Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Located about 2km south of Na Thon is Ko Samui's
Immigration Office
( 0 7742 1069;
8.30am-noon & 1-4.30pm Mon-Fri)
. Officials here tend to issue the minimum rather than maxim-
um visa extensions. During our visits here we've watched dozens of tourists wait through
exhausting lines only to be curtly denied an extension for no particular reason. On a par-
ticularly bad day expect extensions to take the entire afternoon.
INTERNET ACCESS
There are countless places all over the island for internet access, even at the less popular
beaches. Prices range from 1B to 2B per minute. Keep an eye out for restaurants that offer
complimentary wi-fi service. Most accommodation offers a wi-fi connection; ironically
you'll pay extra for it at high-end hotels.
MEDIA
Dining Guide,
and an annual directory, which lists thousands of companies and hotels on
the island. Its
Siam Map Company Samui Guide Map
is fantastic, free and easily found
mostly restaurants and attractions.
MEDICAL SERVICES
Ko Samui has four private hospitals, all near Chaweng's Tesco-Lotus supermarket on the
east coast (where most of the tourists tend to gather). The government hospital (Samui
Hospital) in Na Thon has seen significant improvements in the past couple of years but
the service is still a bit grim because funding is based on the number of Samui's legal res-
idents (which doesn't take into account the many illegal Myanmar workers).
Bandon International Hospital
(
0 7742 5840, emergency 0 7742 5748)
0 7742 9500, emergency 0 7742 9555)
Your best bet for just about any
Bangkok Samui Hospital
(
medical problem.
Hyperbaric Chamber
( 0 7742 7427; Big Buddha Beach)
The island's dive medicine specialists.
Samui International Hospital
( 0 7742 2272;
www.sih.co.th
;
Hat Chaweng)
Emergency ambulance ser-
vice is available 24 hours and credit cards are accepted. It's near the Amari Resort in Hat
Chaweng.
MONEY
