|
Why Pay More?
What's the best way to holiday on Samui?
If you want to return home with your wallet still intact (and no maxed-out credit cards to worry about later) then doing a little research before you go is well worthwhile.
It is recognised in the tourist industry that the two biggest costs are travel and accommodation. This is because those two aspects are basically "fixed" by the airlines and the hotels or spas. With regards flights; the amount of flights available for tourists going to Samui is limited and therefore the airlines can effectively charge what they like. And because Samui is considered one of the world's most desirable places to visit there is no question of a plane arriving here half-empty. On the other hand, the total amount of hotel rooms available far out-strips demand, and occupancy rates are similar to those back home; around 40% - 50% on average. Yet the western-owned hotels and resorts do not fall over themselves to give cut-price deals - far from it. That would just cheapen their exclusive images as being desirable places for the rich and famous to come and stay. They want to keep their restaurant and bar prices high because food and drink are the two biggest profit-centres in the hospitality industry.
Both industries are highly regulated and costly to maintain and because of these factors the costs of flights and and hotels on the island are expected to stay pretty much the same for the foreseeable future. There is some talk of Richard Branson doing a return flight for £46 from the UK (about 10% of present cost) but until that happens (if it happens) then we are still stuck with those high travel costs.
Food is normally the third highest cost but fortunately this is not a "fixed cost" like the other two, because it comes in too much variety and is a totally free market. So you will be especially pleased to know that here the cost of eating is miniscule compared to that back home. We encourage you to shop and eat at the same places used by the islanders themselves - and believe us - Thai people are very fussy about fresh food and are also very experienced in the culinary arts - so you can be pretty sure you are getting a good deal if you visit their haunts and attempt to copy their regular eating habits. Bon Appetit!
The last cost to take into account is your Spending Cash and just like the cost of food, this is not a fixed cost either so you have almost complete control over the amount you spend. The average price of almost anything here is generally a quarter - to an eighth - of the prices charged back home.
And so we repeat; it's the getting here and the staying here that are the two most expensive aspects - and although we might not be able to help too much with the airfares - we can provide you with really low accommodation costs - as demonstrated by the figures shown in the chart below.
The chart shows the different costs of staying with OnlyInSamui.Com in a luxury private villa (top bar) and the other four bars below show the various costs of staying at a top class resort or spa. (These are current 2008 figures) The dark red area shows the amount of change you will receive out of £1000 for just ONE PERSON for ONE WEEK staying at a resort or hotel complex. Conversely, the area in light blue shows you how much that one-person paid for the privilege of staying there. You will see that the resorts and spas will always charge the most - so you will always get less change from £1000. But please check closely the low prices (shown in light blue) charged by Only-In-Samui.Com for a that same person staying at a luxury private villa The begin to savour the incredible savings your party can make by 'renting locally' and 'going native' at the same time.
Now this is the best part: having stacks of extra Spending Cash when we go on holiday is what everybody dreams about. But for those who stretch themselves thin and book a holiday which is really beyond their means and then worry about running out of money on that same holiday - will always end up having a holiday in hell - never mind that its supposed to be a holiday in paradise!
Nobody wants to be stingy on holiday. We all like to get out and about, doing different things, eating in different places and buying exotic stuff unavailable back home.
But if you are a family or group, why would you want spend £5000 staying in expensive hotel or resort accommodation for a mere two weeks - when you could still have the greatest holiday of your life by renting your own private villa (for even a whole month) at a fifth of that price?
Things you can do on Samui with the change out of £1000:
-
Get your teeth fixed - the dental treatment here is fantastic
-
Get some top-class plastic surgery, nose, boobs, buns etc
-
Treat yourself to an hair transplant
-
Get rid of that stubborn fat - half-day liposuction sessions
-
Get married, engaged or divorced! Celebrate your anniversary
-
Hire boats to go fishing or diving on wrecks
-
Hire an aeroplane to fly rounds the islands
-
Buy a quarter-million coconuts - they grow on trees here!
Its not going on holiday that counts so much, as what you do when you get there.
Its a fact: there are only two ways that westerners can go on holiday!
The first way is with an "all-in package deal" which combines both flights AND hotel rooms - the latter being either full-board, half-board or just breakfast - depending on the deal. But package deals like this are of the "fixed" variety and from our experience they are the the most expensive way to go - whether you want a quick short break or a lazy, endless sojourn. And this rule applies particularly on package deals to Samui - believe us - we wouldn't want to mislead you.
This is because the island of Samui is ranked one of the planet's most exclusive holiday destinations, celebrated for its exotic beauty and its remote, peaceful location in the ancient Sea of Siam. And, of course, it is just these very aspects that pushes up the accomodation costs to westerners, yet which in-turn completely suits the jet-setters, the well-heeled and spooning honeymooners - where expense is obviously the last thing on their mind!
Therefore, the average holidaymaker will find it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain discounts on package deals because these are "fixed costs" remember. About the only thing that's really good about a package deal is that it normally takes only a single visit to a travel agent!
The worst thing is that you're normally constricted on travel dates - and you are always forced to accept the advertised dates. This may not suit a family with school-age children - who are normally allowed away from school only in-between semester periods. Unfortunately, these also happen to be in the high seasons, like Summer, Spring and Christmas - and therefore are the most expensive times to visit Samui - or anywhere else for that matter. Rats!!
The second way - and by far the cheapest and most flexible (because YOU are choosing the dates - not the travel agent or the tour company) is to arrange your own holiday - just like 100% of Backpackers do - but which only 35% of Bagpackers do! These people seem to have no problem with DIY, even in the high seasons, so you shouldn't either. By the way, our prices do not go up and down with the seasons - our low prices are the same all year round!
So, if you want to DO-IT-YOURSELF then we at OnlyInSamui.com can help you in just two clicks - here's how: Firstly, you should decide on your preferred Arriving and Returning dates. Believe it or not, this is the hardest part!
-
-
It's really not that hard (or risky) to arrange a DIY holiday nowadays, even to such remote places as Samui because everything can be done in an instant over secured sites on the Internet. By going DIY and especially by going 'native' at the same time, you will have made dramatic savings on the second and third highest costs that are the bane of holiday-makers everywhere.
*The prices shown above do NOT include flights.The data is correct at time of going to press and is based on totally accurate information that can be checked by yourself - and it truthfully shows the costs and savings that your family or group can obtain when booking with OnlyInSamui.com.
Go for it. You won't regret it, we promise. And always remember:
FOOD COSTS IN PARADISE ARE LOW - VERY LOW!
Yes; you can also spend your days experiencing the following:
LOSE FAT - WITHOUT EVEN TRYING!
Golf, Tennis, Zoo/Wildlife Park, Shopping, Sightseeing, Restaurants, Kayaking, Sailing, Surf Kiting, Boating, Waterskiing, Parasailing, Jet Skiing, Shelling, Swimming, Snorkeling/Diving, Windsurfing, Biking, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Fishing, Rock Climbing, Wreck Diving, Cinemas/Movie Theaters and Horseback Riding just to name a few.
Also there are other great things which will keep you busy:
Koh Samui is a world-class resort island with unlimited vacation possibilities including fantastic restaurants, Thai massage, spas, jungle trekking, Thai Cooking - Elephant Riding - Watercolour Painting - Street Festivals - Sun Bathing - Bar Crawling - Beach Partying - Internet Cafes - AND for something of concern nowadays to a lot of westerners, you can actually
How about "Tiger Tourism"?
Thailand is also one of the world's leading countries in the protection and conservation of the majestic Bengal tiger. Breeding programs abound on Koh Samui and you can take home a souvenir photo to prove you stroked a real tiger! Here's a picture of Tania and her two children, Billie and Konni, smiling but with calm trepidation - after all this pussy does weigh about a quarter of a ton and could kill a water buffalo with one bite from those three-inch fangs!
Everyday you will enjoy the sheer delight that can only be experienced by living on a tropical island: Cool refreshing ozone-laden sea breezes - unspoiled beauty with unique island flora and fauna - pristine deserted beaches - friendly and helpful islanders - safe living and totally family oriented - anything else?
|
