TongSai Bay Query

We are thinking of the TongSai Bay on Koh Samui for our honeymoon, having read lots of great reviews of the place, so its looking good.

We know it%26#39;s secluded location is one of its selling points, but the only question we have, which hopefully someone can answer, is how far away (distance, time and/or taxi cost) is it to get to other resaurants/ bars etc, on the assumption that we may not want to spend every night in th resort

Cheers

Mark

TongSai Bay Query

Hi Mark,

We stayed their 4 years ago (sensational) and you have easy access to other night life and eating. The area around TongSai has really expanded since we were there in 2002 (we are on the island again now 2006) and we ate at a great little Korean resto just Nth a bit to the next bay. There were other options close by for bars and a little shopping.

The main drag at Chaweng is less than 10min away for you in a car/taxi/van/scooter.

Enjoy.

Peter and Monique

TongSai Bay Query

Hi Mark,

We stayed in April this year.......for good thai food, we loved the Fishermans Village, namely Happy Elephant Restaurant and The Starfish Cafe....worth booking table as they were busy. ( try the grilled king prawns in Starfish). So cheap you can try loads of dishes as portions not huge.

( Tip, check the bill in Happy Elephant, they were so busy charged us for another table....nothing sinister, they made genuine mistake)

About 5 mins in a taxi from Tongsai.

Chaweng has much choice for places to eat/bars, was bit busy for us, but we%26#39;re in our 40%26#39;s !!! Pick-up a booklet from the airport of places to eat...good source.

From memory cost about 250 baht each way in a taxi, the hotel has it%26#39;s own taxi rank. One thing to note: if you ask the same driver to pick you up, make sure he doesn%26#39;t wait otherwise he will charge you extra say 250 baht.....few pounds only but...

Floyds Bistro @ Tongsai was good and although more expensive than Fishermans Village eateries, still cheaper than you%26#39;d pay for a good restaurant in Bristol!

The Thai Buffet Evening @ Tongsai is worth going to....try everything!

Have a wonderful honeymoon.

Regards,

Hi nilly,

we were there on honeymoon two years ago, the hotel itself was sensational, truly wonderful, the only down side for us was the lack of local eateries in the vacinity, it was a taxi to bophut or chewang each time we wanted more. Hence this time we are going in three weeks and staying at the sala samui, apparently more choice for local restraunts just down the beach. Had some wonderful meals in the tongsai though, you just pay quite a lot compared to what you can get just as good locally.

ALso of not the sand on the beach was like very small stones in the sand, couldnt walk along it without sandles, it was our only gripe about the hotel, aparently just around the bay it turns into the soft white powder we were expecting, although you cant walk to it from the tongsai due to the rocks.

Good luck im sure you will enjoy, feel free to ask anything you want to

Patch12

I know you were not offering to answer anyone%26#39;s questions but you did say ask so hope you (or anyone else reading this) don%26#39;t mind helping me..... TongSai looks great although as we are travelling in Oct/Nov (2007) we can%26#39;t quite decide between Andaman or Gulf side of Thailand! If we pick TongSai can you remember roughly how much dinner was and a massage - just so I can get an idea of budget. We really want to chill and not leave the hotel if we can help it...don%26#39;t mind paying more than elsewhere locally but obviously can%26#39;t afford 拢100 pn for dinner!! Also you say the beach is bit rough but what%26#39;s the water like - good snorkelling or nothing to see .........

Thanks so much in anticipation :0)

have just returned from The Tongsai Bay...........

A taxi costs 300 baht from the hotel to Chaweng.........but you can get back slightly cheaper, youare looking at around 拢4 to get there and around 拢3.50 to get back!!!!!!!!!

It takes 10 minutes in a taxi!!!!!!

Eternity

Lucky thing!! Hope you had a wonderful time. Would you go back..... Will you be posting a review of the hotel? If not it would be great to hear what you thought about the hotel on this forum. If you can give us any idea of ';average'; costs in the hotel - meals, massage etc that would be great too! Thanks!

Hi Mark,

We would go back in a heart beat!!!!!!!!

If we have the money next year we will certainly be going back!!

We only got back home on Monday so my resonses are very fresh

I wrote my review yesterday but it hasnt been posted yet for some reason so I will outline for you our basic thoughts.

Its was down to Trip Advisor reviews that we booked The Tongai Bay and we were SO glad we did, particualry after seeing round other hotels. There is something really special about Tongsai. When people say its secluded it just means that its not right in the HUG with loads of noise!!!!!!!but it certainly isnt dead. IF you want to hire a jet ski you can borrow one of the hotels kyacks and kyack over to cheong mong beach tohire one, it will take about 8 mins in a kyack to get there!!!!!!

I even managed to do it!!!!!!

To get into Central Chaweng costs 300 Baht around 拢4 and takes a little under 10minutes. If youwant to go to Lamai bach it costs 5oo bhat and takes around 20 mins (we didnt bother) but we did got to Bo Phut to a restaruant called Starfsih and Coffee and that cost us 200 bhat to get there and the meal including drinks was a little under a tenner a head for the two of us!!!!!

Our food and bar bill for two weeks at The Tongsai included lunch pretty much every day, dinner twice, room service 3 times, plus our bar bill and 1 massage cost 拢300 for the lot! which I think is pretty reasonable.

The service in the hotel is unlike anything I have experienced anywhere else. The staff are genuinely the most friendly lovely people and NOTHING is too mcuh trouble for them. I was a bit synical when I read the reveiws here but it is so true.

The prana spa is beautiful but is very expensive when compared to Chaweng, however I would suggest having one treatment there just for the experience. My massage cost 1600 bhat around 拢20 but you can get an hour in Chaweng for 300bhat!!!!!!

You must go to MOST MASSAGE opposite Sports Stadium (a sports shop) they do a foot massage for 200 bhat for an hour............We went in thier 5 times!!!

Are you planning on staying in a cottage suite!!

If so book one wiht a sea view, although the hillside ones are incredible too. We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a Grand Villa with pool for the last 3 days!!!!!!!!!

There are no words to describe how incredible that was.

It really was a fantastic honeymoon..................

You will love it!!!!

Make sure if you do go that you ';do'; Bangkok on the homeward leg, as the shopping is so great, and you are limited with your luggage. We went out with 50Kg%26#39;s and came home with 72kgs!!!!!!

If you are a suit wearer get them made in Samui..............all the tailors are pretty good!!!

1 suit, 4 pairs of trousers, 6 shirts for my husband and 2 raw thai silk evening dresses for me came to 拢350........

The suit alone here would have been about 拢400.

I hope this helps....................

Best Wishes

Eternity

I found this really useful. Hope Mark did too!! Thank you so much for taking the time and look forward to seeing your review when it is posted.

UKmummy

I realised after i had posted that the query was for you........

Hope you have a fabulous time when you go!

Thanks all for your comments and advice. We will be staying at the Tongsai Bay, as well as visiting Chaing Mai and Bangkok. Will post reviews, of course!

Cheers

Mark

lips