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Below is an
almost complete reprint of the introduction to Laem Set Inn,
(minus a few sections on security), as placed in all the
rooms for guests to read on arrival. Some of it may be a
little irrelevant at this stage of your interest in the Inn,
but it gives a good overall feel for what we are doing here,
the sort of place this is and the way we view our work. You
can either ignore it, skip through it or, if you are in a
more advanced stage of planning a visit, read it through.
WELCOME TO
LAEM SET INN
Please make
yourselves at home. This is a small Inn and we would like
you to feel more like guests in our home than clients in a
hotel. Many of our visitors come by recommendations from
previous satisfied guests and this circle forms the nucleus
of Laem Set Inn. Welcome to it! We hope that not only will
you enjoy your stay but that you may also make new friends
here with whom you can keep in touch.
Please read
through this rather lengthy introduction. It explains the
workings of the Inn and lays-out the range of services
available and how to access them. We hope that reading it
will make you feel comfortable and secure at our small
establishment.
Air
conditioners
The
air-conditioners that we have installed in the standard
rooms and suites are powerful enough to cool down the rooms
very quickly. Please remember to turn them off when you
leave the room and help conserve energy. Thanks!
In rooms #
228 to #334 the key must be placed in the illuminated slot
next to the door to start the air-conditioners. Please
remove the key and take it with you when you are not in the
room. On occasions, (fairly frequently in fact), the
government power fails and we have to resort to our
generators. These are powerful enough to run the whole
hotel, air-conditioners and all. We apologize if there is a
slight delay in the changeover from mains power to
generators. This is usually less than 5 minutes.
Airport
Transfer
Transfer to
and from Samui airport is usually by our own vehicle. An
independent limousine service using mini-buses or saloons
can take your party to Surat Thani airport via the ferry, to
Phuket or even all the way to Bangkok (for a price!!).
Please ask if you have any special transport requirement.
We usually
charge Baht 600 for transfer per trip.
Baby-sitting
We can
arrange baby-sitting and child care at reasonable rates. In
fact if we are not busy our staff will be glad to play with
your children anyway. We will feed your children at 6pm and
then look after them while you dine....Just ask.
Beach
vendors
Although
rare in this area, (and a seriously endangered species if we
spot them!), these nuisances can ruin the peace and
enjoyment of a beach holiday. Please don’t feel that you are
being impolite by ignoring such people. Please refuse to buy
anything from them. – It won’t be a bargain and it
encourages an activity which can if, unchecked, degrade the
peaceful environment we so enjoy.
Bills
Although we
do not pester you to sign every time you make a purchase or
place an order we would suggest that at breakfast time, a
couple of days into your stay you ask to review your bill.
This way you can anticipate the likely final amount more
accurately and any misunderstandings can be dealt with
before they snowball. The lack of the need to sign
everything is an intentional feature of the inn designed to
free you from having to think about money like you have to
every other day of your life. It is part of the atmosphere
generator but requires an element of trust on the part of
the guest and the host. Don’t think about money daily but
check it every other day or every third day or so. Caution:
After a week at Laem Set Inn lots of people go out to the
village or town and forget to take any money with them. It
is gratifying to see our guests relaxing like this but the
rest of the world wants cash!
If we
purchase air tickets for you or put any other items on your
bill for which we paid cash in the town we have to surcharge
this particular item but it will be clearly noted on your
bill that we have done so. We also accept travelers cheques
and cash in almost any currency.
Accepting
your money in the form you choose to give it is our way of
extending a convenience to you and saving you the chore of
going to the bank. We do not view it as an opportunity to
make a profit. We appreciate your custom and we hope you
leave feeling you have received fair value.
Bikes
The south coast of Samui is the last undeveloped part of the
island. It offers the best chance to see Samui unaffected by
tourism and to tour on lightly-traveled roads and tracks
without racing trucks and space-cadets on motor bikes to
disturb and endanger you. We provide you with 18 speed
mountain bikes free of charge to help you see this lovely
low-key coastline at a speed and in a manner which let you
feel a part of it. Please ask before using a bike for the
first time. Our staff will adjust the saddle and handlebars
for you. We have maps at the reception. While the regular
mountain bikes are fine for general use there are a couple
of superior bikes in larger sizes for the larger guest and
for real enthusiasts. These may need to be booked in
advance. We have our own photocopied maps at the bar and
would be pleased to mark a suggested itinerary for you.
There is a very nice little restaurant about 6 kilometres
away to the West which makes a nice trip out for lunch.
Boat trips
We have a
fisherman friend, the captain of our boat, who will take you
to the nearby deserted islands for
snorkeling/picnic/barbecue/swimming/fishing. We have been
doing this day trip for years and years now and have it very
nicely organized.
If you are
interested in doing this during your stay please express an
interest and we will put together a party of 4 or 6
compatible people for the day out.
We usually
ask around supper time to see who would be interested for
the following day. Caution. This is a hot and sunny
excursion. You need to get used to the sun slowly for a few
days before attempting this. The same boatman can do fishing
trips for a morning/ afternoon, or just a couple of hours on
request or can run you out to nearby reefs for snorkeling.
There is a charge for this excursion or hire of boat and
boatman. Please ask.
Commercial
operators in town run very inexpensive trips to the Marine
National Park daily in season and we can make arrangements
for you to join one of these, book transport to/from town
for you Etc. You should ask us for a description of these
outings before committing yourself to be sure they will suit
you. We can hire in a charter powerboat for more personal
customized trips but the price escalates dramatically for
this level of service.
Boutique
Our
informal boutique is located in the reception by the
car-park. Other more basic requisites like film, disposable
cameras, suntan lotion, insect repellent, cigarette
lighters, batteries etc. are available from the bar. The
cost like everything else is added to your bill.
Coconuts
Although we
cut the coconuts off the trees under which guests frequently
sit. (e.g. in front of the restaurant), be just a little
alert if the wind rises suddenly after a period of calm as
quite a lot of stuff will fall out of the palms in these
conditions.
Corkage
We will
gladly supply buckets of ice and mixer drinks to guests’
rooms on request. If you wish to drink you own wine with a
meal we will charge a corkage charge.
Diets
We can
easily cater to special dietary requirements and would ask
that you inform us of these upon check-in. Although fresh
seafood is our specialty we can do a mean vegetarian menu
also replacing the meat/fish part of the meal with tofu and
vegetable protein. This way you can order from the main menu
but specify vegetarian variation. Some dishes adapt better
than others - please ask.
Electricity
Electricity
is 220 volts 50 Hz on a good day and the Inn is on
government supply. This fails fairly regularly and we have a
massive stand-by generator which should, in such an event,
cut-in in less than 5 minutes. We have a limited supply of
adaptors and transformers at the front desk.
Fans
Please note the low ceiling fans in the thatched bungalows.
Do not let children play standing on the bed and be careful
yourself.
Fire
Fire is a
serious risk in wooden buildings, especially in the
low-ceilinged thatched bungalows. Please do not light
candles at any time. The risk is unacceptable. Please use
the receptacles provided for burning mosquito coils and
catching the hot ash and smokers please, please take extra
care. Every room should have a fire extinguisher. Please
aquaint yourself with its location.
Hair-dryers
Are
provided in all rooms. Please take great care with children
and the proximity of electrical devices to water.
Jeeps &
hire cars
The safest
and sanest way to get about is to hire our air-conditioned
Suzuki Jeeps. Unlike pretty much all other smaller hire
companies on the island our vehicles carry full hire-car
insurance to the standards to Hertz, Avis and Budget. There
is a 10,000 Baht excess payable in the event of an accident,
(about $250), after which everything else is covered.
If, in
periods of high demand, we have to rent a vehicle in from
outside for you then we cannot control this insurance as
well as with our own vehicles. We try, however, to deal with
the companies with the best track record of fairness and
efficiency We are flexible about the hiring of our own
vehicles and will do it by the day or the half day. At quiet
times we will even consider hiring it for a third of a day
or by the hour if you have a particular short errand to run.
Fuel is not included in the cost and we will charge this to
your bill along with the rental. This flexible attitude to
its hire makes it much cheaper than hiring a vehicle from
elsewhere and leaving it doing nothing for most of your
stay. Vehicles hired in from outside are on 24 hour rental
periods
If you feel
that you want a jeep at your exclusive disposal for your
entire stay we can rent one in from an outside independent
operator for you, Budget, Avis or similar with full
insurance.
Lavatories
The
lavatories connect to a septic tank which will accept
reasonable amounts of toilet paper but not feminine hygiene
products. Please place these in the plastic bags provided in
your room and deposit in the bathroom waste bin. Should you
need more bags, or any other bathroom requisites please ask.
The rooms are serviced daily but sometimes an item may be
overlooked.
Library
The Library
is the thatched building in the bungalow village. We have a
good selection of books and magazines in most languages.
Your
cooperation in this will be greatly appreciated.
1. Please
always use a bookmark. Do not place the book face down on
the table for even a moment. The spines crack in this
climate. Please do not dog-ear the pages unless you have
lost the bookmark and it is a choice between this and
placing the book face down.
2.Please do
not force the book open to make it easier to read. Be gentle
with the spine
3. Please
do not let the wind rifle the pages when you leave the book.
Please choose a stone from the selection of pebbles in the
library and put it on the book when you are not reading it.
4. Please
remove reference works like bird & mammal books, atlases,
dictionaries Etc. only briefly and return as soon as you
have finished using them.
5. Guide
books on the open shelves are considered reference works and
are not available for swaps.
Sorry about
all these rules but it is difficult to keep a well-stocked
library for your enjoyment in these conditions and your
assistance by adhering to the above will be appreciated.
Laundry
Our
reasonably priced laundry service is at your disposal.
Please deliver laundry to the bar and it will be delivered
back to your room. Laundry handed in before 10am is usually
ready the afternoon of the following day. If you are
checking our the following day please advise us and we will
see if we can do faster.
Mail
We operate
a mailing service for you. Just bring anything you want
mailed to the reception. We will weigh it, put stamps on it
and mail it for you. The cost goes on the bill.
Laem Set
Spa
The spa,
massage and beauty centre on the hill by the car park offers
a variety of treatments and a menu of these will be found
separate to this booklet in your room.
If you have
any chronic problem we strongly recommend you consult us
about it the day you check-in since a single session, while
better than nothing, is nowhere near as good as a
consultation followed by a course of focused massage over a
period of days.
Book at
reception or call the spa itself on “615” from your room
Mealtimes
Breakfast, Lunch, Supper and Dinner can be served any time
from 7.30 to 21.00.
Breakfast
is usually served from 7.30am to 11am and can be taken
either on your balcony or in the restaurant. If you would
like it served in your room please use the telephone and
dial reception.
Lunch is
served in the restaurant or just outside from 12 noon to
3pm.
Supper
Starts between 7pm and 8.30pm. Although we keep a good
selection of wines chilled at all times you may like to look
at the menu earlier and peruse the wine list at the same
time so that we can prepare your selection. We have a nice
choice of delicious snacks to accompany your evening
cocktails. Please ask.
As with
everything at Laem Set Inn, please do not suffer in silence
and then tell others of your dissatisfaction. We will
rearrange almost anything to ensure your comfort but we are
not mind-readers and need to be told!
We know
that human beings are creatures of habit and appreciate that
you may like to dine at the same table every evening during
your stay. While we can TRY to arrange this it may not
always be possible and your understanding is appreciated.
Barbecue
For those
not wishing to dine in the restaurant every night we have a
gas barbecue outside the library. We can provide you with a
big tray of fish, other nice things and salads to accompany.
You can then barbecue these yourself and eat on the tables
in front of the library or on the beach. At absolute peak
periods this may be the only dining option if you have not
reserved at the restaurant and if we have been unable to
locate you over the course of the late afternoon to discuss
your supper plans
Juice bar
There is a
juice bar adjoining the health and beauty centre on the hill
near the car park. This is a good place to hang-out while
waiting for a taxi, to meet friends visiting or whatever.
Sunset Bar
(Adults only – no children in this area please)
This is actually more than a bar, it is a whole area on the
Western side of the Inn overlooking the Southern Isles and
into the sunset. The lower, octagonal building contains a
self-service bar where you help-yourself from the
refrigerator and write your selection down on the
accompanying sheet of paper. This is open all day and
evening.
The
full-service bar in the same area is to staffed from about
1700 to 2000 daily in high season for sunset cocktails. It
can be opened around this time on-demand at lower season.
See the map
in this folder and follow the signs up to this area.
Mini-Bars
There are
fully-stocked mini-bars in all rooms. These are checked
daily and items used debited to your bill. If the contents
do not match your requirements then they can be re-stocked
to suit. Ask at reception or call 100.
Medicine
Medicines
requiring stable low-temperatures can usually be kept in the
mini-bar but if you need easy access to them through the day
the waiters will be pleased to store them for you in their
refrigerator behind their station in the restaurant form
whence you can access them yourself at any time.
Tea /
coffee facilities
Are
provided in all rooms and are re-stocked daily. Please ask
for extra sachets if you are not getting enough to fulfill
your daily intake.
Money
You do not
need money on a daily basis at Laem Set Inn. All food,
drinks and services will automatically be added to your bill
which is tallied daily and available for your inspection at
breakfast time daily. This makes it possible to deposit all
irreplaceable valuables in your room safe which should be
programmed and used immediately upon occupying the room.
Larger valuable articles which you do not intend using often
can be placed in the main hotel safe at reception, but there
may, on occasion, be a delay in accessing this. We have an
organised security system in place and we ask you to play
your part in it by not leaving cash lying around. We try our
hardest; we do our very best to employ honest people and to
maintain a secure environment but it is impossible to be
100% successful in this area 100% of the time. If you leave
a $3000 digital video camera and a $100 bill cash next to
each other it is the cash that is at risk! Just take heed of
this warning and you can then relax without ever thinking
about it again. Please read the operating instructions for
the safes and please leave them open and unlocked on
departure.
Mopeds
We can
rent-in small automatic mopeds for hire by the day but this
is not ......repeat Not the right place to learn to ride a
motorcycle. Although licenses seem to be an optional extra
here we will not rent to inexperienced riders.
The roads
are phenomenally dangerous being too narrow and having a
lethal blend of people forgetting which side of the road to
drive on, racing construction trucks, no enforcement of
speed limits, blood/alcohol/drug limits etc.
As if this
weren’t enough the local people seem pretty slow to learn
about high-speed traffic despite and appalling number being
killed and maimed each year. Those that are left still ride
without lights at night turn from minor roads onto major
ones without looking and generally behave as if they have no
concept of danger. Experienced riders will probably survive
however but the “random factor” is no respecter of
experience and the results of an “incident” on a motorcycle
are likely to be disastrous.
All rental
motorcycles are uninsured and you are responsible for all
damage to the bike you are riding and to anything/anyone
else you hit with it. Claiming it was not your fault is
unlikely to impress anyone. Exercise great care please.
Motorcycles are the best way to ruin your holiday here and
possibly your whole life. One last word of warning.....other
establishments renting vehicles ask to retain your passport
as security against the safe return of the vehicle. To
surrender your passport to someone you don’t know as
security against a vehicle of indeterminate condition in a
foreign country full of man-eating sharks is as close to
insanity as I can imagine. If you surrender your passport
you have surrendered your bargaining position completely and
have placed yourself at the “mercy” of an opportunistic
system of extortion.
Mosquitoes
The
Anopheles mosquito which carries Malaria is not present on
Kho Samui but there are cases of dengue fever carried by the
striped mosquito, (this is a day-time mosquito). This is
usually rare and is nowhere near as dangerous as malaria.
There are sudden outbreaks sometimes and you will be warned
to take extra care if you visit during one of these. When
you are at supper our room maids will spray your room and,
in the case of bungalows, lower the net and tuck it in under
the mattress. When returning from supper be careful to close
the screens completely for the rest of the evening. Please
ask for more mosquito coils if you need them. We have insect
repellent for sale at the bar.
Orientation
Although
very isolated from the commercial beaches, Laem Set Inn is
not far from the rest of the island, the shops and discos.
You have several options to tour the island or make a short
shopping trip. You can walk to the main round-island road
(30 mins), or go by bicycle (10 mins) leaving the bike at
the little gas station at the junction. From here you can
board an island Pick up Truck Bus in either direction
towards Lamai or in the opposite direction to Nathon the
main town on Samui and the passenger ferry port. Our local
taxi-man will pick you up from the inn at any time of the
day or night and collect you from anywhere at any time also.
Rates vary day and night please ask. (see also sections
“motorcycles” and “jeeps & hire-cars”).
Single
gentlemen considering bringing a lady friend back should
check with reception for advice on local scams and, (in the
interests of our other guests), a briefing on discretion.
Tailors: If
you need a fitting “on-the-premises” then please let us know
and we will arrange somewhere to do this. As part of the
security of the Inn we prefer not to admit unknown persons
to the rooms or the inner-area of the Inn.
Pedal boats
The pedal
boats have built-in ice boxes and can thus be provisioned
for a picnic. The South Coast of Samui has many shallow,
sheltered, deserted coves within a few hundred metres of
Laem Set Inn. One can paddle to these and believe that the
nearest civilization was a thousand miles away. The boat's
bimini-top provides shade, there are life jackets in all
sizes and the boat is foam-filled and unsinkable making this
a very safe family craft but it is essential that you ask
for a briefing on local conditions before using them for the
first time. When you pass the mouth of the channel and pass
the reef you are in the open ocean and special
considerations apply to these fun boats in the same way they
apply to more serious vessels.
Kayaks
We have
kayaks which are a great way to explore the shallow tide
pool during the low tide season. Before using one for the
first time please ask our staff. They will explain
everything and advise you on sea conditions of the day.
Please wear a lifejacket. Wear plastic shoes; -- if you
capsize over the coral you will really need them!! Please
ensure the paddle is tied to the boat.
Sailing
dinghies
These are
the most likely to get you into trouble because of their
range and speed. They may only be used by competent sailors
and one must check with me personally before using these.
Please ask at reception. There are specific physical /
geographic limits and weather conditions within they must be
operated to be safe and to enable us to assist if needed.
Photo
processing and other photographic services
Processing
of PRINT film is available and is usually a same-day
service. Transparencies, (slides), are more problematic and
it’s probably best to get these done at home. Check with
reception. We have disposable cameras for sale in standard,
panoramic, flash and underwater versions. We have a very
acceptable professional photographer on-call for special
occasions, which are defined as any occasion you think of as
special.
Registration
Once you
have settled in and have freshened up after your journey, we
would appreciate you handing in passports for registration
along with any tickets you would like confirmed. (see ticket
re-confirmation)
Repairs
We provide
a repair service for luggage, clothes, shoes, radios,
walkmans, sunglasses, cameras, in fact almost anything you
can think of! This would be a good time to fix your broken
things without any effort at all but you need to think of it
early in your stay to ensure that we can get it fixed in
time for your departure.
Room Safes
Each room
has a safe and a set of instructions of how to use them. We
recommend you store your valuables in them whilst you are
here. PLEASE LEAVE THIS SAFE OPEN WHEN CHECKING-OUT. If it
is not open when you arrive please call reception and we
will come and open it for you.
Snorkeling
Equipment
Masks,
snorkels and fins are kept opposite the restaurant /
reception. Please borrow them from there and return them
back to the reception after you have finished with them.
These are free of charge to residents. Please rinse them
with fresh water and return them after each use. Please do
not keep these in your room. We do not have enough if
everyone does this. They must be returned straight away
after use. Please do not walk with the flippers on. Please
put them on in the water and remove them before getting out.
The heels are not designed for walking and are easily cut
and ripped.
Special
events
Our small
size and our caring staff mean that we can offer a
personalised service to our guests. If you would like a
surprise birthday party for someone, or just a cake, let us
know!
If you
would like to take your wife for an evening stroll round the
next headland to find a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket
and two chairs, (or a beach blanket .....) with no-one else
in sight then let us know.
Staff
The staff
at Laem Set Inn are special people. We would be delighted if
you thought any of our staff deserved a gratuity. If any
particular people have performed a particular service for
you then you can, of course, tip them personally. I would
usually suggest that whatever amount you decided to leave
might be left with us at check-out, either added to your
credit card or separately in cash; it makes no difference.
We will add it up and divide it between them.
If you do
leave a sum with us at check-out then you night mention if
you have tipped any staff individually and we can consider
this in the end-of-month division of the balance.
Scuba
Diving
We do not
have our own Scuba gear. We think potentially dangerous
equipment like this requiring professional care and
maintenance should be left in the hands of a professional
organisation.
We have a
good relationship with Samui Divers who offer a wide range
of courses for both novices and experts and who daily run a
selection of diving trips to locations as diverse as the
Marine National Park to the stunning underwater scenery on
Kho Tao, 60 km north of Samui. We have their brochure at the
reception and can organise any service listed therein for
you. They send a mini-bus to collect you in the morning and
to return you in the evening.
Sea
There are
two distinct swimming seasons at Laem Set. From October to
April the tide is usually high pretty much all the time and
you can swim directly in front of the inn. We recommend the
use of plastic shoes to protect against small pieces of
coral which get washed in from the reef 100 metres offshore.
These will be found in the “Dive Shop”. Please help yourself
to a pair and keep them at your room for the duration of
your stay.
From April
to October the sea is usually calm and the tide low for
swimming directly in front of the inn. Several options
exist. There is a clear sandy bottom around the rocks by the
swimming pool and though only knee deep it is nice to lounge
in the water here. Our staff will plant a big umbrella in
the sea for you on request. This is a nice way to play with
young children.
The dredged
deep water channel passes from the rocks by the swimming
pool, along the front of the beach and then turns out to sea
in front of room #3. It gives water of swimming depth and
during these months we usually have our raft moored just
outside the mouth of the channel. You can snorkel out to
this over the reef, swim out ( perhaps using an inflatable
tube for flotation available in the Dive Shop), or pedal out
in the pedal boat. Please do not anchor the pedal boat on
the coral. If you are using our pedal boats for the first
time please make sure you get a briefing on their use by us
before you sail off into the sunset forever! To the west of
the inn there are some shallow areas with lovely clear sand
bottoms. You can walk to these (take shoes) or you can go in
the pedal boats taking a picnic and cold drinks with you.
The boats have built in ice boxes and we can fill them up
and explain everything to you.
Although
generally very safe, in periods of high winds or
significantly large waves one should not venture too far out
in the channel which leads to the deepwater past the reef
without first checking at the reception for information on
the current conditions of the day.
In strong
ebb-tides a current flows out of the channel seaward. You
can see it, but take particular care of children in these
conditions. Ask at reception if uncertain.
Swimming-pool
There is,
of course the swimming pool. This is a filtered fresh-water
pool. Please shower suntan oil off before entering and
please help keep sand away from the pool and deck. Parents
please remind children of this. Sand is very bad for the
filter.
Internet
access
Cutting-edge technology connects you to the world from the
middle of nowhere!
Laem Set Inn’s in-house server offers you immediate access
to the internet from the two computer rooms opposite the
reception and via the wireless network in the restaurant
area. This service is free-of-charge and without even the
cost of a phone-call. Ask for further details at reception
Internet
access using the Inn’s computers
There is a
communications room opposite the main restaurant / reception
with a computer permanently connected to the Internet. You
are welcome to use this at no charge. Instructions are in
the room “COM1”. This computer also has document scanning,
CD burning and printing capability and all these are at your
disposal. Shortly, when I get a new card for my own computer
I’ll put video-capture on there too so that you can grab
pictures from your video camera and e-mail them to your
friends.
Telephone &
fax
There is a
telephone with IDD capability in each room along with
instructions on how to use it. We can also send faxes from
our office and send or receive e-mail messages for you if
you prefer this to using the computers yourself. E-mails
will be printed or put on disc for you and delivered to your
room according to your instructions.
Our phone
rates are not unreasonable but the system is open for the
use of your own dialing card if you prefer.
Towels &
beach mats
The towels
in the bathroom are for use in the rooms.
Please use
the coloured towels for the pool and beach. They are kept in
a basket in the restaurant by the pool or, if not
immediately visible, ask one of the waiters.
In order to
protect the washing machines from sand we kindly ask that
you use the beach mats, (should be provided on your balcony,
-- if not please ask), and put the beach towels on top of
these rather than placing the towels directly on the beach.
Room towels
– ecological concerns over detergents
In order to
minimize the ecological impact of the use of detergents
through unnecessary washing of clean towels we ask for your
cooperation. If you replace towels on the racks or shelves
we will understand this to mean that you are happy to re-use
them the following day. Towels placed in the bathtub, on the
bathroom floor or in the laundry baskets will be changed the
same day.
Ticket
re-confirmation
All Bangkok
airways flights need re-confirmation at least once. The
airline is ruthless about cutting-off unreconfirmed seats at
peak periods so please let us have your tickets so that we
can do this for you. This service is free of charge and is
offered in the interests of ensuring your problem-free
travel. We can also re-confirm international flights. We
charge a small fee for this service depending on where we
have to call and how long it takes.
Topless
Bathing
This is not
a topless beach. We are not prudes and we would like to
explain this policy to you. Several beaches on Samui have
become de facto topless beaches. Although it is very
contrary to Thai culture and offensive to their
sensibilities they are a non-confrontational people and tend
to let things happen rather than direct their fate. Just
because you see toplessness on Lamai beach doesn’t mean the
locals like it. The unfortunate effect of this behaviour has
been to destroy any respect the Thais working there may have
had for foreigners, and if you don’t respect someone it’s
O.K. to rip him off isn’t it? Even worse.... tours of
factory workers from southern industrial towns, mostly young
men of course, are coming to Samui to see the naked
foreigners! This brings with it petty crime and an
atmosphere of disdain for Caucasians. At Laem Set Inn we
feel we have a contract between ourselves, our guests, our
staff and the local population. Since everyone knows no
naked foreigners are to be seen here our guests are not
bothered by gawking sightseers and are protected from the
insecurity and theft which lots of non-residents walking
around brings. Since we take responsibility to prevent
inadvertent or uncaring insult to our staff they remain
uncorrupted by the attitudes to be found only a short way
away. They will respect you as successful people wealthy
enough to visit their country and kind enough to grant them
a livelihood by staying at this inn. I would venture to
suggest that this is an attitude which is worth the small
price of wearing a bikini-top! This said however, you can
sunbathe topless with care. Choose a hidden niche amongst
the rocks or in front of your room if you are in one of the
more secluded suites. On the raft is OK too but cover
yourself before standing up. Always keep a cloth or towel
within reach and if you are unexpectedly disturbed pull it
over yourself. It is the idea of not caring who sees you
which is more offensive than the actual toplessness.
Travel
Service
We offer a
full travel agency service to resident guests. We will
re-confirm, adjust/alter your domestic or international
tickets, arrange new ones as required, advise and book
hotels anywhere in the world, get you a cheap day-room in a
hotel near Bangkok airport to relax in between connections,
arrange trains, planes, ferries, taxis, air charter, day
tours, overnight trips, collections/deliveries of anyone
anywhere anytime of day or night at competitive rates and
with an honesty we hope you would expect of us, and which
you may be hard-pressed to find elsewhere.
Water
Tap-water
is from our own wells and is cleared and chlorinated before
reaching the rooms. It has been analysed as having too high
a mineral content for drinking. Please use the bottled water
provided for drinking and brushing teeth. Please be careful
to turn-off taps and please report any leaks to reception.
One person leaving a tap on overnight can empty the entire
hotel water system. This is not an inexhaustible government
supply! The ice that you have in your drinks is made on site
from rainwater that has been through our filtration and
treatment system. It is safe and we can guarantee its
purity. You may be wise however to question the quality of
the ice at other establishments elsewhere in Thailand before
ordering a gin and tonic. Hot water is provided by gas
heaters giving you an instant and a continuous source. This
system has one drawback: the gas cylinders don’t last
forever and there is no way of telling when they are about
to run out. If you don’t have hot water please tell us right
away as an empty gas cylinder is the most likely reason and
a new one can be connected very quickly.
We hope
that you find most everything works as you would expect it
to, but ask for your patient understanding that, despite the
civilised atmosphere, we are, in fact, a virtually
self-contained village at the end of a road in a corner of a
little island in the middle of the Gulf of Siam. There is an
element of natural “force-majeur”.
Thank you!
Thank-you for working your way through this lengthy
introduction. If you can think of a point that we have not covered then please
bring it to our attention. In fact we welcome all your
suggestions. You can be absolutely sure that we will give
any suggestion serious consideration. Laem Set Inn is what
it is today not because of our extensive knowledge but
because of our ability to listen and to act on our
customer’s comments. If you see any room for improvement we
will see if it is possible under current conditions to
incorporate it into our operation and if it is not we will
file it and incorporate it when conditions permit.
Thank-you
for coming to stay with us. Despite any advertising you may
have seen most of our clients come by referral. If satisfied
customers do not carry our name to others we may not be here
for your next visit. Please take as many of our brochures as
you think you have friends of discerning taste who might
like to stay with us. Take a dozen, take a hundred if you
think you can use them!
Please sign
our guest book on departure and if possible leave us an
address so that we can keep in touch. If we change our phone
numbers or start to offer any new exciting options we will
write and let you know. You are now a member of a group of
people very special and dear to us, our customers and our
valued guests. Please give us the means to keep in touch
with you.
Thank you once
again. |
