Friday, December 12, 2025

By mid-morning, the routine had become clear: pool, beach, eat, repeat.

That’s really the beauty of Koh Samui. There isn’t a long checklist of things you need to see or do. The whole point is to slow down and enjoy where you are. A little time by the pool, a walk along the beach, something good to eat — and then do it all over again.

Whenever I stay somewhere like this, I can’t help comparing it to Hawaii. The beaches are just as beautiful, the water just as inviting, yet the prices are a fraction of what you would pay there. In Hawaii, I’d probably be paying five times as much for a similar setting. Koh Samui still feels like one of those rare places where you can enjoy a tropical paradise without feeling like you’re being financially punished for it.

I knew we were traveling during the shoulder season, but I expected things to be busier with the White Lotus effect. I was shocked at how empty the hotel was. Don’t get me wrong — who wants to wait in line and fight crowds? I might have to repeat this trip at the same time next year.

The one thing I had really been hoping to do on this trip was visit the marine park and spend some time snorkeling. Unfortunately, the storms that had been moving through the area had other plans. All of the tours were cancelled.

That also meant my new underwater action camera — which I had carefully packed for the trip — was once again going to stay dry. This was now the second trip where I brought it along and the second time I wasn’t able to use it. At this point the camera probably thinks I just bring it on vacation to tease it.

The weather stayed stormy through the morning, but by late morning the clouds began to break and patches of sunshine started to appear. It wasn’t perfect beach weather, but it was good enough. We spent some time relaxing by the water, had lunch at the hotel, and later walked down the street for dinner.

Did I mention that I really like Koh Samui?

Something tells me I’ll be back — if for no other reason than to finally give that underwater camera a chance to do what I bought it for.

Plenty of Chairs

The Blue Monkey Bar/Restaurant

The Blue Monkey

The view from the room

Thursday, December 9, 2025

Thailand is often called the “Land of Smiles,” and it doesn’t take long to see why. The people are genuinely warm and welcoming. Whether you’re walking down a hallway, approaching the front desk, getting into a taxi, or stepping into a restaurant, you’re almost always greeted with a friendly “Sawasdee.”

We headed down to breakfast at the hotel and quickly realized it was going to be a highlight of the stay. I was glad I had booked a rate that included it. The buffet spread was impressive — Western favorites, Asian dishes, and plenty of local Thai specialties. Fresh fruit, pastries, noodle dishes, eggs cooked to order — it seemed like it went on forever. I’ve had my share of hotel breakfasts over the years, and this one easily ranks among the best.

When I first checked into the Sheraton Samui, I liked it. But in less than 24 hours it had really grown on me. The hotel has character. My room could probably use a fresh coat of paint, but it was clean, comfortable, and — most importantly — quiet. I slept extremely well, which after a long stretch of travel felt like a luxury in itself.

We knew we were visiting during the shoulder season, but with the recent White Lotus effect I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. To our surprise — and relief — the hotel wasn’t busy. At meals there were only a few other tables occupied, and finding chairs by the pool or beach was never a problem.

After breakfast we took a short walk down the street to the 7-Eleven — one of those small but essential travel rituals in Thailand — before taking the shuttle to the local mall before we headed to the beach.

I generally try to avoid traveling during peak seasons. Fighting crowds, waiting in lines, and competing for space isn’t my idea of a relaxing vacation. Of course, traveling during the shoulder season means you sometimes roll the dice with the weather and you don’t get the picture perfect photos. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don’t.

Within an hour of settling in on the beach, the wind started to pick up and dark clouds rolled in. Before long, a tropical storm swept through.

The rain came down hard and we retreated to a covered area next to the restaurant. Instead of beach time, we spent the afternoon reading and surfing the web, while watching the storm move across the water. It wasn’t the beach day we had imagined, but it was still a relaxing afternoon.

Later that night the weather intensified. Ligtning along with loud thunder.  My phone lit up with storm warnings.

But lying there listening to the storm roll through the island, I couldn’t help but think — even a rainy day in Koh Samui beats a good day almost anywhere else.

Homemade Thai candies

Monday, December 8, 2025

We boarded Scoot Airlines for the short flight to Koh Samui, Thailand — the setting for the most recent season of The White Lotus. Thailand has become an almost annual trip for us. Sophon visits family, and we usually tack on a destination or two to explore along the way.

The first surprise of the morning probably shouldn’t have been a surprise at all. We had booked what looked like a Singapore Airlines flight, but it turned out to be operated by Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. While Singapore Airlines is part of Star Alliance, Scoot is not.

That meant the usual perks — frequent flyer miles, lounge access, and priority boarding — didn’t exist. The flight was less than two hours, so it wasn’t a big deal, but I had assumed I was buying a flight that was part of Star Alliance only to discover it was operated by an airline that isn’t part of the alliance. Situations like this always leave me feeling just a little misled.

When we landed in Koh Samui, the hotel had a car waiting for us. A short drive later, we arrived at the Sheraton Samui Resort. At check-in, the staff mentioned that my room had been upgraded. These days, I’m never quite sure what that actually means. The room looked exactly like what I had booked. That said, it was spacious, comfortable, and had everything we needed, so I wasn’t complaining.

The hotel itself sits on a steep hillside overlooking the ocean. When we first walked down to the pool and restaurant, I immediately wondered how quickly the daily climb back up the hill would get old. What if you made it all the way to the beach and realized you forgot something in the room?

Fortunately, the staff regularly shuttles guests back and forth between the rooms, pool, and beach. That small detail made the layout feel far less intimidating.

We had lunch at the restaurant overlooking the water and then spent some time wandering the property and getting our bearings. The pace of the trip was about to shift dramatically. Singapore had been all about sightseeing, crowds, and constant motion. Koh Samui was going to be something entirely different — slow mornings by the pool, walks along the beach, and hopefully a few hidden gems waiting to be discovered.