Two things that take up big parts of any travel budget are airfares and hotel costs. To enjoying a great holiday, you do not have to make your savings suffer by getting the best travel deals with cheap travels. This article will focus on finding the best hotel deals.

The Internet has made it much easier to find great hotel deals. Begin your cheap travels by looking for some great hotel, motel and bed and breakfast deals. Booking ahead and shopping are the key successes to cheap travels. Don’t expect to show up at a hotel and get a good rate. Most hotel chains reserve their best room rates and they limit their numbers. Once the low-cost rooms are booked, they are simply no longer available.

It is also important to book ahead because it can be difficult to gauge the demand for lodging in a particular area, even if you are familiar with your travel destination. There may be special events that could increase prices.

It is also important to take advantage of any travel deals and discounts. Do not be shy to ask for discounts. Many hotel chains and independent hotels offer discounts to those in the military, senior citizens, and members of travel clubs like AAA. So be sure to ask and be sure to verify that the discount has been applied when you arrive.

Many hotel chains offer travel programs that reward loyal guests with free nights and other rewards. It is important to sign up for these travel programs whenever you can. Most of these travel programs are free. Just sign up and you could end up with a free hotel stay.

When looking for those great hotel deals, there are a number of comparison websites that let you easily compare available hotels by price, star level, and even proximity to certain tourist attractions. Always search for several of these websites since not all hotel chains participate in every comparison website.

But beware that some comparison sites do not necessarily guarantee the best price. It is best to use a number of such websites to get a true picture of the lowest prices available. If you know which hotel you would like to stay in, you could send an email to the hotel for their latest room rates. They would usually be higher rates than these comparison sites, but no harm checking on it.

Looking for the best travel deals require time and even hard work. But these little investments will keep your travels cheap and within your budget. Lodging takes a big part of your travel budget, so it is important to get the best possible hotel deal to stay within your travel budget and still be able to enjoy your vacation.

Koh Samui lies 700 kilometers south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand and 50 kilometers from the Gulf’s western shore city of Surat Thani. Daily flights are the most convenient way to arrive on the island. For the more budget conscious, trains, buses and boats are available. Independent car or motorcycle drivers can use one of several car ferries.

By Air

Koh Samui’s small open airport welcomes both domestic travelers and international arrivals from Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.

Domestic Flights

Hourly flights depart Bangkok’s Suvunarbhumi International Airport for Koh Samui between 6am and 9pm daily. Bangkok Airways offers flights almost hourly and Thai airways offers two to three flights a day. Prices range between 2200 and 3500 baht on Bangkok Airways and can rise as high as 7400 baht on Thai Airways. Flight time is approximately 1.15 hours.

Bangkok Airways also serves Koh Samui with daily flights from Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya. Twice weekly flights are available between Krabi and Koh Samui

For travelers with both time and price constraints, Air Asia’s inexpensive flights (600 baht to 900 baht) from Bangkok (Suvunarbhumi) Airport to Surat Thani make an attractive choice. From Surat Thani, travelers take local shuttles or taxies to Donsak Pier or Samui Ferry Pier and jump aboard for the remainder of their trip to the island.

International Flights

Bangkok Airways flies direct flights from Hong Kong (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), Kuala Lumpur (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) and Singapore (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday).

Berjaya Air offers two flights a week (Thursday and Sunday) from Kuala Lumpur.

By Train and Ferry

Train and ferry tickets can be purchased separately. This option requires travelers to find local transport from the train station to the pier and then purchase ferry tickets. To avoid long delays, check ferry schedules ahead of time. Booking trains from Bangkok to Surat Thani online can be tricky with credit card and handling fees tacked on to ticket costs. Do-it-yourself travelers also run the risk of having to wait for a boat to Koh Samui or overpaying for local transport to the pier.

Purchasing a combination train/shuttle/ferry ticket from one of the hundreds of travel agencies scattered around Bangkok is far easier and more convenient than arranging each stage of the travel separately. Two trains leave Bangkok’s Hualamphong station daily taking approximately 8 hours to reach Surat Thani. With combination tickets, ticket holders are met and shuttled to the ferry then which takes 1.5 hours to reach Koh Samui. Prices range from just over 1000 baht to around 1700 depending on the class of train seat chosen for the trip.

By Bus (or coach) and Ferry

For budget-minded travelers, bus and ferry travel are the way to go. Air-conditioned overnight buses leave Bangkok’s southern bus terminal daily. Scheduled departures are late afternoon and early evening. Upon arrival in Surat Thani Province, buses are ferried to Koh Samui. Bus fares are between 300 and 400 baht depending on the class of service you opt for and travel time is approximately 14 hours. Ferry fares are less than 50 baht.

Private companies run coaches with pick-up in several locations around Bangkok. These generally allow travelers to purchase a combined coach/express boat tickets from local travel agents. Travel by bus and high speed boat or catamaran to Samui is approximately 13 hours. Prices range from 350 to 650 baht depending on class of service and include express boat tickets. At the high end are the VIP coaches which comfortably seat only 24 people.

All air-conditioned overnight buses and coaches stop along the way for food and toilet breaks. Daily buses also run from Hat Yai, Phuket and Krabi.

Only the hardiest travelers opt for the least expensive choice. Unscheduled local buses stops along the way for every person that puts out a hand. Travel can take hours longer than the overnight buses and coaches. These buses are not air-conditioned.

By boat

High-speed catamaran service to Koh Samui runs from nearby Koh Tao and mainland ports in Chumphon and Surat Thani. Regular ferry service and smaller boat services are also available. Long-tail boat service runs scheduled trips to and from Koh Phangan.

By car or motorcycle

Ferry service runs every hour from 06:00 to 18:00 from both Donsak Pier about 1.5 hours east of Surat Thani and Samui Ferry Pier. Ferry time is approximately 1.5 hours.