Andaman Sea Tour and Transport, Baan Pun Travel, Dee Travels Hatyai, Hi Lipe, Jolly Travel, Lipe ferry and speed boat, Ploysiam Speedboat, Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club, Thubthim Siam Travel
The entire process, from initiation to completion, unfolded seamlessly. The team at Hi Lipe excelled, keeping us well-informed in advance through email communication. Their punctuality was noteworthy! Starting at Hatyai airport, the van efficiently picked up additional passengers from Hatyai city before proceeding to Pak Bara. The driver displaying the signboard name, picked us up promptly at 9 am at exit No. 8 at Hatyai airport and we reached the pier by 11 am. The driver ensured a safe and pleasant journey. Upon arrival at Pakbara Pier, staff awaited us at the visitor center of the jetty, guiding us to the Jetty for ticket redemption with clear instructions.
I highly recommend using this service for travel from Hatyai to Koh Lipe.
The travel was good. The sitting arrangement of the speedboat needs improvement. All seats need be front facing, not in the side facing. Side facing seats are not convenient. The speedboat started 40 minutes after the mentioned time. All other travel was good.
Ferry didn’t depart on time. While everybody was ready to board, they changed the ferry and moved all luggages to smaller ferry. Everybody had to wait under baking hot. Since they got more people than the capacity of ferry, peope got stuck. Finally there weren’t enaough life vest.
We arrived at Hat Yai airport at 8:30AM. We went to the checkpoint by 8:45AM and waited in the area. Several times we walked around trying to find information on our pickup and nothing more could be found. By 9:25 (our van was supposed to leave at 9:30AM) we called the number on the PDF and someone answered. Eventually he called back and said a driver would be there shortly, after which a taxi driver came over to find us. We almost missed our ferry and the ferry operator was calling us repeatedly asking where we were. Thankfully on arrival she met us at the taxi and hurred us directly to the boat, which we thankfully were able to get on just in time.
Trip from Hat Yai to Koh Lipe - Thailand - January 2022
Booking this trip was easy (the Plattform of 12Go). I chose Dee Travel for my trip from Hat Yai to Koh Lipe. I was at the pickup point of Hat Yai Airport the half an hour before, as indicated, and the driver was already there with a sign with my name on it. The minivan was clean and comfortable. We made a short toilet break half way and got to the peer where the driver showed me where to get the boat voucher from. There too, the staff were friendly and told me which port to go to.
There, we had to scan a QR code and fill out a registration form, mostly for Covid and show it to the staff, together with the proof of vaccination. We then proceeded to the peer we were told to go and received a card with a number and requested to take a seat. Punctually, we were asked to hand out suitcases to the boat staff and called to line up according to the numbers on the card and prepare our passports. Everything was very well managed and we boarded the boat Accor the numbering, however the seating on board is free to chose. I chose a seat at the back as recommended in a review. The speed boat was from a company called Ploysiam. This one was not full or overbooked as I’d seen on other reviews. There were 3 staff on board and the boat had 3 motors (which I’d also read in reviews of the motor dying mid-water). Allot of locals used this company, which is a good sign I guess. We stopped, as indicated, at two islands, which allowed for a short visit, photo taking and using the restroom, if needed. Each stop was about 15 minutes, but be back at the advised place a bit before as not to miss your onward trip. We arrived after about 3 hours - the trip being a total of 6 hours with boarding and covid/passport control, etc.
In 3 day’s time, I’ll be going back to Hat Yai Airport and hope for smooth sailing there, too! :) I can only recommend Dee Travel Thailand.
The way back was as uncomplicated and organized, and much faster than on the way there, as we did not stop at any islands. The boat ride lasted just over an hour and I then had to wait 30 minutes for the very clean and modern minivan who then, too, seamlessly bought me to the airport, without bathroom break. The way back for both means of transportation was very bumpy, so if you get car/sea sick, remember to bring a bag.
Again, I can only recommend 12 Go and Dee Travel Thailand.
Each part of the journey is in time and according to the schedule. No delays and cancellations. There were even a few calls as a directions reminder. Recommend. Thanks very much for the convenient transportation services
Kindest regards
the boat ride was faster than the trip from pakbara to koh lipe (without any stops) but the ride was very bumpy. Problem is when we arrived at Pakbara, there was no one to greet us and there is no clear direction of what to do next? We had to call to learn the person was due to arrive later. Some earlier direction would be better.
