Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao each have their own pace, but they share one thing: cash still does the heavy lifting. Buy Thai baht before you fly with a commission-free provider such as Travel FX and island-hopping gets simpler from day one.
Inter-island ferries, songthaews, beach massages and most casual restaurants prefer notes. On the smaller islands, card acceptance thins out quickly once you leave the main strips.
Prices on the islands run a little higher than the mainland and ATM fees for foreign cards apply everywhere, so arriving with enough baht for at least the first few days is a sound move.
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