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Ferry companies - do any of them speak in English?

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tBaby

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I'm planning on travelling from Bangkok to Koh Phangan by day (to see the sights) and by train. This is the easy part. From there I am unclear as to what I can do next, after I arrive in Surat Thani, to get to my island before nightfall. If you have any ideas then please read on.

I believe there are 4 ferry companies that operate these islands (Raja, Seatran, etc.) Most of them run a last trip to Koh Phangan by 16:30 (which I will miss) and most of them don't speak sufficient English for me to be able to communicate with them and problem solve on this matter.

So, from what I see, I have 3 options:

1) Sod this "day trip" idea off, get the night train and have plenty of ferries to choose the next day.

2) Persevere and see if I can find a last boat to take me to Koh Phangan in the evening (around 6pm/7pm)

3) Get an evening ferry to Koh Samui (there seem to be a few of these) and then the next day, travel to Koh Phangan.

If you have any suggestions or directions, or ideally an answer to (2) so I can carry out the plan I had in mind, then they will be gratefully received.

Many thanks,
Your friend, the Brit.

#1 Posted: 8/3/2010 - 16:00
busylizzy

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One option is to stay the night in Surat Thani . Whist not exactly a glamour town, I found it quite pleasant for an overnighter. I stayed at the Tapee Hotel for 440baht. A large, very clean room, aircon, hot water, etc. It's just a few minutes walk to the waterfront where the nightly food market sets up. Or if you want to splash out, there is a good pizzeria on the other side of the road.

Alternatively, if you are on a tight budget, you can take the night ferry to Koh Phangan (no need to get off in Samui). I think it leaves about 10 or 11pm, and arrives at 6 or 7am. Not sure of cost but I think it's pretty cheap. You can buy your ticket for the night ferry at the boat. Facilities are basic.

Another option is to get off the bus at Chumphon. and get the ferry from there. I'm unsure of timetables, etc but I'm sure the info is on TF somewhere.

If getting off the bus in Surat Thani, just be aware that the ferry departure point is quite a distance out of Surat Thani itself, like an hour away. (Only the night ferries leave from Surat Thani). I think the same thing may apply to Chumphon.

#2 Posted: 8/3/2010 - 17:07

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tezza

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Most of my trips to Phangan and Samui have been on the night ferries which leave the town pier (just about all the other ferries leave piers a fair distance out of Surathani) around 2300. There is a night food market adjacent the pier to while away the time.

You get your own numbered matress and pillow to cut the zzzzzzs while the ferry chug chugs its way across to the islands - although I like hanging out the window the first hour or so as it moves downriver to the sea. The first hour or so at sea is good value on a moonlit night too - heaps of islands (some of them Ang Thong National Marine Park).
When you arrive at the island around 0500-0600 lots of transport is waiting to take you to the beaches. Often some touts on the boat or pier who can show you pix of their joints/bargain prices - usually can lay on free transport.

Otherwise the night train to Chumpon or Surathani is the way to go. Lombprayah put on a good night bus/fast catamaran trip.

When you buy your combined train/bus-ferry ticket you don't need any Thai - the guys/girls will show you the way. When you do it independently via the night ferry, ditto. I don't know a word of Thai and travel independently around the joint frequently.

#3 Posted: 8/3/2010 - 17:17

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Captain_Bob

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The daytime "Sprinter" isn't due to come into Surat station until 430pm and they are quite often late so could easily be 5 or even 6pm. Therefore I wouldn't count on getting a connecting ferry to KPG same day (via the Don Sak pier which is a good 90 min. from Phunphin. The railway scenery is nice but fairly monotonous for an all day ride (rice field, buffalo, small town, rice field, buffalo, etc.) I like the day trains but usually break the trip somewhere like Prachuap Khiri Khan (real seaside Thai town with very few tourists). Chumphon is also a nicely manageable southern town and the ferry booking offices (and a few guesthouses) are right out the train station door. Lomprayah do the high-speed ferry to KPG from their private pier outside Chumphon. http://www.lomprayah.com

#4 Posted: 8/3/2010 - 17:40
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tBaby

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Thanks Guys,

A load of really useful info here. It's funny what one conversation can do for clarity when you talk with a bunch of travelling English speaking people.

Bob, I get your idea (amusingly) of the monotonous sights from the train and I take that on board, but my feeling is if I'm going to miss the day ferries as it is (from either Surat Thani or Chumphon ), I may as well travel all the way to Surat Thani and hang about the 23:00 ferry, no? To be honest, if I've got to spend a few hours mooching about Chumphon or Surat Thani/Dansak then I'd take votes on which place is the best to hang out. Thoughts?

Tezza, thanks for the lowdown on the ferry. Around 8 hours on a ferry to KPG? Struth! It must be running on low steam is it?! :) Is security a problem on those ferries btw? The reason I ask is I wonder if going to sleep in a public area with your bags by your side is a great move? I hear Thailand has some interesting stories with all that palava! Finally, Tezza, you talk about combo tickets. Have you anyone in mind that I can talk to about the combo tickets. Every single company I have spoken with so far only offer the 16:30 ferry to KPG which I will miss.

Lizzy, if you see anything so far that you'd like to add from my questions here, please feel free to contribute. Also, if you have a vote on Surat Thani as opposed to Chumphon, I'm all ears.

Thanks a bunch people.

Your friend, the Brit.

#5 Posted: 9/3/2010 - 01:26
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tBaby

longtail driver
Posts: 7

Lizzy, Tezza, Bob... you're not dead are you?

If you're alive, what do you think to my questions above? Would I be able to tap into your divine knowledge any further?

Thank you.

#6 Posted: 12/3/2010 - 03:07
Captain_Bob

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if I've got to spend a few hours mooching about Chumphon or Surat Thani /Dansak then I'd take votes on which place is the best to hang out. Thoughts?

As I said Chumphon is a nice manageable town, but I'd agree you may as well continue down to Surat Thani if headed to Ko Phangan. There are guesthouses right by the train station in Surat Thani (actually in Phunphin as mentioned above) which is convenient for a quick overnight rest then get to the island next morning. This is what I'd recommend.

Personally I don't see much point in the overnight ferry. Why spend 7 hours packed in with a bunch of bodies when you can otherwise have a good sleep and take the 2.5 hour boat next morning. Raja ferry leaves Don Sak 8am arrive Ko Phangan 1030. Just get an early morning ride out to the pier and allow 90 minutes getting there. There's another ferry at 10am as well.

As for Don Sak itself, there's one bungalow place right next to the ferry pier where I have stayed a couple times. However it would be an expensive private taxi ride out there the night before and it's a lonely spot until the pier wakes up for sunrise. Kinda liked that myself but had my own vehicle for the long drive out.

#7 Posted: 12/3/2010 - 14:33
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tBaby

longtail driver
Posts: 7

Bob,

Mighty useful information there, thank you.

I think you've helped form my decision of how to travel.

One final question, and this may seem like a joke, but does the train offer those rail car windows (in the connection sections) where people can open and look out as they travel? The thought of being cramped in my seat for the entire journey makes my bum twitch at the thought. :(

For example, in the UK if I travelled to Newquay from the north, there would be windows in the connecting sections on the train where people would stand and look out to the scenery as it passes. It was always what I loved to do!

Let me know.

Thanks!

#8 Posted: 12/3/2010 - 15:46