Getting There
FERRY AND BUS
There are plenty of companies that carry out transfers from Phuket to Samui. The trip consists of terrestrial and marine transfers and ranges from six to seven hours. Buses depart from the central bus station in Phuket and bring travellers to Koh Phangan pier where passengers make a transfer for the modern and fast catamaran, which brings visitors to Nathon Pier located on the north-western coast of Koh Samui. Usually, there are two daily transfers for Koh Samui, but the timing can range due to the travel operator.
PLANE
Although it is possible to get to Choeng Mon, Koh Samui over land or water, the best way is to fly.
AIRPORT AND PIER TRANSFERS
It takes around 10 minutes to reach Choeng Mon from Samui Airport depending on traffic. If you are travelling by ferry from Phuket, the trip from Nathon Pier will take around 50 minutes. Ministry of Villas can arrange a chauffeur to greet you upon arrival and escort you to your villa.
AIRPORT TAXI
Alternatively, there is a taxi desk at the arrival level which arranges one-way fares at a fixed-price. If you opt not to use the taxi desk, there are numerous taxi drivers waiting outside the arrival terminal so you can negotiate the price with them. Even though there is a big sign “Meter-Taxi” on the roof of taxis, local drivers rarely use them, so it is recommended to discuss the price beforehand. You can opt one of the transfer options – a shared mini van with other travellers or a private taxi. A shared taxi is essentially cheaper but usually requires at least five passengers to depart.
Getting Around
There are several options how to get around Choeng Mon area, so we’ve ranked them according to our recommendations for first-time travellers:
PRIVATE CAR
Ministry of Villas can arrange a private car and chauffeur for you. Depending on which villa you are staying in, the cost for the private car and chauffeur can vary, so it’s recommended to contact our Ministry of Villas team to get the complete information about the private transfers.
TAXI
Due to the rather remote and secluded position of Choeng Mon area, finding a taxi down the street might be challenging, but you can always ask your villa manager to require a taxi by phone. Take into account that local drivers rarely use meters, notwithstanding the car’s rooftop sign, so before getting into the vehicle, you should negotiate about the price.
RENTAL SCOOTER
If you are not planning to explore further afield, motorbike is not necessary as Choeng Mon can be easily covered on foot. Though, if you decided to travel further afield, there are several motorbike rental shops dotting the village.Take into account that you must always have an international drivers license on your person, otherwise, the local police can issue you a ticket with a summons to appear in court. Always opt bikes with insurance, and, of course, make sure you wear a helmet.
RENTAL CAR
Staying in bountiful Choeng Mon can hardly compel you to leave the area. If you decided to discover other remote parts of the island, you could always rent a car at one of the rental shops available in the village. We recommend you, though, to select a 4×4 wheel drive car, otherwise, it can be challenging to get to your hilltop villa or other tourist attraction perched atop of the steep hill. Also, take into account, that the lower rental price implies the absence of insurance and a poor condition of the vehicle so opt the international brands, if possible, when renting a car, such as Hertz, Avis and Budget Car Rentals, which are more trustworthy than the local rental shops.