Hua Hin - Pattaya ferry service news and updates

[Big Boy]

Plans scuttled

I had been planning to take the ferry to watch Pattaya vs Ratchaburi. Under the old timetable, it would have been easily achievable on matchday. They've changed the timetable

ferry_times.png (71.54 KiB) Viewed 1934 times

[HHTel]

I've never used the ferry but I thought with the purchase of a second ferry they were doing 2 trips per day both ways.

[Big Boy]

That was the hype, but it never happened.

[StevePIraq]

With the new timings it is not even possible to have a day trip in either direction.

[PeteC]

With the new timings it is not even possible to have a day trip in either direction.

I can imagine they may have done it intentionally to stimulate the economy in both places during the low season. In essence they are forcing visitors to get a hotel room for the night. Pete

[Big Boy]

No, I read a bit further, and low water levels at the Hua Hin end necessitate the change

[Pleng]

With the new timings it is not even possible to have a day trip in either direction.

Neither was it with the old timings; the boat left Pattaya at 11am, arrived in Hua-Hin at 1pm, unloaded passengers, loaded new passengers, and then headed straight back to Pattaya.

[StevePIraq]

With the weather we are having lately how does one know if the ferry will be cancelled, they have nothing on their website, they also state tickets cannot be postponed to another day so what happens if the ferry is cancelled.

[Big Boy]

It used to say non-refundable, which has steered me away from the service. I don't know if that has subsequently changed.

I'm probably going to Pattaya for a couple of nights next month. Too risky for me - if I missed the ferry going, I'd miss the event I'm travelling for i.e. it would be too late to catch the bus. Coming back, I could be stuck in Pattaya indefinitely.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to catch the ferry, but the risk factors are too high.

[StevePIraq]

I plan to go next week and read somewhere that the ferry can take up to 2m waves, the forecast today was over 2m waves. so it could be cancelled but who knows.
Under Frequently asked questions it is asked "what is the cancelation policy" as would be expected there is no answer.
I really don't want to book a hotel and then not get there.

[Big Boy]

My problem exactly. I'll be interested to hear how you get on.

[StevePIraq]

Well I contacted the ferry company by phone, took long enough to get someone who supposedly could help, they could not advise on the cancelation policy and what is the option if a trip was cancelled due to bad weather. I asked can I use the ticket next day, at first they said no then changed that to not sure. I asked have there been many cancellations due to weather, they did not know. I asked for someone to call me back to advise on the issues, no one has called in 5 days.

I will not be using the service.

[Big Boy]

It is a shame because it could be such a good service, but I've backed away for the same reasons.

[RCer]

I've used the ferry, but it was during good weather season ie motorbike season.

It's a good way to get from one side to the other in a timely manner.

Comfortable? No
Enjoyable? No

But it keeps you from having to deal with BKK traffic.

The bad part is you have hunt down transport or walk once you get to the other side. Which in my estimation makes the whole thing almost useless.

[StevePIraq]

What there are no taxi, tuk tuk or motorbike taxis lined up waiting.? if not that definitely put the last nail in the coffin