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| Renting a car will make your stay in Koh Samui a whole lot better (photo courtesy flickr.com) |
Renting a
car is a great idea if you plan on touring the Koh Samui. While there may be several tourist spots that
are within the vicinity of the beach, there are also several other tourist
spots you can visit and other Koh Samui activities you can do if you rent a car.
With a car, you won’t have a hard time enjoying the various things to do in Koh Samui.
You have
two choices if you plan on renting a car.
The first is through the Budget Counter at the Koh Samui Airport. This is convenient and you can even choose a
larger vehicle since large rental agencies offer their customers a wide
selection of cars. The downside however
is they can be somewhat expensive than the usual. Then there are the independent local shops
offering rent-a-car services. They are
cheaper and do not require lengthy terms of agreement. These shops can provide Toyota/Honda
automatics or Suzuki 4x4s. However you
have to be careful since a lot of these so-called car rental shops offer bogus
services.
If it’s
your first time traveling to Koh Samui then you have to familiarize yourself on
the process of renting a car before you start thinking about the other things to do in Koh Samui. First you choose the type of car you
want. Make sure it has its license
number and airbag and seatbelts for safe driving. Next is to confirm the rent amount and the
car’s insurance. Then you sign an
agreement. As standard procedure you
need to leave your passport as collateral.
Do not forget the car shop’s contact details, have them always with you
in case you might encounter a problem and need their assistance.
Before you
get too excited on the Koh Samui
activities you’ve wanted to do, there are some reminders that you need to
consider first when driving in Koh Samui.
Similar to UK, driving in Koh Samui Thailand is on the left side. Stalls on the roadsides sell gas/petrol in a
1-litre bottle but this is expensive. For
a cheaper price, you can opt for petrol stations along the way. When it comes to parking your car, it is
mostly free to do so. Fishermen’s
Village however is an exception. A
parking fee is charged within the area. In
some instances, you may encounter wild animals such as water buffalos along the
road so you have to be careful. Some
roads narrow down to a single lane and some do not have pavements so it is
important to pay attention all the time.
Motorbikes
and scooters are common in Koh Samui so using a mirror is a good option. Some roads are in poor condition and some
even have large potholes. During the
rainy season, roads in Koh Samui can be flooded however if you’re willing to
try and enjoy the various things to do
in Koh Samui then these won’t be a problem; you only need a little
creativity in navigating these roads. Be
mindful also of the lorries and big trucks you might come across along the
roads.
Excited to
experience some Koh Samui activities
and adventures? Then start planning your
trip now.
