We were expected to show up 30 min prior to the expected departure of 06:00 am at the phantip office. We showed up at 05:30 but the office was firmly shut. Exactly at 06:00 the office opened and our bus showed up at 06:30. Somehow part of the group with foreigners were send away with minivan while our family of 3 had to wait for the big bus. Don't expect to much of this bus service, a bit smelly and worn out bus but all in all for the 1 hour trip good enough. At the pier you can have breakfast. The boat trip to the island was pleasant.
Not very comfortable, a lot of very thin mattresses one next to the other, no AC so pretty warm.
Did not get nauseous though:)
เมืองสุราษฎร์ธานี ถึง ท้องศาลาเกาะพะงัน, เรือเฟอร์รี่ เรือนอนกลางคืน, Koh Tao Booking Center (Koh Tao Booking Center), 13 ต.ค. 2024
KW
Klas W
The direction for the pick up was wrong and did not indicate the travel office but the bus station. No one could help and the phone number to the local travel operator set out in you confirmation was an old one not longer in use. We had booked a private van for our group but was instead put in a very old an uncomfortable bus that went around to pick up people from various spots. The bus was eventually so full of peoble and luggage that people had to sit in each other’s laps. We made it to the ferry even if the bus left more than an hour late.
Ferry boat is an aged ship not in best condition. For the shuttle bus I was supposed to check in at 5:45 in the morning, but was placed on the next bus departing at 6:30.
Neither water nor tea/ coffee was provided.
I send a detailed question by mail to 12Go Asia 10 days before but never got an answer.
So this is just an avergae experience.
We arrived 2.5 hours early at the station and were offered available tickets for an earlier ride. We were told that this was a combined bus + ferry ticket. Thus we took the bus that arrived earlier at the port. However, upon arrival at the port there was no ferryboat leaving earlier, thus we still had to wait. Additionally, we were assured that the bus ticket would suffice as a ferry ticket. This was not the case and led to quite a discussion before it was accepted. Proper informing and tickets at the start would have been appreciated.
