Manager of @Beach, Bed and Bar Nikki met owner Zane and at the time he was working on another project ‘Secret Mountain’ and told her about @Beach so Nikki started during a Full Moon and is now one of the managers there.
Leo Beer took us along to meet Nikki to find out more about @Beach, Bed and Bar...
What is the concept for @Beach, Bed and Bar?
It's a backpackers place right on the beach, offering great views. We are not on the road like most other hostels but we still have dorms and private rooms and yes, it is a party hostel.
We do beach bonfires at night and bbqs during Full Moon.
As a bit of a veteran of bar work on the island, what is it like working bars during full moon?
You have the people who it’s their first time and the people who come back again.
People are getting excited, ready for full moon and meeting other backpackers, sometimes in the past we have had djs play and it can get pretty crazy here.
Do you still enjoy it?
Yes I love bartending, it’s great to meet people and you are constantly hearing new stories.
What kind of guests do you mostly get?
We get young backpacker crowds, some travelling for their first time on a spring break.
Do you sometimes feel responsible for the younger travellers?
Of course, a lot of people look to me for good advice on which parties to go to, where to rent bikes, waterfalls and hikes to do etc.
Why would you say @Beach, Bed and Bar is unique?
Because we are right on the beach and we have prices which are the same as many hostels which are located on the road.
You can chill on the beach with a great view of Koh Samui and the bonfires in the evening so everyone can connect and make friends.
We also have a great spot for parties when we have the djs here and we do cinema, movie nights.
And what is the accommodation?
We have seven eight bed dorms which all have their own private bathroom.
Six four bed dorms also with their own bathrooms and showers. Two twenty bed dorms which share the outside bathrooms and showers and five private rooms all with their own stuff.
We have a kitchen also that serves thai and western food.
After four years here, what do you think it is about Full Moon that keeps people coming?
I think they get excited to experience such a mass of people partying on the beach, like a festival of sorts.
And how have seen the island grow in that time?
In the four years there’s been lots of new hostels, they opened the Big C, Makro, five 7/11’s and four family marts so there has been a lot of growth there.
We still get the locals that come back every year which is nice but the tourists are the same kind of people.
Locals come here when we have djs play, and sometimes we do local events here.
What are the plans for the next year?
Zane is coming in October and has been talking about wanting to put in a swimming pool so when he's back things will start to happen and they also may want to make it more of a resort.
I focus on trying to make sure the backpackers have the info they need and to find them the best prices so they do not get ripped off.
I give as much advice as I can for their own safety and also the best parties on the island as I’ve lived here for so long.
@Beach, Bed and Bar is well known to most of us locals here on the island and it is a great place to stay as a traveller in either a nice private bungalow or one of their social dorms.
The experience of being able to stay right on this beautiful beach for the price of a dorm is one that you cannot even explain, it is like a taste of luxury for a budget price with a restaurant on site and even some good quality warm up parties to get you going!
Enjoy your stay!
Keep updated with phanganist.com by following our Facebook page.
