Surat Thani

Surat Thani is the classical passing-through town. It enjoys a key location in southern Thailand; hence, evading it is hard. An ugly scene taking advantage of the passing tourists have developed here; it is not a reason for avoiding it, but an eye should be kept open and buying any kind of tourism packages is definitely not recommended here.

However, not everything is dark; north of the centre, is the Tapi River, which beyond its unspoiled look, offers an interesting glance to the coconuts industry. The local food is good and there is a plethora of local places serving tasty dishes around both terminals at Thanon Taladmai.

Accommodation

The town is not a good place to stay overnight, its accommodations are of low quality and overpriced. However if a stay is forced, then next to the Night Market and one block north of the main terminus, on Thanon Tonpor, is the Seree Hotel, which provides reasonable rooms.

Transport

There are three bus terminals in the city. The one on Thanon Taladmai and next to Talat Kaset I, serves mainly short distance buses. It is surrounded by tourist offices selling overpriced tickets for a bus to Bangkok while claiming "there is no northern terminal, we offer the only VIP bus." However, the truth is that they sell tickets for a private bus; these cars are of much lower quality and more expensive than the VIP buses leaving from the northern terminal and suffer of bad reputation: stealing of goods from the stored backpacks is a real danger, getting false promises of a guesthouse included in the ticket price at the destination is another one.

The terminal in front of that one, next to Talat Kaset II serves the southern lines, mainly to Ranong, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Krabi, and Hat Yai.

The best way of reaching Bangkok is from the Northern Terminal; the term northern refers to its handling of buses heading to the north; the terminal is actually located south of downtown. Buses span the distance from downtown for 10B. Once there, the well-advertised VIP counter sells tickets to Bangkok for 380B while claiming that there are no regular buses; however, in front of that counter is the regular, air-conditioned-bus counter selling tickets for 295B.

Koh Samui

Surat Thani apparent main function is to feed tourists in the way to the ferry reaching Koh Samui; night buses from Khaosan Road stop here around 6am for an early breakfast until the ferries begin their operation. The stop is in a guesthouse in Rat Bumrung Road, not far away from the bridge over the Tapi River and a 7 Eleven branch; a few snacks and a take-away coffee for the way will brighten the way.

From journal Thailand Coasts: From Ranong to Hat Yai