If you are looking for an ideal honeymoon island in Thailand, choose between Koh Samui and Phuket. Both of two are Thailand's most popular islands – and for good reasons. World-renowned as beautiful islands, pristine beaches, mouthwatering Thai seafood, stunning honeymoon resorts, sea and sun you could enjoy at the most of your honeymoon.
But which of them should be at the top of your honeymoon wish list? In-deep research into the honeymoon experience and differences between the two can be broken down into several key elements, so we did for you here. It will make a little easier for you to choose your best honeymoon destination in Thailand.
Best time to visit?
- Best time to visit Koh Samui
Koh Samui: February – October
The BEST times to visit Samui are the months from February to October. Rainy season comes to Koh Samui in late October, November and part of December.
- Best time to visit Koh Samui
Phuket: November – March
The dry season of Phuket runs between November and March while the monsoon season is from July to October.
Location
Koh Samui: East coast facing Gulf of Thailand
Both Koh Samui and Phuket located on the south of Bangkok. Koh Samui is on the east coast, facing the Gulf of Thailand. Koh Samui is only 297 miles from Bangkok, approximately 1 hr 15 mins by plane.
Phuket: West coast facing Andaman Sea
Main beaches of Phuket peninsula are located on the west coast, facing Andaman Sea. Phuket is 420 miles from Bangkok. Flight time is about 1 hr 20 mins. Both of these two destinations have direct flight from Bangkok.
Phuket is almost twice as big as Koh Samui. Phuket's total area is 540 km² - a bit smaller than Chicago. By, contrast, Koh Samui is 228.7 km² like the Cook Islands, and a bit smaller than Maldives.
Beach
Koh Samui: More beach lovers
Koh Samui has a strict skyline restriction: no buildings are permitted higher than a coconut tree. The island is aimed at positioning its tourism as a pure natural beach holiday. The effect is obviously. You will still enjoy an open-wide sea view even on its busiest beaches. A lot beach chairs, palm-tree, beach bungalow and of cause a "time-has-forgotten-us" honeymoon.
Phuket: Varies choice for different budget & interests
Phuket is the place where you can find everything for an ideal honeymoon – beachside massage, Half Moon Party, sizzling street food and an array of bars and clubs. With over 35 beaches to choose from, you can head to the most vividly Patong beach or to the completely isolated northern part beaches.
- Top 10 Beaches in Phuket
Activities
Koh Samui: fun beach activities
Fans of kiteboarding and windsurfing will love Koh Samui. Its beaches provide the perfect setting for lessons all year long. When the seasons change and the weather becomes unfavourable, lesson are relocated to the other side of the island. Just west of Koh Samui, the Ang Thong National Marine Park boasts some of the best snorkeling spots on the globe. If you'd rather not leave Koh Samui, head to Bophut, on the island's north coast. Its clear, shallow waters are perfect for snorkelling, as well as swimming and kayaking.
- Top 10 Brilliant Things to Do in Koh Samui
- Top 10 Best Koh Samui Day Trip – Nature & Wildlife
Phuket: suit for almost everyone
Phuket, meanwhile, is a melt pot of natural and history sightseeing. It's an ideal place for scuba diving and snorkeling from November to April. Other sightseeing includes a handful of themed amusement parks, Thai temples and night markets. Khao Sok National Park days tours is also popular, especially its floating house. You can even have a mud bath with elephants in an ethical elephant sanctuary.
- Top 10 Things to Do in Phuket
Nightlife & Partying
Koh Samui: more beach parties
The most famous beach party in Koh Samui is the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangna. Every month when the moon getting full, thousands of people will gather on the beach to celebrate with dancing, drinks, fire show and crazy all the night.
More quiet bars you will find dotting alone with the coast line. Koh Samui is a place you will find more beach bars.
Phuket: more clubs and night walking streets
Phuket, overall, is a vibrant nightlife. If your idea of heaven is more social and activity-filled days, Phuket would be your obvious option. There is more shopping, bars, night markets, shows at its center zone. Apart from the coast line of three main beaches, the Bangla Road is also the top nightlife choice.
Resorts
Koh Samui: Step on sands just outside of your room
Surrounded by the sea, although the Koh Samui only supports about 1,000 hotels, most of them let you walk on beach right from your room. Popular hotels in Lamai and Chaweng beach offer a private beach for newlyweds.
The island's quiet resorts are perfect for honeymooners who want a quiet getaway in their luxury beachside villa. There are also some very convenient restaurants and markets to browse.
Phuket: 1200 + Options
Phuket's hotels are not only ideal for honeymooners, but also a lot for families, groups of friends and young people. You will find much more different zones in Phuket, from tranquil north to surprisingly lively middle part.
Phuket offer a large hotel industry, approximately 1,200 properties. Since your booking is so competitive, the price is usually quite low, even during the peak season.
Flights from Your Countries
Koh Samui:
| Departure | Arrival | Time |
|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) via Hong Kong | Koh Samui (USM) | 20 hrs 30 mins |
| Toronto (YYZ) via Hong Kong | 22 hrs 45 mins |
| Canberra (CBR) via Singapore | 12 hrs 40mins |
| London (LHR) via Bangkok | 14 hrs 50 mins |
Phuket:
| Departure | Arrival | Time |
|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) via Hong Kong | Phuket (HKT) | 20 hrs 10 mins |
| Toronto (YYZ) via Seoul | 22 hrs 40 mins |
| Melbourne (MEL) | 8 hrs 50 mins |
| London (LHR) via Bangkok | 14 hrs 35 mins |
Spending
Accommodation, food and activity prices are fairly similar on both islands. It is, however, less expensive to reach Phuket than Samui. Travelers are likely to spend more money in Phuket because of the numerous large shopping malls, nightclubs, and restaurants that abound on the island. On the other hand, travelers are likely to spend more on accommodation in Koh Samui rather than in Phuket.
In terms of affordability, there is no clear winner between Samui and Phuket. The cost of living essentials is comparable in both places, and the deciding factor is how much travelers are willing to spend.
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