THAILAND: X-Files from Paradise
This review is top secret and should be destroyed after reading! I am struggling with the desire to share information about the most beautiful places in Thailand with good people, and the understanding that if this information falls into the hands of bad people, then soon it will be possible to put an end to these heavenly places and hotels, because crowds of "Russo tourists" are capable of ruin even the most perfect resort in the world. In general, everything is like in the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio, if you remember this one. Moreover, we will talk about those places and (attention! ) About the very secret bay that formed the basis of the film and the novel of the same name.
“A little bit of heaven on Earth” is about our first place. Tao Island in the Gulf of Thailand. Favorite place for European and American divers and snorkellers. A small island covered with tropical greenery and coconut palms.
We did not stop at the poppy main beach of Saire Beach, because this is not what you need to go to Tao. We booked a hotel in the best bay of this island, hidden from prying eyes - Thian Og.
Council number 1.
If you fly from Moscow with Thai Airways, then everything fits perfectly with the Bangkok-Samui flight and the last Koh Samui-Tao ferry on the same day.
This is a very, very cool place in terms of what an ideal bay should be for a relaxing beach holiday. Small, beautiful, with wonderful white coral sand, similar to semolina, without a bunch of people, without Russians from Nizhny Tagil and its environs. There are no low tides, the water is always near the shore and you can swim at any time of the day. A very photogenic beach. Maldives? No, we haven't heard. Our bay Tian Og is better than any Maldives.
The second name of this place is Shark Bay. Yes, yes, friends, there are sharks here. Calm!
Sharks are only whale sharks - these are those that do not eat people, eat only fish and are generally affectionate like cats. They can be seen if you sail from the coast of 200 meters, no less.
Our Haad Tien Beach Resort is a couple of dozen villas of different categories, from more or less inexpensive, away from the beach, to large ones right on the coast, with two bedrooms and a private pool. Inside, everything is trimmed with wood of different species - a "natural product" in its purest form, but without living creatures. Feeling of some natural comfort and unity. The hotel has just a huge territory, a real jungle, which is rare for Thailand. And you can feel the constant, but unobtrusive attention of the staff. Even the hotel manager himself, the wonderful guy John, was almost always in sight and personally asked if we were all right and if we needed any help. If anyone has problems with English, a Russian girl Natalia works at the reception, responsive and cheerful, she will help on any issue.
Breakfasts are varied and delicious, you can have breakfast on ottomans right on the beach, or you can have it in the hotel restaurant at traditional tables - whatever you like. The hotel has a glamorous black pool with black sun loungers and umbrellas. Aesthetes will appreciate.
We combined relaxation on site with half a day diving and trips to the center of the island (the hotel minibus runs there and back free of charge).
Yes, the hotel is certainly not the cheapest on the island. But ask yourself the question, why are you flying over 7500 km? To get another Turkey on a huge beach with stacks of bodies in three rows? Or get impressions for half a lifetime, for which, perhaps, it is worth working for a whole year? Three or four days on Tao is enough to catch this atmosphere, feel like DiCaprio and be proud of the thought that none of your friends and colleagues have definitely been to this place.
We sail on ...Lomprayah's catamaran takes us south, to the second place of our trip - the island of Koh Phangan. This is another unique place that you should definitely visit if you want to see the real Thailand yet. The island is medium in size (the fifth largest in Thailand). Something similar to Koh Samui 20 years ago, when the tourism industry was just beginning to develop. Wild beauty, deserted beaches and unhurried island life are still preserved here. Rumor has it that in the foreseeable future, Koh Phangan can also build its own airport. And then farewell, heaven! They will set up malls and latex factories, package tourists will fly in and “Gaaal! Look, shorts are only 100 baht, you have to take it! »
We decided to stay at Thong Nai Pan Noi beach, which is optimal for several reasons.
Firstly, it is quite far from parties, but at the same time there is a village with the necessary number of cafes, restaurants, and several small shops. Secondly, the bay is really beautiful and cozy - wide, with stone spits along the edges and amazing white sand and a completely gentle sea. Well, the last argument - on this beach is one of the best hotels on the island of Anantara Rasananda Resort. Although, why "one of"? It's better not. If you like comfort and service, this is the perfect option. If you don’t like it or you (suddenly) don’t have enough money, there are quite budget hotels on this beach. It looks nice from the outside, for example Thongtapan Resort, located on the very left end of the beach.
But I will tell you about our hotel. Anantara is a brand and everything is up to its level. Well-trained staff, attention to every detail.
The hotel is managed by two European managers, as a result of which the Thai staff is one of the best in the nearby islands.
Council number 2.
Book in advance a hotel transfer from the pier on a speedboat. Very convenient, the hotel even has its own “business lounge” on the pier, from where the speedboat departs.
Each room is a separate villa or suite with a private pool. There are simply no rooms without a private pool, sorry. The smallest room has a total area of .100 sq. meters. You feel as if you are in your own luxurious dacha, where you have your own space, your own courtyard. We took the Lagoon Pool Villa room, among other things, it also has a lagoon - such a pond with carps, so the feeling of giving one hundred percent : )
The rooms have everything. No, not like that - there is EVERYTHING. Everything that should be in a five-star hotel, and a little more. For example, Apple TV with excellent internet. That is, you can watch any video from the network on the big screen.
Closer to the beach - an infinity pool. You can take kayaks to swim around, or snorkels, watch the animals, or play beach volleyball. Well, or lie down like a seal on sun loungers five meters from the edge of the sea.
We rented a bike for a couple of days to explore the island on our own. And they were pleasantly surprised to meet our compatriots who settled here in different places. No, not those compatriots, but insanely nice sweet people - designers, artists, yoga instructors, musicians and other creative characters. It turns out that there is a real Russian commune on Phangan. Many have moved here with entire families, with children and cats, rent a house for $400 a month and live enjoying the measured flow of time. They have a Facebook group - Koh Phangan People.
Our third and last point of the route was Koh Samui.
Quite a lot has already been written about him, I can only add that of all the "package" islands (those where the hairy hand of Russian tour operators has already reached), this one still remains the cutest and most unpolluted. Of course, now it’s no longer surprising that there are dumplings or Arbat cafes on the streets, signboards in Russian, and Thais’ knowledge of the basic phrases from the great and mighty. But it is still an island strewn with coconut trees and bungalows on white sand beaches, much more beloved by me than Phuket or, God forbid, Pattaya. Here, as before, the most delicious tom yum, the highest quality street massage and the best beaches.
You open the tripadvisor website and you are amazed: in the first places in the ranking of the best hotels in Koh Samui are completely strange hotels that are located on inaccessible beaches such as Bang Rak or Bang Po, and often 500-1000 meters from the beach.
Since we have already been to Koh Samui, I can definitely say that the objectivity and impartiality of these ratings does not smell. Remember: Koh Samui is an island where you only live on the beach. Not across the road from the beach, not a kilometer from the beach, but right on the beach. This is the main feature of the place. And no matter what anyone says, for me the best beach was and remains Chaweng. If you choose a hotel wisely, there will be no low tide, unnecessary noise and dirt, but snow-white sand, blue water and a cozy villa a few steps from the sea will guarantee your unshakable happiness.
I want to give you another secret. In the best part of Chaweng Beach is the Poppies Samui Resort, which, with all the desire, will not get package Russo tourists. Just because this hotel basically does not work with Russian tour operators! And you can get into it only by going to rest individually. I don't know if this is the reason, but the hotel has just impeccable service!
A truly individual approach to each guest. You are called by name, the waiters in the restaurant remember all your culinary passions, the manager gives useful advice, like a best friend. Well, for example, we asked if there are picturesque bays for meeting the sunset and beautiful photos on the western side of the island. "Let's go, I'll show you! ”- the manager answers, puts us in his personal jeep and takes us to the other end of the island for free! It was here that I felt that real Thai hospitality, which is legendary, but which in reality is not so easy to meet. Most of the staff have been here for many years and they behave like one small family: respect, respect and more respect. The hotel is not cheap, but it really is the best of the best. Believe me.
All villas are the same and at the same price, there is no need to choose something.
The only wish you can make when you check in is to give a room as close to the beach as possible. Be sure to wink with your right eye! This is a special sign, after which you will surely get a villa on the first line for the price of a regular room.
The design of the villas is in traditional Thai style. A rare case when the local flavor is not at the expense of European comfort. Each villa is built in the shape of the letter L and consists of two areas - a living room and a bedroom. Plus a chic terrace with sun loungers, surrounded by a fence of green bushes. Cleaning was done twice a day when we were not in the room. Every evening, a compliment from the hotel was left in the room - cakes, cookies or a plate of fruit.
This is the only hotel where breakfast is served until noon. Getting up early for breakfast is usually not my favorite activity on vacation. Here I was in no hurry, like a Buddhist in the third generation.
One of the few hotels where real Eggs Benedict is served for breakfast - just like we ate in Miami. Freshly squeezed juices to choose from (watermelon, pineapple, carrot). Huge selection of Thai snacks and delicacies.
In addition, 68 species of flowers and tropical plants grow on the territory of the hotel, and a whole team of gardeners takes care of all this splendor! You can just stroll through the chic Poppies garden, and a trip to the botanical garden is no longer needed.
Many, simply enormous thanks to Anton Sokolov, who recommended this particular hotel to us when we were struggling with the choice of where to stay in Chaweng. This is not an advertisement, a person really knows Thailand like the back of his hand, and is ready to give free valuable advice out of the kindness of his heart. This trip was largely successful thanks to him, his site asiahotels. ru and his colleagues who met us on the spot.
Once again I was convinced that no matter how much interesting you know about Thailand, there are always people who know more than you.
Council number 4. Last one for today.
The return flight home is usually early in the morning. Ask the hotel reception the night before for a breakfast box. During check-out, you will be given two boxes of goodies, and they will also contain a gift from the hotel - expensive body care products. So it was with us, and I really want you to repeat our path and get the same impressions. Because experiences are the only true value in life.
