Originally Posted by lallyr
What are the fares like from BKK to Koh Samui?
Can anyone recommend decent priced hotels there?
So if i land in BKK and then book a flight from there will that be ok? or is it advisable to book in advance?
I looked at going to Koh Samui earlier this year. I disliked the fact that Bangkok Air owns (or manages) the airport, so the prices are 2-4x more expensive than most other domestic Thai flights. You can buy there, but you will be spending more on Samui than other places.
As someone who has actually been to Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya/Jomtiem, I would vote for Phuket. It is fairly developed, but easy to get to.
You can get some good rates on Priceline for a 5 star there. Last I heard was about $70 including tax and fee. I stayed at a nice 3 star place for $30 or so a night.