Living the GTL Life in Koh Samui

Gym, Tan, Laundry. The term was popularized by the show Jersey Shore as a part of the daily routine for those controversial guidos living in Seaside Heights. But for me, I developed a similar system for my week in Koh Samui, which I might call Thailand’s shore-esque island that has similarly tacky t-shirts and nightlife. In my case, however, it was Haircut, Tan, Laundry.

We arrived on the island in the Gulf of Thailand after a long overnight train and ferry ride from Bangkok. This was where my friend would be getting married, so friends and family from all over the world came in for a week of relaxation before the ceremony.

It was the middle point in the trip for Sammi and I, so we were excited to interact with other people, relax on the beach and take care of mundane tasks that had been avoided up until this point, specifically getting laundry done for 100 baht ($3) and a haircut for 300 baht ($10).

Koh Samui itself is made up of dozens of towns, mostly located along the coastline, but we spent most of our stay in Chaweng, bouncing between a handful of hotels and resorts. I wasn’t overly impressed with parts of the beach further south, many of which were covered in trash and prone to harassment from vendors.

But when we checked into Iyara Beach Hotel and Plaza, which had its own pool and beach access, I knew where I would be spending most of my time. It’s tucked away from the road, so you’re less likely to hear the trucks blaring advertisements for muay Thai fights or the ice bar.

Most of our time in Samui was doing as little as possible, apart from a few afternoons working on assignments for me. We had some delicious meals at hole-in-the-wall spots while I tried my best to steal this elephant shower head from Iyara. Koh Samui has a lot to offer those who are looking to live the GTL life. Just remember to go home at some point.

My stay at Iyara Beach Hotel and Plaza was arranged through an ongoing partnership with AsiaRooms.com.