Bangkok Airways now operates several daily flights to Koh Samui from Bangkok and one from Phuket. The well-known Mandarin Oriental group opened a luxury resort called Baan Taling Ngam on Koh Samui's west coast in November 1993. I didn't see it on my last visit, but I did see the northeast resorts on Mae Nam Beach and Choeng Mon Beach. My favorite is the Imperial Boat House on Choeng Mon. In each, a winding staircase joins a living room, bar, and porch upstairs with a sitting room, bath, and bedroom downstairs.
Potted orchids tumble from the bows of most boats.
Two years ago in early January we caught the tail end of the annual monsoons. This time, however, we've come in late January, and the weather is hot and sunny. We've spent our time bobbing in inner tubes in the gentle surf, taking long walks on the fine white sand, and generally enjoying Choeng Mon beach life. At low tide we can walk to a small island opposite the mouth of the bay. There are small restaurants shaded by coconut palms.