Koh Samui Travel

GETTING THERE

Flying direct from London Heathrow to Bangkok takes around eleven hours with Thai Airways or EVA Air, costing roughly 36,000 THB (£800) for an economy return. From Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok Airways holds the monopoly on direct flights to the island. You will pay around 4,500 THB (£100) for the 75-minute flight, which runs almost hourly from 6:00 am to 8:30 pm. Book this domestic leg at least three months in advance, as last-minute fares jump closer to 7,000 THB (£155). If you prefer a cheaper route, fly Thai AirAsia from Don Mueang Airport to Surat Thani for 1,300 THB (£28), then catch the Lomprayah high-speed catamaran for an additional 700 THB (£15). This joint ticket takes about six hours total from Bangkok. The ferry is heavily air-conditioned, so keep a jumper handy to avoid arriving frozen.

GETTING AROUND

Public transport here essentially means songthaews, the converted red pickup trucks that circle the main ring road. Wave one down, tell the driver your beach, and expect to pay between 50 THB (£1.10) and 100 THB (£2.20) for daytime journeys. Always agree the fare through the passenger window before climbing in the back to avoid the classic late-night tourist tax, where a short hop suddenly costs 500 THB (£11) just because the sun went down. Metered taxis exist but drivers flatly refuse to use the meter. Download the Grab or NaviGo apps instead. A 20-minute private ride from Bophut to Chaweng via an app will cost around 400 THB (£8.80) and entirely removes the need to negotiate. Scooter rental is the ultimate freedom, setting you back a mere 250 THB (£5.50) per day. Rent one only if you hold a full UK motorcycle licence and an International Driving Permit. Otherwise, your travel insurance is void if you clip a stray dog. Record a 360-degree video of the plastics before handing over your passport copy and 3,000 THB (£66) cash deposit.

Most travellers eventually hop over to neighbouring Koh Phangan or Koh Tao. The Lomprayah catamaran departs from Pralarn Pier in Maenam twice daily. Reaching Koh Phangan takes just 30 minutes and costs 350 THB (£7.70), while the journey to Koh Tao takes two hours and sets you back 700 THB (£15). For a day trip, Ang Thong National Marine Park is essential. Book a speedboat tour through a local operator for around 2,200 THB (£48). This includes hotel transfers, lunch, and the 45-minute blast across the water, plus the 300 THB (£6.60) national park entrance fee.

AIRPORTS & TERMINALS

Samui International Airport (USM) is entirely privately owned by Bangkok Airways. A handful of Scoot flights arrive from Singapore, but Bangkok Airways dominates the tarmac. There are no enclosed departure lounges. Instead, you wait in open-sided thatched pavilions. Grab a seat near the complimentary refreshment corner, where you can load up on free sticky rice treats and iced coffee, saving yourself the 150 THB (£3.30) you would otherwise spend at the departure gate cafes.

MONEY & COSTS

Daily budgets vary wildly depending on your beach. Backpackers can scrape by on £40 a day in Lamai, mid-range travellers should budget £100 for decent Bophut hotels and meals, while luxury seekers in Choeng Mon will easily drop £300 plus. ATMs are everywhere, dispensing 1,000 THB notes, but every withdrawal carries a 220 THB (£4.80) local bank fee. Hotels and larger restaurants accept Visa and Mastercard, but smaller beach shacks are strictly cash. Bring a fee-free travel card, but withdraw the maximum 30,000 THB (£660) in one go at a Krungsri ATM to minimise transaction charges.

Pick up an AIS tourist SIM card at the airport arrivals area. A 30-day package with unlimited 5G data costs 999 THB (£22). AIS has the most reliable coverage across the island, especially over the mountainous interior. Hotel wifi is generally excellent, pulling 100Mbps in most mid-range resorts. However, power cuts during heavy tropical downpours frequently knock out the routers, so having unlimited mobile data acting as a hotspot is your best backup plan.

ESSENTIAL PRACTICALITIES

UK passport holders receive a 60-day visa exemption on arrival at immigration. Tipping is not mandatory, but leaving a 50 THB (£1.10) note for housekeeping or rounding up a restaurant bill by 100 THB (£2.20) is deeply appreciated. Plugs are two-prong flat or round types delivering 220V, so pack a universal adapter. Save the Tourist Police number, 1155, in your phone just in case. One crucial detail often missed is the tap water. You cannot drink it, but you also should not use it to brush your teeth. Always use the complimentary glass bottled water provided by your hotel.