Airport transfer to Patong Hotel

[madmax2]

A lot of small accommodation businesses arrange the hire of Toyota commuter buses for their guests which can carry up to 14 passengers, my son will be driving one in the near future, he has already passed his commercial driving license test and is just waiting for his van to be registered on yellow plates and keeps me up to date on current charges as he travels around in a friends minibus learning the business

The other night they took 11 passengers from a Kata resort to a seafood restaurant in Patong, Waited for them to have their meal about 2.5 hours and returned them to their resort

Traveling in Air conditioned comfort door to door for a fee of 1800 baht or 164 baht per person

Who thinks this expensive and why do you think it is??

And why cannot you supply your guests with the same sort of service if you are involved in the tourist industry??

[Kopitiam]

26 minutes ago, madmax2 said:

A lot of small accommodation businesses arrange the hire of Toyota commuter buses for their guests which can carry up to 14 passengers, my son will be driving one in the near future, he has already passed his commercial driving license test and is just waiting for his van to be registered on yellow plates and keeps me up to date on current charges as he travels around in a friends minibus learning the business

The other night they took 11 passengers from a Kata resort to a seafood restaurant in Patong, Waited for them to have their meal about 2.5 hours and returned them to their resort

Traveling in Air conditioned comfort door to door for a fee of 1800 baht or 164 baht per person

Who thinks this expensive and why do you think it is??

And why cannot you supply your guests with the same sort of service if you are involved in the tourist industry??

By charging 1800 baht for the return trip.  You are no different from the tuk tuk mafia.  11 people can take 2 tuk tuk to Patong for 800 baht and the same for the return trip for a total of 1600 baht.  And you also enjoy the wind in your face along the way.

[madmax2]

10 minutes ago, Kopitiam said:

By charging 1800 baht for the return trip.  You are no different from the tuk tuk mafia.  11 people can take 2 tuk tuk to Patong for 800 baht and the same for the return trip for a total of 1600 baht.  And you also enjoy the wind in your face along the way.

If you prefer to ride in the back of the cheapest type of pickup available with no concern for your own or anyone elses safety that is your right, Why not go bungy jumping probably just as safe

I was asking people in business here for their opinion , do you qualify??

[Kopitiam]

6 minutes ago, madmax2 said:

If you prefer to ride in the back of the cheapest type of pickup available with no concern for your own or anyone elses safety that is your right, Why not go bungy jumping probably just as safe

I was asking people in business here for their opinion , do you qualify??

Why are you feeling guilty?  You asked for an opinion and I have given my thoughts.

Who thinks this expensive and why do you think it is??

 

 

[NamKangMan]

1 hour ago, madmax2 said:

A lot of small accommodation businesses arrange the hire of Toyota commuter buses for their guests which can carry up to 14 passengers, my son will be driving one in the near future, he has already passed his commercial driving license test and is just waiting for his van to be registered on yellow plates and keeps me up to date on current charges as he travels around in a friends minibus learning the business

The other night they took 11 passengers from a Kata resort to a seafood restaurant in Patong, Waited for them to have their meal about 2.5 hours and returned them to their resort

Traveling in Air conditioned comfort door to door for a fee of 1800 baht or 164 baht per person

Who thinks this expensive and why do you think it is??

And why cannot you supply your guests with the same sort of service if you are involved in the tourist industry??

 

 

I don't think 164 baht is expensive for what you describe, BUT, you need another 10 people with you to able to get the price of 164 baht.  

 

There lays Phuket's BIG problem - no proper public transport for independent travelers and / or couples, hence, the majority of tourists to Phuket now being Chinese package holiday makers, using coach buses.

 

The same trip, not including the driver waiting around for the return journey, would cost the individual 400 baht to Patong, and 800 baht back to Kata, and 1200 baht for that return journey goes past being expensive or rip off and goes to being straight out extortion.

 

Without metered taxis, and professional drivers, how can Phuket claim to be "A World Class Tourist Destination" when the essential service of transport is left in the hands of criminals to administer???? 

[NamKangMan]

2 hours ago, madmax2 said:

Back packers have a much bigger choice of reasonably priced holiday destinations  now

My granddaughter came here as a backpacker about 4 years ago since that time she has been to Vietnam, India and Nepal , why would they want to come back to Thailand when they can see the world for around the same price, that's what backpacking is about

 

I know of one small guesthouse whose farang owner increased his room price from 400 to 600 baht in 2 years, The room we stopped in was expensive at 400 baht in our opinion compared to prices we have paid for accommodation in other guesthouses in Thailand

Two Thai owned and run guest houses opened up right next door to his business with a lot nicer rooms at a slightly higher price  

Now he has very few guests and its his own fault for being greedy not the other businesses as he claims

 

Ahhhh, I think you missed the part about them returning here for a honeymoon, or a yearly vacation, both of which usually occur AFTER their backpacking days are over.

 

In the past, backpackers passing through Phuket liked what they saw, and returned here purely for leisure, not travel purposes, and with money to spend. 

 

These days, the backpackers don't like what they see, and yes, particularly with the transport situation, and when they compare Phuket to other destinations they visited when backpacking, they chose another destination to return to, over Phuket.

 

Phuket should be advertising itself as a destination for repeat tourists, not turning them off the place. 

[madmax2]

5 minutes ago, NamKangMan said:

 

 

I don't think 164 baht is expensive for what you describe, BUT, you need another 10 people with you to able to get the price of 164 baht.  

 

There lays Phuket's BIG problem - no proper public transport for independent travelers and / or couples, hence, the majority of tourists to Phuket now being Chinese package holiday makers, using coach buses.

 

The same trip, not including the driver waiting around for the return journey, would cost the individual 400 baht to Patong, and 800 baht back to Kata, and 1200 baht for that return journey goes past being expensive or rip off and goes to being straight out extortion.

 

Without metered taxis, and professional drivers, how can Phuket claim to be "A World Class Tourist Destination" when the essential service of transport is left in the hands of criminals to administer???? 

How did you find the public transport system in Bali and Angkor Wat Cambodia, both asian holiday destinations similar to Phuket with the same type of economy a fair comparison in my opinion 

[madmax2]

5 minutes ago, NamKangMan said:

 

Ahhhh, I think you missed the part about them returning here for a honeymoon, or a yearly vacation, both of which usually occur AFTER their backpacking days are over.

 

In the past, backpackers passing through Phuket liked what they saw, and returned here purely for leisure, not travel purposes, and with money to spend. 

 

These days, the backpackers don't like what they see, and yes, particularly with the transport situation, and when they compare Phuket to other destinations they visited when backpacking, they chose another destination to return to, over Phuket.

 

Phuket should be advertising itself as a destination for repeat tourists, not turning them off the place. 

Never met a ex backpacker who returned to any previous backpackers heaven for a annual vacation or honeymoon the can usually afford much better than backpacker holidays and destinations

Repeat Tourists from Australia as you should know go to Bali for short relaxing breaks (cheaper than doing the same thing in Australia especially from WA)

Otherwise they go to one of the very reasonably priced holiday destination all around the world that are now available at any Australian travel agent i am kept up to date by the Aussie travel agent my family and i use from here and there, very reasonably priced holiday destinations and holiday packages anywhere on the planet

Every country in the world is now actively competing for international tourists to boost their economy, that is what is causing the down turn in tourists from some destinations to Thailand nothing else 

[stevenl]

 
 
I don't think 164 baht is expensive for what you describe, BUT, you need another 10 people with you to able to get the price of 164 baht.  
 
There lays Phuket's BIG problem - no proper public transport for independent travelers and / or couples, hence, the majority of tourists to Phuket now being Chinese package holiday makers, using coach buses.
 
The same trip, not including the driver waiting around for the return journey, would cost the individual 400 baht to Patong, and 800 baht back to Kata, and 1200 baht for that return journey goes past being expensive or rip off and goes to being straight out extortion.
 
Without metered taxis, and professional drivers, how can Phuket claim to be "A World Class Tourist Destination" when the essential service of transport is left in the hands of criminals to administer???? 

Again the same opinion disguised as fact. Why 'hence', still waiting for your reliable source to inform us of that.

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[NamKangMan]

On 21/02/2017 at 1:01 AM, stevenl said:

Again the same opinion disguised as fact. Why 'hence', still waiting for your reliable source to inform us of that.

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Do you really need a "reliable source" for information for Phuket????  You live here - don't you see it????  Can't you see the change???? 

 

My "opinion" becomes "fact" from my observations, from speaking to people, from reading forums and websites etc.  Land transport is the single biggest complaint about Phuket.  Stands to reason it would be the single biggest reason for tourists not to return here, or not even come here in the first place.  

 

You can deny all you like, but the FACT is, the majority of tourists to Phuket now are Chinese, who use coach buses, and the independent traveling western market is in decline here. ( I have already quoted a source for this)

[NamKangMan]

On 20/02/2017 at 9:49 PM, madmax2 said:

Never met a ex backpacker who returned to any previous backpackers heaven for a annual vacation or honeymoon the can usually afford much better than backpacker holidays and destinations

Repeat Tourists from Australia as you should know go to Bali for short relaxing breaks (cheaper than doing the same thing in Australia especially from WA)

Otherwise they go to one of the very reasonably priced holiday destination all around the world that are now available at any Australian travel agent i am kept up to date by the Aussie travel agent my family and i use from here and there, very reasonably priced holiday destinations and holiday packages anywhere on the planet

Every country in the world is now actively competing for international tourists to boost their economy, that is what is causing the down turn in tourists from some destinations to Thailand nothing else 

 

 

"the can usually afford much better than backpacker holidays and destinations" - huh????  So, is Phuket a "backpacker destination" or a a place "much better than a backpacker destination?" 

 

"Every country in the world is now actively competing for international tourists to boost their economy, that is what is causing the down turn in tourists from some destinations to Thailand nothing else" - I agree there is now more competition for the tourist dollar.  You use the example of Australia, but I think that to be a poor example, with only about 23 million population and most of the country warm, all year round. 

 

I have said it before, in my opinion, Vietnam is now Thailand's biggest competitor.   

 

You bought up the subject of "competition."  Question:  What is Phuket doing to compete???? 

 

I'll ask it again, name one thing that has been implemented for the benefit of tourists, locals and expats, in recent time, on Phuket?

[metisdead]

Off topic bickering posts and replies have been removed.

 

Replies to previously removed off topic bickering posts have been removed.  

[madmax2]

Never been anywhere except major Capitol cities that have reliable public transport after business hours, Singapore and Hongkong and Bangkok are major capitol cities

Pattaya is a town in Chon Buri which has a much bigger permanent population  than phuket and can support a public transport system

 

Places like Perth and Adelaide in Australia public transport virtually stops altogether after 8 PM in the evening and if you do not use your own transport the only option is taxis which are much dearer than Phuket

 

Bali and Angkor Wat in Cambodia which are tourist destinations the same as Phuket there is little or no public transport, unlike Phuket where you can get public transport to anywhere on the island in business hours

 

In Patong there is plenty of public transport after hours for the cheap charlies, they are called motorcycle taxis, Just because mainly one person continually complains about public transport on this forum means nothing and does not represent the opinion of tourists and expats in general 

[Old Croc]

 

51 minutes ago, madmax2 said:

Places like Perth and Adelaide in Australia public transport virtually stops altogether after 8 PM in the evening

Sorry, have to dispute that.

In Perth, unless you meant to say 12pm you are wrong.

A check of timetables on line will show that buses and trains there run every half hour until the last departure about 1130pm or later.

And some routes have late night services.

 

http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/Timetables/Late-Night-Services

[madmitch]

1 hour ago, madmax2 said:

Just because mainly one person continually complains about public transport on this forum means nothing and does not represent the opinion of tourists and expats in general 

There's one poster who's very outspoken about this but if you polled forum members and tourists I think you would find that very few are happy with the transport system in Phuket.

 

Perhaps someone more computer-savvy than me could do it.

[madmax2]

1 hour ago, Old Croc said:

 

Sorry, have to dispute that.

In Perth, unless you meant to say 12pm you are wrong.

A check of timetables on line will show that buses and trains there run every half hour until the last departure about 1130pm or later.

And some routes have late night services.

 

http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/Timetables/Late-Night-Services

OK things have changed a lot in the last 10 years

I doubt they have regular services after hours away from the main train and bus routes even now, personally i never relied on public transport in Perth then or even now if visiting, do you??

[madmax2]

1 hour ago, madmitch said:

There's one poster who's very outspoken about this but if you polled forum members and tourists I think you would find that very few are happy with the transport system in Phuket.

 

Perhaps someone more computer-savvy than me could do it.

I know a guest house owner in khao Lak who arranges transport for his guests as part of his guest service, people could do it here as well if they wanted to, how hard is it to put up a sign telling your guests that you can arrange cheap transport for groups of people who want to go somewhere to eat or shop or see the different sights, most guest houses rent out motorbikes to people who want to be independent 

[Old Croc]

13 minutes ago, madmax2 said:

OK things have changed a lot in the last 10 years

I doubt they have regular services after hours away from the main train and bus routes even now, personally i never relied on public transport in Perth then or even now if visiting, do you??

I've owned cars since I was 17. The last time I used public transport in Perth was probably a tram down St Georges Tce with my grandmother, or maybe the ferry to the Zoo.

I wouldn't know how to pay, nor how much it would cost to get on a bus or train in Perth.

I'm more familiar with London or Paris undergrounds than my home town.

However, I did know they don't stop running at 8pm.

[madmitch]

36 minutes ago, madmax2 said:

I know a guest house owner in khao Lak who arranges transport for his guests as part of his guest service, people could do it here as well if they wanted to, how hard is it to put up a sign telling your guests that you can arrange cheap transport for groups of people who want to go somewhere to eat or shop or see the different sights, most guest houses rent out motorbikes to people who want to be independent 

You need a licensed taxi to be able to do this, and that takes us back to square one. 

[madmax2]

21 minutes ago, madmitch said:

You need a licensed taxi to be able to do this, and that takes us back to square one. 

Plenty of licensed taxi services, just ask around for a phone number, they will quote you a price, thats what other accommodation businesses do

[stevenl]

5 hours ago, madmitch said:

There's one poster who's very outspoken about this but if you polled forum members and tourists I think you would find that very few are happy with the transport system in Phuket.

 

Perhaps someone more computer-savvy than me could do it.

Agree with you that not many people are happy with the transport situation. But that does not mean that transport is causing Phuket's decline, or transport is the cause of foreigners staying away, as is often claimed here. I personally don't believe that. And despite many requests to come with some kind of proof for the belief, I have yet to see it.

[madmitch]

56 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Agree with you that not many people are happy with the transport situation. But that does not mean that transport is causing Phuket's decline, or transport is the cause of foreigners staying away, as is often claimed here. I personally don't believe that. And despite many requests to come with some kind of proof for the belief, I have yet to see it.

I mostly agree, though I do know of a few budget travellers that have stated they won't return due to the transport situation and you may have seen the review I posted a few days ago. For many it's a minor inconvenience, for some it's not even a consideration. It's only a major problem for a relatively low number of tourists though it does of course exacerbate the problem of inexperienced tourists riding motorbikes.

[sweatalot]

23 hours ago, weerap said:

Hello sweatalot, I think family car like toyota fotuner or toyota innova is enough, the price is between 860 - 1000 baht as per negotiation. if you need van i'm recommend make the reservation with taxi service or tour company is cheaper than hotel. try to check price at https://www.taxiphuket.com

thank you weerap, this looks good

 

and thank you to everybody who took part in this thread. I appreciate your help. 

If somebody knows something even better than weerap's idea - I'm still open and keen on your hints

One week to go now 

[NamKangMan]

On 26/02/2017 at 7:57 PM, stevenl said:

Agree with you that not many people are happy with the transport situation. But that does not mean that transport is causing Phuket's decline, or transport is the cause of foreigners staying away, as is often claimed here. I personally don't believe that. And despite many requests to come with some kind of proof for the belief, I have yet to see it.

 

If that that was the case, stevenl, why aren't the majority of the tourists coming to Phuket now, the Chinese, independently transporting themselves around Phuket during their holiday????

 

Ahhhh, that's right, the cost of tuk-tuks would be more than their flights and / or accommodation, so, no transport included, and the Chinese don't come here.

 

Now, transpose that to the western market independent travelers, and you can see why this market is is rapid decline here.  They got caught once, went home, told all their friends, and now neither they, or they friends come here. 

 

It's not rocket science. 

 

It's Phuket biggest tourists complaint, and I believe even your own Honorary Consul a while ago raised it, yet, nothing has changed, except the western tourists, who have had a enough, and don't come here anymore.  

 

"Agree with you that not many people are happy with the transport situation." - you are in business here.  If "not many people are happy with the transport situation" here, what chances have YOU got of getting them back through YOUR door for a return holiday????????

Edited March 11, 2017 by NamKangMan

[NamKangMan]

On 26/02/2017 at 9:02 PM, madmitch said:

I mostly agree, though I do know of a few budget travellers that have stated they won't return due to the transport situation and you may have seen the review I posted a few days ago. For many it's a minor inconvenience, for some it's not even a consideration. It's only a major problem for a relatively low number of tourists though it does of course exacerbate the problem of inexperienced tourists riding motorbikes.

 

"though it does of course exacerbate the problem of inexperienced tourists riding motorbikes." - call a spade a spade. 

 

You are talking about the road fatalities and major injury to tourists here, because they chose 200 baht per day motorbike hire,  over 200 baht for a 200 meter tuk-tuk journey, and a lot of these victim are not backpackers or budget travelers, in fact, many expats have died on the roads here. 

[NamKangMan]

On 28/02/2017 at 1:54 AM, sweatalot said:

thank you weerap, this looks good

 

and thank you to everybody who took part in this thread. I appreciate your help. 

If somebody knows something even better than weerap's idea - I'm still open and keen on your hints

One week to go now 

 

 

Basically, EVERYONE on Phuket must have access to their own vehicle, or be at the mercy of the transport mafia here, hence, the terrible traffic on the roads here.

[stevenl]

4 hours ago, NamKangMan said:

 

If that that was the case, stevenl, why aren't the majority of the tourists coming to Phuket now, the Chinese, independently transporting themselves around Phuket during their holiday????

 

Ahhhh, that's right, the cost of tuk-tuks would be more than their flights and / or accommodation, so, no transport included, and the Chinese don't come here.

 

Now, transpose that to the western market independent travelers, and you can see why this market is is rapid decline here.  They got caught once, went home, told all their friends, and now neither they, or they friends come here. 

 

It's not rocket science. 

 

It's Phuket biggest tourists complaint, and I believe even your own Honorary Consul a while ago raised it, yet, nothing has changed, except the western tourists, who have had a enough, and don't come here anymore.  

 

"Agree with you that not many people are happy with the transport situation." - you are in business here.  If "not many people are happy with the transport situation" here, what chances have YOU got of getting them back through YOUR door for a return holiday????????

Many returning guests, thank you.

 

You quote my post but refuse to answer the most important point, the point that you continously don't answer:

"Agree with you that not many people are happy with the transport situation. But that does not mean that transport is causing Phuket's decline, or transport is the cause of foreigners staying away, as is often claimed here. I personally don't believe that. And despite many requests to come with some kind of proof for the belief, I have yet to see it. "

 

[NamKangMan]

11 hours ago, stevenl said:

Many returning guests, thank you.

 

You quote my post but refuse to answer the most important point, the point that you continously don't answer:

"Agree with you that not many people are happy with the transport situation. But that does not mean that transport is causing Phuket's decline, or transport is the cause of foreigners staying away, as is often claimed here. I personally don't believe that. And despite many requests to come with some kind of proof for the belief, I have yet to see it. "

 

 

"Many returning guests, thank you." - but not as many as before.  Right?

 

There is no doubt that transport is Phuket's biggest tourist complaint.  Surely, YOU can't deny that, and if you do, please post what you think is the biggest complaint from western tourists coming here, or should I say, the ones that don't come here anymore.

 

If you do not agree that western tourists are "staying away" how can you explain the many closures and for sale signs????

 

The proof I have is speaking to people, and my observations of businesses catering to westerners that have closed, or are for sale so the owner can get out. 

 

There's a long thread titled "Patong is Dead" that details this decline, or do you disagree there is any decline at all?

 

 

Edited March 12, 2017 by NamKangMan

[stevenl]

 
"Many returning guests, thank you." - but not as many as before.  Right?
 
There is no doubt that transport is Phuket's biggest tourist complaint.  Surely, YOU can't deny that, and if you do, please post what you think is the biggest complaint from western tourists coming here, or should I say, the ones that don't come here anymore.
 
If you do not agree that western tourists are "staying away" how can you explain the many closures and for sale signs????
 
The proof I have is speaking to people, and my observations of businesses catering to westerners that have closed, or are for sale so the owner can get out. 
 
There's a long thread titled "Patong is Dead" that details this decline, or do you disagree there is any decline at all?
 
 

So you have nothing to underline your claims.
Thanks for the confirmation, I'm out of here.

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[Peterw42]

OP, in answer to your original question, I think 1200 baht is about right for a van with air conn, 4 people and luggage will not fit in a single 800 baht car, and 2 cars would cost 1600. 

As for further transport, if you get a car guy thats good get their number. they will give you reasonable fixed prices, wait for you, bring you back etc