Provisioning for your Yacht Charter on Koh Samui
Koh Samui has big modern supermarkets close by the base, so provisioning is easy and offers a pretty good selection of western delights! But that makes it so easy to go overboard, often literally, at the end of your charter because it's also so lovely to eat ashore! It's relatively economical to eat onshore, and with no preparation or cleaning up, you'll have more time to enjoy your holiday. Nonetheless, stocking your boat with food and beverage is crucial; it allows you flexibility and freedom to move around at your own pace.
How much do things cost?
Koh Samui is a bit of a foodie heaven; it off ers an abundance of market and street food all the way through to five-star, fine dining. Once you head out to the other islands, there's still a wonderful selection of resorts and restaurants, but the prices drop considerably; here's a rough guide: Most wine-by-the-glass is box-wine and costs 120baht to 300 baht, depending on the style of the resort or bar you're at. A bottle of wine costs about 800 baht in a supermarket and at least twice that in a restaurant. A small bottle of beer costs about 45 baht in a supermarket and from 70 baht up to 150 baht in a restaurant. Good quality Thai food can cost as little as 80 baht per person in a local Street-side or beachside restaurant, where a meal in a flash resort can cost anything from 1200 baht per person and more.
Tips for planning your menu
When planning your provisioning, consider that Thailand has a warm and humid climate, boat galleys have limited space, refrigerators are small, and storage lockers are few, so you need to optimise what you take and how you use it. Design a menu that shares many of the same base ingredients but delivers very different tasting meals. That way, you minimise the number of items you take on board. Keep the menu simple, so you don't spend your holiday time in the galley trying to make magic happen. Here are a few tips:
- Don't take too much fresh or cold food as your refrigerator space will be limited, and food left out will spoil in the tropical heat; salad doesn't last long.
- Buy veggies that don't require refrigeration, carrots, cucumber, potato, onion etc.
- Provision for all breakfasts and just one or two dinners aboard. Then have an array of cheese, cold cuts, nibbles & snacks along with fruit that does not require refrigeration, apples and the like.
- Often, the shops on the outer islands do not have a lot of stock.
- Get all the western delights before your charter because they are difficult to find once you leave Samui.
- Don't buy ingredients to make Thai food; it's much easier and more economical to go to a restaurant.
Provisioning Service
To save time, take advantage of our provisioning service. Select what you'd like to buy from our provisioning list and email it back to us when you make your booking. When you arrive, your beverages will be on ice, and your yacht will be stocked and ready to go! If you have any special requests that are not on our list, note them on the last page, and we will do our best to get them for you.
Provisioning on your own
We have a team of trusted drivers who speak English well and know the Island. If you want to provision on the way, this is by far your best option, because our drivers will stay in touch with us, they understand your objective, and know which shops to visit. If you are coming directly from the airport, you'll need to consider the available space you have, taking into account luggage. If you are a large group, drop the Skipper and First Mate off with the bags at the meeting point, and send the crew off provisioning after that.
Important note about purchasing Alcohol
Thailand restricts the sale of alcoholic beverages; you can purchase between 11am and 2pm or after 5pm to midnight. You can usually buy it all day in the smaller local shops.
What's onboard
Island Spirit Charters will provide all yacht charters with:
- 10kgs of drinking ice
- Kitchen cleaner
- Dish soap
- Dish scouring pad
- Paper towels
- Gas Lighter
- Garbage bags
- Toilet paper
- First aid kit
Things not to do or buy:
- Turn up with loose items because you didn't purchase carry bags.
- Purchase the following as we do not allow these items on the boat:
- Double strength, super-dooper toilet paper.
- Steel or coarse scouring pads
- Jif or any other clearer
- Bleach or toilet cleaner
Things to do or buy:
- Purchase carry-bags to transport your produce.
- Minimise the use of cardboard boxes; they will not be permitted onboard after loading.
