i am planning to take the big bus from Samui to Had Yai next month and was wondering where the bus station is located . I am not on samui at the moment so a phone number as well would be great.

as much as i can remember, the big bus takes you to surat thani and/or nakhon si thammarat. only the mini bus goes straight to haad yai. significant time difference.

in either case, there is a bus stop directly across from the old seatran ferry pier. you will always see the big buses parked out front. name of the place is bamboo house or bamboo hut, sorry no number.

The VIP bus terminal is on the ring road near the Honda shop, Nathon.

Don't have a phone number for them though...

Good luck - I paid for the VIP service just over a year ago and ended up on a 12 seater mini bus with 15 school children. We left Samui at 10am, ended up at a coffee shop in Surat Thani and then spent about two hours driving around Surat Thani to pick school children up and then dropping them off on the way to Hat Yai...we were all crammed into that thing like chickens and the driver was happily speeding along in the rain. If you can afford to fly or find another way, I really would suggest it.

The VIP Phanthip bus leaves each morning at 9.30 from right in front of the old ferry pier in Nathon. There is no need to book or buy ticket in advance, simply turn up and pay the 450 baht (might have gone up a bit) to the woman sitting at the desk near to the bus. It's a full size air-con bus and arrives in Had Yai bus station at around 5.30.

BUT if you are thinking of going next month - remember to avoid travelling a few days either side of the 13th - it's Songkran.

Likewise, when coming back, don't buy your ticket to Samui from one of the touts or agents outside the bus station (they add commission) go inside the bus station and buy it direct - (Samui window is in the block to the left as you go in). Bus leaves at either 9.30 or 10:00 am, I forget (check when you arrive). The price in both cases includes the ferry cost.

R

ps - If you feel you need to put your mind at rest, you can book in advance from Phanthip Travel, next to Asia Travel in Nathon. Their number is 077 421 221.

as much as i can remember, the big bus takes you to surat thani and/or nakhon si thammarat. only the mini bus goes straight to haad yai. significant time difference.

in either case, there is a bus stop directly across from the old seatran ferry pier. you will always see the big buses parked out front. name of the place is bamboo house or bamboo hut, sorry no number.

The Phanthip bus goes direct. Herbert at Bamboo House only does the one-day-return run - as far as I know.

Good luck - I paid for the VIP service just over a year ago and ended up on a 12 seater mini bus with 15 school children. We left Samui at 10am, ended up at a coffee shop in Surat Thani and then spent about two hours driving around Surat Thani to pick school children up and then dropping them off on the way to Hat Yai...we were all crammed into that thing like chickens and the driver was happily speeding along in the rain. If you can afford to fly or find another way, I really would suggest it.

Hmmm.....sounds to me like a case of not quite knowing what you're doing .....

R