Visiting Koh Samui

Koh Samui is 700 kms to the south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand and 50 kms from Surat Thani. Regular flights are the most comfortable way to reach the island. For those looking to save money, trains, buses and boats can be used. If you have car or motorcycle, there are car ferries.

Via Air

Koh Samui's little open airport has both domestic and international flights from Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. There are hourly flights from Bangkok's Suvunarbhumi International Airport between 6 am to 9 pm for Koh Samui everyday. There are hourly Bangkok Airways flights and Thai airways has 2-3 flights per day. These flights cost 2200 - 3500 baht for Bangkok Airways and can go up to 7400 baht for Thai Airways. The duration of the flight is about 1.15 hours.

Bangkok Airways also conducts daily flights to Koh Samui from Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya and twice a week flights between Krabi and Koh Samui. For economical flights, opt for Air Asia's flights from Bangkok, costing 600 - 900 baht. These flights take you to Surat Thani, from where you can take local shuttles or cabs to Donsak Pier or Samui Ferry Pier and then continue further to the island.

For international tourists, Bangkok Airways conducts direct flights from Hong Kong on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Berjaya Air has 2 flights per week on Thursday and Sunday from Kuala Lumpur.

Via Train and Ferry

You have to buy train & ferry tickets separately. So you have to take local transport from the train station to the dock, where you can buy ferry tickets. To prevent any delay, find out about ferry timings in advance. However avoid online booking of trains from Bangkok to Surat Thani by using your credit card to prevent addition of handling fees to the ticket costs. You may also have to face the risk of waiting for a boat to Koh Samui or being overcharged for local transport to the dock. So it advisable to buy a combined train/shuttle/ferry ticket from one of the numerous travel agencies in Bangkok. There are 2 trains departing from Bangkok's Hualamphong station everyday and arrive at Surat Thani in 8 hours. When you take a combined ticket, you are escorted and taken to the ferry, from where you can arrive at Koh Samui in 1.5 hours. The costs starts from just more than 1000 - 1700 baht, based on the type of train seat selected for the journey.

Via Bus (or coach) and Ferry

For cost conscious, bus and ferry trip is the best option. Air-conditioned overnight buses depart from Bangkok's southern bus station everyday. These buses leave at late afternoon and early evening. On reaching Surat Thani, buses are transported to Koh Samui. Bus fares start from 300 to 400 baht based on the class of service selected and travel time is about 14 hours. Ferry fares lie below 50 baht. Private companies operate coaches and pick up people from numerous spots in Bangkok. They usually let travelers buy a combined coach/ferry tickets from local travel agencies. This journey takes around 13 hours. The cost lies between 350 - 650 baht based on the type of the service. There are daily bus services from Hat Yai, Phuket and Krabi. However this trip is meant for the toughest travelers. Unscheduled local buses halt at any spot to pick up anybody looking to board the bus. The trip may take longer than the overnight buses and coaches

Via boat

Express catamaran service to Koh Samui departs from adjacent Koh Tao and mainland ports of Chumphon and Surat Thani. There are also usual ferry service and smaller boat services available. Long-tail boat service operates planned trips to and from Koh Phangan.

Via car or motorcycle

There is a ferry service departing every hour from 06:00 - 18:00 from both Donsak Pier and Samui Ferry Pier. The time taken is about 1.5 hours.

You are welcome to publish the article along with the hyperlinked URL: Samui Hotel

By Jack Dan

Navigating Suvarnabhumi Airport

Suvarnabhumi is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world and I will show you how to get through it with a minimum of effort.

I have been traveling to Thailand since 1973 and I am currently retired here. I have gone through the new airport numerous times, both international and domestic, since it opened in 2006. Follow these tips and you will breeze through Bangkok's International Airport.

The first steps take place prior to landing while you are still on the airplane. Hopefully you are close to the front of the airplane or you will have to outrace hundreds of other passengers to Immigration.

Ensure that you use the bathroom just prior to landing and have properly filled out the embarkation card that the flight attendant gave you. Stick the card in your passport and keep it handy. Listen to the pre-landing announcement as the flight attendant may announce which carousel your luggage will be on.

Upon landing, once the seat belt sign goes off, get up and grab your carry-on bag and get ready to move.

When you leave the plane, look for the "Immigration" sign and speed walk in that direction. Do not stop for anything; no bathroom, no smoke break, and no currency exchange.

Walk as fast as you can and pass as many other passengers as possible. Remember you will be competing to be first in line at Immigration with your fellow passengers and any other planes that landed at approximately the same time.

Once you reach Immigration find the shortest line and have your passport and embarkation card ready to show. The Immigration officer will check your passport and any visa you may have, staple your embarkation card to your passport, and stamp you in to the country.

Immediately after you get your passport stamped, check the display board to see which carousel your luggage is on. This is very important as there are about 50 carousels. Again, speed walk to the carousel.

If you have a lot of luggage, grab one of the free carts that are located by every carousel.

Once you have your luggage, head for the "Nothing to Declare" exit and ignore the girls that are trying to get you a taxi.

Once you depart the luggage area, look to see what numbered section you are in. The numbers are large and displayed on the walls. You want to head for Area 3, better known as Meeting Place 3. If you need to exchange some currency, now is the time to do it. Walk through the gauntlet of people and, again, ignore those trying to get you a taxi.

Take the down escalator and this will bring you outside and to the official airport taxi area. There are about 8 lines you can get in to get your taxi. Tell the girl where you are going and get in your taxi to your hotel. This service costs an extra 50 baht (about $1.50 USD) but gives you a bit more security than just getting a taxi that just dropped off a departing tourist. This will also ensure that the driver uses his meter.

Tell the taxi driver you want to take the tollway. This will cost you an additional 65 baht (about $2.00 USD) and most of the time the driver pays it and you reimburse when you get to the hotel. Do not forget to add the toll and the 50 baht service charge to whatever is on the meter.

These tips should get you through the airport from landing to taxi in less than 30 minutes as long as your luggage is not delayed. Hopefully this makes your arrival in Thailand after a long flight a little easier.

Larry Westfall is a retired expat living in Thailand and enjoying the Pattaya Beaches.

By Larry Westfall

Koh Samui Airport Car Hire Guide

The Koh Samui Airport is named as the most beautiful airport of all, mostly by the travelers who have gone all around the world. This airport can be found in the island of the same name in Thailand. The city center is the Chaweng Village and it is a two-kilometre ride from the airport. This airport seems different because it doesn't have any indoors. The only building with a roof around here is a gift shop.

The main attraction of the island is of course, the beautiful beaches and all the natural wonders surrounding it. The whole place is a paradise perfect for royalties. To travel around the island, you can rent different kinds of vehicles such as a jeep, a car, or a motorcycle. Taxis are easily available as well, but haggling is the key to arrive at the best possible price. The whole area is indeed a great travel destination. However, given that fact, you can quite assume that things could get a little pricey around here.

There are buses running around the island all day. But they stop the service at 11pm. If you are going to travel at a later time, you have to take the taxi. The buses here are trucks with roofs and you sit right there on the top for that perfect view of the city.

Tourists are most advised to get their own vehicle while here. There are many car hire providers available such as Sixt, Avis, and Budget. It is relatively cheaper to hire a car than to use the public transport all the time. Try to book a vehicle before your estimate time of arrival so that the company can prepare your car at the airport's parking lot.

The Koh Samui Island is referred to as most beautiful tropical island of Southeast Asia. From the airplane view, you will easily see all the nice things that the island can offer its guests. Koh Samui is surrounded by smaller groups of islands and it has a good a surfing area. Fishing crafts are parked across the ports along the enticing and calm aquamarine sea, which is mostly the reason why tourists fly over here. Koh Samui is located off the Thailand Gulf.

Article was compiled by Eamonn Turley who writes for http://www.fastcarhire.co.uk specialized in car rental in Malaysia, Thailand and Australia.

If you are thinking of visiting Thailand for that once in a lifetime trip then http://www.fastcarhire.co.uk/koh-samui-airport-thailand.asp for more information on car rental options available.

By Eamonn Turley

Thriving Thailand

Thailand has done extremely well on the economic and industrial front. Be it export business, industries, energy, agriculture, services, or telecommunications, Thailand is not lagging far behind other countries.
Thailand’s economy is booming and is largely due to its export business of rice and agricultural products. Other products that are exported and contribute to the country’s GDP are tin, textiles, fish products, tapioca, jewelry, gemstones, computer, and electronic appliances. Industries and services contribute 32 percent and 48 percent respectively to the country’s economy while agriculture contributes around 13 percent.
The capital of Thailand, Bangkok is noted for its gemstones and beautiful gold and silver jewelry.
Thailand has also kept pace with the Technology age and has shown a lot of progress in the field of computers and electronics. One of the projects undertaken is was that of Bangkok’s international airport and now it has been completed successfully. The airport sports two runways and several parking lots for airbuses and aircrafts. This will add more fuel to the booming tourism industry in Thailand. Tourism is an important contributing factor to Thailand’s economy.
In the retail sector, Thailand is thriving as well. Mega projects such as development of sprawling shopping malls are in the pipeline. Several foreign companies have invested in the retail business there.
The telecommunications sector has undergone many changes. The most important change was the privatization of a couple of state telecom agencies. Another major change was marked by the removal of phone locks and usage of Mobile Equipment Identity (IEMI) codes by service operators.

Check Out More Articles:
Etiquette And Teenager Tips In Thailand,Free Online Flash Game Development,Thailand Travel Information,

By Pauline Go