Thanks for all the info - im a bit more clued up, we've booked our flights to Bangkok and hotels there, koh phangan & Samui. We just have to decide whether to get the train or fly to Samui now. Does anyone know if the the cheap airlines are like the ones over here (ie go up the nearer to the time you go) as i have a friend who's going in April and so wondering to wait until she comes back as to what way to get there, i'm a bit worried if we fly to Surat thani that we'll get lost trying to find the right bus /ferry etc, not organising the whole all in one thing that we'd get with the train