fair comparison. Also, u must have missed the HUGE warehouse type supermarket in Samui. There’s a Big C, Lotus, Macro…. Not just 7/11. Would have been a great idea to do a video between the towns in Phuket and which one was the clear winner. Great to watch tho as I’ve been going back for the last 9 years and I love both places but you can’t begin to compare them to each other x x
Hi, Leanne. We agree that the two are very different, hopefully, that was clear in the video, we did our best to point that out. We have had many of our viewers ask us which place we would return to and if we would do a comparison video, so we did. We didn't miss the supermarkets they just aren't easily accessible without transportation. Thanks for watching. Cheers!!🍻
Hi, Brian. We have a video coming out in a few weeks comparing the two. The cost of living in Da Nang is tough to beat but the food in Thailand is amazing. You really can't go wrong with either one but if you really want to leave close to a really nice beach, have nice accommodations, and still save money, Da Nang would be a good place to start. Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie I agree about Thailand just left there, in Cebu, PI currently but would love to travel to Da Nang in a couple of weeks. I was going back to Thailand but not now.
i say ditch both and head to Koh Chang. Look it up. I've been to all and Koh Chang is absolutely best in Thailand. Even farangs in the island have Thai ID.
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Great tips -- We're heading there in July for 2.5 weeks. Planing to do the road trip from Phuket to Koh Smaui
That sounds amazing! Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Waouw you covered just about everything ! I have not visited either, so your break down is very helpful 🙏👍
I like these 2 RUclipsrs. They are very frank and honest which are very helpful. Most others are not like them.
Thank you so much. We are trying to do something a little different than the rest. 😀
My wife and I are headed to Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia at the end of this month for our 25th wedding anniversary. Your videos on Thailand and Vietnam have been so helpful. We’re staying in Karon Beach area down in Phuket, but you made Koh Samui look so great we’ll have to check it out in the future. Keep up the great videos!
We love Koh Samui. You will love it if you get a chance to visit! Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
In Phuket you have lots of beaches which are hidden, long beaches, lonesome beaches in the North - you can walk on Mai Khao beach for kilometers without seeing anybody.
Thank you for making my future holiday in Koh Samui easy. You are good communicators.
You're very welcome, so happy you found it helpful. Have a wonderful holiday 😊
What a bombshell at the end!!!🤣You caught us completely off-guard by saying Koh Samui lol. I feel like y'all just had a completely different experience from us in Phuket & I feel like it's solely because we stayed in Patong rather than Kamala. It makes us want to go back to Phuket just to give it another chance. Although I will say, I don't blame you. That lady with the restaurant next to y'alls Airbnb was outstanding. We LOVED Koh Samui & fell completely in love with it for some of the things y'all mentioned (restaurants on the beaches in Fisherman's Village, night markets), & there were some HUGE grocery stores but they were in the center of the island. Hannah & I have talked about going back to Phuket, & we'll 100% stay in Kamala Beach next time because it seriously has everything (without all the touts😅). Our biggest recommendation to anyone going to Phuket is EXACTLY what you guys said. Definitely don't stay in Patong unless you're looking for a party scene🤣 Koh Samui really is a dream though. We're already trying to work it into our plans for next year. EXCELLENT video guys!!!
We really enjoyed Koh Samui and would definitely go back; we just wish we had a vehicle to get to those huge grocery stores. 😆 We are already planning next year's SE Asia adventure!
Excellent video, as always clear and trying to educate and not carry a bias, which can be hard. Its on the bucket list soon
Thank you, Bruce!!
Thank you for taking and walk on the cool beach 😍😍🍻🍻👍👍✔✔
We love the Thai beaches!! ❤
Great video again! Really useful info. Looking forward to your next vid 👍🏻
Thank you for watching!!!🙂
Great video. Sadly looks like you never got down to Nai Harn Beach in Phuket. Best area ion the island.
That is the downside of using public transportation. The freedom that we would have if we could afford to rent a car would allow us to get to some of those places that we otherwise miss. Someday we will get there!! 😃
I have always relied on you two for so many reasons , primarily because you ride that fine line between backpackers and luxury travel. I always know that I can find my kind of travel advice from you. Also, I always know that at some “ two thirsty” will crop up and that always tickles my funny bone. Thank you both for being so genuine and approachable. Take care and happy travels👍🙏🤙✌️🍻
Thank you so much for the kind words, we very much appreciate the support! And yes, two thirsty here in the hot, humid weather of SE Asia comes up more often than not! 😂
Like the comparison videos. It really makes you think about what you're looking for in a destination. 🙂
Hi, Jeff. We have learned so much about what we like in a destination over the last year in a half of travel. We will continue to search for that perfect spot, maybe someday we will find it. 😀
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie Well I hope you find that spot, but I also hope you continue to travel, and doing the videos. I've learned a lot from them, and enjoyed them as well 🍻
We aren't going to stop anytime soon! We love what we are doing and have big plans moving forward.
They are both such great locations! We loved Nai Yang in Phuket, near the airport. Very much a beachy, island vibe. Very laid back and friendly. We didn’t explore as much of Koh Samui as we were there for a very relaxing resort week, but this video has made me want to go back and explore more of the island.
Yes, both locations are great. We would go back to Koh Samui before Phuket but wouldn't complain either way. 😁
Excellent video. We are going to Koh Samui this summer so fantastic helpful information. Thank you Cathy and Kevs x
Thank you, guys, so much for watching!! Enjoy Koh Samui and safe travels!!
Cheers!!🍻
Song Taew = two rows, referring to the 2 rows of seats in the back. Did you notice everyone approach the driver first? In other places they have a set route & you just wave them down & hop on. When you get off you pay the driver 10 baht (in Pattaya & Jomtien anyway) If it turns a corner & you want to go straight, you just ring the bell, get off, walk a little in the right direction & jump on another. I've not yet been to Koh Phuket or Koh Samui, but I've got 30 days on Samui coming in June/July. Thanks for the vids guys 👍 🇦🇺
Thank you, Shane! You would think that we could remember that!!🙄 In Chang Mia it is a set price, which we prefer, we don't like to haggle much but we do like the ease of jumping on and getting around town. You will enjoy Koh Samui! Thank you for watching and safe travels!!
Cheers!!🍻
Well I’m going to book 1 month in Koh Samui after watching your videos. I’m all about RELAXATION ! Fishermans Village for me.
You won't regret it! There are plenty of places to eat, the beach is excellent, and finding transportation to the rest of the island is easy. Enjoy your trip and safe travels!
Cheers!!🍻
Absolutely, I couldn't agree more. While Phuket takes the lead in several categories, the overall atmosphere on Koh Samui exudes a more enjoyable and laid-back vibe.
It was really an easy choice for us, despite Phuket leading in many of the categories Koi Samui just felt easy. Thank you for watching!
Cheers!!🍻
Another great video! Koh Samui is definitely the better island but I've lived here for almost 2 years so obviously biased. 😉
Great video, lots of useful information! 👍👍
Thank you!! 😀
Brilliant videos…really informative, fun and great insights. Has really helped with trip planning. Thank you, appreciated 😊
We appreciate you watching!!! 😊❤️
Great video Brian & Carrie. I wanted to suggest the next time you find yourself in Phuket, there are quite a few other beautiful beaches. Surin Beach the Thai government has kicked all the vendors and party zones off the beach and it's very beautiful. You also have Layan, Bang Tao, Nai Thin, Banana Beach, Freedom Beach & Nai Harn. All worth spending some time at. May I also suggest visiting Krabi at some point as there are many beautiful beaches as well as many tours that take you up Phang Nga Bay with all the mangroves, caves ect. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts :)
These are all great tips for our next visit! Thank you so much. The difficulty for us using public transportation is we miss out on some of the outlying places. Thank you for watching our channel!
Cheers!!🍻
Fantastic video , very informative. I was blown away by your Koh Samui video so I’ve booked for next March, 2 nights in Bangkok,6 nights in a beach front resort in Chaweng & 5 nights beach front boutique hotel on Bangrak so a mix of party and chill . Thanks for videos they are brilliant. Happy Travels to you both 🍻
John, that sounds like the perfect itinerary!! Thank you so much for watching and commenting, we very much appreciate the support. Safe travels!
Cheers!!🍻
Great video!
There are many big Supermarkets on Samui, Lotus, Big C, Tops, Tesco, Lotus, Makro as well as many small local fresh food places to buy fruit, veg, fish, chicken etc.
You can also negotiate in taxis, depending on the area and how busy they are will influence your success but I think the trucks are more fun.
I would agree regarding street food, it’s harder to find on Samui (depending where you stay) compared to Phuket.
I’m visiting both islands again next year but Samui still wins for me 😄
yeah, I also think that I saw you smiling and enjoying yourselves more on Koh Samui than on Phuket :) Have a good Sunday guys
Thank you, Karel. We did have a great time in Koh Samui! Thank you for watching!
Cheers!!🍻
Brian: LOVE the shirt! Should have bought three. Once again, another great video with excellent content. Let's travellers know how much it will cost, to the dollar for travel like you have shown in your videos. Top notch. You show place after place that you don't have to sacrifice quality long term travel with amazing experiences while doing so on a budget. You show the old adage that "take care of the nickels and dimes and the dollars take care of themselves". $260 for a month for two at the grocery store is a joke at less than $10 a day. Happy travels in Kuala Lumpur!!
Thank you so much Robert for your support. We really appreciate it and it encourages us to continue doing what we are doing 😊. There are so many wonderful places to travel that are affordable, making it accessible to anyone who wants to travel. Cheers 🍻
Very interesting. It just goes to show you that regardless of how many categories a place may excel in, the most important thing is how you feel in it. Cheers!
Very true, Jim. We just felt like we prefer the smaller vibe of Koh Samui. Thank you for watching and commenting!
Cheers!!🍻
Awesome video, and thanks for the insightful comparison. We've been to Phuket several times and loved each visit. Our initial trip was the most enchanting, with its untouched authenticity. Over the years, though, we've seen more development, crowded beaches, diminishing views, and a noticeable shift in local attitudes, seemingly becoming more entitled and materialistic. It's clear how money can alter people's nature, even if it does bring wealth. Nowadays, I'm drawn to less touristy, more undiscovered destinations like certain areas in Indonesia (excluding Bali), Cambodia, or quieter locales in Malaysia. Here's to a wonderful 2024, filled with health, happiness, and success!
Thank you! I can only imagine how it's changed over the years. We look forward to visiting Cambodia soon as we've heard it's much less touristy and still has a much more local feel. Happy New Year!!
Great video guys thanks for the in depth details. We are heading to Koh Samui for our first time in February and we want a chill vibe.😊
Thank you for all the comments, Elizabeth!! We will have a wonderful time!! 😊
You made the right choice samui after going 30 odd times is my permanent home in a couple of weeks once you get the skills and want to get on a scooter your idea of where to holiday will be samui
Koh Samui was our winner between the two based on the chill vibe. Having a scooter would have made Phuket more enjoyable but ultimately we believe that Koi Samui still wins out. Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
Such a helpful and mindful review. Thank you! We are going in January and leveraged your video for planning. Can’t believe Koh Samui won your pick at the end 😂😂😂
Phuket has got incredibly busy over the last couple of years. Have fun and safe travels!! 😊🍻
Thanks a lot. I like how relatable you both are. Good job.
Thank you!! 😊❤️
I admire your determination Guys, you are doing excellent viodeo with lots of information, could be really helpfull for full time travellers. For me personally, despite loving travel I would never go full time (nomads). I love my job. Why would I retire early? I love my house. Why would I sell it? I love my family, why would I leave them? I love travelling and seeing new places. I do it whithout compromising the rest. We travel 2-3 months a year. Been everywhere in the world (well, almost) Africa is the last continent to visit and we will do it this year. But... I am so happy to come back to my home and sleep in my bad! Seeing my kids and grandkids sharing all amazing experience we had. Going to my gym and jogging in the park next to my house. Coming back to your friendly routine after travel is so relaxing. I cannot even imagine how tiring it is to travel practically non stop. And what is next? you settle eventually one day. Are you going to buy a house, or rent?
Where>? at home or someplace far away from your kids and grandkids? cutting connection with your family is really tough as well
You have each other, for sure. but is it enough?
Hi Angela! Thank you so much for watching 😊. You makes some really great points, all of which anyone deciding on the path of full-time travel has to weigh out. The beauty is it's a life we can all structure to look exactly how we want it to, what fits best. We truly love the freedom of full time travel, having no set schedule, and knowing we can return home to connect with friends and family whenever we want or need to. It sounds like you are very well traveled and have found the best path for you... That's awesome!! Hopefully you are able you check Africa off your list soon. Safe travels 😊
I love Koh Samui one of my favourite places to stay. Heading to Phuket for the first time in August.
Hi, Michael. You will have a great time in Phuket. You really can't go wrong with either one, it will be interesting to hear which one you prefer.
Thanks for the info! I would have found it a nice plus if when you were talking about locations you input the text of the location on the video so listeners can see it. It's very difficult to hear these locations and translate them to a map to see where you're referring to like the beach names and what resorts you needed to go through to get to them. Also when you talk about a flight from here to there, how much did you pay and how much were the little red trucks, etc. etc.
We discuss pricing in all the videos on each location. Thank you for watching.
Cheers!
Agree 100% with your analysis. Samui wins hands down purely for me as it has that small island chilled vibe where as Phuket just doesn’t have that vibe. Been to Phuket 4 times and Samui about 20 +. I think having a car would also make a difference in Samui regarding accessing the bigger supermarkets eg Lotus and Makro
Great video 🙏🏻
Thank you! That is nice to read from someone who has been there many times. Not having our own transportation does limit us in a few ways. Hopefully, someday we can afford to rent a car. Thank you again for watching our channel!
Cheers!!🍻
In Samui there's a place called Big C, supermarket.
Probably good to rent a jeep or car if you're staying a month.
Easy to drive in Samui, likely score a good rental deal with your AirBnB host.
A car rental is a great option for the ease of getting around the island. For us, as budget travelers, we have to be watchful and a month rental is quite steep 😢. Thanks so much for watching.
I lived in a beach house at the north end of fisherman’s village ( next to anantara) for 5 years and now Phuket for the last 10… at one point I had to commute between both islands for a 3 month period - still don’t know which one I like better lol cheers nice video!
We wouldn't complain about spending time on either! 😊 Thank you for watching!!!
Thank you Guys - this was helpful.
Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
Awesome video love your guys vibe and how you bounce off each other. Learnt a lot thankyou :)
Thank you so much ❤️. So happy you enjoyed it.
Great vlog. Keep up the great work! It's nice the way you present information, like a lot of educators do presentations; organized, informative, and to the point. I'm glad that I accidentally came upon your vlogs a few vlogs back. I look forward to seeing other places you will be traveling to and although I've been to a lot of places over the decades and on all major continents, it's good to get current information in case some places have changed a bit.
I hope you also eventually end up in Africa. Ghana, Morocco (Marrakesh), and Tunisia were my favorites. I did Tunisia and Morocco solo in the early/mid 80s and Ghana solo twice, in back-to-back years, in the early/mid 2000s. I think you guys will really like it there. It's a laid back vibe and the people are great, especially in Ghana.
Greetings from Los Angeles
All of those places are very intriguing to us and we will eventually get there. We always need to find places outside of the Schengen so any of those places are easy enough to get to from Europe. Thank you for all of the continued support!!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie Yes, get out of the Schengen. There's a big world out there!!! The only continent that I haven't been on since starting my solo travels as a young teen in the early/mid 70s, is Antarctica. I don't do seriously cold weather. LOL!
Also, the Bahia region of Brazil is fabulous and should also be put on your list if you haven't already been. I was there around 19 years ago. A close friend of 5 decades, left here and permanently moved there, 9 years ago. She retired very early, as did I, but she lives in a house right on the beach in Bahia.
Greetings from Los Angeles
We actually ended up booking the exact apartment you did - very good location I thought. I highly recommend anyone who is used to driving on the left rent a car on Samui. It offers you such a different experience. We found a supermarket nearby and a great wine shop just down the road from the apartment in Bangrak. I too wish the Songtaews in Samui had a set price Brian - I hated the haggling the few times we had to do it.
I am 100% with you... Phuket may win on paper but like you Samui won for us - been three times now and the traffic in Phuket killed it for me.
I was there 45 days and they have many very big grocery stores (Koh Samui) Big C, very big one Lotu's Samui
Yes, they are not near where we were staying. Without our own transportation they were difficult to get to.
Samui has large supermarkets, Macro, tesco lotus, big C they have markets with street food
👍
Good comparisons
I have been to both of these islands but personally I actually preferred Koh Samui over Phuket. I actually didn't enjoy Phuket that much although Surin, Kamala and Kata beaches were nice, and Big Buddha and Karon Viewpoint was good too but far too touristy, too many scammers and don't get me started on Patong (yuck!).
But I do agree with the comparisons with airports, hotels, accommodations, foods, activities, shops, but I do prefer the laid back vibe like Koh Samui but overall I feel Krabi is better than Koh Samui and Phuket
We agree with your analysis. Ultimately Koh Samui, in our opinion wins out over Phuket for all the reasons that you mention. We have heard nice things about Krabi, one day we may have to visit! Thank you for watching and commenting!!
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie Krabi is a good mix - not too busy like Phuket but not too quiet or relaxed like Koh Samui either - it has a good vibe. You have the shops like 711 stores, restaurants and a few bars (nothing like Patong area in terms of party and clubs). Access to Phi Phi Island is quicker than in Phuket, plus they have Railey as well as other island hopping tours like the 4-Island Tour and Hong Island Tours. I think Krabi has the perfect balance compared with Phuket and Koh Samui IMO
@@brothersman524what form of transport did you mostly use in Krabi?
@@Ben_____777 For going to places like Krabi Town, Klong Muang Beach, Tiger Cave Temple, Hot Springs and Emerald Pool, I just used a driver to take me around. I stayed in Ao Nang and many of the tours were island hopping tours
Thanks for this video! Where's the street food in Kamala?
The street food is at the entrance to the beach! Easy to find and delicious!!
@BrianandCarrie thanks
Easy to remember TUK TUK, after my first trip there I realise I needed my own transport so my second visit I rented a moped never ridden a moped in my life but I learnt in Phuket
There called Songthaews...
Both are such great locations; i wonder if you guys have been to Krabi ? Would you do a comparison of Samui vs Krabi please…. Thank you again for all amazing helpful enjoyable videos with your awesome research
We have not been to Krabi yet. There are so many places to explore that we may not be back until 2025. Thank you for watching our channel!
Cheers!
Yes, definitely a surprise there at the end after Phuket wins almost every category but you prefer Samui. 😅 Of the two, I've only been to Samui, but that was 25 years ago. I did have a great time and it was even more of a chill vibe way back then. Feeling like I've got to give Phuket a shot next winter, but yeah, may wind up going to both. 🤣 Thanks for the video!
Koh Samui is much more built up now then 25 years ago I'm sure but still has a nice, easy, vibe that we enjoy. We were actually told that we could skip Phuket by others but decided that we wanted to know for ourselves and glad that we did. We really enjoyed the island and especially Kamala Beach. If you can, go to both!! As always, thank you for the support!!
Cheers!!🍻
War schon auf beiden Inseln, ein wunderschönes Urlaubsland.
We agree!! Thanks for watching 😊
What an amazing couple and thank you for the vids x😊❤
Thank you, Danny for the kind words!! 🙂❤
Very useful info. Cheers!
Thank you so much for watching 😊
Trying to arrange a family trip to Phuket for later in the year and after watching your previous video settled on Kamala Beach. Possible that we will book the same hotel as we feel that this is the best fit for us. We haven't been to Phuket but visited Koh Samui 6 years ago and loved it, we intend to make it back in the future.
Kamala Beach is a perfect family vacation spot, and we would absolutely recommend Wabi Sabi as well. Enjoy the vacation and safe travels!
Cheers!!🍻
Two thumbs up to my two favorite Washingtonians !!!
Go Seahawks !!!
Go Mariners !!!
No liquid sunshine in Thailand !!!
I used to live in Everett and that was lots of liquid sunshine all year round.
More power to both of you and keep on having fun !!!!
Thank you, Galen, and don't forget about the Kraken!!! 😃
Cheers!!🍻
I lived in phuket five months. It's huge. When I went to koh samui by ferry it's a bit shock to me. Even difficulties to find cheaper accommodation for longer term and food availability, finally I found myself in peace with this koh samui back in 2002.And lived there for 2years.If like to go for a city I'd just take a ferry ride to' Surathani' stay there for couple of days and come back koh samui. Koh samui under jurisdiction of Surathani borough.Almost everything there as phuket town. Phuket beaches are vibrant.By lowering expectation muh I found out Koh samui much quiet and lovelier place for me and my soul. Back in 2002-2004.Don't know now.
i love your indepth analysis.
Thank you! We very much appreciate that!!
Cheers!!🍻
Nice comparison. These are two places in Thailand we haven't visited yet, so your insight is appreciated, especially since your perpetual travel style seems very similar to ours. This is our life - not a vacation, so we need access to certain things. We also prefer to not rent cars or motorbikes. Walking is our preferred mode of transportation for the free exercise. So walkable places and public transportation/grab/songthaew's (little red trucks) are important to us. We also need access to grocery stores and local markets for fruit and vegetables. So again, thanks for that info. You mentioned a lack of grocery stores on Samui, however, I do notice at least two major stores on Google maps. It does seem like it would require some form of transportation to access them, so definitely less convenient. Like you, we prefer our beach destinations to have a more chill vibe, so Samui would seem preferable despite being a bit less convenient. Fortunately, our lifestyle allows us to visit both whenever we like. Cheers and safe travels.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Yes, there are grocery stores in Koh Samui, they just were not convenient enough for where we were staying. We have found that the 7-11 stores are adequate enough for our needs and you can always find fresh fruit stands somewhere. The Grab was very useful for take-out as well. It is nice to have the option to visit both Koh Samui and Phuket if you like. We will be getting away from the beach all together in mid-July while we travel through Europe for 3 months. Again, nice to have the option!! 😀 Thanks again for watching and commenting! Safe travels.
Cheers!!🍻
Phuket is great 👍
Totally agree with you Koh Samui is also my favourite airport by far so far, for the same reason's you have mentioned. I felt it to be totally relaxing and the beautiful plants and flowers I'd say is part of that. I was totally not expecting the free snacks and drinks there also, that is usually reserved for wealthy people that can afford/prepared to pay for VIP lounge access
Great video! What was internet like on both?
We didn't have any problems with the internet in either place.
Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
Nice video…
I’m considering retiring to Thailand in a few years and have been doing some research too.
I also am looking for some place a bit more relaxing, such as Koh Samui…
Have you considered or gone to Krabi?
It’s a boat ride from Phuket.
I’ve heard Ao Nang is another good place in the Krabi town area…
Railay beach is in that area…
We did consider going while in Phuket but decided to go on the Maya Bay excursion instead. We may go next year when we are back in the area. Thank you for watching and good luck on the retirement plans!!
Cheers!!🍻
Thanks for that very insightful info on those 2 locations. My wife and I just arrived in Thailand a few days ago and was wondering how you guys are combating the mosquito issues like preventing bites (impossible) and keeping them out (impossible again) of your house/condo/hotel rooms?
Hello! We did end up buying some bug spray toward the end of our stay, but it wasn't too bad. Now that it is a month later in the season, I'm sure it is much worse than it was. Hopefully, it doesn't ruin your stay! Good luck and thank you for watching our channel!!
Cheers!!🍻
Hi again.
My wife and I have booked our flights for March and we fly direct into Phuket. We have looked into flying from Phuket to Da Nang and the prices are very reasonable.
Would you recommend that we travel around Thailand ( Ko Samui... Phi Phi ) Etc Or 1 week in Phuket and 1 week in Da Nang ?
For a two-week vacation, we would stay a week in Phuket, do a couple of day excursions, and then fly to Da Nang. Make sure you get the visa to enter Vietnam online. Hoi An was a high lite for us and an easy Uber from Da Nang. Thank you for watching and safe travels.
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie Thank you !
Nice video 📹 🎉
Thank you☺️
@23:05 did you mean two and a half weeks or months? Since it's a max stay of 45 days I think now, not sure if it's reverted to the original 30 day limit...
We left for Vietnam for 30 days in between our time in Thailand so we stayed 45 days twice. Our cost breakdown video coming out next week will explain how we traveled, where we stayed, and how much we spent overall while in Thailand. Thank you for clarifying!! 😀
Cheers!!🍻
Thank you! How were the internet speeds/wifi for remote workers?
We didn't have any problems in Thailand at all. Thank you for watching!
Cheers!!🍻
I think Koh Samui lost out in quite a few areas due to inaccessibility issues due to not being able to ride a scooter. However you are right about there only being a couple of decent supermarkets.
Very true, Paul. We are at a disadvantage by using only public transportation, not only in SE Asia but in countries like Romania as well. For now, renting a car is out of our budget. Thank you for watching and commenting!!
Cheers!!🍻
Hello Brian and Carrie! I found your channel recently and I'm really enjoying your Thailand series, as I am planning a month long trip in December, including 3 days in Koh Samui and 6 days in Phuket! I wondered if you can share the details of the Phi Phi Islands tour you did. Would you recommend this particular company? Thank you very much!
Hi! Yes, we would highly recommend the company and tour we went on. Here is the link to the one we did: simbaseatrips.com/tours/phi-phi-sunrise-2/
It was a wonderful day ❤️. Thanks so much for watching!!
@@BrianandCarriethank you so very much for sharing the link with me! And thanks to your video and recommendation, I also decided to book accomodation in Fisherman's Village in Koh Samui. All the best to you both! ❤
I’ve watched two of your videos and I feel we have very similar taste when it comes to travel. So my question is: if Phuket won all categories, what would be the reason the go back to Koh? What would you do different this time?
We preferred Koh Samui and don't think that we would change anything!
@@BrianandCarriethanks for your reply! I’ll take this into account on my next trip to Koh Samui!
Agreed mostly but mostly too that you says if you were to go back next trip, it would be Koh Samui. Personally it's Samui for me for sure even though they lose out in transportation, hotels, food, supermarkets but what the heck we go to enjoy the place not for all these..... Also one important thing , Samui alomg with it's people are much more friendlier.
Koh Samui is just more relaxing and why else do you go to a beach location in Thailand then to relax? Koi Samui for us!! Thanks for watching David.
Cheers!🍻
Did you need a visa for 2 1/2 months in Thailand? We are going there in September and I read that if you stay less that 45 days, you do not need one. My husband and I LOVE you guys!! We are hoping that some day our paths will cross.
We stayed in Thailand for 45 days, before leaving for Vietnam. We then returned to Thailand for another 45 days so we didn't need to extend our visa. Thank you so much for watching our channel and safe travels to Thailand, you two will have a wonderful time!!
Cheers!!🍻
The little red trucks are called Tuktuks :D
Their actually called Songthaews 😊. We can never remember the name when we need to. Cheers!!
Those snacks are far from free ! But I agree it is a nice touch...
Very true, you do pay one way or another. We are just happy that we didn't miss it! 😀Thank you for watching!!
Cheers!!🍻
Samui in a landslide. On Samui use Food panda or Havgover, not Grab for food. There is street food markets every night in Samui, but May be hard to find for short term tourists. The array of 5 star hotels in mind boggling.
I love the Andaman and PHuket is a seriously fun place. But for longer stays… it’s Koh Samui. And ur right, that airport is a gem!
Hi, Todd. Thank you for all the great information. We agree that Koh Samui is more our style, we loved our month-long stay and could see going back. We do know that there are large grocery stores on the island but without our own transportation they weren't convenient for us to use on a regular basis. Thank you for watching and adding these tips!!!
Cheers!!🍻
At the airport you are not getting free snacks because that airport is privately owned and it is the most expensive to fly into and out of especially internationally. If you are flying from another country then fly into Bangkok or directly to Phuket.
We flew in from Bangkok, flew out to Phuket and we got free snacks at the airport.
But ... there are also shopping malls, like the Big C at Chaweng on Koh Samui (???).
As a budget Solo traveler which islands in Thailand are the best for privacy, making friends & suitable to stay for couple of days each,
Pls help, I need tips..
Hi! We only traveled to the two areas in this video as far as island or beach areas in Thailand. Both were great and had their own positives.
Little red truck is the songtaew, it means 2 rows.
Thank you!! 😀
Was the free gibz from departing Koh Samui ? I never saw this.
Yeah! They were at the departing gates. Free snacks are always the best! 😃
@@BrianandCarrie I know where you mean now. Easily the best and most beautiful airport you can fly from.
Flew in at night and departed early morning. You see how amazing this airport is during the day.
Question, if you have 2 weeks to vacation, Alagarve or Thailand islands?
That's a tough question!! We would say Thailand simply for the food. The Algarve has great beaches and climate so it really isn't a bad choice. We would still pick the Algarve for a long-term stay.
Just a question i plan to visit samui for 2 days and was wondering are there like taxi service which is available for the entire day. Would you recommend such a service just for more privacy
Yes there were taxis available, but they can be quite pricey. We only used it to go from the airport and back, otherwise the red trucks are the main for of transportation.
Monsoon season sea waves strong in phuket is that same as koh samui?
We left just before the start of the season so we really don't know.
I’m traveling in a few weeks to Thailand, may you update me with the requirements for USA travelers to Thailand, it’s a little bit confusing.
Thanks so much
All you need to do is show up. They will stamp your passport for 30 days.
Cheers!!🍻
Thanks so much for the info
Could you catch a ferry from Phuket to Koh samui?
You cannot. Koh Samui is on the opposite side of the mainland from Phuket so you would have to drive or take a bus.
koh samui airport is also a internalel airprort
👍
How many Bhat do you keep on hand?
We will usually carry around 500 Bhat (about $14.75) depending on what we are doing that day. We don't buy much besides food and street food is cheap.
Couldn’t find grocery stores in Samui?? There’s several Tescos, Makros and Big C on the island. Also a big difference between the two is Police checks everywhere in Phuket. Even with a proper license and helmet, it’s an inconvenience you won’t have in Samui.
Hi Marc. There are grocery stores on Koh Samui but not close to where we were staying. Without our own transportation, we were limited to smaller convenience stores. The Big C in Phuket was easy to get to and had everything that we were looking for. We heard a lot about police checks but never encountered any. Good thing!! Thank you for watching and commenting!
Cheers!!🍻
Very very hard comparison to make comparing Samui with Phuket. Samui is a tiny island, Phuket is vast and covers so many different towns. Not really a fair comparison. Also, u must have missed the HUGE warehouse type supermarket in Samui. There’s a Big C, Lotus, Macro…. Not just 7/11. Would have been a great idea to do a video between the towns in Phuket and which one was the clear winner. Great to watch tho as I’ve been going back for the last 9 years and I love both places but you can’t begin to compare them to each other x x
Hi, Leanne. We agree that the two are very different, hopefully, that was clear in the video, we did our best to point that out. We have had many of our viewers ask us which place we would return to and if we would do a comparison video, so we did. We didn't miss the supermarkets they just aren't easily accessible without transportation. Thanks for watching.
Cheers!!🍻
Airport in Samui is owned by Airline company not letting others use the airport so prices are a lot more then other lights. Hence free stuff..
Yes, Its owned by Bangkok Air.
The red trucks are song tows. Not spelled like that but….
There is Tesco there in Samui.
I think I'd visit BOTH!!!! Because I"ve never even been to Thailand! So for me, it's both! And I'd TOTALLY DO PIG ISLAND!!
You'd love both - and I knew you would totally do pig island. 😊❤️
Take courage and try borrowing a motorbike next time. The freedom that comes with it in Southeast Asia is unbelievable.
Phuket is way too touristy too busy. You go to an island to chill not go on buses or go grocery shopping.
You should watch the video to the end Terri.
Cheers 🍻
You have thailands top 4 grocery chains on samui tops makro big c and lotus so more than enough and lazarda has everything to home deliver
Hi Kent. Thank you, we used the Big C that was just a couple minute walk from where we were staying.
Honest opinion here in Thailand or Da Nang? Where would you prefer living ?
Hi, Brian. We have a video coming out in a few weeks comparing the two. The cost of living in Da Nang is tough to beat but the food in Thailand is amazing. You really can't go wrong with either one but if you really want to leave close to a really nice beach, have nice accommodations, and still save money, Da Nang would be a good place to start.
Cheers!!🍻
@@BrianandCarrie I agree about Thailand just left there, in Cebu, PI currently but would love to travel to Da Nang in a couple of weeks. I was going back to Thailand but not now.
Think if you rent the scooter then Samui opens up and the island vibe is better
Agreed!!
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And the big grocery stores, Big C, Tesco and Makro all are less than 10 mins from your place in Bangrak…
tks both of you have just added yo ok chtistian aus
I have been to Phuket but friends say KS is less touristy.
Koh Samui is less populated and smaller for sure. We prefer that over the big, crowded island of Phuket.
i say ditch both and head to Koh Chang. Look it up. I've been to all and Koh Chang is absolutely best in Thailand. Even farangs in the island have Thai ID.
We will be back in the area next year so we will look it up! Thank you for the tip and for watching our channel!
Cheers!!🍻
Not much exciting about Koh Chang. It’s no Samui, that’s for sure
@@mactravel112 I've been to both and I prefer Koh Chang. Im not sure what you mean by not much exciting? Need to explain more?
@@minthelegend. if you are not sure what I’m talking about, you haven’t been to Koh Samui and Koh Chang. Vastly different
@@mactravel112 been to both