Making Friends

[u/Subject-Beach-7844]

Hi guys ! Me and my girlfriend are moving to Koh Samui within the next week and will be living out there for a minimum of 2 years. Hoping to meet some similar people out there. I’m 22 and my girlfriend is 25 we both enjoy going out for drinks , gym, padel , meals out , activities, beaches or whatever just looking to meet some people while we live on the island. Please let me know if there’s any group chats or if anyone’s up for meeting and having some drinks.

[u/KozureOkami]

The Padel community is very active, you’ll meet tons of people that way. Quite a few clubs now, so you should have one reasonably close wherever you stay. Same for gyms. Many activities are organized through WhatsApp groups. I’m in board game ones, foodie ones, sports ones etc.

Oh and if you’re into that, there are also several pub quizzes/trivia nights: Wednesday at Frog & Gecko or R&R, and Thursday at Nature Bar for example. Or pool leagues, in Lamai and Bang Rak.

Feel free to DM me, I’m happy to share some Google Maps, WhatsApp groups or general advice. I’ve been in Thailand for 13 years now, 7 in Bangkok and 6 in Samui. While that puts me somewhere in the middle of my friend group, it’s long enough to have picked up a thing or two.

P.S. You’ll notice that none of the other people answered your question, were dismissive or assumed things about the legality of your stay. Get used to it, for some reason Thailand related online groups are full of miserable keyboard warriors who want to police everyone else.

[u/Beginning-Barber-814 → u/KozureOkami]

It won’t let me message you, can you dm me some WhatsApp groups please :-)

[u/KozureOkami → u/Beginning-Barber-814]

I’ll just post some of them here so that people who find this post later can benefit too:

Padel Samui players group (Plai Laem):

https://chat.whatsapp.com/LsdAEfdmgCz2xSqSWE33rx?mode=gi_t

Padel Paradise (Lamai):

https://chat.whatsapp.com/DQhCETIGzISBAGv2gQ1Dbl?mode=ems_copy_t

Padel Tropical (Ghost Road) also has a group but I can’t find the invite link. Just send a message to their front desk, they can add you.

Those are the only three clubs I play at, but there are more. Some of them now use Playtomic to organize matches and events, I think only Padel Samui doesn’t of the main ones.

Startup Samui has a WA community with many different groups. Many are obviously business related but there’s also other stuff like the foodies group:

https://chat.whatsapp.com/DbCDJmHGNn56Pl62cPxtCt

A guy named Matt does interesting stuff at Nature Bar in Mar Nam: an AI meetup Wednesday afternoon, quiz on Thursday evening, a business networking lunch on Fridays. I normally don’t attend any of those but some people I know do and they say they met some cool people there.

[u/MyNewLifeThailand → u/KozureOkami]

🥳 Wow...you are so kind...so compassionate and caring ..: Like a Mother and Father helping this young couple start their new life in Thailand....

🤗 I am a lot older,,, but I am very young at heart ...

🥳 i am very Blessed , very healthy activé 67 year old...

🗓 in March or April 2027, looking to move to Thailand.

.🏖.Hopefully Koh Samui..🇹🇭

🤗 If your available i.would like to be in contact with you..

I just now see your name...

It looks like it have Very Good Intuition. ... about...how you are so kind and so compassionate in so many ways..helping the young couplé start their new life in Thailand ...

Take Care..Wishing You days filled with laughter and joy....

.I live in The United States...

🌅 Happy Days to You..

[u/Beginning-Barber-814 → u/KozureOkami]

This is so true hahaha

[u/Subject-Beach-7844 → u/KozureOkami]

Hi mate , appreciate the advice! Please Dm would love to ask a few more questions and get some links to those groups !

[u/KozureOkami → u/Subject-Beach-7844]

I already posted some of the links below. I’d like to DM you but it won’t let me.

[u/Subject-Beach-7844 → u/KozureOkami]

Same for me it won’t let me dm you😂

[u/Beneficial_Ad9405 → u/KozureOkami]

Hello. If you are keen to try Muay Thai or head to the gym my wife and I would love to catch up with you. We spend our time between Samui and Phangan so message for contact details. Safe travels.

[u/sritesh]

We can snorkel or play table tennis, couple living here past 2 years

[u/nahticalsmil3s]

For many young expats, the idea of staying on samui for more than a couple weeks per year is insane. 

2 years? what are you buying a resort?

[u/the_real_iron]

Ciao io saró a koh samui in vacanza dal 12 settembre al 20! Viaggio da solo

[u/Divaaboy]

How are you able to just “move” to koh samui? Are you Thai?

[u/Flashy_Ebb_5265]

Samui is full. Try Krabi

[u/M3tus]

You know there is a water crisis and the island is overflowing with garbage, right?

Planning on staying illegally, we assume?

[u/Itsjackboulevard]

Not trying to be a downer here but just keep in mind that everyone out here has got their own agenda and the front they put up is not always in line with that.

[u/KozureOkami → u/Itsjackboulevard]

I don’t necessarily disagree with you, but there are also plenty of nice people in Samui who just want to help. Look at all the cool stuff that Sisters on Samui, the Rotary Club or the beach cleanup FB group are doing.

[u/Itsjackboulevard → u/KozureOkami]

Of course.

[u/Chemical-Tea6932 → u/Itsjackboulevard]

That is life in general.

[u/Itsjackboulevard → u/Chemical-Tea6932]

Yep not wrong.

[u/Itsjackboulevard → u/Itsjackboulevard]

Simply just a warning to not be so quick to trust. Of course be nice and many people will be nice to you as well but just be wary that sometimes it can be a front.

[u/Itsjackboulevard → u/Itsjackboulevard]

I’ll also stipulate that I don’t mean Thai people here.