We knew we wanted to experience the island life, so the first thing we needed to find was a daycare for Mini. Did I mention that Joe was not going to be a teacher for the next 6 months?
After a thorough online search over several nights, we decided to send out some emails to the different nurseries across Thailand. Fingers crossed, we found what seems like a gem, pending an in-person visit. But the vibe we got from the owner is pretty good.
On to the next step: securing accommodation in Koh Samui.
So, blindfolded we just booked this awesome house in Samui that ticked all our boxes. WRONG!!!! We didn’t realize that is was really far from Mini's daycare, so back to square one. No problem. 🙄
It’s all good, we found this awesome ocean view condo* that once again ticket all our boxes and then some. I was already envisioning myself drinking my morning coffee and checking all my emails on my beautiful ocean view terrace. The dream was real, but it didn’t last.
In the meantime, we had the brilliant idea to apply for an extended visa.
Did you know that Thailand gives you only a 30-day tourist visa? We didn’t, but at least we found out pretty soon into the planning so it’s all good. In case you need to apply for a visa, this is the official website. Be aware, you need to be outside of Thailand to apply for these types of visas. You will need to provide the following:
Biodata page of Passport or Travel Document
Photograph taken within the last six month
Document indicating current location, it could be a driving licence or your electric bill
Travel booking confirmation, you need to provide an entry and an exit ticket for Thailand
Proof of accommodation in Thailand such as accommodation bookings, invitation letters from family/friends in Thailand
It was super easy, our 2-month visa was granted surprisingly fast.
So now we had the visa, but the condo was not available for 2 months… the accommodation headache restarted. They say, third time is a charm, right? Well, I truly hope so because we just booked our third villa on Samui. It’s perfect. All boxes ticked and we're walking distance from daycare and the beach.
Let’s chat about flights? It’s probably the most expensive part of travelling. I will probably write an extensive post about that, but until then. Here are my tips:
Enroll in a frequent flyer program.
Search in an incognito window to avoid tracking.
Search this site
Use price alert tools and consider booking on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Explore using miles or points for bookings.
Be aware of extra costs on low-cost carriers, like pricey luggage fees.
Our journey kicks off with a marathon 23-hour flight to Bangkok via Tokyo. We will have a week to rest or not in Bangkok, followed by a hop to Koh Samui on Bangkok Airways. Fun fact: Did you know Bangkok Airways owns Samui's airport? Wish us luck as we tackle the challenge of a long-haul flight with a toddler!
*Pro tip: For long-term rentals, reach out directly to places like The Unique Complex. We scored our condo 30% cheaper than the advertised rate!
I love the flight tips - thanks a million - seems way better than GFlights😎