Phuket Thailand

davidbanfield · #1 20-12-2005, 20:44

on 06 jan, i will return from a sea canoe trip. i would like to have them drop me off at the public bus station in phuket (which they will do) around 1600h. i would like to catch a bus to surat thani train station. i figure the bus will leave at 1700h, arrival surat thani train station 2200h. i will then purchase a train ticket leaving chumphon on 11 jan, for one of the night trains, yet to be determined which one. i just want to make certain i have a seat/sleeper bed on a train that evening.

i will then board a public bus for the night ferry to koh tao. the ferry leaves at 2300h. a train comes into surat thani at 2226h. will there not be a public bus there around then to meet the train, and take people from the train station to the ferry terminal, for just what i'd like to do? and if i arrive at surat thani early, there are also trains arriving at 2108 and 2123. so certainly i will be able to make these connections?

also, how much will be the cost for the night ferry?

i have all the time in the world, so please don't say "why don't you just fly?" because i really don't want to, that's why.

thanks for any advice, information, and/or input any of you may have to offer!

yours,

dave

LivinLOS · #2 20-12-2005, 20:56

Sounds risky...

I am thinking a provincial bus may well take longer than 5 hours phuket town to surat.. IIRC even a fast driven mini bus took us longer..

Not sure about the train thing.. I have just used provided bus connections between Surat and the ferry places..

Lots of late night connections sounds risky.. Timetables dont often mean much here..

I would take a morning mini bus with all bus / transfer /ferry included to Tao.. Figure on 600 baht and an early departure and 5 ish arrival.. easier than doing same over night..

davidbanfield · #3 20-12-2005, 20:58

i just located a site on the internet which states that the advance ticket counter at phun phin train station is only opened 0600-1800!! is this correct? thanks, again, y'all.

dave

stevem · #4 21-12-2005, 05:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidbanfield

i just located a site on the internet which states that the advance ticket counter at phun phin train station is only opened 0600-1800!! is this correct? thanks, again, y'all.

dave

Well if thats what the site says, I guess you have to believe it. Only been there during daylight.

I agree with LIL, your not leaving yourself too much time for connections. You will have bookings on all these buses and trains right, otherwise you will more than likely be disappointed that you cant get on.

As far as buses running at that time of the night, you'll need to make contact with the bus company/terminal

davidbanfield · #5 21-12-2005, 07:03

really, LIL? i came to phuket a month ago from surat thani, brought the night train from bangkok. jumped off the train, grabbed a minivan, and was in phuket 3 hours later. i looked in lonelyplanet and it said 4, so i thought i'd give it an extra hour!?!

as for the late night busses, i guess, as long as i eventually get to koh tao, that's all i really care about. if i make it in one night, fine. if not, then i will chill in surat thani, and instead grab a morning (0800) ferry directly there...

no worries from me, my friends.

dave

davidbanfield · #6 21-12-2005, 07:10

however, your suggestion about the bus-boat combo from phuket is a good one. it wouldn't really require all that much more thought on my part (actually, perhaps a bit less thought, which may be a good thing!)

dave

Tarzan · #7 21-12-2005, 07:21

Why not fly to Samui and then take the boat to Koh Tao...?

LivinLOS · #8 21-12-2005, 08:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidbanfield

really, LIL? i came to phuket a month ago from surat thani, brought the night train from bangkok. jumped off the train, grabbed a minivan, and was in phuket 3 hours later. i looked in lonelyplanet and it said 4, so i thought i'd give it an extra hour!?!

I honestly cant remember.. I have done bus / boat to Kho Tao twice and Samui once (Samui I will always fly now, unless using my own bike or car.. Tao with the extra hop from Samui may consider bus / boat)..

Now I do remember we got to Kho Tao about 5 ish in the evening cause accomodation was always a rush around Haad Rin.. Working back lets say 45 mins from ferry to Haad Rin.. Perhaps 2 hours ferry tops..

That means we took until about 2:30pm to get to the Surat ferry port and we had to have left in the early am 8 or 9 ish.. Now even with delays in the Surat Change and waiting a little on the ferry it doesnt feel like a 3 hour journey in my memory..

Of course that may just be subjective memory being wrong.. Also those provincial busses are not fast..

djaust · #9 21-12-2005, 10:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Now even with delays in the Surat Change and waiting a little on the ferry it doesnt feel like a 3 hour journey in my memory..

Of course that may just be subjective memory being wrong.. Also those provincial busses are not fast..

I would agree that took me around 5 hours or so from Surat to Phuket and we were giving it a bit of stick. Had no major stops or anything just stopped for fuel once and that was it otherwise doing it pretty fast and still took 5 hours +.

Bobby · #10 23-12-2005, 20:19

Sound risky... I remember having left one time Koh Samet at around noon. The journey to Bangkok takes normally 4h + 40 minutes boat ride. With a connecting flight to Phuket at 21:10, everything should has been fine but the bus ride to Ekkamai took more than 5 hours then the taxi ride to the airport almost 2 hours. We arrived at Air asia counter at 20:30. Hopefully, our flight was delayed (1 hour) so no need to rush... God bless Air Asia.