By: Candice Lapin, Founder
Yes I love to travel, so when humanly possible, as the Founder and CEO of Paratinovia, I will be offering my tips on places I love to go and how to travel like I do (when I get to travel that is.
This month I wanted to focus on a honeymoon in Koh Samui. Anyone that knows me knows I love a good deal and hate to spend too much on any vacations. So I usually like to travel on a budget. I will be sharing my tips as often as possible for how to travel like a princesa no matter what your budget.
This week, I am helping all my brides who are thinking about planning a trip to the Thailand and in particular to Koh Samui – a beautiful beach island. Here are some tips to travel in style to Thailand (within budget that is….)
Where to Sleep
Ok I am going to map out some high, medium and low options just in case you are like me and don’t always want to spend all your hard earned dough on the hotel.
1. The Library (High)
The Library is the swanky of swank on the island of Koh Samui. Located right on the beach, it blends all the high style of a Phillippe Starkk hotel with the beach bliss of the island (including the cheap beach side massages). I love the bar in the hotel where you can get muddled anything.
4/1 Moo 2, Bo Phut, 84320 Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand. Click here to head to The Library.
2. The Briza (Medium)
The Briza beach resort is a great mid-range hotel that will make you feel like you are the Emperor of the Far East…or the Empress. I stayed at this hotel as well as at the Punpreeda. The Briza is also on Chaweng beach but set back so you don’t have to deal with tons of people that are usually all over the beach. This was a beautiful hotel with a lot of amenities and each villa had a separate person to help you with any requests. I loved the hotel and I loved that it was close to any of the thai massage huts that are scattered on the beach.
Oh, yes, actually as a side note, all along the beach there are beds laid out for guests of all the hotels to get inexpensive and really amazing Thai massage. How great is that? I absolutely loved getting a massage everyday – they only cost roughly $7.
3. Punpreeda Hip Resort (Low)
Beachfront villas on bophut at a reasonable price, now that it is something to be happy about. The Punpreeda Resort is the perfect place to help you totally detox and relax honeymoon style. It mixes the beautiful architecture of newer resorts with great food and a great view of the islands of Thailand. I stayed here. I got the best of the Library feel with the Briza level of service. The Punpreeda staff waiting on me and were so nice and great to talk to. Plus, I loved that the pool was actually right on the beach. I could go back and forth swimming either in the ocean or in the pool depending on my mood.
Where to Eat
Try The Pier or Carpe Diem for a cool foodie option. These two places are much more expensive but for a special night out they can be a welcomed getaway. Local ex-pats really love the food and the effect on your wallet of Starfish and Coffee.
For more inexpensive fare, I would definitely suggest asking your concierge for recommendations for anything that is local. All of the food is excellent and vacations should be about some exploring! I would pick a restaurant that had the kind of menu I was looking for, if I felt like curry that night I tried to find the best curry on the island. But, ask around everyone at the hotels and even the guests are so friendly.
What to Do
Now if you have traveled all the way to Koh Samui, you definitely want to start exploring the island as well as all the fun water activities. I absolutely loved going to see the incredible island of Koh Phangan.
You may also love going to explore all the incredible waterfalls, temples and wats (other temples) on the island. Head to the Big Buddha. I absolutely loved it as well as the butterfly garden.
So for more of my tips on travel, invites or dresses, click here.
<3 <3 Lots of Love !! Lycie
