should I visit phuket or koh samui with only 2 days to spend
I will be on a tour which offers only one or the other
Phuket. Definately.
The Thai culture is so bazaar, that you need a “warm up”. Thailand grows on you, but isn’t that great the first time. In a bigger city, there are more people who speak English, there are better services, and you have a wider variety of things to see and do. You will be so overwhelmed in your first two days that you won’t miss the Koh Samui experience. Keep it simple, don’t try to do too much, and enjoy yourself.
If your intent is to have a great “beach” experience, you’re going to the wrong place, anyway. Don’t expect this to be like the Virgin Islands or The Bahamas. It’s Asia. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great place to visit. But it’s just a different experience.
Koh Samui Lifestyle