Ko Tao / Ko Samui

[Bubblesong]

ok, so I bought the evening flight Bangkok to Koh Samui, and now I just need a hotel on Koh Samui and I can get the ferry to Koh Tao in the morning.
1) I am looking at hotels on Koh Samui for one night, before ferry to Koh Tao. Got Marine Resort, with airport transfer, and breakfast for $80, which is not the cheapest, but it is on the beach, so I'll post photos when I see what that looks like.
2) Do you book ferry ahead on the Ferry App, or at all?
3) I will be at Bangkok airport layover for 10 hours, so I wonder if it is possible to leave airport and take a taxi ride around area, anything to see close to airport.

 

[Barmaglot]

3) I will be at Bangkok airport layover for 10 hours, so I wonder if it is possible to leave airport and take a taxi ride around area, anything to see close to airport.

You're flying from BKK, not DMK, right? There's a left luggage service on the international departures floor, behind the check-in counters - you can stash your bags there for the day. Don't bother with taxis in Bangkok traffic; go all the way to the bottom floor and take the airport link train to the city. Bangkok has three separate urban rail systems - the elevated BTS ("Skytrain"), the underground MRT metro, and the airport link, which is a single separate line connecting the city center with Suvarnaphumi airport. I think they've finally built an additional line to Don Mueang airport as well, but I haven't used it myself. This is not counting the intercity SRT (State Railways of Thailand) system, which has a hub in Bangkok.

 

[Centrals]

@Bubblesong
There are two airports(BKK and DMK) in the city. DMK was used to be the main airport until 2006.

1. $80.00 for that package is excessive. Do you have the time for the beach in Koh Samui? Make sure it is NOT far from the ferry terminal as Koh Samui is quite large.
2. No need to book the ferry ahead.
3. Unless you want to sample the meaning of traffic jam in Bangkok. I can still remember what it was like back in 1988.

Getting Around Bangkok, Thailand

Consider these transportation options when you plan your journey to Bangkok!

www.traveloka.com

 

[Edward3c]

ok, so I bought the evening flight Bangkok to Koh Samui, and now I just need a hotel on Koh Samui and I can get the ferry to Koh Tao in the morning.
1) I am looking at hotels on Koh Samui for one night, before ferry to Koh Tao. Got Marine Resort, with airport transfer, and breakfast for $80, which is not the cheapest, but it is on the beach, so I'll post photos when I see what that looks like.
2) Do you book ferry ahead on the Ferry App, or at all?
3) I will be at Bangkok airport layover for 10 hours, so I wonder if it is possible to leave airport and take a taxi ride around area, anything to see close to airport.

There are two ferry terminals on Koh Samui, make sure you go to the right one. You’ve wasted your money on breakfast unless you’re getting the pm ferry, as the am one leaves around 6am.

 

[Bubblesong]

There are two ferry terminals on Koh Samui, make sure you go to the right one. You’ve wasted your money on breakfast unless you’re getting the pm ferry, as the am one leaves around 6am.

I’m close to airport, and near beach, and planned on later ferry so i can enjoy this island for a bit. Thank you for ferry news, I’ll research that next.

 

[Centrals]

Enjoy your trip and the meeting of your son.
Please do not get sun burn. LOL.

 

[Skihikedive]

Going to Ko Tao and Ko Samui in February can you please recommend the best dive sites at each location?

Please can you also recommend good dive shops as well?

Going to Ko Tao and Ko Samui in February can you please recommend the best dive sites at each location?

Please can you also recommend good dive shops as well?

Thank you all for your great suggestion!

 

[Bubblesong]

@Bubblesong
There are two airports(BKK and DMK) in the city. DMK was used to be the main airport until 2006.

1. $80.00 for that package is excessive. Do you have the time for the beach in Koh Samui?.

Getting Around Bangkok, Thailand

Consider these transportation options when you plan your journey to Bangkok!

www.traveloka.com

So wow! I booked Marine resort through their website, bought an airport transfer, turns out that is wrong.
No ride showed up at airport, and no one answered hotel phone.
Turns out they cannot see bookings made on their hotel website that links to Agoda, so they did not know i was coming and reception lady was in her pjs, reception office closes at 9pm. On the plus side, they gave me a room for 850 bhat, about $28. I’ll have to contest the other fake booking for refund.
Nice beds, door locks, no hot water and A/C has no Freon, so it just blows. Two free cold waters in antique fridge.
I am perfectly happy with this deal, I just wished I booked through correct booking website to save stress.

 

[Bubblesong]

Normal prices on Tao are 1000 THB per dive, with bulk diskcounts and your own equipment bringing it down to 700-800/dive,

This is what i paid at “56 divers” near my hotel Nat resort Koh Toa, and gear was in good shape with computers, and four guides for 8 people. Other 7 were all new divers though. When we got to pier we had to climb through five other boats to get to our boat, and guides had to carry our gear across that terrain, which at my age of 61, was just inconceivable, but they were some hard working kids!

 

[chillyinCanada]

This is what i paid at “56 divers” near my hotel Nat resort Koh Toa, and gear was in good shape with computers, and four guides for 8 people. Other 7 were all new divers though. When we got to pier we had to climb through five other boats to get to our boat, and guides had to carry our gear across that terrain, which at my age of 61, was just inconceivable, but they were some hard working kids!

I pulled a muscle in my groin, doing that boat climb exercise one night, many moons ago.