Thailand - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 785

E [e-mail]), tucked away on an unnamed side
road in Na Thon, north of the pier and inland from the post
o ce. Another useful source of information is W samui
.sawadee.com, which allows direct booking at a range of
hotels on the island.

BOPHUT, BANGRAK AND CHOENG MON
Bophut Mansion Signposted down a short lane that
runs south off the Bangrak road, on the east side of Bophut
village T 077 245933 or T 081 719 4629. Mostly for long-
stayers, this quiet mansion block also does a good-value
nightly rate. Rooms have a/c, hot showe rs, fridges, cable
TV and small sitting rooms. Double B500
Cactus Access from the highway, west Bophut T 077
245565, E [e-mail]. Ochre cottages
with attractive bed platforms, large French windows and
stylish, earth-tone bathrooms stand in two shady rows,
running down to the inviting beachfront restaurant with a
pool table. Choose either fan and cold shower or a/c and
hot shower. Double B650
Khunthai Guesthouse West of the pier, 30m behind
The Shack restaurant, Bophut village T 077 245118 or
T 086 686 2960. Friendly spot set back from the beach
in an orange, two-storey concrete house, offering basic,
clean rooms with wall fans o r a/c, hot showers, TVs, fridges
and free wi-fi. Double B500
Ô Soleil Choeng Mon T 077 425232, W osoleilbungalow
.com. Lovely, orderly, Belgian-run place in a tranquil,
pretty garden dotted with ponds. Among the well-built,
clean bungalows, the cheapest are fan-cooled, with cold
showers, at the back, while the elegant beachside
restaurant has a nice shaded deck area and serves 600
cocktails. Double B400

DIVING
Samui has around a dozen scuba-diving companies,
offering trips for divers and snorkellers and courses
throughout the year, and there's a decompression chamber
at Bangrak ( T 081 081 9555, W sssnetwork.com). Most
trips for experienced divers, however, head for the waters
around Ko Tao (see p.794); a day's outing costs around
B4000-5500, but of course if you can make your own way
to Ko Tao you'll save money.
Easy Divers Head o ce on Highway 4269 opposite
Sandsea Resort , Lamai T 077 231190, W easydivers
-thailand.com. PADI Five-Star dive centre, with several
branches around the island.
Planet Scuba Head o ce next to the Seatran pier on
Bangrak T 077 413050, W planetscuba.net. PADI Five-
Star dive centre, with a branch on Chaweng.

10

ACCOMMODATION
Budget accommodation is increasingly scarce on Ko
Samui, with very little left for less than B400. All the
accommodation prices given below are for high season,
but dramatic reductions are possible out of season
(roughly April-June, Oct & Nov).

CHAWENG
Budget travellers have been priced off Chaweng
beachfront - all of the following are a short walk from
the beach.
★

MAENAM
Moonhut On the east side of the village T 077 425247,
W moonhutsamui.com. Welcoming English-run place on a
large, sandy, shady plot, with wi-fi and a lively restaurant
and beach bar. The colourful, substantial and very clean
bungalows all have en-suite bathrooms, and some have
hot water and a/c. Kaya king, water-skiing and wake-
boarding available. Double B600
New Lapaz Villa Down a 1km access road, east of the
village centre but just west of the post o ce T 077
425296, W newlapaz.com. Enjoying plenty of shade, the
lush, spacious grounds here shelter a small swimming pool
and fifty diverse bungalows on stilts, with verandas and
hot showers, many in bright pastel colours - mai ntenan ce
could be better but they're clean enough. Double B600
Shangrilah On an access road 500m west of the
village T 077 425189, W shangrilah.net. In this huge
compound that sprawls onto the nicest, widest stretch
of sand along Maenam, the main area of shoulder-to-
shoulder bungalows sports beautiful flowers, trees and
carefully tended topiary. All rooms are well maintained
and en-suite, with verandas on stilts, ceiling fans and
sturdy f urnitu re. The restaurant serves good Thai food.
Double B500

Akwa Guesthouse South Chaweng T 084 660 0551,
W akwaguesthouse.com. This colourful guesthouse has
imaginatively designed rooms with quirky pop art and an
excellent range of amenities: a/c, hot showers, wi-fi, king-
sized beds, duvets, TV and DVD pl ayers (and a DVD library),
safety boxes and fridges. Double B950

TREAT YOURSELF
The Scent Bangrak T 077 962198,
W thescenthotel.com. The nostalgic
powers of scent provide the excuse for
retro, colonial styling at this small
beachfront hotel set around an attractive
pool. So, amid bottles of spices and
pungent dried flowers, you can expect
lots of dark wood, wicker chairs, prints of
old Siam and huge baths with brass
fittings. There's a small, aromatic spa and a
beachside, mostly French, restaurant
where y ou ca n indulge in afternoon tea.
Double B5800

★