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 Laem Yai, Koh Samui over land or water, the best way is to fly.
AIRPORT AND PIER TRANSFERS
It takes around 45 minutes to reach Laem Yai from Samui Airport depending on traffic. If you are travelling by ferry from Phuket, the trip from Nathon Pier takes around 15 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, 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
It might be challenging to find a taxi at Laem Sor as the village is rather secluded and remote. However, you can always request a pick-up by phone or ask your villa manager to arrange a taxi for you.
RENTAL SCOOTER
Due to the rather remote location of Laem Yai, many visitors feel a necessity to rent a motorbike to explore further afield, though, there are no motorbike rental shops in the village. If you decided to rent a scooter head to the nearby Nathon, with no lack of rental shops. 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. And, of course, make sure you wear a helmet.
RENTAL CAR
If you are travelling to Samui by plane, the airport is an excellent place to rent a car at one of the rental shops located at the exit of the airport. Car travel is a perfect way to explore the island, and have freedom in movement around. Always opt a 4×4 wheel drive car, as Samui’s landscape is rather hilly, and it can be challenging to get to your cliff top villa on the economy-type vehicle. Also, take into account, that the lower rental price implies the absence of insurance and a poor condition of the vehicle so choose 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.