Welcome Back to Thailand via Koh Samui Plus

Following the opening of Phuket to International arrivals from 1st July 2021, it is now Koh Samui who is championing a way into Thailand. Together with the nearby islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, all are offering an attractive entry into Thailand as an alternative to a 14 days hotel quarantine.

Welcome Back!  Koh Samui is now open – which is a double hooray!

Firstly this is because the Phuket Sandbox entry (as it has been called) has been deemed a success and secondly because we all love Samui, and this gives both tourists and returning residents options.

What is the Samui Plus Programme?

The ‘Samui Plus’ programme offers fully vaccinated international guests from approved countries an entry into Surat Thani province’s three islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao.

To enter visitors must comply with the Samui Extra Plus and SHA Plus hotel requirements, at first this appears complex but read on for more info.

Samui Plus at a glance

Full details of all requirements in English here which show you must:

• Have been in an approved country for 21 days or more;
• Been fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine
• Have booked and purchased return air travel all on one flight ticket, transfer in Bangkok is allowed.
• Have booked and paid for accommodation, and required RT-PCR test/s at a Samui Extra Plus or SHA Plus hotel;
• Have purchased medical insurance with COVID-19 treatment coverage of at least US$100,000;
• Have tested negative for COVID-19 no longer than 72 hours before travel.
• All arrivals are required to stay in a hotel certified with the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) Plus certification.
• First 7 nights of stay under the Samui Plus program must be in Samui Extra Plus accommodation. See below (as at 15 July)
• New COVID-19 restrictions and screening requirements are needed for domestic travel (Phuket Sandbox is excluded) to Ko Samui and Ko Pha-ngan, Surat Thani, for both Thais and foreigners, (as at 24 July, 2021, until further notice).

• Approved SHA Plus hotels for nights 8 -14: www.thailandsha.com

FOR MORE SEE FAQ here

Where can I go in Samui?

After waiting for the test result in your hotel room on first arrival (Day 0) and the result is negative, you can travel around as follows:

Day 1-3: Can leave the hotel room for designated areas in the hotel only; Note this is different from the Phuket Sandbox, where guests can leave the hotel.
Day 4-7: Can travel within designated routes and on tour programmes on Koh Samui only;
Day 8-14: Can travel within Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao;
Day 15: If the last test on Day 12-13 is negative, can go anywhere in Thailand.

At all times, visitors must strictly follow the DMHTTA precautions: D – Distancing, M – Mask wearing, H – Handwashing, T – Temperature check, T – Testing for COVID-19, and A – alert application.

Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan villas

PHUKET SANDBOX OR SAMUI PLUS?

Everyone will have an opinion on this!

• Phuket is bigger, Samui was always considered “nicer.” Neither island will be as you remember. Phuket is cleaner, calmer, more beautiful than I’ve ever seen it before.
• Phuket Sandbox gives you more freedom from arrival (after the negative Covid test result)
• Some might say they prefer the Samui Plus safety net idea of visitors remaining within their hotels between days 1-3.
• Samui Plus seems to offer a broader island package by including Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. However, the Phuket Sandbox also includes the island escapes of Naka, Coconut, and Racha Islands.
• Phuket Sandbox offers more choices and seems to be offering more economical SHA+ options, Koh Samui always went after the well-heeled and is charging accordingly.
• July, August, and September are in the low season in Phuket and July is one of the best times to visit Koh Samui.

Koh Samui and beyond

Tips for choosing your Samui Plus hotels

A full list is found here

SAMUI EXTRA PLUS:

Samui Extra Plus hotels are specially assigned for travellers under the Samui Plus programme in order to differentiate from the Alternative Quarantine system (for those arriving without vaccinations or from a non-approved country).

All Samui Extra Plus hotels are recognised for the Royal Thai Embassy processing of the Certificate of Entry (COE) application. These hotels are formerly ALQ hotels (now referred to as AQ hotels).

Are you still keeping up? The first rule to coming to Thailand is that you have to love paperwork!

See: Samui Extra Plus hotels launched for international visitors to Samui, or click on this link to download the list of Samui Extra Plus hotels (link) and book one of these for nights 1-7.

Avani + Samui is a Samui Extra Plus approved hotel.SHA PlusSHA Plus

SHA PLUS HOTELS

• SHA Plus certification (book one of these for nights 7-14) indicates a hotel meets the safety measures to control COVID-19, and also that 70% of its workforce has been fully vaccinated. SHA Plus properties can be viewed here.

FINDING A SAMUI PLUS HOTEL YOU WILL LOVE TIPS

• Do your research – look at recent Trip Advisor, Google, and hotel booking site reviews. Remember reviews from before March 2020 are irrelevant, too much has changed.

• What are your visit requirements? Be really clear about what you want from your Thailand holiday or Samui + return. The Islands are not how you remember it. For many of us, we feel the islands are even more beautiful, the natural beauty of Koh Phangan after years of full moon parties, it is golden. Nightlife is as subdued as in Phuket. Chaweng and Lamai have been badly hit by the lack of tourism with much closed. Things have changed and it will take time to gear up for tourism again. However, the Thais are the masters of regeneration.

• Choose your location carefully to fit your holiday dreams!   If you are after an ‘away from it all’ experience and to see amazing Samui as it hasn’t been seen for over thirty years. They used to say head south for the quietest areas on Samui, that is, even more, the case these days. There is quiet and there is closed with nothing to do.  If are you looking for more life, and a choice of restaurants, spas, and activities, choose areas popular with Expats such as north of the airport at Bang Rak, or the Bophut Fisherman’s Village areas currently have the most life!

Kamalaya beach

• Book directly with the hotel. More flexible and easier, cheaper and better if a refund is sought. Check the Hotel’s cancellation policy wording carefully. Samui’s Plus Facebook conversations seem to indicate that many hotels (most?) are not offering cancellations.

• Choose a hotel that has (mostly) remained open. This is not the climate to shut up shop for over a year and hope that all the services are fully functioning on your return! The biggest learning coming out from Phuket are guests complaining of issues such as drainage, air conditioning, staff service, etc most likely arising from hotels reopening after periods of inactivity.

Centara Villas Samui

• Look at resorts with privately-owned residences. These hotels have had income generated through management fees even without tourist baht. They have generally maintained their standards of maintenance and gardening. Examples such as The Shasa Resort.
• Check out the hotel’s social media search #[ADD hotel name] and see what content has recently been posted. Interact and ask the questions that are important to you. You have three days where you will stay within the hotel grounds – how big are the facilities and what activities are on offer?

• For those planning to work from the beach ask questions about working space both within your room (and whether they offer a comfortable chair) and elsewhere in the resort. You would not believe the numbers of guests holding business meetings via their computers in the clubrooms of the last SHA+ hotel I stayed at. Remember most of us require some air conditioning, especially if video conferencing is on!
• Finally,  where ever you choose, you support the Samui Plus islands and Thailand as it reopens its doors. The locals will be very grateful to you. You come as pioneers and we hope you will come with your spirit of adventure.

Anantara Bophut Koh Samui

OUR STAYCATIONS

Koh Samui is one of my favourite Thailand Islands and I have had the pleasure of returning on several occasions whilst compiling The Insider’s guide to Koh Samui in the Dec/Jan 2020 edition of Expat Life in Thailand magazine.

Here is the round-up of hotels I have stayed in during my Thailand Staycations:

Bophut beach location

We have always liked the hip and happening Bophut beach area of Samui with its Fisherman’s Village. It’s a good choice in 2021, whilst the island is still quiet, more is happening here.

Anantara BoPhut Koh Samui Resort

Samui (SHA) Plus approved

The total “I love it here” package  – great location, rooms, resort, food, spa, and staff.  A 4-minute walk from Fisherman’s Village, Bophut. Gorgeous gardens, incredible pool area, fine dining at Full Moon restaurant, and a fabulous spa.

For a full review see Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Staycation Review here

Anantara Bo Phut Koh Samui Resort

Hansar Samui Resort · Bophut Beach

Samui (SHA) Plus applied

We choose this hotel for its location to the airport (there is no airport noise) and for the ease of transport to and from the Koh Phangan ferry. The room is lovely with a sea view balcony, it won’t be to everyone’s taste with the glass-walled bathroom, but they can add screening. Found a short walk from Fisherman’s Village. I loved every moment of our stay at Hansar.

Hansar Samui

Zazen Boutique Resort· Bophut Beach

Samui (SHA) Plus approved

‘Whether you prefer a beachfront room or a garden suite, this hotel is a piece of paradise. There is almost no need to leave the resort. You will find all sorts of amenities like a sun hat and beach bag in your room to use during your stay or purchase from the impressive gift shop. It’s impossible to say you have nothing to do with a fully equipped gym, tranquil meditation/yoga studio space, mountain bikes, kayaks, SUP board, billiards table, and a plethora of board games including chess in the room’ Recommended by Geneva Hargreaves

Kamalaya Koh Samui

South East Samui 

KAMALAYA WELLNESS & HOLISTIC SPA

SAMUI (SHA) PLUS APPROVED

Congratulations Kamalaya Wellness, named Worldwide Heath and Wellness Destination of the Year at the World Spa & Wellness Awards 2020. For a holiday with a difference check out this stunning part of Koh Samui, beautiful rooms, healthy food, and treatments galore to refresh and, revitalised.

Thank you Kamalaya! We arrived weary, depleted, and stressed. We leave refreshed, re-energised and relaxed. We will be back – Alana and Rob Adelaide

For a full staycation, review see here

To read more about Kamalaya check out Wisdom Wellbeing from Kamalaya

KAMALAYA WELLNESS & HOLISTIC SPA

Centara Villas Samui

Samui (SHA) Plus approved

This resort has 3 stunning swimming pools and an 80 m private stretch of white, sandy beach. ? ?????? ????, ??????????? ?????? & ????? ??? ??? ????????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ????.

For more on Centara Villas Samui see here

Centara Villas Samui

ShaSa Resort and Residences

Samui (SHA) Plus approved

For those who like apartment holidays and looking to be on the beautiful South East side of Samui (close to Lamai Beach). Spacious apartments are ideal for those working from the beach.

⁣ A small, private beach you are most likely to spend time around the swimming pools but walk in both directions at low tide to find bigger bays. ⁣

The charm of this beautiful part of Samui is it is away from the crowds, a hire car will be desirable. ⁣

For a full staycation, review see here and apartment video tour here

ShaSa Resorts and Residences

Taling-Ngam location:

AVANI + SAMUI 

A SAMUI EXTRA PLUS APPROVED HOTEL

Room types: 42 rooms

If you are truly looking for a Samui getaway on the lesser-explored Southwestern side of Samui. This is a good choice if you are looking for a pool villa ideal for those hoping for peace and quiet.

For Little Wandering Wren’s full AVANI+ Samui review see here. Contact: Mr. Niran Jindadum at niran_ji@avanihotels.com, or avaniplus.samui@avanihotels.com

Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas

Samui (SHA) Plus approved

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One of my all-time favourite staycations ever!

If Koh Samui is your beautiful and stylish Aunt, then Koh Phangan is her younger more fun sister who always has a twinkle in her eye and you wonder what she’s going to surprise you with next!⁣

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??? ??????? is a tranquil island in the ???? ?? ???????? EXCEPT when it likes to party. A ???? ???? ????? experience at Haad Rin, Koh Phangan has long been a drawcard of the young and young at heart. ⁣Not these days!
⁣
Many love Koh Phangan for its lush mountains, beautiful beaches, and azure waters, I adore it for its alternative slightly hippy side too. ⁣Check out our stay here and video here

For more see Little Wandering Wren’s Twin Island Bliss: Koh Samui and Koh Phangnan

Final Thoughts

We wish the Samui Plus programme well.  As with the Phuket Sandbox, this is a start and giving hope to the island, and the country at a time of need. Should it be like the Phuket Sandbox, the opportunity to commence slowly and build is no bad thing in my humble opinion! We wish the 9 pioneers of Samui travel who arrived on day one, all the best for a brilliant holiday,

Samui arrivals 15th July 2021

I hope that this has helped as you decide on which hotel to book for your arrival in Samui.

For further information:

?    Plus FAQs: https://www.tatnews.org/2021/07/samui-plus-faqs/

?     Book SHA Plus Hotel: www.thailandsha.com

?     For COE (certificate of entry): https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/

?     Facebook Group: Samui Plus  Better Thailand by I Asia Thailand

?     News updates and forums ThaiVisa

?    Twitter Richard Barrow and Thai News reports

?     Little Wandering Wren: website for a birds-eye view of Thailand

?     Join Chow Traveller an invited TAT guest for the Samui Plus official opening:

 Samui Plus – what to expect when visiting Koh Samui

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If you would like to recommend any Samui hotels you have enjoyed, please do so in the comments below. likewise, ask away if you have any other questions.

Thank you for reading and looking forward to seeing you in Samui soon!

Disclosure: Little Wandering Wren was an invited guest at the following hotels and resorts:

Avani + Samui, Anantara Bophut Koh Samui, Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan, Kamalaya Wellness, and ShaSha Resort. All opinions are my own.