Airport to Lamai Beach at Samui

[capper]

We'll be staying at Lamai Beach this summer. Our hotel offers round trip transport to and from the airport for 1,500 baht (or 800 baht 1-way). I find that rather steep based on my experience there before. Can anyone suggest an alternative? Or, how much would it cost to negotiate a transfer to Lamai Beach from the airport upon arrival one way? Surely there must be a better alternative to the hotel???

[aging one]

Taxi and transfer mafia on Samui. Maybe even worse than Phukets.

This will save you 100B

http://www.samuiairporttransfer.com/airport-pickup.html

[Lorenzo]

Our hotel offers round trip transport to and from the airport for 1,500 baht (or 800 baht 1-way).

more than reason enough to cancel the hotel if not the entire stint on ko samui, IMO nothing of value there

[FailSafe]

Hotels often out-source their transfers, and so they charge a couple hundred over what they actually pay the driver for the pick-up so they can make a couple of bucks.

It will cost you a bit (though not a lot) less if you arrange it yourself upon arrival, but it's always nice to have someone there waiting for you.

[withnallstoke]

I find that rather steep based on my experience there before.

How long ago?

[capper]

Thanks for the feedback and the link to the Samuitransfer.com site. 1500 return or 800 one-way does seem like robbery to me based on the overall costs on the island (this will be out 3rd trip).

Good point on canceling the hotel but it was really difficult to find a suitable place on Lamai with the amenities my entire family wants. The hotel we chose has almost everything and I don't want to take a sub-par place over this.

If anyone else has other suggestions, I am all eyes.

[FailSafe]

Why would you consider canceling the hotel? Are they requiring you to use their transfer service and refusing to accommodate you unless you accept it? It's an option you can accept or refuse.

You probably won't get there for less than 500 or 600 baht in any case (especially if you're traveling with your family).

[capper]

I just checked out that transfer link but can't understand why it says 500 baht from the airport to Lamai Beach but when I enter the info., it comes up 700 baht...

[aging one]

Welcome to Thailand and especially Samui. I moved to Thailand 25 years ago to live there. Stayed 3 delightful years. Went back 5 years ago. Never again.

[capper]

FailSafe, yes, it's only an option and no need to accept their transfer offer at all. So we definitely will not change hotels over this!

I'm just trying to locate something more reasonable, say 500 baht or less each way.

First, my dad and his wife will arrive. Then my family and I will arrive the next day. Then, they'll depart. Then we'll depart the next day. 4 one-way trips or 2 return trips for a total of 3,000 baht (minimum) is nuts!

[FailSafe]

It's got to be a mistake on the site- Chaweng is listed as 700 baht and it's 10km closer to the airport.

[withnallstoke]

I'm just trying to locate something more reasonable, say 500 baht or less each way.

You will be able to sort that price on the return leg, but when you first arrive you will be charged at least 700-800 to Lamai.

[capper]

That's right about a mistake on the site. Of course you have to go through Chaweng to get to Lamai if using the Ring Rd.

I remember last summer when my son and I went to the airport at the end of our stay, we chose to pass on our hotel's transfer (I think it was 600) and waited for a songteow (sp.) on the street. We waited quite a while and only managed to saved 100 baht at most. Is it easy enough to get truck / taxi to the AP from Lamai for 300-400 baht?

[somtamslap]

Bundle the family on a rented motorbike..150bt, job done.

When in Rome and all that..

[Bettyboo]

Welcome to Thailand and especially Samui. I moved to Thailand 25 years ago to live there. Stayed 3 delightful years. Went back 5 years ago. Never again.

Same here. Lovely 18 years ago; awful 4 years ago; unlikely to go back (Samui, that is; live in BKK)...

Might be very nice for a short holiday break of a week to ten days though (especially if you live in a European/US city).

1500 baht return for the whole family seems pretty good all things considered; might be the best and easiest option. Have a good holiday.

[kingwilly]

If anyone else has other suggestions, I am all eyes.

Bali.

[aging one]

Rent a car or a jeep it would be cheaper. No dont do that the roads suck. Phuket whole new infrastructure of roads in the last 15 years. Samui nothing.

[aging one]

Bali.

Good point. any hotel on the beach offers free transfer with a 3 night stay. If not it cost about 5 bucks to most hotels in the Kuta Legion area. Further from the airport than Chewang.

[capper]

Has anyone ever used the following mini-buses?

Samui Airport Transportation | Samui Airport Guide

[withnallstoke]

Has anyone ever used the following mini-buses?

If you are so bothered about a couple of hundred baht at the beginning/end of holiday on Samui, then you are DEFINATELY going to the wrong place.

[Bettyboo]

Has anyone ever used the following mini-buses?

Samui Airport Transportation | Samui Airport Guide

How many in your familly? If 4 or more the original hotel offer is as good/better.

Even though the original 1500 was an unpleasant shock, it's looking better all the time... Go back to it; should be well managed and convenient if it's a decent hotel like you suggest... Thailand is no longer, hasn't been for a long time, a cheap holiday destination...

[FailSafe]

Rent a car or a jeep it would be cheaper. No dont do that the roads suck. Phuket whole new infrastructure of roads in the last 15 years. Samui nothing.

Actually they just black-topped the ring road from Maenam to Lamai earlier this year (and reset the drainage grates) with more (supposedly) to come in the next year, plus one-way systems have been implemented on the Chaweng and Lamai beach roads- while they still ain't great, the Samui roads have improved.

[aging one]

Okay they are better, but there sure as hell are not more. How wide is the main road round the island now?

[FailSafe]

I believe it was widened in some sections, but over-all it's pretty much the same (I was there a couple months ago)- wide enough, really, for the island (it narrows a bit through the hilly sections near Lamai and Nathon)

[Bangkok gooner]

Mafia now spreading from running bars, prostitution, and drugs to hiking Taxi fares oh the shame lol.