Facilities on Koh Samui

Koh Samui hospitals

There are several good hospitals on the Koh Samui. Bangkok Samui Hospital and Thai International Hospital - both are located in Chaweng (on the Samui Ring Road) - are the best outfitted but the most expensive. Their staff speaks English (among other main foreign languages) and it is possible to be refunded from some European and American insurance companies in case of hospitalization. The other one is located in North Chaweng on the beach road, its name is Samui International Hospital, good health service and the staff speak several foreign languages.

The Samui Hospital, located 2 km south of Nathon town, is public and belongs to the government; it is also well outfitted.

There are also several small clinics that are very good for light medical care and for medicines. Boots has 3-4 outlets open on the island where you can purchase a variety of western products.

Main hospitals and Contact Info for Koh Samui:

• Bangkok Samui Hospital
  57 Moo 3, Thaweerat Phakdee Road (Samui Ring Road)
  Chaweng, Tambon Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320
  Tel. +66 (0)77 429500, Fax +66 (0)77 429505
  Web: www.bangkoksamui-hospital.com
• Thai International Hospital
  25/25 Moo 6, Samui Ring Road (opposite Tesco Lotus)
  Chaweng, Tambon Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320
  Tel. +66 (0)77 414400, Fax +66 (0)77 245690
  Web: www.thaiinterhospital.com
• Samui International Hospital
  90/2 Moo 2, Chaweng Beach Road Chaweng North, Tambon Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320
  Tel. +66 (0)77 422272, Fax +66 (0)77 230049
  Web: www.sih.co.th
• Samui Hospital (government public hospital)
  61 Moo 1, Nathon, Tambon Angthong, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84140
  Tel. +66 (0)77 421230, Fax +66 (0)77 420150

Hyperbaric Chamber:

• Hyperbaric Services (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
  34/8 Moo 4, Bangrak, Tambon Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320
  Tel. +66 (0)77 427427, Fax +66 (0)77 427377
  Web: www.hst-sssnetwork.com
• The Bangkok Samui Hospital (see address above) also has a hyperbaric chamber facility

Tescos now on Koh Samui:

Tesco - Lotus is a newly opened Hyper-mart which offers a one stop shopping spree, Open from 10am - 11pm. Tescos houses a Bangkok Bank open from Mon - Sun, 10am - 8pm, a Dairy Queen, Dunkin Donuts, DVD/VCD Rentals, Mobile Phone Shops, Pharmacy, and a food court. Tescos offers a wide variety of products from garden ware to electronics, fresh vegetables/meats to clothing items. Located on the main ring road outside Chaweng beach road.

Supermarkets and Food Suppliers on Koh Samui:

Koh Samui offers some of the regions best dining experiences, however with an increase in luxury Villas and Houses, and the gradual increase in foreign residents, a vast amount of food suppliers and supermarkest have opened up. Finding fresh spices and imported vegetables and meats have become easier to come by. There are also a variety of Food suppliers that supply fresh jams, pastries, sausages, burgers, cheeses, pies, curries, wines and beers.

• Tops Supermarket, Chaweng Night Plaza
• Big Joe's, Chaweng :077-230-231
• Colibri, Chaweng: 077-230-681 Fax: -077-230-573
• MV, Bophut: 077- 427-005-6 Fax: 077-422-491
• Samui Sweet Jams, Bophut: 077- 427-474
• Sanphet, Nathon: 077-421-314 Fax: 077-420-352
• Top Harvest, Lamai: 077-230-077
• Up Date, Lipa Noi: 077-423-073

Vets and Animal Help on Koh Samui:

Thais are very fond of pets and you will see numerous Thais with dogs, cats, birds etc...with the increase of foriegn residents on the island and pets, Koh Samui now offers 2-3 privately owned vetanarians. You may get your pet vacinated, stiched or look at by these professional vetanarians.

• Dr Somsak, Chaweng: 077-230-857
• Dog Rescue: 077-413-490 / 01-893-9443
• Phangan Animal Care: 09-875-7513

Post Office and Mailing Facilities:

Samui has numerous Post offices and you will find one in every village on the Island, Chaweng, Lamai, Maenam, Bang Rak, Bophut etc. The post offices offer mail boxes for rent and can be a handy place for paying bills, electricty, phone bills, cable TV bills etc.
There are also frieght services on the island which can mail and send boxes, documents etc....with insurance on them. UPS and EMS are a few of the better known companies on the island.

• UPS - Chaweng - 077-413-299

Phone Lines/Internet Access on Koh Samui:

Over the years, Koh Samui has been upgrading its internet and phone services to benefit the local services/businesses and privately owned Villas/ houses. ADSL and Broadband internet connections can be installed in your house for a relatively low fee, wireless internet access is also available.
Internet cafes are located all over the island and offer an alternative solution to in-house internet. Prices range from 1 -2 baht per minute and varry depending on the owners.

Banks/Banking on Koh Samui:

Most Bank Opening hours are from 9:00am - 3.30pm (Monday to Friday) except public and bank holidays. The majority of the head offices are located in Nathon, while numerous local branches are spread around the island in Lamai, Chaweng, Bophut and opposite Tesco-Lotus in Chaweng. The local branch of Bangkok Bank in Teso-Lotus is open daily from 10am - 8pm and can be a very useful Bank for weekend transfers and Bank transactions.

There are many ATM machines all over the island which accept major cards within the Cirrus/Maestro systems. These are normally operating 24hrs a day, but will limit you to roughly 40,000 Baht per day, depending on your issuing bank.

Currency exchange centers are operating throughout the island mainly in Chaweng, Lamai, and Bophut. Opening hours are from 9:00am to 9.00pm, 7 days a week including holidays.

Visa/Mastercard/AMEX are accepted by many banks and local stores and restaurants.

Transferring Funds into Thailand

It is advised that the funds be remitted from overseas be in foreign currency, and NOT in Thai Baht. Please be reminded that the purpose of the remittance must be stated on the remittance advice for example "For Investment in Thailand" or "To Purchase Property in Thailand" . This will enable the procurement of the relevant exchange control form ( called a " Thor Tor 3 Form" ) from the bank, that will enable the funds (same amount) to be taken out of Thailand at a later date, in favor of the party who remitted the same in the first place.

In the event that you have a company bank account, make sure you also have a personal account. Transfers should be made into your personal account then withdrawal and put into the company account. In the event that you are abroad and can't be present for the payment's assign a respectable law firm to handle the transactions for you.

Each individual remittance in foreign currency must exceed USD $ 20,000 or in the caso of other foreign currency, the equaivalent of 800,000 Thai Baht, for the bank to issue an exchange control form ( "Thor Tor 3 Form" ).

Q: What is a Thor Tor Sam (3)?
A: A Thor Tor Sam (3) is an official bank document issued by the receiving bank upon the receipt of foreign currency into your bank account in Thailand. You must request a Thor Tor Sam from your bank when you are remitting funds to Thailand for the purpose of purchasing a condominium, and the Thor Tor Sam must specify that the remittance is solely for the purpose of purchasing a property - Code 5.22.

Zen Properties 18 years hands on experience of the local real estate market on Koh Samui Thailand