Shopping in Koh Samui
At first glance, you would be forgiven to think that downtown Chaweng was one big bazaar. After all, most of the goods on sale are hawked from sidewalk street stands, lending a tangible Oriental feel to the high street. All that glitters is not gold however, and pretty much all the expensive-looking items such as watches, designer bags, DVD's and name-brand clothes are fakes, albeit clever ones.
'Local' handicrafts such as woodcarvings and ceramics are more than likely to have originated in Chiang Mai than Samui but who cares? A good move is to order a suit or any bespoke tailoring as it is half the price of western-made tailoring. The same applies to eye glasses.
What to Buy in Koh Samui
Sportswear such as Adidas, Nike and Reebok is made under license in Thailand so you're getting the real thing at lower prices. Spectacles and sunglasses are much cheaper here too, and many opticians such as Top Charoen (branches everywhere) offer two-for-one deals.
There are artists along Chaweng high street who will paint your portrait from a photo within a couple of days and if you are after gems but are inexperienced it's best to stick to well-established shops such as Classic Gems. Despite their pushy image, tailors are generally very good and much cheaper than in the west.
Where to Shop in Koh Samui
Chaweng is shopping heaven for most people and you only have to stroll along the length of the main street past seven o'clock in the evening to appreciate just how much is on offer. Nevertheless, other areas specialise in certain specific items.
For locally crafted coconut-wood carvings go to the tourist stalls at Hin Ta and Hin Yai just outside Lamai; for teak furniture and wood carvings Maenam is the place (don't worry, they arrange the shipping). Samui Shoes in Nathon is great for handmade footwear and skilled repair work and the town's supermarket Samui Mart is a great one-stop destination. (Read more...)
