Getting to Koh Tao

Q: We are looking to visit one of the islands in Thailand in June. Koh Tao has been recommended as one of the less developed destinations. Could you please give us information on getting there from Bangkok and any other tips? - Simon Green

A: The cheapest way to get there from Bangkok is to buy a bus/ferry ticket. You go by bus to Chumpon (7-8 hours) and then take a ferry to the island (around 2 hours). However, it would be quicker to fly to Koh Samui (90 minutes) and then take a ferry from there to Koh Tao (2 hours). If you can't get a reasonably priced ticket to Koh Samui, you can fly by one of the budget carriers to Surat Thani on mainland and then take a ferry to Koh Tao (around 4 hours). June and July are great times to visit, as you should not experience any rain. The island is best known for its excellent scuba diving and snorkelling and boasts excellent beaches. It is regarded as undeveloped, but there are probably around 200 resorts on the island, some consisting of only a few small huts. However, the number of luxury resorts is increasing and it is no longer dominated by backpackers as it once was. You'll probably end up in Sairee, a popular beach resort on the west coast which has an excellent beach. You can find the best prices for resorts on discount websites such as www.sawadee.com and www.kohtaohotels.net. (22/1/12)