Thailand forum

I have rented a 4WD twice in KPN - both times from same place. Here is what I posted recently in another thread:

"I paid THB2000 for a 3-day rental period for a small 4WD. When you get off the ferry, push your way past all the taxi touts and walk straight along the pier and out onto the main road (only 100m give or take). There is a cafe directly opposite that also rents out vehicles. Sorry, I forget the name of the cafe, but it will be very obvious with signs out, etc. By memory, there were a few other places nearby as well.

They don't offer any kind of insurance so you're wearing the risk. They hold your passport as security - something I tried very hard to avoid. If you damage, you pay. No pay, no passport, I presume. Having said that, I had a very trouble-free rental, and they were very good to deal with otherwise.

It's well worth the expense IMO to be able to explore the island - and certainly safer than a motorbike, esp as some of the roads heading up to the NE beaches are pretty rough. "

Rather than handing your passport over as security, I have recently read of people paying some amount of cash as a 'bond'. I think I would be tempted to push for that an option in future as I really don't like handing my passport over!

Hey exacto.... Both times that I arrived on KPN, I didn't manage to get a shared taxi as I had hoped. Last time, I waited it out as 2 later ferries arrived, and no one wanted to go to the NE corner of the island where I was staying. My alternative was to pay 1000baht (from memory) to 'charter' a taxi for myself. At that price, I figured I might a well get a car and have the flexibility to explore the island.

The price didn't include petrol. But I only needed to put 1/2 tank in I think and that lasted the 3 days easily.

I didn't really use the taxi's in the end. I think if you are staying at the southern end (ie the more popular areas), they would be a good way to get around. But I tend to avoid those areas.. and hence have to pay the price!

I tried very hard to not leave my passport. I walked away (hoping that they would call me back!)... and then wasted yet another hour of my travel life sulking and being stubborn, efusing to go back and hand it over and refusing to pay the 1000baht taxi fare. In the end, I sucked it in and went back and rented the car.

I still think it's a great way to explore the island if you aren't into motorbiking (which I am in less populated areas with better roads, but didn't want to wear the risk on KPN) - and I would do it again. But next time, I would try and hand 1000baht over as a bond instead, but not sure how well that would go down.