Chaweng Shopping Guide

Recent years have seen the arrival of smart, air-conditioned shopping malls offering Western brands and a few funky boutiques, as well as local market-stall vendors selling copy brand-labels and audio-visual material. It is easy to while away an afternoon strolling down Chaweng beach road checking out the products on offer, and this may be the easiest way to browse for souvenirs. In fact, unless you need something specific, or want to visit some of the 'destination' stores listed below, then the roadside goods are replicated many times all along the strip so just take a walk and see what makes you want to reach for your wallet.

While prices on Samui are generally higher than in Bangkok, there are nevertheless many bargains to be found in Chaweng, both at the locally run market stalls and in fixed-price stores specializing in Western brands.

When buying from the market stalls, bartering is normal, and the initial price quoted can be quite high. Always work out what you are happy to pay, and engage in the bargaining process with good humour: Once you feel happy with the price, then that is the correct value. If you don't manage to seal a deal, just politely decline and move on.

As well as souvenirs and tourist gear, it is also possible to have suits and dresses tailor-made, to buy or order custom-made fine jewelry, to get a free eye test and have designer glasses prepared, or even to order art canvases from catalogues or have a portrait painted. When having clothes tailor-made, try to allow time for 2 fittings in case alterations are needed, and if you want to purchase fine jewelry, be sure to visit only reputable, recommended stores. For those who need a visit an optician try one of the nationwide chains such as Beautiful Optical or Top Charoen, both easily found in the central stretch of the beach road.

Opposite the Centara Grand Beach Resort, Life's a Beach stocks premium-brand Australian bikinis in all sizes. The prices are high by Thai standards, but it can be hard to find locally produced swimwear that fits well.

A few steps away, Classic Gems is a reliable jewellery specialist with certified gemstones supplied and cut at the shops own private factory. Further along the strip, OTOP Place is an interesting store that stocks handicrafts produced under a Thai government initiative aimed at assisting small rural enterprises.

Head north and you will find the i-store, catering to all your MP3 needs, as well as two boutiques which stock interesting ranges of trendy clothes and jewellery called Try Out and Mooi.

In the same area, Genevieve stocks a fabulous selection of imported bikini's and beachwear, while Chandra is a real gem with funky, exotic fashion sourced from around Asia, and exclusive designs from Bali. They stock many sizes, and the fabrics utilized are perfect for the tropical climate.

The small wooden booth stalls along this stretch stock a range of high quality handicrafts such as sequined shoes and purses, wooden carved ornaments and ethnic jewelry.

In the Northern part of the beach road there is a great bikini store stocking unique designs from Bali: Blue Glue.

In the North, there are two shopping plaza's where it is possible to indulge in some air-conditioned comfort-shopping and purchase global brands at marginally cheaper prices than back home.

Just North of the Coco Blues Bar, another outdoor plaza is attached to the Iyara Beach Resort and has a good selection of brand-name fashion for men, women and children. This sophisticated plaza hosts stores supplying real Nike, Adidas and Puma sports and footwear. In addition you can but authentic but reasonably priced designer gear by the likes of Ungaro, Pierre Cardin, Nautica, Oxooxo, Triumph, Speedo, Von Dutch and many more. You can also purchase high-quality Thai silk in Jah Chang.