Mae Nam Beach Resort! Help!

Hi

Me and my boyfriend are going to Koh Samui in May staying for 5 nights and i really would like some advice after reading many different reviews i would like to know what Mae Nam beach is honestly like?

I have heard it is lovely but then others say its nothing special, i have not booked any accomodation yet so i am open to suggestions.

How fare is it from Chaweng/How much does it cost to get there?

We are a young couple mid twenties and are ideally looking for something quiet during the day but with easy access across to chaewng for the evening.

I would also like to know what Chaweng is like is it really sleazy, or can you avoid them parts? As i have heard that even if you are with your partner/husband the girls will hang around and pester him, is that true? I can imagine that would be fairly irritating after a while!

I have also heard great reviews about Bophut beach, is it far from Mae Nam beach?

Please help i am looking to book up ASAP so would be grateful for any advice!

Thankyou

Janine

Mae Nam Beach Resort! Help!

Hi Janine

I stayed two years ago in the Amarin Victoria hotel in Maenam. Maenam is a typical Thai village with some small shops and has a nice and long beach. (not to shop or wander around)

The beach hasn%26#39;t got the typical clear blue water and when you get into the water, you can swim immediately, because it goes down really quickly. There is not to many people on this beach, so if you want some privacy, this is ideal. Maenam beach, for me, has a mysterious feeling. If you look straight before you, you can see Koh Phangan, it is a really nice look out. Really romantic!

This year we are staying in Chaweng (Queen Boutique Place) because last time we spend a lot on taxis and jeepbusses to go out in Chaweng and shop around. Everyday, we visited a different beach. The beach in Chaweng during July is off course lots of more crowded than Maenam, but it has more of the caribbean feeling : clear blue shallow water, cosy bars, delicious restaurants,... Women from the bars are not irritating at all! Never had any confrontation whatsoever!

I wouldn%26#39;t recommend Bophut beach at all, we took a walk there one day =%26gt; for me, this is a dead fishermans village and the beach is not nice at all.

I am 26 years old in a couple of days, 7 years together with my boyfriend and we prefer both Chaweng... The choice is yours... I hope this helps!

Mae Nam Beach Resort! Help!

Thankyou for the responce, it helps a lot, just a couple more questions for you.....

in your opinion, where would you suggest staying if you want to be fairly near to chaweng but not in chaweng? i like the sound of Chaweng beach it sounds lovely and probably more of what i would be looking for, is there a beach which is nearer to chaweng but quieter.

If we do stay in Mae nam how long does it take to get to Chaweng as i would imagine we will be partying in the evening there.

Is it easy enough to get taxis from mae nam to chaweng? and roughly how much does it cost?

God i am so excited but it is so hard deciding where to stay!!

Thanks for all your Help

We going to Meanam also in May. However we are looking for a romantic getaway, with lovely sandy golden beach, and a glass or 2 of cold beer.

My husband stayed there in December and said it was great to get to Meanam, he was glad to get away from the tourist area of Chaweng. We are hiring a jeep for the 2 weeks we are there and will be visiting all the lovely beaches, restaurants, bars mentioned on this site. Its around 15 mins away from Chaweng so my husband seems to think.

Depends what you want from your holidays i guess. I think if you are looking for bars, music and people then Chawneg seems more your thing.

We have a bungalow right on the beach, and how excited we are, 2 wonderful weeks without kids! yippee.

Have a wonderful time wherever you go!.

Hi Janine

You are welcome, I am always happy to help! I would suggest you check out hotels in the following places : North end of Chaweng, South end of Chaweng and Chaweng Noi (This is a smaller beach south of Chaweng main beach, people say the Impiana hotel is quite good - check out www.sawadee.com for bookings)

Taxis are rather expensive from Chaweng to Maenam and back... I don%26#39;t remember the exact price, maybe 500 BAHT per way...? Sometimes we took a songtaew, that%26#39;s a jeep which is converted into a bus. This costs 100 Baht per way, but they don%26#39;t drive regularly and certainly not at night.

Any more questions? Feel free!

Thankyou for the advice It is my first time on here and I have to say it has been a big help!

I think i am going to make the final decision and go with Mae nam, although the taxis are going to be quite expensive, but if i don%26#39;t make a decision now i never will and i am driving my partner up the wall coming up with different places each day ha ha!!

I am sure it will be lovely and if it is%26#39;nt exactlty what we are looking for ..... Hey! gives us an excuse to go back next year! I imagine once you have been once its a fairly addictive place!

Right so thats Koh Samui sorted! Have you been to phuket? If so what is Kata beach like? i have narrowed it down to Nai thon and Kata beach but Nai thon seems a bit far out from Patongs nightlife which i would like to experience!

Thanks for all your help, Much appreciated!

HiJanine,

Have a look at Samui Paradise Chaweng - it%26#39;s at the very southern part of the beach in Chaweng - it is absolutely the nicest place to stay - our Grand Seaside bungalow was about 10 steps to the beach.

Kata Beach in Phuket won%26#39;t disappoint - but have a look at Marina Phuket in Karon - everybody loves it there and in May you will get a 50% discount if you book on their website.

Cheers,

Sandy

Wow i just had a look on Marina Phuket website that looks absoultley gorgeous! Karon beach is not too far from Patong wither is it? I love the bath tubs!!

I have just made an enquiry to check the room availability!

Have you been in May before? Just wondering what to expect of the weather! It looks such a beautiful place i am hoping that my passport gets %26#39;lost%26#39; so i can pro long my holiday! :-)

Hi Janine

You are welcome again :-)

Phuket is also very nice. I have not been to Kata beach, but heard it is nice. Phuket is different from Samui, because in Phuket they are already more used te have tourists around. Samui is more laid back and alternative. I like both, that%26#39;s why we visit Samui this July and Christmas time, we will probably go back to Phuket.

Check out the review of my holiday last Christmas :

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293920-i5037-k166鈥?/a>

I am not sure about the weather in May...never been there that time of the year. But...we talked to one person in a bar who comes to Phuket all the time and he said it was his favorite season =%26gt; no crowds, lovely weather, HOT!

About going out in Patong, be prepared to see the worst :-) If you visit Bangla Road (with all the girlie bars), you will see A LOT of western guys coming to pick up Thai girls. It never bothered me! It is there and you know it :-)

Shopping in Patong is HUGE! Try to visit te small markets on the south end of Patong, cheap and great value!

Yeah i have heard about the nightlife in patong,

i think i will try and avoid those parts, although i think it is part of what patong is about so i guess it would be quite funny to see all those desperate men! :-)

I think what i want is a chilled holiday in Koh Samui, which is why i thought of Mae Nam and then Phuket i would like something lively, so we can have the best of both worlds.

How about elephant trekking, have y ou done that?

i would love to do that!

Have you been to Phi Phi that looks gorgeous think it is a must see!!

:-) I have not done the elephant trekking trip, but I did go to Phi Phi! It is heaven on earth! Go on a trip with www.simbaseatrips.com, you will not be dissappointed! You can contact them by e-mail, simbaseatrips@gmail.com. They provide 3 different trips, they all rock!!!

Good luck!!!