By Air : This is certainly the easiest
way to get to Koh Samui. However flights may be full weeks
in advance during the high season from December to March and
in August/September.
The airport, at the northeast corner of the island, has a
small restaurant, hotel reservation desk, and air-con minibuses
to the beaches.
Bangkok Airways flies from Bangkok eighttimes daily (70 minutes)
and twice daily from Phuket (40 minutes) into Koh Samui Airport.
By Train or Bus : Land options include a train or bus
to Surat Thani, followed by an express ferry, car ferry, hydrofoil,
or night ferry to the island. Visitors can purchase an all-inclusive
package that covers all transfers and boat connections. The
overnight bus, plus ferry ride, will land you on the beach
around noon.
By Boat : Several different types
of boat go from Surat Thani to Koh Samui. The situation appears
confusing since there are two boat companies (Songserm and
Samui Ferry), one jetboat company (Island Jet), three piers
in Surat Thani (Ban Don, Tha Thong, Don Sak), and two piers
on Koh Samui (Thaton, Thong Yang).
The fastest and least expensive option is the ferry from Don
Sak, 60 kilometers east of Surat Thani, though this hardly
matters since most travelers simply take the first boat available.
Getting around on Samui is a breeze. A 50-kilometer ring road
encircles Samui island, providing easy access to all of the
beaches and towns. Songtaews, pickup trucks converted into
non-metered taxis, circle the island day and night.
Metered taxis have recently appeared on Samui. However it
always best to agree on the price before getting into a taxi
or onto a songtaew as some taxis do not use the meter. On
a songtaew, 20 Baht should get you from Chaweng to Nathon,
10 Baht from Chaweng to Lamai or 10 Baht from Nathon to Maenam.
Motorbikes can be rented for about 130 Baht per day, jeeps
will run 800-1000. Try to arrange airport transfer with your
hotel before arrival, if possible.
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