Any recommendations for car rental in Koh Samui? We will be staying at the Meridien Baan Taling on the West coast.

i rented a car for a couple of days last june....it really allowed us to see much of the island....your hotel is quite issolated so this would aide you considerably....

our hotel rented cars but we rented from a greek guy who owns a small rental agency on the east coast...we did it through a small travel agency in bophut that we stopped in to...the price was about 1/2 of the hotel cost...there are lots of cars available...we had a 2 seater jeep with a/c....it was a hard ride and bumpy but fun...

Thanks. Our hotel is isolated so we may have to go through them ( bound to be expensive) unless I can get a phone number for a rental agency that we can call..If anyone has a contact # for car rentals on Samui, please post. Thanks.

Budget and Avis both on Samui, rates should start from around US$30-40. You can get cheaper but watch the insurance issue. The Suzuki jeeps as Bob sdays are bumpy but fun!

Thanks. Got a good rate with budget that includes all insurance. Is driving on the left or right side of the road in Thailand?

left side of road...not much traffic on samui...very easy driving...
i have looked in our diary and found the travel agent is roy stroop, an australian...his agency is called access samui...i will look for the phone number....we paid 800B per day for the auto all inclusive...it was delivered to our hotel and could also be picked-up but we choose to leave it at the airport...i just tore the attic apart looking for the cards but i cannot find them....in any case his agency is on the main road north out of bophut village on the right side on the way to peace resort...so come out of the village onto the main road, go up to the traffic lite at the other main road (heads north) and turn right and he is along on the right shortly...its on the ground floor of a free standing newish white house....there is a sign out front for travel and internet...

i did find a card for the five islands restaurant which is very close to your hotel and you must visit there...beautiful spot and delicious...right on the beach...tel: 0 7741 5359

laem set inn is another good place to eat and not too far from you...fabulous setting

bob

Thanks especially for the restaurant recommendations. We had made a note of Five Islands restaurant from your trip report a couple of months ago & looked it up on the web -- looked beautiful and were delighted to find it is near our hotel. We'll also try Laem Set Inn one night. Samui is our last stop in Thailand before heading back to BKK for a final day & home, so we're looking forward to relaxation in a beautiful setting.

i might suggest laem set for lunch as the sights are quite beautiful....

another really nice restaurant that we went to but that is not near your hotel is the Terrace restaurant which is on a stretch of road on the east side of the island just south of chaeng beach....i've spelled this area wrong but it is the major tourist beach town where everyone goes where poppies is located---terrible town...

the restaurant is up high on a cliff and overlooks a lovely bay and the food and service is fantastic...the best we found on samui....i think the chef was european??

also the zazzen restaurant and cottages on bophut beach was a fantastic evening meal....very fresh fish, all displayed in a dory in the dining room which is full of ice...very romantic and delicious food..lots of candles...they are on the internet...that was in my very long report as you might remember too...

To rhkkmk - where will I find your trip report as we are going to Samui after BKK. Thanks

mary port---you may regret it as it is over 80 pages long....do a search with my name: rhkkmk and see if that yields it....if it doesn't send me your e address and i will send a word file of it: [email protected]

mkary ---it was written over several days in late june or early july 04...