Doing A Koh Samui Island Loop?

[FleetHo]

Staying in Lamai in June and my mate and I would like to do a leisurely day trip around the Koh Samui Island. Any suggestions and or recommendations of a driver that does this and what might be the going rate?

Don't have an international drivers licence and could get one so could get a hire car ....is there a place in Lamai to hire a car? Was there last year and I can't remember one but then I wasn't looking for one then either. Definetly don't want to do it on a motor bike

Appreciate any suggestions.

Cheers,

FleetHo

[OriginalPoster]

Staying in Lamai in June and my mate and I would like to do a leisurely day trip around the Koh Samui Island. Any suggestions and or recommendations of a driver that does this and what might be the going rate?

Don't have an international drivers licence and could get one so could get a hire car ....is there a place in Lamai to hire a car? Was there last year and I can't remember one but then I wasn't looking for one then either. Definetly don't want to do it on a motor bike

Appreciate any suggestions.

Cheers,

FleetHo

A decent way to do that is to rent a jeep and drive yourself. Manual shift Suzuki jeeps are widely available for probably around 800 Baht/day. If you stick to the roads close to the the perimeter of the Island it's hard to get seriously lost and it's not difficult driving. Usually you won't need an international drivers license in order to rent the jeep though they may want you to leave your passport for security. If you don't want to leave your passport, maybe try Avis or Hertz and rent a Japanese subcompact secured by a credit card.

Edited April 12, 2009 by OriginalPoster

[FleetHo]

Thanks OriginalPOster for the reply and good info.

Just wondering if I don't go the self drive path is there a car and driver we can hire for the day to take around the island and stop where we want to?

Any suggestions or recomendations as to who we might be able to hire and how much it might cost?

Regards,

FleetHo

[FleetHo]

Anyone know of a local driver with a car or van that is up for a days driving with a couple of run away aussies? Looking for a someone that will be flexible with our locations and hopefully with a driver that will help us make those decisions. Basically we want to go with the flow type day and not structured with a group of other folks..

Will be in Lamai but I suspect anywhere there is a driver/car/van on KS will be interested in getting the gig, so they don't have to be contact details of Lamai only drivers.

Appreciate any contact info.

Regards,

FleetHo

[OriginalPoster]

Thanks OriginalPOster for the reply and good info.

Just wondering if I don't go the self drive path is there a car and driver we can hire for the day to take around the island and stop where we want to?

Any suggestions or recomendations as to who we might be able to hire and how much it might cost?

Regards,

FleetHo

Don't know about how to find a car w/ driver but probably it could be set up at some of the more upscale hotels or maybe at some of the travel agents.

About the only reason that I could think of doing that though would be if you're planning to be drinking and you don't want to risk getting busted for drunk driving. Otherwise, I think that you'd have a lot more freedom by driving yourself. Theoretically you might be able to get a driver that do what you want when you want and show you all sorts of interesting things that you would have otherwise missed, but just as likely is that the guy will want to take to take breakfast, lunch, dinner and cigarette breaks when you want to travel and will have different ideas about what's interesting than you do.

Edited April 19, 2009 by OriginalPoster

[FleetHo]

Thanks OriginalPOster for the reply and good info.

Just wondering if I don't go the self drive path is there a car and driver we can hire for the day to take around the island and stop where we want to?

Any suggestions or recomendations as to who we might be able to hire and how much it might cost?

Regards,

FleetHo

Don't know about how to find a car w/ driver but probably it could be set up at some of the more upscale hotels or maybe at some of the travel agents.

About the only reason that I could think of doing that though would be if you're planning to be drinking and you don't want to risk getting busted for drunk driving. Otherwise, I think that you'd have a lot more freedom by driving yourself. Theoretically you might be able to get a driver that do what you want when you want and show you all sorts of interesting things that you would have otherwise missed, but just as likely is that the guy will want to take to take breakfast, lunch, dinner and cigarette breaks when you want to travel and will have different ideas about what's interesting than you do.

Hi OriginalPoster,

Thanks for that, you raised some very good points.

The reason I was looking at going down the driver path is one of apprehension driving on Koh Samui. I think having a drink would be suicide and wouldn't go there. But I have seen many who do!

I suppose I just need to be comfortable that I can adjust to the traffic around the island. Not worried about getting lost as it is a ring road so nagivating is not the issue. Going through Chewang would mostly likely be heaviest traffic. I suspect that once you get on the road you learn quickly and drive defensively. The island loop is only about 60km from what I understand and we have all day to do our loop so there is no pressure from that prespective.

Since we have been posting this thread I have one Samui Tour comapny come back with 2700 baht for 6 hours and they recommend the following stop off points....but they will go where we want"We would like to recommend the following itinerary, but you may modify it in accordance to your preferences. We will take you to visit Namuang waterfall for a swim. We will go to see mummified monk and Samui famous Hin Ta & Hin Yai. Around noon we will stop for lunch in a great restaurants overlooking one of Lami perfect sandy bays so you can enjoy great Thai food.

After lunch we will take you to Nathong for shopping and then visit go to Big Buddha, and if you like Plai Leam Temple (ten hand lady monk image and possibility of feeding fish). On the way back to the pier we will stop at the famous Choenh Mon Beach for a final look at Samui amazing beaches."

What would a Jeep cost to hire in Lamai? I suspect a Jeep would be a lot cheaper and if I can get a level of confidence to drive I am sue that the day would be completely at our pleasure and not working to any time table as such.

You obviously are comfortable driving there how long did you take to feel comfortable driving there?

Could I also ask if you were going to do the loop what places would you pick around the island that are must sees and do's??/

Thanks very much for your input it is appreciated.

Regards,

FleetHo