So called "Travel Tip"

Post by **Beeblebrox** » Sun Nov 02, 2008 1:51 pm

Found this when I Googled "alternative travel to Koh Samui. I was looking for a yacht or catamaran from Chumphon as I'd been told this was a fun different way to get to Koh Samui.

Anyway, here's the tip:
Travel tip ... Beware that the cheapest buses aren't particularly comfortable on the ten or 11 hour journey, and buses have been stopped and robbed early in the morning - although there's more chance of a traffic accident than a robbery.

Hardly a great recommendation 5555

This is the web page
http://www.travel-budget.com/thailand/t ... ravel.html

The "tip" is about a quarter of the way down the page

Post by **chelsea** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 6:34 am

If you are coming all the way from NZ, don't even think about the bus or the ferry, just jump on a plane and in 1/1.5hrs you will be in Samui.

Saves all the hassle of getting to the ferry port and then the trip on the ferry. The ferry's are fine if the weather is good and you do not have a lot of luggage, but trying to lug two or three suitcases on and of the ferries is a pain in the ass.

I went to Phuket a few years ago, what we did was use that as a base as we wanted a couple of days touring the islands around Phi Phi. We left all our luggage in our Phuket hotel room and then just took small hand luggage bags and clothes for the time we were away.

Did the same when we went to Krabi/Ao Nang and can assure you it is the best way to do things.

Try and get the newer larger ferries that you can at least sit on the open deck upstairs, the older ferries you are not able to do that and can be a bit of a bad trip if the sea gets rough like it normally does.

Post by **Beeblebrox** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 12:32 pm

Thanks for your reply Chelsea.

I haven't been to Hau Hin or Samui before & was thinking of trying to get to both this trip. Trouble is I only have 14 days & in peak season, & as it's a spur of the moment decision to come it's a budget trip, so I need to make decisions quickly. Was thinking of mini van to HH from BKK, stay in HH for 4 or 5 nights then bus to Chumphon for the Lomprayah cat which after a couple of stops will get me to Samui. The pics of these on their site make them look newish. Then because of the budget it's likely to be a bus back to BKK.

I need to talk to my mate in Samui, he may convince me to spend the whole time there yet.

I only ever have the one bag for traveling & agree with what you say about only going out with what you need

Post by **buksida** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 1:11 pm

The Lomprayah is the best way to get to Samui but its a full day traveling, the bus leaves HH at around 08.30, gets into Chumphon at 12, then you have an hours wait. The Cat leaves at 13.00, gets to Tao at 14.30, Pha-ngan at 15.30 and Samui around 16.30 - 17.00.

You have to check flights and schedules as the air service has been erratic since it started. It does save a whole day traveling though ... but at a price!

Post by **chelsea** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 5:27 am

BeebleBrox
If you only have 14 days in total and do not relish loosing a lot of your holiday perhaps it would be better to stay in Koh Samui the whole time.

Considering the distance that you have to travel from NZ I think I would fly from NZ to BKK and then fly over to Samui. Spend some time on the mainland and then do a few lesurely day trips to the adjacent islands off Samui.
If you want to take your time on the way back, that would give you time to take the ferry and bus back.

One thing if you do fly, make doubly sure which airport Bangkok Airways use to fly to Samui, I would imagine coming from NZ you will arrive at the new International Airport, but most of the Domestic Flights still fly from the old airport (a fair way away).

When I went to Samui, I was in Thailand for over 21 days, so had plenty of time to do the travel thing to and from Hua Hin.
In essence in trying to do both, you will probably loose 2 days of your holiday time at least.
Anyway good luck with your trip

Post by **moja** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 9:19 am

I think a ferry from Samui to Phuket might take a tad longer than 3 or 4 hours unless they have recently dug a canal across Thailand that I have not heard about.

Post by **bluezephyr** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 1:18 pm

I took the VIP coach from HH to Samui first time i was over there, Nice when we got there but the trip was bloody awfull.

We stopped blurry eyed in middle of nowhere about 3am and got shafted in a small cafe somewhere. Must have been the drivers family shop!

Chaweng beach was nice though.
If i'd have had the money to fly back i would have.

Post by **buksida** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 1:21 pm

Just checked out the flight situation as I'm thinking about heading that way in a couple of weeks. As suspected, no flights from Hua Hin, you can only fly from Bangkok.

Post by **Beeblebrox** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 6:22 am

Thanks for all the replies guys.

I think this time that I'll spend the whole trip in Samui due to the potential traveling time eating into my holiday. My flight is due to arrive in BKK at 7.55pm. Bangkok Air have a flight to Samui at 9pm. Has anyone travelled with Jetstar to say whether their arrival times are accurate-ish & what are the chances of me getting to Bangkok Air checkin etc in time to fly with them?

Otherwise it looks like a night stay in BKK & fly in the morning, tho if I can't travel until morning maybe I should take the overnight bus & sleep on there...

Post by **Beeblebrox** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:29 am

Looks like I have to think again. It seems I arrive too late to get the last bus/coach or train for Samui

Maybe I will get to Hua Hin instead. What time is the last mini van from Victory Monument?

Post by **Wanderlust** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:34 am

I reckon it would be touch and go if you could make that flight, as you would have to go through immigration and baggage claim (if you have any), and also the touch down time can often be a lot different from the time you exit the plane. If you are going to try it would be worth you contacting Jetstar and Bangkok Air to inform them or at least ask them if it is feasible.

Post by **chelsea** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:45 am

Jetstar are not known for their ontime running. Ihr connecting time is nowhere near enough.
Have a look at this T&C link for Bkk Airways and what they recommend
http://www.bangkokair.com/information-s ... ER_AIRPORT
Spend a night in BKK and travel the next day is my suggestion, or get an earlier flight into BKK from NZ

Post by **lomuamart** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:53 am

Beeblebrox wrote:Looks like I have to think again. It seems I arrive too late to get the last bus/coach or train for Samui

Maybe I will get to Hua Hin instead. What time is the last mini van from Victory Monument?

Think it's 6 or 6.30 pm.

Post by **Beeblebrox** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 12:07 pm

Looks like I have to think again - Again!

How did that Murray Head song go...

Post by **Wanderlust** » Wed Nov 05, 2008 12:56 pm

Why not fly to Phuket instead of Bangkok? There are also flights from Phuket to Samui and would make the best use of your time, unless you really want to go to Bangkok. Or maybe the fare will be an issue?

Hua Hin Forum

So called "Travel Tip"

So called "Travel Tip"

Thanks for the replies