Transport in Koh Samui
On the island of Koh Samui there are no stops and regular buses that are familiar to us plying around the resort. For movement, tourists are offered two types of taxis: songreto and cars.
Songthaew or, as it is also called, tuk-tuk is a more common mode of transport among the local population and budget travelers.
Songteo for the inhabitants of the island is the usual economy class transport, the price for a trip starts from 20 baht and usually does not exceed 100 Thai baht. Tuk-tuk has the translation "cheap", so over time, the Thais began to call so songteo. This type of transport can be both public, replacing the traditional bus, as well as a taxi type.
Even if this is your first time on Koh Samui, you will not be able to miss and confuse local tuk-tuks with something. These are old pickup trucks in bright colors, with a rain roof over the body, descending canopies and open sides. Long benches are installed along the body, thanks to which 10-12 seats appear in the transport. But there are also standing ones during peak hours, in the form of a footboard at the back, which is formed when the board is tilted.
The public tuk-tuk looks very unusual and does not inspire any confidence. However, it is a very safe and reliable mode of transport on the island. The fact that this is the cheapest form of transportation around the resort cannot but rejoice. In the morning and afternoon, the songteo moves along a clear route without delay according to the schedule. But starting from six in the evening, transport turns into a private taxi with an increased fare, but still cheaper than a car. Unknowing tourists try to argue with the drivers, but it is absolutely useless as such an increase in the price during the day is allowed by local law. Thus, the government of the island allows its citizens to earn extra money.
A public tuk-tuk is somewhat similar to a tram, because they have a certain circular route along the coast. The closing point of the route is located in the city of Nathon, the capital of the resort. Travelers with experience on Koh Samui are advised not to find out the price of the trip when landing in songteo. Thus, drivers like to cash in on inexperienced tourists and call prices two or three times higher than reality. In fact, the price within the beach is about 20 Thai baht, and if you need to get from one beach to another, then pay no more than 70 baht. Songteos have several routes, all of which run between Chaweng Beach and the main city of the island. But none of the routes covers 50 kilometers of the ring road.
In addition to public transport, there is another on the island. One of the most popular is a scooter or motorcycle. There are many of them, where they are rented to tourists, the price tag is about 230 baht per day of use, plus the tenant pays for gasoline on his own. For those who rent a scooter for at least a month, there is a special offer and the price per day drops by two at once. This is a great option if your trip is delayed or you have moved to live here for the winter - constant movement around the island by taxi or even public transport will be much more expensive. Finding a bike rental point is not difficult - it feels like they are standing at every turn. You can also ask at the reception at the hotel where you are staying, often they provide such a service. When renting a scooter, do not forget that the movement in the region is left-handed.
When the budget allows, you can travel around the clock by taxi. On the island, all the cars belonging to the taxi fleet are painted in bright colors: yellow on top, red on the bottom. The taxi fleet consists of inexpensive models of Korean and Japanese manufacturers. Taxi drivers set the price by agreement, even though they have meters installed. The price for the trip varies between 200 and 300 baht.
Taxis on the island are usually used by those who love comfort. All cars have air conditioning that saves you from the sweltering heat, this is especially true in the month of April. It is also more convenient to get with large luggage by car than by a cheap tuk-tuk. Be immediately prepared for the fact that when a passenger boards, the taxi driver will immediately announce the price for the trip and turn off the meter. It will be unusual and outrageous for some, but otherwise many drivers do not agree to a trip.
Without a meter, the price of a taxi ride starts at 200 THB. But you have to turn on your ability to bargain - the final cost depends on this. Thais, especially on the island of Koh Samui, love to participate in the auction, so you need to do it persistently, but with a smile and do not forget about the smile.
You can also rent a car in the region. It will cost more than a motorcycle, but much more comfortable. To rent a car, the following documents are required: an international driver's license and a passport. Usually, a certain deposit is taken for renting a car. A large car sharing center is located at the airport, which is very convenient for arriving tourists. But the price in such a company is too high - private firms in the city charge several times less.
The price of carsharing depends on the brand of the car. For a simple car, you need to pay from 1,000 baht. Just like with scooters, there are discounts for long-term rentals. Payment for gasoline, as in the first case, falls on the shoulders of the tourist. Gasoline on Koh Samui exceeds its cost in Thailand. But parking spaces throughout the island are free.
Tourists on bicycles are rare in the region due to their inconvenience. Firstly, you can’t ride it for a long time on a mountainous terrain, unless such an adventure is possible for athletes. And the scorching sun with high humidity is not impressive to pedal. But if desired, bicycles can be rented in Chaweng or Lamai.
