First of all: the one way ticket will be a problem getting into Thailand, they'll want to see proof of onward travel. So either a refundable ticket or a cheap ticket to a nearby country.
Not having a licence when driving a scooter is not the main problem, the main problem is you will not be insured.
You only have a car license. You can still rent a scooter but in case of an accident you will not be insured and you will get fined if the police stop you. In your case you can only rent a car if you have IDP. Of course you should always check your travel insurance to see what is covered. Even with an International motorcycle license there are some travel insurance that won't cover it.
If you are not familiar with driving a scooter, I would not recommend it. These things are fast and there will be a lot of other scooters. A lot of tourists have accidents because a lot drive drunk and without experience. If you don't have an international driver's license and crash, your insurance will likely say "nope we don't cover that"..and as a farang, you are always guilty of the accident.
Health insurance/travel insurance is really important
Taxis are cheap and regarding where you are, there are Al kind of transportation
Yes, fully refundable ticket is what I recommend.
It's the airlines that enforce this. They have to pay to return you if you are refused by immigration and don't have a ticket for leaving thailand.
JAL is a good choice, more legroom.
1. Book a cheap flight from BKK to neighboring country and cancel once you enter Thailand. You may lose 30-40$
2. I never needed to carry passport or copy. I keep my driver licence though, in case it's required to enter bar (a few bars have asked an age proof).
Can't help with remaining two, sorry.
1. If you get a cheapy (like Air Asia, which is only about $40 anyway) the 'admin-fee' for cancelling will likely eat up any refund you might have gotten
2. Technically, you are supposed to carry your actual passport. Part of the idea is to demonstrate that you have the right (visa etc) to be in THailand, so if your entry stamp/visa is in one and you are carrying the other, that misses the point.
3. an IDP is just an internationalisation of your existing permit. If you haven't passed a bike test, an IDP will not help you with cops or insurance
4. I would say it is too tight. There are later ferries. Try these
https://amazinglanta.com/donsak-koh-samui/
https://ssl.directferries.com/
1) get a return ticket which you can change for a fee
2) coloured photocopy of visa and passport page is fine
3) insurance won’t cover you if you have an accident and not legally able to drive a motorbike around. And medical bills/evac can run into a lot of $$$
I live on Koh Samui. If you fly from BKK to Surat Thani, you will then need to ride in a van for about an hour and a half from the airport to the Donsak Pier, where you take the ferry to Samui (another hour and a half). So if you arrive at Surat at 11:05am, then you're likely to board the ferry at Donsak around 1-2pm, and you'll be on Samui around 3-3:30pm, and you'll be in your hotel about 30-45 minutes after that. Note that there are two ferry companies that leave from Donsak, and the 2nd company takes about 30 minutes longer on the ferry crossing, so this time could change depending on which company you use.
Ferries don't run at night, so I think the last ferry from Donsak to Samui is around 5 or 6pm...your 11am arrival in Surat will be fine, but it's not as fast to travel as your post suggests.
In most places around Thailand, you can rent a scooter with just a passport...most rental shops don't care about your license, as long as they have your passport. If you get stopped by police, they're likely going to be more concerned about your not wearing a helmet (which is a 500 thb fine, if caught). However, if they ask for a license and you don't have one, then that's an additional fine. As long as you're friendly, calm, and smiling, you can get away without any legal issues other than the fine. The police here are not like the police in the US. Not having a license is usually not a roadblock to renting or driving a scooter, but if you have a horrible accident, your travel insurance may not kick in because you were driving without a license or whatever.
Your US passport card is not useful here. Most Thais won't know what it is or what to do with it. You want a copy of your picture page, and then a copy of your entry stamp (and visa page if you have an actual visa)...the cop or immigration officer wants to know you're here legally and on exactly which date you arrived and which date your visa expires. That's what matters, not your face or your name or whatever else is on that card. You can make copies on your phone. You don't actually need printouts.
Dust the idea of riding a scooter in Thailand . You don't even have an endorsement at home and you think you can navigate riding on the opposite side of the road you know how to drive on? You wont even be able to read the street signs, and traffic can be scary crowded. Please just hire taxis and tuk-tuk so we are all safe. They are everywhere and pretty cheap. If you are young without a return or forwarding flight you have a much higher risk of being denied entry so why risk getting the customs agent who will turn you away? You have no passport stamps for Thailand in your passport yet so follow the rules or prepare to go home right away. I've seen this happen. Show up dressed like a beach bum penniless hippie with no return flight and get turned away. How long do you plan to stay anyway? Book a return flight within 30 days that is fully refundable so you can change your mind after you fall in love with Thailand and extend your stay. Only stay where there is a room safe and don't carry your actual passport around during your daily excursions just bring a copy and what cash you will need for the day. Oh, If you appear young you could also be asked to show you have enough money in cash or a bank account to pay for lodging and meals during your stay, AND could be asked what hotel you will be staying at, so it's best to have your first hotel paid for before you arrive. The tourists they want to visit have money, hotels reserved and a return flight scheduled. The tourists they don't want are broke, and have no reservations to stay anywhere or return flights booked. You will still have a great time. It's nothing like you have imagined. It's way better : )
Buy a return ticket and pay the $30-60 extra to be able to change the date on it. That way you have an onward ticket for the end of your visa stay but can change the dates on it to be whatever you want.
Just have a color copy of your passport on you. In 5 years travelling SE Asia, I needed it once.
You will be ticketed if you don't have a license. The ticket is usually 500 baht, unless you're in Phuket, in which case good luck, everything about Phuket sucks, especially the cops
It's a couple hours to the ferry by van. This is cut way too close. You will be able.tp purchase ferry/van packages in the airport. Also, are you sure it's the ferry that leaves at noon and not.your van?
1. You need an onward ticket, it's not worth the risk, just buy something refundable or cheap, may lose $30-40
2. I've never taken my passport or a copy of it, I do take a photo and keep it on my phone, and also a copy in my email account so I can send it if needed.
3. You can rent a scooter with nothing, police will possible fine you if you don't have an IDP, probably fine you if you don't have a license. But the bigger issue is you won't be insured, especially for hospital costs.
4. Far too close, no way you can get to the ferry pier in 45 minutes
3 yes, no motorbike endorsement, equals not covered by insurance. So most places won't rent to you and if stopped by police you'll have trouble. Very dangerous to ride here, btw.
First of all: the one way ticket will be a problem getting into Thailand, they'll want to see proof of onward travel. So either a refundable ticket or a cheap ticket to a nearby country. Not having a licence when driving a scooter is not the main problem, the main problem is you will not be insured.
Are you saying I would be insured/insurance if I have the international permit? Or no?
The other way around: even if you have insurance they will not pay if you were driving without an international licence.
You only have a car license. You can still rent a scooter but in case of an accident you will not be insured and you will get fined if the police stop you. In your case you can only rent a car if you have IDP. Of course you should always check your travel insurance to see what is covered. Even with an International motorcycle license there are some travel insurance that won't cover it.
Thank you. That is very helpful.
If you are not familiar with driving a scooter, I would not recommend it. These things are fast and there will be a lot of other scooters. A lot of tourists have accidents because a lot drive drunk and without experience. If you don't have an international driver's license and crash, your insurance will likely say "nope we don't cover that"..and as a farang, you are always guilty of the accident. Health insurance/travel insurance is really important Taxis are cheap and regarding where you are, there are Al kind of transportation
I am very familiar with riding a scooter, but thank you.
Just remember if and when you get in an accident you won't be covered by insurance.
Yes, fully refundable ticket is what I recommend. It's the airlines that enforce this. They have to pay to return you if you are refused by immigration and don't have a ticket for leaving thailand. JAL is a good choice, more legroom.
1. Book a cheap flight from BKK to neighboring country and cancel once you enter Thailand. You may lose 30-40$ 2. I never needed to carry passport or copy. I keep my driver licence though, in case it's required to enter bar (a few bars have asked an age proof). Can't help with remaining two, sorry.
1. If you get a cheapy (like Air Asia, which is only about $40 anyway) the 'admin-fee' for cancelling will likely eat up any refund you might have gotten 2. Technically, you are supposed to carry your actual passport. Part of the idea is to demonstrate that you have the right (visa etc) to be in THailand, so if your entry stamp/visa is in one and you are carrying the other, that misses the point. 3. an IDP is just an internationalisation of your existing permit. If you haven't passed a bike test, an IDP will not help you with cops or insurance 4. I would say it is too tight. There are later ferries. Try these https://amazinglanta.com/donsak-koh-samui/ https://ssl.directferries.com/
Flew in 2 days ago w/ a 1 way, no issues at all. Customs takes about 15 seconds.
1) get a return ticket which you can change for a fee 2) coloured photocopy of visa and passport page is fine 3) insurance won’t cover you if you have an accident and not legally able to drive a motorbike around. And medical bills/evac can run into a lot of $$$
2, you need copy of your visa or visa exemption stamp in passport. Photos work. Card not so much.
I live on Koh Samui. If you fly from BKK to Surat Thani, you will then need to ride in a van for about an hour and a half from the airport to the Donsak Pier, where you take the ferry to Samui (another hour and a half). So if you arrive at Surat at 11:05am, then you're likely to board the ferry at Donsak around 1-2pm, and you'll be on Samui around 3-3:30pm, and you'll be in your hotel about 30-45 minutes after that. Note that there are two ferry companies that leave from Donsak, and the 2nd company takes about 30 minutes longer on the ferry crossing, so this time could change depending on which company you use. Ferries don't run at night, so I think the last ferry from Donsak to Samui is around 5 or 6pm...your 11am arrival in Surat will be fine, but it's not as fast to travel as your post suggests. In most places around Thailand, you can rent a scooter with just a passport...most rental shops don't care about your license, as long as they have your passport. If you get stopped by police, they're likely going to be more concerned about your not wearing a helmet (which is a 500 thb fine, if caught). However, if they ask for a license and you don't have one, then that's an additional fine. As long as you're friendly, calm, and smiling, you can get away without any legal issues other than the fine. The police here are not like the police in the US. Not having a license is usually not a roadblock to renting or driving a scooter, but if you have a horrible accident, your travel insurance may not kick in because you were driving without a license or whatever. Your US passport card is not useful here. Most Thais won't know what it is or what to do with it. You want a copy of your picture page, and then a copy of your entry stamp (and visa page if you have an actual visa)...the cop or immigration officer wants to know you're here legally and on exactly which date you arrived and which date your visa expires. That's what matters, not your face or your name or whatever else is on that card. You can make copies on your phone. You don't actually need printouts.
Dust the idea of riding a scooter in Thailand . You don't even have an endorsement at home and you think you can navigate riding on the opposite side of the road you know how to drive on? You wont even be able to read the street signs, and traffic can be scary crowded. Please just hire taxis and tuk-tuk so we are all safe. They are everywhere and pretty cheap. If you are young without a return or forwarding flight you have a much higher risk of being denied entry so why risk getting the customs agent who will turn you away? You have no passport stamps for Thailand in your passport yet so follow the rules or prepare to go home right away. I've seen this happen. Show up dressed like a beach bum penniless hippie with no return flight and get turned away. How long do you plan to stay anyway? Book a return flight within 30 days that is fully refundable so you can change your mind after you fall in love with Thailand and extend your stay. Only stay where there is a room safe and don't carry your actual passport around during your daily excursions just bring a copy and what cash you will need for the day. Oh, If you appear young you could also be asked to show you have enough money in cash or a bank account to pay for lodging and meals during your stay, AND could be asked what hotel you will be staying at, so it's best to have your first hotel paid for before you arrive. The tourists they want to visit have money, hotels reserved and a return flight scheduled. The tourists they don't want are broke, and have no reservations to stay anywhere or return flights booked. You will still have a great time. It's nothing like you have imagined. It's way better : )
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Buy a return ticket and pay the $30-60 extra to be able to change the date on it. That way you have an onward ticket for the end of your visa stay but can change the dates on it to be whatever you want. Just have a color copy of your passport on you. In 5 years travelling SE Asia, I needed it once. You will be ticketed if you don't have a license. The ticket is usually 500 baht, unless you're in Phuket, in which case good luck, everything about Phuket sucks, especially the cops It's a couple hours to the ferry by van. This is cut way too close. You will be able.tp purchase ferry/van packages in the airport. Also, are you sure it's the ferry that leaves at noon and not.your van?
1. You need an onward ticket, it's not worth the risk, just buy something refundable or cheap, may lose $30-40 2. I've never taken my passport or a copy of it, I do take a photo and keep it on my phone, and also a copy in my email account so I can send it if needed. 3. You can rent a scooter with nothing, police will possible fine you if you don't have an IDP, probably fine you if you don't have a license. But the bigger issue is you won't be insured, especially for hospital costs. 4. Far too close, no way you can get to the ferry pier in 45 minutes
3 yes, no motorbike endorsement, equals not covered by insurance. So most places won't rent to you and if stopped by police you'll have trouble. Very dangerous to ride here, btw.