Pattaya - Hua Hin Ferry

[PeteC]

Portals or portholes?

Right you are , but I guess it depends upon how big you are. Pete

[Khundon1975]

Portals or portholes?

Correct Arcadian.

However, if it was a portal we could beam ourselves to Pattaya using the space time continuum.

[caller]

How old is that that thing? Has its sea-worthiness been checked? Is it designed for what Barry has previously explained, could be very rough seas?

I wouldn't have any great confidence it would get me across the River Thames!

This looks like a disaster in the making!!

[margaretcarnes]

Thats ChaAm f...d then!

[barrys]

So this boat really does exist - I was on it a few days ago (at the dockside). It's a brand new boat built by a reputable company in Pattaya.
It's around 60 ft long and is designed to carry up to 65 people - very nicely laid out inside.
The bottom row of portlights in the hull has nothing to do with passenger seating.

I had a meeting with one of the owners and they hope to start a scheduled service between Pattaya and Hua Hin in September or October.
She's designed to travel at 20 knots, making a crossing time of 3 hours.
The fare is expected to be approx. THB 1,200 each way but it's not definite yet.

The logistics on this side have still to be finalised.

As and when I get further info, I'll post it here.

[hhfarang]

I think I can drive to Pattaya in maybe 30 minutes more than that and about that same cost (in fuel). I'm not sure why anyone would take a boat at that cost except tourists (and there are too few of those at the moment to make this viable imo).

[Super Joe]

hhfarang, is that right, about 3.5 hours drive to Pattaya from Hua Hin or was you quoting from Cha Am ? Have never done it but most I've asked say around 5 hours plus time of any stops!?

Barrys, thanks for the info. Do you think it would be a rough bumpy trip during the months when the seas are a bit choppy, or do you not feel it so much in a catamaran because of the design ?

Would much rather sit on a comfy boat having a beer and watching TV than stuck in the back of a cab. Think the cost is competitive if it's 2 or 3 mates going there for a trip, but if taking the family (not that I ever would) then driving your own car would cost less.
It's not that much more than the Lomprayah Ferry trips and assume they have to cover themselves when there's only 8 people on board during low periods, otherwise they would not have been be able to lay this on for us. Hope it works for them.

Cheers,
SJ

[BaaBaa.]

hhfarang, is that right, about 3.5 hours drive to Pattaya from Hua Hin or was you quoting from Cha Am ? Have never done it but most I've asked say around 5 hours plus time of any stops!?

I've done it by Taxi in a similar time to hhf.

Certainly less than 4 hours.

[Super Joe]

Thanks Baa Baa, it can sometimes take 3 hours plus to get into downtown Bangkok due to traffic, so an alternative for sure. Never bothered as thought it was 5 hours plus.

Cheers,
SJ

[BaaBaa.]

If there's two people travelling it's still going to be cheaper and quicker door to door by Taxi.

[Super Joe]

If there's two people travelling it's still going to be cheaper and quicker door to door by Taxi.

If it's cheaper for two, ie: getting a taxi for under 2,400 Baht, then you're only going to save a few Baht I would have thought!?!?
Seems like there's not much in it time-wise, depending on pier locations, but personally would prefer it to the hassle of driving or sitting in back of taxi fearing for me life.

SJ

[STEVE G]

Before the new road system was completed around Bangkok it once took me eight hours to drive from Hua Hin to Pattaya in some very heavy traffic which would have made a boat crossing more sensible.
I reckon now you could do it in three to three and a half hours at the right time of day.
Having said that I would consider it if the price was reasonable as I have some friends who spend time in Pattaya and the main reason I don't see them more often is that I spend enough time in Thailand driving between Hua Hin and Issan to have much enthusiasm for driving anywhere else.
Having spent ten years in the Navy being thrown about the North Sea and Atlantic, the boat in the picture looks adequate enough to me for a trip over the Gulf.
I'm assuming that the self inflating life rafts mounted on pallets have yet to be secured properly and have just been positioned for the photograpth. As long as they're new and in proper mountings that would reassure me enough to try it.
When I was living in Indonesia I sometimes used to visit an Island off the coast of Sulawesi on a ferry that was basically a tatty wooden fishing boat with over a hundred people on it and no safety equipment whatsoever.
What used to amaze me was that even though the island was over the horizon, the helmsman didn't even have a compass, he just seemed to head off in the general direction until he spotted the island.

[BaaBaa.]

If there's two people travelling it's still going to be cheaper and quicker door to door by Taxi.

If it's cheaper for two, ie: getting a taxi for under 2,400 Baht, then you're only going to save a few Baht I would have thought!?!?
Seems like there's not much in it time-wise, depending on pier locations, but personally would prefer it to the hassle of driving or sitting in back of taxi fearing for me life

SJ

Add in Taxi's at both ends as well, no doubt over priced.

Also time too and from the Boat, waiting to get on and off.

Time and price wise I think the Taxi would work better, it just depends if you want the Boat trip.

[Super Joe]

A Taxi to Pattaya is 3000 baht.

If the pier's in HH or Cha Am then no taxi for us locals, the pier in Pattaya was mentioned as Bali Hai a couple of hundred metres from Walking Street.

Agree can't be much in it time-wise, but should be comfort-wise providing you go on a calm day

SJ

[Wanderlust]

It wouldn't surprise me if they have a shuttle minibus at least at the Pattaya end if not both, given the amount of planning they appear to have put into this. I would say, on average, the journey time will work out lower on the ferry than by road, door to door, simply because of the unpredictability of the traffic between Hua Hin and Bangkok, and for one or two people cheaper than a taxi or driving themselves. The final advantage is as SJ says, being able to sit back and relax, probably with a beer and I would imagine some entertainment (movie I would think). Driving in Thailand is stressful enough just pootling around, so the at least 4 hours average (my estimate) with the pedal to the metal would be extremely tiring and nerve shredding. Good luck to the guys - I hope it is a success.