Pattaya to Koh Samui...?

[Greg_B 306]

Anyone flown Bangkok Airways from Pattaya to Koh Samui..?  The price is better then Bangkok to Koh Samui, but a real pain in the ass to book via there website..  Anyone have a story to tell....?

[valentinoxxx 4]

Why, pray tell me, is it a 'pain in the arse' booking via the website?

I just did a sample booking and it took me seconds.

 

I've used that route to leave Samui, though I'm not sure what the benefits would be, if you were starting in Bkk.

 

http://203.154.168.55/birts/plantrip.aspx

[Greg_B 306]

There website credit card processor was "down", but later I found out that wasn't the case.  Each time I tried to book , I was charged a ticket price.  So when you get charged close to $1000 USD and never see a ticket ...IT"S A PAIN IN THE ARSE...Finally... just got it taken off my creidit card

 

I'm wanting to go through Pattaya and not BKK, just wondering how it was and if you had any "problems"..?

 

Never been to Pattaya Airport and was wondering if you had any suggestions..?

[rabbitoh 0]

have flown from samui to pattaya.just went and bought a ticket the day before at a travel agent.pattaya airport is about 30-40 km from pattaya.we paid 600 baht for a taxi to pattaya.

the airport is a thai airforce base.

[Gus 97]

I hope to be using this route in late January, does anyone know how the ticket validity works?

If I book and travel on the outbound date, can the return date be brought forward or put back without any financial penalty.

TIA

[valentinoxxx 4]

I've only done it the other way. Samui to U Tapao(Pattaya) There is a bus that meets the 'plane and drops you off at your hotel for 150 baht.

 

Your other way transportation depends on whether you are starting your journey in Bkk or Pty.

 

I'm assuming Pty as travelling from Bkk to Pty airport to save some baht would be a tremendous waste of time. It would add 2-3 hours to your journey for a saving of 1000 baht.

 

From Pattaya, there should be no problem grabbing a taxi to take you to U Tapao airport, though I imagine they would charge you 300 baht for the privilege.

 

Samui to U Tapao is more cost effective, especially if you planned a stopover in Pattaya anyway.

 

Gus

 

There is no fee for changing the return dates within the ticket validity.

[Gus 97]

valentino

Cheers Bro for that info, when I am in Samui I don't know if I'll want to stay a while longer than planned, or return to Pattaya early, if nothing in Lamai takes my fancy.

Rgds

[valentinoxxx 4]

If you going to do Bkk- Samui - U Tapao(Pattaya), get yourself a free side trip by getting a Discovery Airpass.

 

Bkk_Samui(3550 baht) Samui-U Tapao(2500 baht) Total excluding taxes, 6050 baht.

 

Discovery Airpass US$50(2090 baht) per coupon. min 3 coupons.

 

So Bkk-Phuket-Samui-U Tapao would set you back 6270 baht excluding taxes.

 

Bkk- Hua Hin - Samui - U Tapao, the same.

 

http://www.bangkokair.com/airpass.htm

[Gus 97]

valentino

Thank you for that excellent info, It sounds good although I don't want to be travelling any more than neccesary as I'll only be in LOS for 2 weeks. I'llcertainly save the info and keep it in the back of my head, just in case.

Rgds

[Greg_B 306]

Finally got those tickets bought for Pattaya to Koh Samui.  I was amazed the the price is nearly 1,000 Baht less than BKK to Koh Samui

 

Is there a departure tax in Koh Samui for the airport fees..?

[upena 2]

couple years ago it was 400 baht tax

[Gus 97]

Greg, I read on another forum that when you come back from Samui you have to be careful or else you will be lumbered for 2 departure taxes.

If you fly Samui-Pattaya or Samui-BKK you have to pay a tax then also a departure tax from BKK if international.

I believe it is best to book your baggage through to it's final destination at Samui and you only get hit once.

Of course this assumes that you are returning home straight after Samui.

[valentinoxxx 4]

I'm not sure that is the case, Gus.

 

Samui is not an international airport. It is a privately owned domestic airport, so the hefty 400 airport tax isn't a government tax. Also the flight terminates in the Domestic terminal.

The 500 baht International Departure Tax from Bkk Int. is always payable as it is never included in the fare.

 

So, it seems both taxes are unavoidable.

 

If anyone knows different, let me know.

[yselmike 393]

you fly to samui from the domestic terminal which is a

500metre walk from the internatinoil airport so no

pasport controll but bangkok airways controll you

three times.and no airport tax but 400 at samui

when you leave.

[valentinoxxx 4]

yselmike

 

There is airport tax and an insurance fee on domestic flights.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Val,

 

Thanks for the info but I thought you could fly international to/from SIN.

 

Tom

[valentinoxxx 4]

You can.

In that case there would be the 500 baht airport tax payable.

Forgot about Samui - Singapore route. I flew that route recently.

'Domestic' referred to the airport that Samui flights terminated at...Bangkok Domestic.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Val,

 

I'll take your word for it although both BKK Air Chiang Mai and Phuket flights terminate at BKK domestic and they are both regarded as international airports.

 

What was wrong with the SIN flight?  I was seriously considering that as an option now that SARS is not a worry in SIN.

 

Regards,

 

Tom

[valentinoxxx 4]

The SIN - Samui flight was fine. I was a little concerned about a two and half hour on a plane with propellers.

 

In fact, there are five 'International' airports in Thailand;

Bangkok  

Chiang Mai

Hat Yai  

Phuket

Chiang Rai

 

I'm still not sure it is possible to avoid the Samui Airport 400 baht tax by trying to check your luggage all the way through. Samui Airport is a privately owned airport.

 

Using the Discovery Airpass will save you a substantial amount on the Singapore - Samui route.