When I Get To Surat Thani Train Station At 5.30Am...

[james24]

Im on a real tight budget at the moment, my friends are faffing around about where they are going to be so can anyone help me with how much it would cost to get to Samui from Surat Thani train station?

[wasas]

about 350 baht

[smokie36]

about 350 baht

Perhaps you would care to elaborate? ie...Bus ferry taxi.....

Edit: Make some friends on the train OP and share taxi costs with them on the was to Surat Thani...and maybe to Chaweng or Lamai or wherever you are headed.

Edited April 21, 2012 by smokie36

[samuijimmy]

That sounds about right for price but assuming train not late , you may have to wait for sun to rise and multi person taxi to arrive! (price could depend on how many other people on same route to bus terminal for ferry),

They may take you to a central point in Surathanni, then a bus or mini van to ferry.

[animatic]

about 350 baht

Perhaps you would care to elaborate? ie...Bus ferry taxi.....

Edit: Make some friends on the train OP and share taxi costs with them on the was to Surat Thani...and maybe to Chaweng or Lamai or wherever you are headed.

there are busses, or mini-van, you can buy a ticket from a stall last I saw.

It is the most standardized run from that station, and then on to Donsak ferry terrminal. About 150 for the ferry.

Edited April 21, 2012 by animatic

[smokie36]

In my experience the biggest shock for the OP will be the cost of travel when he arrives in Nathon.

[wasas]

In my experience the biggest shock for the OP will be the cost of travel when he arrives in Nathon.

If hes on a budjet, he might as well stay in surat

[robsamui]

When you get off the train you will be hassled by touts trying to get you to buy a ticket. Ignore them totally.

March purposely outside the station and head towards where you see several coaches parked. (NOT mini-buses.) Ask for the company named Panthip (say it pan-tip). There are 2 different firms operating; Panthip goes to Nathon; this is the one you want.

Simply get on the bus and find a seat. Don't get hassled into buying a ticket in an office across the road (plus commission). Queuing for tickets is a white man's thing and you won't see any of the Thais doing this - they just go and sit on the bus and pay the kid when he comes round to check the tickets.

I'm not sure of the price any more but I'm pretty sure it is less than 350 baht. (It is 450 baht for a 7-hour trip with Panthip from Had Yai to Samui, including ferry.) You can reckon on 350 baht absolute tops - more like 250 baht, I expect.

When you get to Nathon head down the very long ferry pier and look for a songthiew - open pickup truck with seas in the back. You didn't say what part of Samui you are heading for but Chaweng should cost you 50 baht - but don't be surprised if you are asked for 100 baht. (A meter taxi will ask 500 baht or more - don't bother.)

Hope this helps,

R

Edited April 21, 2012 by robsamui

[Paangjang]

In my experience the biggest shock for the OP will be the cost of travel when he arrives in Nathon.

My girlfriends Aunty and uncle (age 60+) came over for a couple of days. I had the car at the time and was unable to pick them up right away from Nathon. They couldn't possibly wait 20 minutes for me to arrive...

So they asked a taxi how much to Taling ngam. He told them 450THB each! 900THB! Uncle decided they would manage to wait for me. They couldn't believe how close Taling ngam was to Nathon. He said he had paid 550THB each for the bus up from Satun and that it took around 8 hours, not 20 minutes like this ride!

Slightly off topic but i just read on an online newspaper that they are planning to tackle the taxi rate issue in Phuket bus station. They are going to start a voucher system where you tell the lady at the desk your destination and you pay her the fixed rate. Then you give your voucher to the driver. No need to discuss a rate with him.

When do you think a system like this will start in Samui?

[robsamui]

In my experience the biggest shock for the OP will be the cost of travel when he arrives in Nathon.

If hes on a budjet, he might as well stay in surat

He's going to Samui!

Applying your logic he might as well have stayed at home!

R

Edited April 21, 2012 by robsamui

[robsamui]

In my experience the biggest shock for the OP will be the cost of travel when he arrives in Nathon.

My girlfriends Aunty and uncle (age 60+) came over for a couple of days. I had the car at the time and was unable to pick them up right away from Nathon. They couldn't possibly wait 20 minutes for me to arrive...

So they asked a taxi how much to Taling ngam. He told them 450THB each! 900THB! Uncle decided they would manage to wait for me. They couldn't believe how close Taling ngam was to Nathon. He said he had paid 550THB each for the bus up from Satun and that it took around 8 hours, not 20 minutes like this ride!

Slightly off topic but i just read on an online newspaper that they are planning to tackle the taxi rate issue in Phuket bus station. They are going to start a voucher system where you tell the lady at the desk your destination and you pay her the fixed rate. Then you give your voucher to the driver. No need to discuss a rate with him.

When do you think a system like this will start in Samui?

I came back from Had Yai last month on a bus I don't usually get and ended up at Nathon at 7.30 at night. A woman I'd noticed on the bus came up to ask for help. She'd come from Kuala Lumpur to stay with a friend here and she'd been travelling for almost 24 hours on buses.

She was in tears of anger and frustration - she'd spent 900 baht to travel 1,000 kilometres and just could not believe that a dam_n taxi wanted 700 baht for a 20K trip to Chaweng!

But what is now really really reallyannoying is that the poxy little motorbike taxis have jumped on the same bandwaggon - almost like those lawyers who chase ambulances in America. There was one hovering near the taxi and trying to poach a fare from the people who were rejecting the extortionate 700 baht to Chaweng. All he wanted was 300 baht!

At which point a songthiew arrived and filled itself with the dozen or so despairing travelers waiting anxiously - at 100 baht a head.

Maybe taxi drivers need to be issued with free pocket calculators?? They need something, that's for sure . . .

R

Edited April 21, 2012 by robsamui

[animatic]

When you get off the train you will be hassled by touts trying to get you to buy a ticket. Ignore them totally.

March purposely outside the station and head towards where you see several coaches parked. (NOT mini-buses.) Ask for the company named Panthip (say it pan-tip). There are 2 different firms operating; Panthip goes to Nathon; this is the one you want.

Simply get on the bus and find a seat. Don't get hassled into buying a ticket in an office across the road (plus commission). Queuing for tickets is a white man's thing and you won't see any of the Thais doing this - they just go and sit on the bus and pay the kid when he comes round to check the tickets.

I'm not sure of the price any more but I'm pretty sure it is less than 350 baht. (It is 450 baht for a 7-hour trip with Panthip from Had Yai to Samui, including ferry.) You can reckon on 350 baht absolute tops - more like 250 baht, I expect.

When you get to Nathon head down the very long ferry pier and look for a songthiew - open pickup truck with seas in the back. You didn't say what part of Samui you are heading for but Chaweng should cost you 50 baht - but don't be surprised if you are asked for 100 baht. (A meter taxi will ask 500 baht or more - don't bother.)

Hope this helps,

R

This sounds about right.

Touts and people who unsolicited try to guide you to an office

all incur extra charges for their 1 minute services and that of the place they take you.

Like Rob said, just get on the big bus / coach. wait for the ticket taker.

Have some bills smaller than 1,000 baht is helpful too.

And DO NOT take a meter taxi on Samui,

and you can negotiate a slightly lower price in some soncheaw.

The more Thai you can speak the cheaper the prices , generally.

Basically the more touristy and clueless you look the higher the price.

Act purposeful and direct and they think yo might be local farang coming home.

What every you do, don't loudly argue the price if it's not good enough, walk away.

[smokie36]

When you get off the train you will be hassled by touts trying to get you to buy a ticket. Ignore them totally.

March purposely outside the station and head towards where you see several coaches parked. (NOT mini-buses.) Ask for the company named Panthip (say it pan-tip). There are 2 different firms operating; Panthip goes to Nathon; this is the one you want.

Simply get on the bus and find a seat. Don't get hassled into buying a ticket in an office across the road (plus commission). Queuing for tickets is a white man's thing and you won't see any of the Thais doing this - they just go and sit on the bus and pay the kid when he comes round to check the tickets.

I'm not sure of the price any more but I'm pretty sure it is less than 350 baht. (It is 450 baht for a 7-hour trip with Panthip from Had Yai to Samui, including ferry.) You can reckon on 350 baht absolute tops - more like 250 baht, I expect.

When you get to Nathon head down the very long ferry pier and look for a songthiew - open pickup truck with seas in the back. You didn't say what part of Samui you are heading for but Chaweng should cost you 50 baht - but don't be surprised if you are asked for 100 baht. (A meter taxi will ask 500 baht or more - don't bother.)

Hope this helps,

R

Excellent post!

[louse1953]

When you get off the train you will be hassled by touts trying to get you to buy a ticket. Ignore them totally.

March purposely outside the station and head towards where you see several coaches parked. (NOT mini-buses.) Ask for the company named Panthip (say it pan-tip). There are 2 different firms operating; Panthip goes to Nathon; this is the one you want.

Simply get on the bus and find a seat. Don't get hassled into buying a ticket in an office across the road (plus commission). Queuing for tickets is a white man's thing and you won't see any of the Thais doing this - they just go and sit on the bus and pay the kid when he comes round to check the tickets.

I'm not sure of the price any more but I'm pretty sure it is less than 350 baht. (It is 450 baht for a 7-hour trip with Panthip from Had Yai to Samui, including ferry.) You can reckon on 350 baht absolute tops - more like 250 baht, I expect.

When you get to Nathon head down the very long ferry pier and look for a songthiew - open pickup truck with seas in the back. You didn't say what part of Samui you are heading for but Chaweng should cost you 50 baht - but don't be surprised if you are asked for 100 baht. (A meter taxi will ask 500 baht or more - don't bother.)

Hope this helps,

R

But if i buy a ticket and your in my seat and the bus is full,your off.My rules,and the young ticket seller barrelled the farang off.

[robsamui]

When you get off the train you will be hassled by touts trying to get you to buy a ticket. Ignore them totally.

March purposely outside the station and head towards where you see several coaches parked. (NOT mini-buses.) Ask for the company named Panthip (say it pan-tip). There are 2 different firms operating; Panthip goes to Nathon; this is the one you want.

Simply get on the bus and find a seat. Don't get hassled into buying a ticket in an office across the road (plus commission). Queuing for tickets is a white man's thing and you won't see any of the Thais doing this - they just go and sit on the bus and pay the kid when he comes round to check the tickets.

I'm not sure of the price any more but I'm pretty sure it is less than 350 baht. (It is 450 baht for a 7-hour trip with Panthip from Had Yai to Samui, including ferry.) You can reckon on 350 baht absolute tops - more like 250 baht, I expect.

When you get to Nathon head down the very long ferry pier and look for a songthiew - open pickup truck with seas in the back. You didn't say what part of Samui you are heading for but Chaweng should cost you 50 baht - but don't be surprised if you are asked for 100 baht. (A meter taxi will ask 500 baht or more - don't bother.)

Hope this helps,

R

But if i buy a ticket and your in my seat and the bus is full,your off.My rules,and the young ticket seller barrelled the farang off.

You're playing by white man's rules again - what does 'in my seat' mean?

You've never done this kind of thing have you? More people than seats and the little plastic stools come out . . . sorted!

R