Ko Tao Travel Forum

hello everybody,

i was wondering if some of you guys could recommend a couple places where i could get my PADI certification when i go to ko tao in december. i'd prefer a place where the instructor was a westerner speaking english and one that is respectable and safe. usually i would not care if my guide was western or thai, but when it comes to something like scuba, i'd rather be safe and make sure that i understand everything that is being said.

on that note, i was also wondering if people could maybe give me a suggestion or two about the best beaches to stay at/get my PADI certification on ko tao.

thanx again,

danK

Hi there,

I intend to go to Koh Tao as from mid July and have no idea whether I should book and hotel in advance or not. I would like to avoid to sleep on the beach or to have to book a presidential suite... Thanks for your help.

Steve

Hi all,

I am thinking about whether or not to pack my mobile phone to koh Tao. I think I will be staying on Sai Ree beach - does anyone know if there is mobile coverage on the island and if yes , if its good or patchy?

Thanks a lot, loking forward to your response!

Hi, any and everyone.

I'm I Koh Tao lover, but I'm sadly not there now. In May I spent about 3 weeks wandering around, diving, and enjoying the delights of El Gringo's Cajun Chicken Fajitas.

I was sad to go, even sadder because I left something behind.

You all know the Cube clothes shop opposite Choppers in Sairee? That futuristic white one with all the cool t-shirts. Well I thought the t-shirts were so cool I wanted to buy more than my luggage allowance would let me take (a measly 20kg), so the helpful people in the shop gave me the business card of the wholesaler in Bangkok. I thought I'd check it out once I got back to Bangkok, with the idea of getting a few sent over to my home country. But bugger me if I didn't lose it.

To cut a lot of flab from the story, I need that business card! Or at least the email address on it, so as I can get in contact with the t-shirt distributors, and get them to send some to me.

So please, any of you in Sairee, or passing through it, just take 5 minutes to get that card and scan or email me the info. I will be forever in your debt!

(My picture is of my neon-paint tatoos from the Songkran Full Moon Party!)

I intend to go Koh Tao leaving from Bangkok on january 12 and returning 14 because I have a flight on january 15 at 8:15 am.
Which would be the best and fast way to arrive there. Bus, Train?
Is it worthwhile to pass only one day in the island or there are closer and beutifull islands near Bangkok?
Do you know some resort around U$30?
Who doesn't dives can have fun at the island just making snorkeling?
I will spent 10 days in Krabi and Phi Phi area. Do you think it is worthwhile to go to Koh Tao just for visiting in one day or you would indicate another island.

myself and my partner are planning a trip to thailand on 26th july for 10 days. we are hoping to spend a couple of days in koh samui before koh tao then koh phangan. can anyone reccomend which islands are worth more of our time? we definately want to do our PADI on koh tao.

are we best to book accomodation before hand or book it when we get there being peak season?

can anyone give us an opinion on their stay at koh tao cabana (koh tao)? or tropicana resort (koh tao), does tropicna have hotwater?

Hi,
I will be in Thailand on the weekend of thwe 25/26 of march and would like ot attend catholic mass (doesnt matter which language, english, latin or german would be allright but I am fine with anything). Can you tell me if there is and if, how long will it take me to get there (I know it depends where I stay, but I havent booked yoet, so maybe you can recommend soemthing)
thank you very much
cheers
Sandra

Hi there,
Has anyone stayed at Koh Tao Resort or know anything about it? We are looking at going in a couple of weeks but can only find 1 review, which was quite good. We'd really like a nice beach, chilled atmosphere, and be able to go snorkelling (not necessarily on this beach). We'd really appreciate anyone's feedback on this resort.
Thanks so much!

The title of my posting is more a question. I have absolutely nothing against Scandanavians at all, its just after a stay in Phuket last year where my girlfriend and I didn't meet anybody (due to the language barrier) we need an honest opinion. Any Scandanavians/other Europeans welcome to reply!! Cheers.

I will be on Koh Tao for 7 days and would like to complete my open water + advanced open water courses. I am just wondering if anyone can give me any suggestions for which diving company would be the best, looking for a OW + AOW package deal with accommodation. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Are there any resorts with swimmingpool in Ko Tao? I know that Coral Grand has one, but i`m looking a bit cheaper option...

Need advice.We are going to thailand for our first time but we only have two weeks.We thought we split half the time at the beach and the other up north ChangMai/Pai. But we don't want to be moving around constantly we want to chill and relax.
Which island do you recommend Ko Tao or Ko Phangan.We just want to be in a most gorgeous place, amazing beach/swimming, maybe a bit of snorkeling...We are in our thirtees, not big partiers (smokers) and do not like crowds, but we want a place with a great vibe etc...
Also is Chiang mai totally worth it? our friends rave about Pai too. what is a most for a 2 week chill itenirary?
THANK YOU for your input!
peace~

Hi guys.
me and my boyfriend just spend new year in koh tao. we had such a great time that we've recommended the island to my mum and her partner. they ahve booked to go in april for 2 weeks. i know the rainy season starts in april in some regions in thailand. I also know that the weather has been a little unpredictable in the past year or 2 in thailand, meaning the riany season lasted uncharacteristically long last dec. but can anyone tell me what the wetaher is usually like in april in the surat thani province (koh tao) and if the rain has usually set in by that time. i would hate for her to go and have rain for 2 weeks, not fun, esp for my mum who is a sun worshipper!

thanks guys
jen

We have stayed 1 night (out of 7) at Anankhira. We were really expecting a wonderful place to stay at but obviously the dream as far from what it should have been.... The hotel is not yet finished, there are people doing heavy works behind the rooms which leads to noise from 10am to 17pm.

The room has a wonderful bathroom with very litlle running water and it is not even hot water, not even a litlle warm. No restaurant but, as they say, you can order from breakfast to diner in your room! Wow, that's great! BUT breakfast arrives 1h15min later (after a full stay in the sunshine with flies around and on your food...great for malaria!). About dinner now, it arrives in your room after 50 min ride from the city center (where the hotel orders your menu). When it gets t your room, it is cold.


Once you get to your room you are informed that you cannot throw toilet paper into the toilet, you have to throw it away in a bin in your bathroom.....I let you imagine how nice it is when your room is cleaned one a day and when it is 33° outside with more than 60% of humidity!!!


I do not even talk about the nano pool, I should say "bath-pool" (do not believe when they say it is a 3mx3m....it is more like 1,7m x 2,5m) that is not even clean (the water is green and dirty because there is no filter), nor the missing spa treatments (they answer you that you can find everithing in the city center) and not even either about the view on local garbage that you get from your moskito sponsored terrass! Last but, who cares, the least,Anankhira is far from everything. They say it is located 300m from Sairee beach, that's true but it takes 25mn to walk to the beach via a "4x4" way and via another resort!!!

It will certainly be an intersting place in 2 or 3 years, so wait until then before coming to a non-existing-yet bungalow resort.

I had asked the manager 4 weeks prior to arrival if all the reviews and comments on this hotel where serious and he answered me by email that 'The hotel is now 100% operaional". Now that you have access to all tourists reviews on internet, know that whatever he tells you it is not the truth.


We have met another couple from England who arrived at Anakhira the day before us. This couple, unlike us, has even REFUSED to stay one night at Anakhira. They were then proposed to stay in one of the 2 bungalows of Khirana (bungalow on the beach). Because they knew they would loose a lot of money, they agreed with this proposition.

They have suggested us to visit this bungalow just to confirm our comments about Anankhira. They have had to accept an empty "pool-tub" (and NO your "pool" is not a 3x3 it is more like a 1.5x2.3m) for 3 days but I am sure you have a very good answer on that too. Since the bungalow is about 3m form the main road, they have had to cope with heavy work being conducted in the other villa (because I am sure the potential customers should know that the second bungallow is not finished until now....hte only person who has stayed there is the architect's daughter!). They have had to cope with motorbikes and trucks passing by their bungalow all day long. They have had to accept a non secure place since you can enter the bungalow from the beach as you enter a church.

They have accepted to pay for their breakfast at a nearby restaurant since no breakfast was available at their bungalow. They ahve had to accept mice running on the wooded structure of the ceiling.

They have accepted all that bacause they did not want to loose their money! When we have met them they were having a dinner in the hotel we have chosen as a replacement to our room at Anankhira. The last day of their stay on Kho Tao, they loved their bungalow so much that they decided to book a room in our hotel, The Kho Tao Resort! How is that?

I just speak about them because they did not want to spend one night at Anankhira....Anankhira being worst that their bungalow.

Now, about Anakhira, you should probably also know that everyone on the island knows about the big mistake it is. When we checked in at Kho Tao resort, the receptionist told us that he was not suprised we had come from Anankhira as he get all the non-satisfied customers from there! How is that?

Many places where we have been, from restaurants to shops, from bars to other hotels have confirmed all our complaints as they had also met people who were supposed to stay at Anakhira.


Anankhira, that does not even belong to Thaï people but to european financials, gives a very bad image of a part of Thaïland that has not been touch by the Tsunami. What a pity!

Please can anyone recommend a decent, cheap (not more than 2000TB/night if possible)place to stay on Ko Tao. We will be there in mid Feb which is high season.

I'm not interested in a pool or anything really fancy but would like a nice location, clean rooms and bathrooms, with hot water, and not noisy or full of gap year people.

Is it really necessary to have A/C or if you get a beach side place is the breeze ok?

Have seen lots of mixed reports about Ko Tao Cabanas but would appreciate some info from anyone who has stayed recently.

All info on all places gratefully received!

Thanks a lot for your help.

Margaretdk

Is A/C

Has anybody recently been to Koh Tao and checked out the Dive Shops there? So many and of course all claim that they are the best. Any recommendations?

A very simple one: What is the weather like now in Koh Tao. I read it is not too god. Is anybody there now and can let me know first hand?

Plan to arrive in Koh Tao on Dec 22 for 3-4 days of diving and relaxing. I here that its not diving season for Koh Tao in Dec. What does that mean exactly? Is the ocean very rought then?

Hows the weather there now?

Thanks.

hello
goys

right we're almost there... i finally decided on some accomodation for koh tao for new year. yeah it certainly took me a while. charm churree was our final choice in the end. so dont tell me anything bad about it now, cos its too late and we've already paid for it!! so the enxt thing i need is some suggestions of good bars, restaurants etc in which to spend my time when i'm there. lloking for cool beach bars where you can relax and lie around drinking copious ammounts of cocktails.
also what are these muchroom shakes evereyones talking about.
and another question... how easy it is to get smoke on koh tao? or is it not done really.... i am being a risky/silly

thanks guys,,, any suggestions welcome, and of course everyone elcome to join us for a drinky pooh once we et over (30th dec)
oh eyah and we particularly want to know whats going on on new year eve??

cheers me dears

jen
xx

Hi
I'm heading to Thailand in late December & will be spending time going to Bangkok-Cambodia-Laos-ChaingMai & then at the end of the honeymoon I'm looking at going to Ko Tao but I'm a bit unsure about accomodation.
So I was wondering if anyone outthere can provide me advice, we're looking for something like the following:
1.Bungalow - self contained & private with an air cond on or near a private beach.
2.Snorkeling - option of going snorkeling & my partner may want to
go diving as I can't due to a diving accident 10 years ago
3.Suggested accomodation & any pictures or websites there are to
show the facilities
Thanks for your help !

Hi Guys,

I am planning to visit Ko Tao in mid December and I would also like to complete my PADI diving licence. From the information I gathered on the net, it seems that december is not the best month for diving in Ko Tao. Since I am an amateur to the sport, I have no idea what to expect. Has anyone dived on Ko Tao in December? If so, what is the feedback? Also, how different are the conditions in December to those in peak season? Thanks a lot for your comments

Hi!

I'm looking for a cheap and quiet place. Pitching a tent on the empty beach with snorkling oportunities would be ideal. Is it possible on Ko Tao? If not, do you know such place in Thailand?

I am booked into anankhira soon. On a more worrying note though I have swapped some of my nights for some in their sister resort Khirana.
I am worried that this will not be ready as i can find no reviews anywhere. There are also not as many pictures on the khirana website which leads me to believe it is unfinished.
If anyone has any info or is going to koh tao very soon i would be grateful if they could check.
It is meant to be located in Chalok Baan Kao Bay
Thanks

Hey!

Can anyone tell me if Ko Tao will be that busy (accomodation wise) this Sept? I'm more of the mind to just roll up and into a guesthouse but my fellow travellers are getting panicky about booking! can i reassure them that they won't be a problem getting rooms?
I'd like to stay in Ochia on north sairee beach - is that a guesthouse or seperate bungalows? Also what are the current diving prices for Siam diving?
Any answers and any other tips on Ko Tao would be greatly appreciated!!

Cheers,

Tasha

Hi all!

We are (2boys&2girls) are thinking of spending time on Koh Tao (25 August - 8 September). We are interested in snorkeling, swimming in clear sea, white sand, rock climbing, may be diving and sure chill out for great relax( Ideally no people on the beach :) and great seaviews and sunsets)). I can't find information especially about quality of beaches (clear, sand, snorkeling), rock climbing and sunsets :).

We prefer cheap accomadation (standart bungalow /w atached toilet and shower, but inside is also impossible), cheap, but good seafood :) (our budget is not big).

At first glance i choose Laem Thian Resort, but if u know free of internet booking and cheaper bungalows /w above parameters, let me know plz.

We are also interested in great trips around (waterfalls, elephant, Marine National Park, Samui, Koh Phangan). What can u advice to visit first of all?

Where we can extend our VISA for three weeks or month?
What does it cost?

Where is a market /w seafood and fruits on the island?
What do u think about jungle on the island. Is there any dangerous animal and mosquitos on it? We are planning independent research jungle on the island.


At first sight, i think that's all.
Thanks very much for any information and advice.

Kulmyakov Nickolay

p.s. We are all at first time on Thailand.

hi, I'm on koh tao at the moment, and all of the beaches we have been to have a terrible fishy smell. I think something is washing up onto the beach. Is thios normal or are we just unlucky? Thankfully, our resort (sensi) does not suffer from this problem. Just curious, having an amazing time otherwise, great snorkelling

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone could tell me which diving school is the best?? Im hoping to do an open water course and so far I have narrowed it down to Buddha View, Big bubble or KoTao cottages?
Has anyone any experiences with these?
I read the review of Buddha View on this forum and it sounds really good but could anyone tell me how many people do they take in their groups and also which accomodation would be best in the "mid-range" catagory??

Thank You,
Ciara

My friends and I are going to Koh Tao very soon and we can't
decide which diving resort to choose, Buddha View or Crystal Dive.
Anyone who has experience taking a course with them or can compare them?
Which resort has better accommodations? Where are their main customers from?
We'd prefer a small group lessons, friendly staff and quiet environment.

Any tips on how to pay for services etc on Koh Toa?
I would prefer to use sterling travellers cheques and sterling cash and change it up there plus aiming to take an ammount of money in Thai Baht which I will change up in the UK.
How readily are credit cards accepted and do all people charge a fee for using them or is it just the hotels/diving centres.
I have booked at the Coral Grand Resort and they are charging 3% for using card.
Must say we are really looking forward to our trip 11-19 June

Not really but not back packers. My wife and I are considering Koh Tao for 2 weeks in early June am a bit concered about reports of Mossies fever etc. Main aim of holiday is to chill out and dive/snorkel. looking at Coral Grand Resort but not sure if a bit basic for our requirements we would like 5 star, have looked at Anikara? resort but costing out at about £50 (3400tbht) each a night Coral Grand £25 (1700)a night.
Any tips etc appreciated.
Ray