Flight Bangkok-Samui on low-cost - is it worth it?

I have long wanted to try to get to Koh Samui in a way that includes a plane and a transfer. That is, the plane arrives in a city on the mainland (Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Tammarat), from where the bus takes you to the pier in Donsak, and then by ferry to Koh Samui. Such complex tickets are sold on the websites of low-cost airlines AirAsia and NokAir and all transfers are already included in the price. If you do not know, then here my post with all the ways to get to Koh Samui.

The content of the article

Flight Bangkok-Samui from NokAir

Let me remind you that a direct flight to Koh Samui from Bangkok is possible only with Bangkok Airways (or Thai Airways), and the cheapest tickets cost about 3500-4500 baht per person one way. The average price for Airasia / Nokair is 1500-2000 baht. And if you take it not in advance, but a few days before the trip, then the difference can be 3-4 times, especially during the peak season. Bangkok Airways I've flown before, so this time I flew on Nok Air with a transfer.

The flight is standard, there is nothing to tell. Departure from Don Muang to the domestic terminal. They gave a bun and water on board, typical for NokAir, because AirAsia doesn't give that either. The flight lasted a little over an hour. By the way, since I didn’t take a ticket at the cheapest fare (although this may not be the point), I was put in some premium seats. There was an extra half meter at my feet, the first time I flew like that, I even wanted the table to be a little closer so as not to stretch.

The flight arrived a little later, as it took off a little later. The Nakhon Si Tammarat airport itself is small, small-town, literally one building and that's it. If it were not for these flights with transfers, it is not clear who else would fly here..

My premium seat on Nok Air

There is a lot of space in the legs

Upon arrival, we go on foot to the airport building

Nakhon Si Tammarat local airport

Transfer from airport to Donsak pier

Immediately after leaving the baggage claim area, there is a counter with Nok Transfer written on it. Impossible to miss. There were secrets and checking tickets / names, sticking a sticker on a T-shirt for those who follow on to Koh Samui or Phangan. You can also buy a transfer across Koh Samui from the pier in Nathon to the hotel for 150 baht.

I did just that, because when buying an air ticket, something went wrong and the additional amount for this transfer was not debited (they offered to buy on the site immediately, but they could not put a tick). But it is for the better, because it cost 300 baht on the site, that is, 2 times more. It's strange somehow, because the transfer is the same, and in general, when buying in advance, on the contrary, you need to give a discount. So don't buy online.

Then everyone was loaded onto a big bus. It took about an hour to get to the pier in Donsak, from where a high-speed catamaran takes everyone to Koh Samui or Phangan.

Koh Samui and Koh Phangan transfer desks

I was marked with a sticker

Bus from airport to pier in Donsak

Catamaran Lompraya from Donsak to Koh Samui

After unloading from the bus for about an hour, or even more, we waited at the pier to board the catamaran. after which the whole crowd sat down for another hour in this catamaran. There were strong waves, it rocked, so the landing took so long. First, they seated everyone who went to Koh Phangan and threw their luggage, then those who were sailing to Koh Samui came in. By the way, on the luggage you need to stick a sticker indicating to where it is, no one told me about this. Well I noticed that many suitcases have them, and I also asked. Otherwise it is not known if my suitcase would not have sailed to Phangan.

The most interesting thing started when the catamaran sailed. From time to time it looked like a roller coaster and was breathtaking when the catamaran bounced on the waves. Okay, I had a car sickness pill (This one), which I took in advance, otherwise I would have to vomit all the way. It was rightly said that everyone who gets seasick in transport should not swim with Lomraya. Not with this method (plane + transfer), nor when Lompraya itself directly from Bangkok delivers by bus. In the latter case, the catamaran sails from Chumpohon, which is much farther than from Donsak. God forbid there will be a storm, no pill will save.

And I'm not scary. When we all got into the catamaran, some of the people happily began to drink strong drinks on the upper open deck. When I went to Koh Samui, it was a pity to look at some of them, they envied us, because they still had half an hour to sail to Phangan..

So, it is better to sail longer, but on a regular ferry, there is practically no swaying on it. So, if you choose this option to get to Koh Samui (plane + transfer), then it is better to fly AirAsia, not NokAir, it is AirAsia that will have a regular ferry instead of a catamaran.

When we arrived at the pier, there were still few people

Then the whole crowd gathered at the catamaran Lompraya

It is imperative to stick the sticker on the suitcase, to Koh Samui or Koh Phangan

The main salon of the catamaran

Paid VIP-hall on the 2nd floor, but everyone was allowed into the storm for free, otherwise there were not enough seats

The whole crowd amicably and joyfully gets out from the catamaran to the coast of Koh Samui

Transfer in Koh Samui from Lompraya, from pier to hotels

conclusions

What did I get. At 12:40 I was at Don Muang Airport in Bangkok, at 14:10 I took off, at 19:50 I was on Koh Samui on the pier in Nathon, and at 20:40 in a hotel in Chaweng. That is about 8 hours on the road. Plus another 30-60 minutes to get to the airport in Bangkok, but we will not take them into account. Thus, you need to lay in almost the entire day for transporting yourself to Koh Samui..

In my opinion, this method is not ice, especially for families with children. I have little idea how to spend 8 hours with a child on such a road, with a bunch of transplants and expectations. That is, you can, of course, do not argue, but not comfortable. Therefore, I personally support a direct flight from Bangkok Air: 1 hour at Bangkok airport, 1 hour flight, 30 minutes taxi to the hotel, in total about 2.5-3 hours for everything. In addition, there will definitely not be a problem of motion sickness on a catamaran / ferry.

Quite budget travelers will choose a bus, as it will cost a little less than even a plane + transfer. Although I would not say that much. But here, if there is a task to save money, then it is clear that there are no planes.

On the map

Just in case, a map to make it clearer what it is about, where the cities, marinas, islands are.

Transport Koh Samui, Phangan and Tao

Samui Airport:
Raja Ferry Pier:
SeaTran Ferry Pier:
Raja Ferry Pier:
Raja Ferry ticket offices:
SeaTran Discovery Pier:
Lomprayah Pier:
Gas station for the cafeteria and minimarket:
Tha Thong Pier:
Pierce Bandon:
Surat Thani Airport:
Surat Thani Railway Station:
Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport:
Pier Matapon:
Lompraya Pier:
Ta Yang Pier:
Phra Lan Pier:
Bang Rak pier:
Tong Sala pier (transport and passenger):
Tong Sala pier (passenger):
Haad Rin Pier:
Pierce Petcherat:
Big Buddha Pier:
Lompraya Office:
SeaTran Explorer's new office:
Phantip CO Tickets:
Yellow Bus Office:
Stop Songteo:
Pier on Koh Tao:
Car rental at Koh Samui airport:

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