ATTENTION! some important things to know
Koh Samui is such a wonderful place to be have a romantic getaway, wedding or honeymoon. There are a few things we feel are important to know before visiting Koh Samui so your trip is relaxed and unforgettable - and you'll want to return many times over. FAKE CELEBRANT There is currently a fake wedding Celebrant by the name of Alfredo Alonzo who is trying to pass himself off as a wedding professional on Koh Samui. He is a Food & Beverage manager who has convinced unknowing resorts he is a true Celebrant and charges a little less than the real professionals based on Koh Samui. The best wedding planners and wedding resorts on Koh Samui are already aware of this fake Celebrant and will only use real professionals for your wedding - as it is so important to not cut corners to save a little money. As of this writing, ALL Samui resorts now know of his status and any resort or wedding company who knowningly uses him is trying to cheat each couple out of an honestly professional service. There are excellent professional Celebrants available on Koh Samui; we want to make sure no one gets fooled by this man, as you will be putting your trust in a Samui-based wedding planner you may have never met. Ask your wedding planner or resort who your Celebrant will be - if they say it's Alfredo - get another wedding planner, because you don't know what else they will do to save money on your big day. A professional wedding Celebrant is one of the most important parts of your wedding day - don't leave it up to just anyone. Demand only the best for your wedding. METERED TAXIS There are no such things here on Koh Samui - no mater what the sign on the top of their car says. You will need to negotiate a rate before you travel. After dark the rates go up - sometimes considerably. There are stories about people spending much more than necessary, among many other things, and to avoid this we suggest getting the drivers number if you really like their service and attitude. Then call them any time you know you need a taxi, then you will have a trusted driver. But don't bother trying to get the number of a bad taxi driver to report them, there is no one to report them to on Koh Samui. Best thing to do is rent a small car for your stay. The roads are quite small at times when visiting certain parts of the island and a small car is ideal. MOTORBIKE RENTALS Koh Samui used to be a motorbike haven, but nowadays, cars rule the roads here. Not to mention the condition of many of the roads; pot-holes, open sewer drains and sand on many corners. So we suggest NOT renting a motorbike when coming to Koh Samui - UNLESS you have previous riding experience and are not a drunken fool (sorry to be blunt). Koh Samui is not the place to learn how to ride a motorbike - and contrary to what many visitors believe - they are not kid's toys. Rent a small car instead. JET SKI RENTALS Jet ski's are fun and exciting, but they can quickly turn into nightmares in Thailand when rented from the wrong operator. You may have seen the reports on Youtube and international news media about people renting from unreputable operators and then are involved in physical altercations over bogus claims of damage and demands for extortinate amounts of money. If you REALLY want to rent jet ski's on Samui, talk to your resort or villa manager about the most reputable operators nearby.
In the end, no matter what you do while on Koh Samui - don't check-out your brain when you check-in your luggage at the airport. Enjoy your stay and we'll see you again on your next trip to Koh Samui!