Getting To Samui

[samm83]

Could anyone tell me if its cheaper to get a train from BKK to Suratthani and then get a bus to the pier, and then buy a ticket for the boat (3 separate tickets)

OR

go to a travel agency and just get a train, bus, boat combo ticket?

I went into one travel agency in BKK and they said 900 baht for train, bus, boat, but that seems a little too much? I dunno...

Help welcomed!

[Eric1949]

I would think that for 900 baht you will be in an ordinary carriage, for the extra you can have a bunk bed in either 1st or 2nd class.

Other than that you can fly to Suratthani airport then catch the bus to Samui, via ferry.

Or you can go to the Mochit2 bus terminal in downtown BKK and bus/ferry direct.

[robsamui]

Hi.

900 baht sounds not so far out. I did the trip in reverse a few months ago and it was eight hundred and something . . .

There's a few tips - At Hualampo station head for the very left-hand ticket window. Buy a sleeper to Surat. They have aircon or fan (the air can get cold at night plus you cant have the windows open . . . or smoke in the corridor by the open window . . . and the vista along the tracks as you leave BKK is amazing; all the families that live in tin sheds . . . it's another world. Plus you can hang out of the window when the dawn comes. Only downside to the trip is you better prepare to be woken at 4.am. The train stops for 20 mins at Chumpon and is filled with Thai vendors who don't understand that farangs want to sleep at 4am and not eat sticky rice).

When you get into Surat you'll be inundated with ticket touts trying to pull you towards a bus. Ignore them and head for the bus outside that says PANTHIP on it. No need to actually buy a ticket outside or in an office over the road. (All of that is so the touts can get their commission.) Just confidently stow your bags and climb aboard. They will collect the fare as you are on the move and sell you a bus and ferry ticket combined. This bus goes onto the ferry (with your bags still inside - ie you don't need to carry them on and off again) plus it goes directly to Nathon. Some of the other buses either drop off at the ferry or end up on Samui at Lipa Noi - miles away.

Don't worry when the ferry docks and the bus goes sailing past you - it will unload right at the end of the very long pier and wait for its passengers to pick up their stuff.

A word of advice - The food and beverages on the train are expensive (although the food has got a lot better now). Buy any beer/coke/snacks to take on board with you.

It's a relaxing trip and with lots of things to see. Have fun!

R

Edited December 12, 2011 by robsamui

[samm83]

Hi.

900 baht sounds not so far out. I did the trip in reverse a few months ago and it was eight hundred and something . . .

There's a few tips - At Hualampo station head for the very left-hand ticket window. Buy a sleeper to Surat. They have aircon or fan (the air can get cold at night plus you cant have the windows open . . . or smoke in the corridor by the open window . . . and the vista along the tracks as you leave BKK is amazing; all the families that live in tin sheds . . . it's another world. Plus you can hang out of the window when the dawn comes. Only downside to the trip is you better prepare to be woken at 4.am. The train stops for 20 mins at Chumpon and is filled with Thai vendors who don't understand that farangs want to sleep at 4am and not eat sticky rice).

When you get into Surat you'll be inundated with ticket touts trying to pull you towards a bus. Ignore them and head for the bus outside that says PANTHIP on it. No need to actually buy a ticket outside or in an office over the road. (All of that is so the touts can get their commission.) Just confidently stow your bags and climb aboard. They will collect the fare as you are on the move and sell you a bus and ferry ticket combined. This bus goes onto the ferry (with your bags still inside - ie you don't need to carry them on and off again) plus it goes directly to Nathon. Some of the other buses either drop off at the ferry or end up on Samui at Lipa Noi - miles away.

Don't worry when the ferry docks and the bus goes sailing past you - it will unload right at the end of the very long pier and wait for its passengers to pick up their stuff.

A word of advice - The food and beverages on the train are expensive (although the food has got a lot better now). Buy any beer/coke/snacks to take on board with you.

It's a relaxing trip and with lots of things to see. Have fun!

R

Man, that's really good advice. Thanks for taking the time out to write that.

[costalot]

Hi.

900 baht sounds not so far out. I did the trip in reverse a few months ago and it was eight hundred and something . . .

There's a few tips - At Hualampo station head for the very left-hand ticket window. Buy a sleeper to Surat. They have aircon or fan (the air can get cold at night plus you cant have the windows open . . . or smoke in the corridor by the open window . . . and the vista along the tracks as you leave BKK is amazing; all the families that live in tin sheds . . . it's another world. Plus you can hang out of the window when the dawn comes. Only downside to the trip is you better prepare to be woken at 4.am. The train stops for 20 mins at Chumpon and is filled with Thai vendors who don't understand that farangs want to sleep at 4am and not eat sticky rice).

When you get into Surat you'll be inundated with ticket touts trying to pull you towards a bus. Ignore them and head for the bus outside that says PANTHIP on it. No need to actually buy a ticket outside or in an office over the road. (All of that is so the touts can get their commission.) Just confidently stow your bags and climb aboard. They will collect the fare as you are on the move and sell you a bus and ferry ticket combined. This bus goes onto the ferry (with your bags still inside - ie you don't need to carry them on and off again) plus it goes directly to Nathon. Some of the other buses either drop off at the ferry or end up on Samui at Lipa Noi - miles away.

Don't worry when the ferry docks and the bus goes sailing past you - it will unload right at the end of the very long pier and wait for its passengers to pick up their stuff.

A word of advice - The food and beverages on the train are expensive (although the food has got a lot better now). Buy any beer/coke/snacks to take on board with you.

It's a relaxing trip and with lots of things to see. Have fun!

R

Man, that's really good advice. Thanks for taking the time out to write that.

Samm88.

You might like to try this link, it shows pictures of the BKK station, inside the train, food etc..............enjoy

http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#Ko Samui

[robsamui]

Hi.

900 baht sounds not so far out. I did the trip in reverse a few months ago and it was eight hundred and something . . .

There's a few tips - At Hualampo station head for the very left-hand ticket window. Buy a sleeper to Surat. They have aircon or fan (the air can get cold at night plus you cant have the windows open . . . or smoke in the corridor by the open window . . . and the vista along the tracks as you leave BKK is amazing; all the families that live in tin sheds . . . it's another world. Plus you can hang out of the window when the dawn comes. Only downside to the trip is you better prepare to be woken at 4.am. The train stops for 20 mins at Chumpon and is filled with Thai vendors who don't understand that farangs want to sleep at 4am and not eat sticky rice).

When you get into Surat you'll be inundated with ticket touts trying to pull you towards a bus. Ignore them and head for the bus outside that says PANTHIP on it. No need to actually buy a ticket outside or in an office over the road. (All of that is so the touts can get their commission.) Just confidently stow your bags and climb aboard. They will collect the fare as you are on the move and sell you a bus and ferry ticket combined. This bus goes onto the ferry (with your bags still inside - ie you don't need to carry them on and off again) plus it goes directly to Nathon. Some of the other buses either drop off at the ferry or end up on Samui at Lipa Noi - miles away.

Don't worry when the ferry docks and the bus goes sailing past you - it will unload right at the end of the very long pier and wait for its passengers to pick up their stuff.

A word of advice - The food and beverages on the train are expensive (although the food has got a lot better now). Buy any beer/coke/snacks to take on board with you.

It's a relaxing trip and with lots of things to see. Have fun!

R

Man, that's really good advice. Thanks for taking the time out to write that.

Samm88.

You might like to try this link, it shows pictures of the BKK station, inside the train, food etc..............enjoy

http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#Ko Samui

That's excellent! Thanks. Gonna bookmark this.

R

[Tropicalevo]

Very good link. Well done and thank you Costalot. I have bookmarked it as well.

(Mind you, I do not remember the carriages all being that clean when I travelled last time.)

[smokie36]

Some excellent info there. Just to add don't leave any valuables in your luggage on the bus when you are on the ferry. I've had items go missing before now.