Arrival in Thailand at the main airport Suvanabhurmi
It is necessary to arrive on time, ideally no later than 10:00 am or allow one night in Bangkok.
Although the vast majority of travellers fly to Koh Samui directly from Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore or possibly other nearby countries, there are several other transport options. Without a doubt, the most convenient is buy a ticket to Koh Samuiyour luggage will be automatically transported to the island, so you only need to go through a few transfers. The disadvantage is very vHigh price airfare from Bangkok to Samui. The carrier Bangkok Airways, which owns the airport on Koh Samui, charges high fees, which ultimately raises the price of a 1.5-hour flight from the City of Angels (as Bangkok is also called) to the Isle of Palms to 40% or more of the price of a "big" flight from Europe. The downside is also that in some dates tickets are not available, and so even if you get a good ticket to Thailand, you have a problem to get to about 1000 km away island of love, coconuts, palm trees, smiling people and as Koh Samui is called. Especially flight tickets from Bangkok to Koh Samui can be bought directly on www.bangkokair.com.
Fortunately, there is another option, and that is the flight/bus/ferry combination. This is a popular option for those who want to save money on transport and prefer to use the money in another way (I will be happy to advise how ;-)) I will take the liberty to describe chronologically how such a journey takes place, it will be more illustrative. Itinerary:
1. Arrival in Thailand at the main airport Suvanabhurmi
- Please note that you must arrive on time, ideally no later than 10:00 am or allow one night in Bangkok. The last flight from the second airport Don Mueang is with Nok Air around 14:00, with Air Asia 15:30 you have to catch the ferry, the last one goes at 18:00 or 19:30 (see next point).
2. Transfer to the second airport Don Mueang
- Getting around is very easy thanks to the Shuttle Bus, which operates reliably between the two airports. The bus is free, but you need to show proof of flight reservation from Don Mueang Airport (printed reservation is sufficient). The journey takes about 1 hour. The shuttle bus usually runs every half hour from the 2nd floor of the airport, at Gate 3. The bus does not go through the centre and the busiest arteries, so there should be no traffic jams.
Attention, it is important to check the departure times from Don Mueang and choose the arrival time to Thailand accordingly. Generally speaking, if the arrival time is, for example, 10:00, an hour later, if everything goes smoothly (immigration, picking up your bags, transferring, getting off the plane), you should stand with your luggage and wait for the shuttle. At 11:30 you should be on the bus and an hour later at Don Mueang airport. Here you just need to be an hour ahead of time, so you are about 2 hours away from your flight (if you chose the Nok Air option around 14-14:30, you will have more time with Air Asia, which flies around 15:30). The above applies in case there are no flight delays, delays in formalities or shuttle service. If you arrive later, there's still a chance you can make the second flight, but also a risk if something goes wrong. If you are pressed for time, instead of taking the bus between the airports and from Surat Thani to the ferry, you can use some fast taxis, but be prepared for an adrenaline rush and a dent in your wallet :-)
3rd Flight from Don Mueang to Suratthani
- Here comes the most important part, the actual flight from Don Mueang Airport, Bangkok to Suratthani Airport in the same city, in the same province. How to book your flight tickets I will advise below, it's very simple. The flight itself, check-in and all the processes are hassle free, Don Mueang is the former main airport of Bangkok and has now been renovated and given a new concourse. Everything works flawlessly and check-in is very fast. Normally 1 hour before departure is enough. The flight itself takes about 1.5 hours.
4. Transfer from Suratthani Airport to Donsak Port
- Upon arrival you will collect your luggage and at the arrival hall you will be directed to the bus, which is included in the price of the ticket, again just show your reservation. The lobby is very small, so there is no need to worry about getting lost. The staff will be waiting for you, everything is taken care of perfectly. The bus ride to the port takes about 1.5 hours
5. Journey from Donsak Harbour to Koh Samui
- Now you are almost "home", just wait for the ferry, which is included in the price of the ticket and the bus will take you directly to it. The ferry runs every hour, so you'll only be waiting a few dozen minutes. It is a large boat that can hold passengers and vehicles, so it is very stable and safe. Depending on which airline you choose, the ferry will take you to either Nathon or Lipa Noi port. The journey takes about 1.5 hours. In total this journey takes about 5 hours, a difference of 3.5 hours compared to a direct flight. Of course, it is a more demanding option for transfers and transfers, but because everything is included in the ticket price and there is nothing to deal with on the spot, anyone can do it. The undeniable advantage is the price, this combination of transportation works out to 1500 Baht per person one way. For comparison the price of a flight from Bangkok to Samui is around 4-5000 Baht per person one way! Another advantage is that you can just book the trip to Koh Samui and purchase the return flight later, unless there are some holidays, there are almost always seats available.
It is necessary to arrive on time, ideally no later than 10:00 am or allow one night in Bangkok.
Very easy to get around thanks to the shuttle service, which operates reliably between the two airports.
The most important part, the actual flight from Don Mueang Airport, Bangkok to Suratthani Airport
You will collect your luggage and at the arrivals hall you will be directed to the bus, which is included in the price of the ticket.
Now just wait for the ferry, which is included in the ticket price, and the bus will take you directly to it. It runs every hour.
How to book a trip from Don Mueang to Koh Samui?
- Transport to the island is provided by Nok Air, www.nokair.com and Air Asia, www.airasia.com
Tickets can be purchased on the website via the booking engine. The service to the island is called Fly N'Ferry by Nokair and Island transfer by Air Asia (pictures attached). It is possible to pay by card and booking is absolutely no problem. As I mentioned, it is important to arrive in Bangkok no later than around 9:00am as the flight from Don Mueang leaves no later than 2:00pm (approximately, times are subject to change). Alternatively, it is possible to stay one night in Bangkok at a hotel near Don Mueang airport (preferably in the Chatuchak area, from where it is possible to take a taxi to the airport in 20 minutes). Morning flights to Koh Samui start at 6:00 a.m.
THE WAY THROUGH KOH TAO
For travellers planning to stay on Koh Tao and then move to Koh Samui, it is also possible to choose the option of flying from Don Mueang to Chumpon and then taking a boat to Koh Tao. The journey by large boat takes about 3 hours, but it is possible to choose from a number of carriers and therefore faster, slower options. Again, this is an economical option, also more time-efficient than travelling to Surat Thani, Koh Samui and then on to Koh Tao.
Travelling, better said, overland, is of course also an option that some travellers choose. It is possible to go by bus from the south bus terminal in Bangkok to Donsak port, or to Koh Samui, because sellers also offer combined bus/ferry tickets. This is a very economical option, prices range from 1000 Baht, depending on comfort. There are regular buses, sleeper buses with fewer seats and reclining seats, but also completely normal Thai line buses (which I wouldn't recommend). The disadvantage, of course, is the durationThe journey to the port alone takes over 10 hours, so you have to drive at night. The driver makes several stops, but the journey is still tiring. For this type of transport I would have a note on safety, both road and personal. Drivers are often sleep-deprived and the journey is difficult, so accidents are more frequent. Regarding personal security, there have been rumours for many years that there are thieves in the luggage compartment who rob suitcases. Although I have never encountered anything like this, or met anyone to whom it has happened, caution is in order and it is better to take documents, money and valuable items "on board".
Rail enthusiasts will be pleased to know that you can also travel to Koh Samui by train. Surprisingly, this is not a bad option at all and although the trains are older, they offer sufficient comfort. There are several classes, with 1st class being a separate compartment with a bed, in which one sleeps comfortably on a journey of more than 10 hours. The price of 1st class is around 1200 Baht, but in 3rd class it is possible to travel for 600 Baht, which is almost free and the social enrichment of traveling together with Thais is also free :-) Trains run from Bangkok's main station, Hua Lamphong, which can be reached by metro. Agencies that sell tickets at this station also offer downstream transport, i.e. the journey from the railway station in Surat Thani to Donsak port and the ferry to Koh Samui. The downside is that the train station called Pun Pin is basically outside Surat Thani and so the journey to Donsak port takes more than 2 hours.
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