Lost weekend in Koh Samui

GOT 48 hours to explore Koh Samui, Thailand's third largest island? Get the best out of your trip without getting lost in the tourist crowd with tips from Reuters correspondents with local knowledge.

FRIDAY

Get mobile: 7pm

The best way to enjoy Samui's lush forests, mountains and gorgeous viewpoints is by car, so pick one up at the airport. It also allows you to leave the busy part of the island easily. Best to go through big-name rental firms.

Classic Samui: 7.30pm

Start your island adventure with a meal at Poppies, a Samui institution. The restaurant's setting beside the pool lacks privacy but the food, from traditional Thai salads to Australian beef fillet, more than makes up for it.

Thank God it's Friday: 9.30pm

Herald in the weekend at the hip nightspot, Q Bar. Perched on a hill overlooking the Chaweng Lake and like its sister in Bangkok, Q Bar is the ultimate in chic. Choose from the dance floor rhythms on the first level or the smooth and sassy jazz tunes of the stunning open-air second level.