Tips on Ko Samui Warnings or Dangers – Stay Safe!

Ko Samui Warnings and Dangers

Ko Samui is a stunning place to visit but there are some things people should be aware of.

Katoeys

The Lady boys that entertain you can be fun to watch. But beware that they are looking out to get paid, also you may be hassled for a photo with them. If you do you will have to pay and 2 lady boys in the photo is  2 payments. Ladyboys are part & parcel of life on Koh Samui. They can be described as pushy, especially with men, but just keep your guard up if you are not interested.

Taxis

Taxis on Samui don’t have meters so you have to bargain but usually they will charge you a fixed rate like 500 baht.They will try to tell you where your going is so far or the price of petrol is expensive. Most of these taxis hang around the pier or airport waiting for tourist.

Roads:

For a small island the traffic is considerably hectic particularly around Chaweng and the other busy towns. There are crossings but generally cars do not stop so you often find yourself dodging in and out. Just be careful especially at night time. Remember in Thailand drive to on the left, and if on a scooter or motorbike you should wear a helmet and can be fined if you don’t. Its total madness so be careful. Stop signs, red lights or you in the middle of the road no body takes any notice.

Animals and Wildlife

The animals are cute to look at but can be very dangerous, and mischievous. They will take your equipment or camera if you are not careful and some of the monkeys have been known to bite.

On the Beach

Not so much of a warning or danger really but at night time around the restaurants on the Chewang beach you will get a bunch of local children challenging you to a game of Connect 4 – 100 bahts to play – if you win you’ll get 200 bahts. Easy peezy you may think considering the child you are playing is about 6 years old.Not so. I don’t know how they do it but you will lose every time. I quite enjoyed it and became quite friendly with some of them, but they can harass you if you let them – just be firm if you don’t want to take part. Also be careful if you rent a jet-ski as some shops run a scheme to get tourist to pay for damage they did not cause. Watch out for jellyfish when on the beach.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about dangers in Ko Samui.