Getting to Koh Samui

By Train
You can economize by making the trip from Bangkok (or elsewhere) to Samui by taking the train, and if you have the time, it can be good fun. Most people opt for a second-class berth in a fan-cooled or air-conditioned compartment, while a private first-class cabin for two can be very romantic! Either way, the cabin service is usually quite good

While the trip is long and the noise of the train may wake you up often, new friendships are sometimes made during the journey. Don't forget to take a bottle of water and tissue paper on board with you. The conductor will waken you prior to your early morning arrival in Suratthani, but you might want to take a small alarm clock with you in case.

NOTE: If no sleeping berths or (reclining) seats in second class carriages are available, think very carefully before buying a third class train ticket. The seats are straight backed and fairly rigid, and the carriages can get very full and warm. It might be the longest journey of your life.

When you disembark at Suratthani, employees of the bus company will be waiting to stow your bags in the correct bus that will take you to the ferry pier for the boat ride to Samui.

When you board the ferry, if you're still sleepy, you can buy a seat in the "VIP" aircon lounge for 40 baht. The seats recline and are very comfortable.

These Rail-Bus-Ferry tickets can be purchased at the train station in Bangkok. For the return trip from Samui, you can buy them on the island at Songserm and other travel agents.

A detailed time-table can be found at the Thailand Train Information

STATE RAILWAY OF THAILAND

Thon Buri Station Southern Line
Advance tickets are available at all principal stations or the Bangkok Advance Booking Office.
Tel.(662) 225-0300 ext 5200-3.

Be aware that not all buses are the same. Spending a few baht more can make a significant difference in comfort. The most comfortable are probably the overnight "Super VIPs." These air-conditioned double decker vehicles have toilets, seats that lean back quite far with leg rests at the bottom, and they also supply blankets for the journey. All buses stop at least once for refreshment, but little or no food or drink is served on board. An evening video is almost always shown on an overhead TV, and played at volumes that may make sleep difficult. However once the film ends around 10:00 pm, if you're lucky, you may sleep through much of the night.

Khao San Road
Known to readers of every budget traveler's guide, this little corner of the city is the first stop for many first-time travelers to Thailand who wish to spend a little time in Bangkok before continuing their journey. Catering especially to "backpackers", most find Khao San Road a very hospitable place, and the easiest way to ease into the country with a minimum of culture shock. All the merchants and travel agents speak English, there are second-hand bookshops, coffee shops and inexpensive guesthouses, and many spend a few very comfortable days there chatting with travelers from all over the world before moving on to their next destination.

Southern Bus Terminal :
Boromratchchonnani Rd, Bangkok Tel: (662) 435-1200, 434-7192

SONGSERM
Joint Ticket - Bus and Express Boat
Kaosan Road, Bangkok, Tel: (662) 629-0781

Note: Bear in mind you will be required to pay a 450 baht per person surcharge upon your departure from Samui airport, payable in baht.

An economical option to consider is a flight from Bangkok to Suratthani with Thai Airways. The cost of the ticket is substantially less than the Bangkok Airways direct flight to Samui. However from Suratthani you will still have to take a bus from the airport to the ferry for the 1 hour 20 minute boat ride across. Because of the ferry and flight schedules, this itinerary seems more practical going than coming.

Bangkok Airways (Koh Samui: (076) 225-033-4, Bangkok: 229-3434, 229-3456, 535-2429, 535-3756) offers direct flights linking Koh Samui with Koh Samui, the principal island in the Thai Gulf.

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