Kacenka

Hi,

I am trying to sort out our transfer from Phuket airport to Phi Phi Island but I am getting mixed reports on schedule. Some websites mention that the times from Phuket are 8.30 & 13.30 and some 8.30 and 14.30. We are flying from Chiang Mai to Phuket and arrival is not until 13.10.

Please can someone clarify the ferry times? Do you think it is necessary to book the transfer ahead or is it quite easy to arrange it on our arrival? I would like to avoid staying in Phuket over night and then catching the AM ferry...

Many thanks.
Katerina

Ladyhawk

Hi Kacenka,

My experience in the Thai islands has to do with Samui rather than Phuket, but -- for what it's worth -- it may be of some assistance. . .

On Samui, the very thing you're describing happens all the time. You can book a ferry for 14.30, and then hear via another agent that the ferry departs at 13.30, that there is no 14.30 ferry. How frustrating!

All this can be extremely confusing until you figure out that there are several different ferry lines that service Samui. There's a big ferry and an express ferry; there are ferries leaving from the small pier and ferries leaving from the long pier. Moreover, there are downtown Nathon piers, and there are piers to the outskirts of Nathon. You get get what I'm saying, eh?

I often chalk up this Thai tendency to overlook the details to a general difference in Eastern/Western mentalities. As a Westerner, I like to have everything spelled out. I want to analyse the exact specifics and stay in control of them as best as possible.

While traveling in Southeast Asia, however, I find that I often have to "go with the flow" and trust that everything will work out in spite of what I perceive as discrepancies. It often does work out. The Thais are extremely capable -- in their own way.

"Same-same, only different."

Alas! All this may be of no assistance to you whatsoever. But, if no one else comes up with any better hands-on advice, I'd suggest that you take what I've said with a grain of salt and punt. (These are American idioms, I understand, but I trust you'll get the point.)

I sincerely hope this helps.

"Chok di." (((Good luck.)))

Kacenka

Hi Ladyhawk,

Many thanks for your response. I am pretty happy to go with the flow, I just wanted some feedback and what other fellow travellers experienced when taking a ferry. We don't want to get stuck on Phuket island as we didn't book any accommodation there and are counting on going straight from the airport to Phi Phi Island.

Regards,
Katerina

JamesA

if you arrive at Phuket Airport at 1310 you I doubt very much you will get to Phi Phi same day unless you charter a speedboat which would be expensive. The boats leave from piers near Phuket Town which even on a clear 'fast' raod trip would take at least 45 minutes and it could be longer if you get caught in traffic.
If yuo can afford a budget for a speedboat then ok but otherwise it means a night on Phuket. Most of the boats are in the business of taking day trippers which is big business so there is, strange as it may appear, not muvch business for operating afternoon transfers.

LeighTravelClub

The last ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi is at 13.15 every day. Book a speedboat and you can leave much later.Otherwise you will need to spend a night in Phuket. We did that once and would not do it again. Check out our website at
www.leightravelclub.com