a Koh Samui Christmas

“With a few preparation, a Koh Samui Christmas could easily become your family's favorite!” - Misty Dowling

Longing for a white Christmas? 🎅🏻🦌

It could be somewhat of an unexpected kind in comparison to what typically strikes a chord while thinking about a "white Christmas" yet no less gorgeous if you were to ask me. 🌟

With a few preparation, a Koh Samui Christmas could easily become your family's favorite! An ideal day together full of family fun, and a delicious Christmas supper - that you don’t have to cook or clean up yourself! There are so many reasons a Koh Samui Christmas could just turn into your number one kind. 🎄

This is what's in store…(and everything you need to know before you go)

Let’s start with your accommodation - what are hotel and lodging rates like during the holiday season?

🛏️ It’s Thailand, so yes, hotel and holiday rental prices are more reasonable than many other parts of the world as you may be expecting. However, I wouldn’t want to keep from you that the weeks over Christmas and New Year’s Eve are the most desirable times to visit Koh Samui, naturally meaning, places get booked out well in advance and prices peak over this holiday season.

A Last-Minute Koh Samui Christmas?

🏎️ Leading up to December many Hotels, Resorts, and Holiday Rentals get booked out already so you can imagine, the closer you get to Christmas the less lodging options you’ll find available. This year, Baan Suay Bantai was already fully booked for the month December, 6 months ahead of time. So, if you’re still looking to spend Christmas on Koh Samui this year but you haven’t booked your accommodation yet, don’t spend too long contemplating when you find something nice because chances are that by the time you’ve made up your mind, that dreamy beach front bungalow might be sipping coconuts with someone else.

Christmas delights

The tropical island setting may not be your typical Christmas picture. You can ditch the snow boots and grab your flipflops. And with Thailand being a primarily Buddhist country and Christmas not being a Thai or Buddist holiday, you probably don't expect a lot of Chrismassy vibes, let alone a traditional Christmas dinner?

🍴Worry not, Koh Samui's hospitality scene stands ready to cater to your festive cravings, whether it's cranberries or Christmas Turkey you desire! - served with a side of palm trees and sandy beaches. From cozy budget-friendly joints to upscale Western establishments, the island's eateries are primed to serve up a festive feast. Some venues go beyond, with homemade eggnog and brandy butter.

🗓️ With the island buzzing during this season, and Turkeys and roast potatoes not really being a natural phenomenon on Koh Samui you do want to make sure you make reservations!

So, where should you even go or how do you track down these Christmas occasions?

📍Curious about Christmas celebrations on Koh Samui? Simply craft a shortlist of hotels and restaurants, and then dive into their Instagram or Facebook pages. The Christmas menus are already gracing these platforms, offering a tempting preview of the island's culinary delights. - pick your dining experiences and book pronto.

Below are a few announcements of Christmas Events & Christmas Menus we've found for you:

Your Koh Samui Christmas packing list

📋Your packing list does not have to be much different from your regular Thailand holiday packing list except for the Christmas presents you’d likely want to bring. Other than that, if you have certain Christmas favorites that you absolutely don’t want to go without, consider bringing those. Do check customs allowances, though.

Those who like to celebrate with a glass of bubbles may appreciate knowing that Koh Samui champagne prices are surprisingly expensive and a bottle of champagne may well be twice if not triple the price you pay at home. People often think everything in Thailand is so cheap! And many things are but not everything, alcohol is one of those things. So, if you’d like bubbles, a respectable red or quality port for Christmas to be Christmas but prefer not to break the bank - pack and bring the bottle(s) from home. If you don’t mind paying a steeper price and are just wondering where to find champagne or port on Koh Samui you’ll be able to find this in the few liquor stores but also in the bigger supermarkets on the island like Tops and Lotus. Keep in mind though that alcohol in Thai stores can only be bought between 2 and 5 pm or after 12pm.

Additionally, you may want to bring backup for a rainy day. By the time Christmas rolls around, the rainy season on Koh Samui is officially over and you’ll likely see beautiful days filled with sunshine with a typical Christmas Day temperature of around 30°C but like anywhere in the world, the weather changes and can be unpredictable. Rainy season isn’t that far behind us and Koh Samui is a tropical island after all so there will always be a chance of rain. I recommend bringing some games or activities to ensure the party stays in full swing. If even an easily packed card game. Maybe even have a few books or movies downloaded to your device just in case you need the entertainment. – Or better yet, find accommodation that provides this to guests.. Like Baan Suay Bantai 😉 (we have multiple games available in the home). If you do end up unexpectedly getting downpoured on while out and about.. you might not even really mind in all honesty because if you come from someplace cold, even terrible Koh Samui weather isn’t that bad, after all, it still implies shorts and flip-flops.

Will there be a chance to encounter Santa on Koh Samui?

There is, Santa actually loves Koh Samui! He has been spotted on the island every year, and in some very unique ways too! On an Elephant at Anantara Resort for instance, on a Jet-skii at Chi Samui, and he arrived by parasail at the Four Seasons! We’ve yet to discover what tricks he has up his sleeve this year. 🎄