Everyone wants to go on vacation occasionally, but there’s always this one question that they must answer: Should I join a tour or travel solo?
The most adventurous folks might stand firm, believing that only the best vacations are done on your own accord, while others might argue that traveling in a tour will bring you experiences one might not ever think about. In other words, going solo means that you can choose to do whatever you want, while a tour is an excellent choice if you don’t know what you should be doing. As you can see, there are pros and cons to both options.
That said, if you’re planning to travel to Koh Samui, here’s what you can expect either going as part of a tour or independently:
1. Reaching Koh Samui
Between traveling independently or in a group, the latter will always be easier. That’s because the entire trip will already have been organized by a tour guide or an operator, meaning that you have nothing else to do but to show up.
Going independently, you’ll need to book tickets all by yourself. Remember, there is no international flight that’ll bring you from your country straight to Koh Samui. You will need to stop at Bangkok and hop into another plane for Koh Samui. That said, if you don’t fly, opting for a train or a bus ride from Bangkok to Koh Samui will also mean that you will need to look for a ferry ride to the island.
2. Looking for Food
When it comes to food, a tour will land you breakfast in the hotel. Of course, whether you want to eat, this will be up to you. On the other hand, as an independent traveler, you’ll need to go out to look for food. That said, there are plenty of stalls and restaurants to go to, and you’ll never actually run out of things to eat. If you do want to go to a restaurant, be aware that beachside restaurants are pricier.
3. Grabbing Insurance
Travel insurance is vital to cover any losses you might, unfortunately, experience during your vacation. In this case, if you find yourself in need of medical help, Koh Samui’s medical services can get quite expensive.
That said, on tour, you’ll be issued insurance by the guide. By yourself, you’ll need to have one made before you go on the trip. The main advantage of purchasing your insurance is that you can choose a package that’s the most affordable and still covers everything that you need.
4. Booking Accommodation
On your own, you can freely choose what kind of hotel, resort, villa, or any other type of accommodation you want to stay at. You can also select which locations on the island you’d rather be on. For example, if you’re looking for a livelier place, Chaweng District offers you just that.
On the other hand, as part of a tour, accommodation will already have been booked for you, meaning that you don’t have a choice on where you want to stay. Also, the type of accommodation will depend on how much you’ve paid. That said, these accommodations are still great. They’re situated by the beach offering all the amenities you’ll need, like swimming pools, internet connections, and so on.
5. Visiting the Beaches
There isn’t much of a difference here, whether you are part of a tour or not. You can still choose which beach you want to visit on the island. After all, that’s the biggest reason you’re here to enjoy the beaches.
However, if you’re part of a tour, you’re more than likely to visit the beach that’s nearest to your hotel. That’s because all the things they need, like restaurants and different forms of entertainment, are nearby.
To conclude, whether you visit the beautiful island of Koh Samui independently by yourself or with your friends or family, or you go there as part of a tour, it’ll be fun no matter what. Just keep in mind the differences we’ve stated here so that you can better prepare yourself for a trip.
If you’re looking for a beachfront villa in Koh Samui, get in touch with us today to book your stay with us today!
