island hopping
 

Hi!

My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Thailand for November. We want to stay in Bangkok a couple nights and then go on to Ko Samui and Phuket. Does anyone have any transportation tips on how to do this? We want to get the most out of the time we have there so the train and bus didn't seem like our best option. Also, has anyone rented the houses that are available in Ko Samui?

Thanks, I REALLY appreciate the insight!

From Bangkok to Koh Samui is bangkok Airways only, expensive unless you take the first or last flights.
There is a rail line along the Gulf Coast, you can take the train to Surat Thani and then ferry from there, or take an overnight bus from Bangkok thru to Samui island.
From Samui to Phuket ferry to mainland, lots of agents on Samui run mini-vans thru to Phuket but they are cramped and uncomfortable, better to use statndard a/con express buses.
Rented house on Samui are available but very expensive, you are looking at anything from $150-700 a night !! Budget accommodation and guesthouse for a/con run from about USD 17/20 upwards. The 2 places you have chosen are the main tourist destinations, there are of course lots of other islands varying in size and style, but for main tourist places Samui and Phuket your best bet.

How long is your trip for? You might want to focus your travels on either the gulf coast side (Samui etc) or Phuket (Andaman coast). Also, take a look at the weather at these times to decide which is best -

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/me...p;showall=true

As James has said, Samui and Phuket are main tourist resorts but you have said you want to go island hopping and both are good places to kick off from - you may want to consider the following:

Near Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao (although do check the weather on this coast in November - rainfall is 450 mm during that month here as compared to around 200 mm in Phuket and Krabi...). You may also want to think about the islands in Trat province, not far from Bangkok: Ko Chang and Ko Samet and Mun Nork Island (http://www.munnorkislandresort.com/)

Andaman side - in addition to Phuket, consider Krabi, Ko Lanta and all the Trang islands, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Yao (nr Phang Nga - aka James Bond Island).

The bus and train are great if you are long on time, short on money but otherwise I would fly.

Re. renting houses in Samui, we did look into it but found it expensive for the period when we wanted to go (high season next August). However, if you are going in November you may be able to negotiate some bargains as it is Samui's low season.

Also, I'm sure someone else will suggest this, this would be a really nice time of your to travel around the north of the country too if you have time. You can get an air pass that will enable you to hop around the country quite cheaply - someone will be able to tell you who it is with, Bangkok Air?

oops getting late at night here in UK - I meant to write 'time of year to travel around the north', am sure you got my meaning anyway
B

You can fly www.airasia.com from BKK to Phuket one way for around US50 p.p. plus tax. Also check out www.andaman-island-hopping.com for islands off Phuket. You can get a Govt. bus & a ferry to Phuket as James has noted above, in reverse. Cheap as chips at around US10-12 p.p. You can fly www.thaiair.com from Surat Thani back to Bangkok for around US60. You've picked the two most popular islands as others have said so be prepared for lots of tourists, especially with Bali's terrorist alerts. Good luck!