The convenience of getting around is one of the greatest things about holidaying on the island of Koh Samui. With the island being a mere 25 km long and 21 km across, the entire island is open for exploration within a couple of days. While the modes of transportation available are wide and varied, it is in your best interest that you select a Chaweng resort that is central to the places you wish to visit. If you seek to explore the culture of Koh Samui, check out the hotel’s leisure services as some of these luxury resorts, like the Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort, offer historic & cultural tours that are a great option to escape the hassle of planning sightseeing tours on your own. A bit of research in terms of accommodation will be a great money saver when you try one of the following ways of getting around.
If you are a holder of a valid Thailand driving license or an international driving license, renting a car is a convenient way to get around. A car ride would let you drive along the main coastal ring of Koh Samui, which can be completed in just over an hour. Or if you have your route properly mapped out, you can rent a motorcycle for the day to ride from one attraction to the other. This, too, requires that you have a valid and accepted driving license. If you are feeling up to the task and do not mind physical excursion, there are bicycle rental places for affordable prices. However, roads in Thailand are not the safest around, and being on a bicycle will put you in a highly vulnerable position.
You can also look for taxis to get around, but the price of a taxi ride would oscillate between high and outrageous as there is a monopoly on the taxi industry in Koh Samui. This would mean hours of haggling with the driver, as they often refuse to turn on the meter in spite of having a functioning one. If you are looking to immerse yourself in the true Thai culture though, riding the public transport of Koh Samui – a Songthaews – is the best option. Affordable and an experience in itself, these pickup trucks that double as local buses operate only during the daylight hours.
With a modest, but an adequate number of options available, getting around Koh Samui is an experience unto itself for the adventurous traveler.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
