Wear a helmet

This point of safety cannot be stressed enough. Although it seems that the helmet law in effect on the island is enforced only in Nathon, there are other reasons other than stiff fines (500 Baht) that make wearing a helmet good practice.



More deaths occur from motorcycle accidents due to head injuries than any other cause. If you do go down on a motorcycle, your head is bound to hit either the road, a rock or another vehicle before any other part of your body. Ask your rental agency for an extra helmet if you plan on having a passenger on the vehicle.

If you come to Samui by seatran ferry from Surat Thani. When you're down by boat. And walk out of ports. You will see many TAXI wait for your service.

If you come to Samui first. You may not know where to go. For you to walk the songthaew. Because he will go all around the island. You can take him you need to go. The price is not expensive.

If you visit the beach towns of Chaweng or Lamai at night, you will quickly find out that the main street is narrow and crowded, making both driving and parking a car difficult. If your hotel is not too far, it is probably better to stop a songtaew (dark red, pick-up buses) for 20 Baht within Chaweng or Lamai. There are no official stops at which to wait for them, but they are easy to catch as there is always one passing by horning at you. Just wave to them when you see one. It is recommended that you check the price of the fare before getting into the songtaew, or if you know the real price, just hand the exact amount to the driver after arriving at your destination.

Metered taxis (yellow limousine cars with air-conditioning) are a more comfortable way to move around, but be aware that the meter is often switched off after departure, which can lead to endless debate about the fare.

Another way of getting around is by motorbike taxis, which usually stand by near popular spots in town. The drivers wear colored vests

and their fares are a little cheaper (10 to 20 Baht) than the songtaews. They're easy to flag down, even if travelling in the opposite direction. A trip on the back of a motorbike taxi can be a real thrill, so hold on tightly!

Getting Around .

from:http://www.kohsamui-spas.com

Koh Samui has a ring road that loops around the Islands lush forest of coconut trees, linking all the beaches and attractions. You will not find any tuks's tuk's here but you will find a quite well organised transport network of songthaews ' See Below'

Motorbike Taxis
Motorbike taxis can be idenfied by their coloured, numbered vests. They are far cheaper way of getting around, although you still need to negotiate a price with them.It can be very convient to travel by motorbike.Fares start from around 30Baht upwards depending on where you are going. Motorbikes can be dangerous and even more so when carrying bags or shopping. The Taxi bike riders do know the roads and can be a bit aggressive in there riding skills...They do speak english so you can tell them to slow down if neccessary.

Songthaews
Koh Samui has a good public transport network of songthaews (Red coloured converted pick-up trucks with bench seats) that serves as the local bus service for the Island. They have fixed routes around the Island all day. Fares start at 20Baht for a short trip.Money is paid at the end of the trip to the driver.You can flag a songthaew down anywhere and ring the bell or bang on the roof to get off.
Night time many songthaews operate as private taxis. So it is neccessary to negotiate a fare before boarding.

Car Rental
Car or jeep rental is widely available on the Island. Rates start around 800Baht per day upwards depending on the type and condition of the vehicle.Some of these vehicles come with insurance, but the coverage is limited.Ask for details.

MotorBike Rental
Motorbikes are the most convient way of getting around town and the Island.
Rates start at 150Baht up to 300Baht per day.You have to pay the gasoline. You can negotiate longer deals for cheaper price. Bikes at around 150Baht are normally manual gearbox, pay a little more and you can have a automatic. Please where a helmet for your own safety.The local police are cracking down on foreigners riding bikes without safety helmets and fining them accordingly.
The 500 baht or more fine must be paid immediately at a nearby police station, whilst the police hold onto either your bike, driving license or passport as insurance.Interested in renting a bike email

Taxis
There are yallow metered taxis everywhere and aircon taxis are also available. Samui Taxis dont really like using there meters so prices can be very high so be prepared to negotiate a price before boarding.They are normally the faster and more comfortable means of transport for Samui.You can normally find a taxi easily.

Bicycles
Bicycles for hire are increasingly common, though are not recommended for long trips or at night.

Insurance
Insurance does not exist for Thailand motorbikes, so riders are liable for any damage and it's almost always the foreigner's fault. Many jeep hire 'bargains' will come without insurance and are therefore a risky proposition. Any established company such as Budget or Avis will include comprehensive insurance in the rental.

Roads
They drive on the Left side of the road in Thailand.Thai people will use the roads how they want in Samui. A lot of the highway code is not used by the Thai bike riders. So be careful Go slow. Drive safely. Most roads on Samui are not lite up and many of the country roads can be very dangerous in the dark.The roads in Samui are concrete so you can expect many pot holes due to the changing weather conditions over the seasons.