‘We Came Back Tan and Broke’: A Russian Couple’s Honest Take on Koh Phangan

A Russian traveler and his wife recently returned from a grown-up escape to Thailand’s Koh Phangan, and their verdict is refreshingly candid: they got the relaxation they craved, along with a lighter wallet. In a review shared with the tourism platform ‘Tunosti Turizma’ and republished on Zen, the man, identified only as Sergei, described their stay at the adults-only Explorar Koh Phangan as a welcome break from family resorts. “Instead of kids yelling ‘Mom, watch me jump!’ and spilled porridge by the pool, we got minimalist aesthetics and ice-cold Aperol spritzes,” he said. “It’s not 18-plus—it’s 35-plus.”

The couple embraced the island’s laid-back vibe, renting a scooter for 300 baht (about 675 rubles) per day to avoid pricey taxis—a 10-minute ride can cost 400–500 baht. They saved on meals by mixing high-end dinners at the hotel with street food at the Thong Sala night market. “For 500 baht you can pile up grilled shrimp, pad Thai, and mango shakes so sweet your lips stick together,” Sergei noted.

While Koh Phangan isn’t cheap, he advised that knowing the right spots makes it possible to live well. “We came back to Moscow tanned, broke, but absolutely happy,” he concluded. The review comes amid warnings from travel blogger Tim about common scams targeting Russians in Thailand, including rental bike damage claims.