Getting around Koh Samui
By Jamie Walsh
Koh Samui Airport has an innovative design
One of the most important things for tourists in the world today is transport. It is a necessity to everyday life for people to move around as freely as they can and we now often use forms of transport to aid us in this endeavor. And Samui is no different from the rest of the world with its own range of transportation to choose between.
If you arrive on Koh Samui via the local airport, situated just outside of Chaweng Beach, the first form of transport you will notice is the little electric bus/train that escorts you to the terminal building. However, as you get off the plane the sheer heat of the island will engulf your face before you have time to notice the different transport options around you.
Koh Samui’s airport is a interesting design and the new terminal building has only been open a few years. It was constructed with very few walls so it is basically an open-air building, which although cooling, can be very hot in the sunny spots so stick to the shady areas!
Now depending on how your holiday has been booked, your first experience with Koh Samui transport could be a wild one. Package holiday tourists will not need to worry too much, as you will usually be met by a rep who will help you to get to your hotel/villa. For the more adventurous out there who have booked a DIY holiday; your transport could be a little more rustic.
Like most airports in Thailand, Samui offers what is called a ‘limousine service’. Don’t get too excited about a stretched Lincoln with blacked out windows, as the interior may not be as clean or as fancy as one may expect. And nor should you worry about how much it will cost as although it is one of the most expensive ways to get to your accommodation, compared to Western prices it is still very cheap. For more on Koh Samui Airport.
The car will be slightly nicer than the normal taxis and they will usually have set prices to various parts of the island. Haggling on the price can be attempted, but do not expect too much latitude as Samui is known for its stringent prices and stroppy drivers. The limousine service is normally only available at the airport but other types of transport for getting around Samui can be found almost anywhere.
The Songthaew - the cheapest way around Samui
The great Samui meter taxi is the next type of transportation that is widely available to visitors to the island. They come in a variety of colours and all have a sign clearly on the top reading: taxi meter. Do not let this name fool you though, as to get the actual metre turned on is like trying to get blood out of a stone.
You can try asking the driver to use his metre but many choose to charge 90 baht just to turn it on. Haggle a price with the operators who don’t want put the metre on but expect to pay a minimum of 200 baht for local rides, 400 baht for out of town, and double that if you’ve got shopping bags, are slightly inebriated, want to travel to an expensive resort or it is after midnight. All these factors shout to the local drivers that you have money to spend and spend they will make you!
Another great form of transportation on the island is the songthaew, pronounced as song-towel, which literally translates to ‘two benches’. You will see these vehicles slowly cruising the streets of Samui that are filled with tourists and can be hopped on and off of with relative ease.
They are made from a pick-up truck with two wooden planks in the back running length ways to seat passengers. Simply flag one down and let them know where you are going. Bartering or haggling the price is normally acceptable with these guys although they are notorious for being ruthless on prices. They are meant to run a bus-type route, stopping to pick up passengers along the way, but you can charter one like a taxi, although the latter will probably be cheaper.
The most popular form of getting around on Koh Samui is without a shadow of a doubt the motorbike. Everywhere you turn visitors can hear and see these small-engine machines rumbling away just metres from you.
You can hire them out for as little as 200 baht per day but expect at least double that if you are staying in a nice resort. If you are it is probably best to go to a local travel agent and hire one yourself. Although not technically legal, you will probably be asked to leave your passport as security against any damage caused to the motorbike.
It is impossible to get insurance for these motorbikes in Thailand so be careful not to lose it. Always make sure it is locked up securely and parked in a well lit area. A lot of motorcycle accidents on Samui are caused by drunken tourists who think they are still capable of driving. Do not do it. If you are drinking use a taxi, it may cost a little more but life is worth that few extra baht.
Hire cars on Koh Samui are a great safe way of travelling about the island at your own leisure. You can choose large international companies like Budget or Avis if you want to feel more secure or try one of the local travel agents for a cheaper deal on an older car. Make sure you have full insurance on the car as the likelihood of a scratch or bump happening while driving around Koh Samui is extremely realistic.
Buffalos are another major obstacle to be on the look out for and many stories have been told about late night rides that have ended up in the ditch due to a 40 stone buffalo standing in the road. The sheer number of people, children, motorbikes, taxis, buses, stray dogs, potholes and cars make the roads dangerous to navigate, so if you do take to the roads yourself take extra care. For more on Koh Samui transportation.
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