Car Ferry to Koh Chang

[driftwood 10]

I have a rental car and plan on going to Koh Chang for a few days after going to Khao Khitchakut. I understand that there are 2 car ferry companies, departing the mainland from Ao Thammachat and Centerpoint. Does any one know if one is better than the other?

 

Also, I a saw a post from last year about non-island residences not being able to take vehicles on the ferries. But it appears it may have been a hiccup, scam or fail experiment.

 

http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/topic/65732-car-access-limited-for-koh-chang/?hl=%2Bcar+%2Bferry

 

Does anyone know the status of this?

 

Thanks for any information or advice anyone can give.

[jacko 8,815]

I believe the ban on non-residents was overturned... there were a lot of Thai tourists inconvenienced!

Afraid I can't help further, last time I took my truck over there is ancient history.

[InternationalTraveler 282]

I have a rental car and plan on going to Koh Chang for a few days after going to Khao Khitchakut. I understand that there are 2 car ferry companies, departing the mainland from Ao Thammachat and Centerpoint. Does any one know if one is better than the other

Thanks for any information or advice anyone can give.

I last took my car over on the ferry April 2014...a few notes from my report which may be of use...the prices will be a little more I guess.

 

After Chanthabury follow the signs which are clearly marked. Used this ferry 4-times. Stayed in White beach 4-times which has more bars and a decent beach

 

Last stop for gas and a coffee at the 7-eleven before ferry turn off.

Sharp right to Ao Thammachart ferry not Centerpoint.

 

Only a few cars waiting to pay the 280 baht car +2 and join the queue.

Less than 10- minutes and we were parked on the boat and sailing….seemed like a quick trip…read somewhere the ferries now have bigger engines…

This ferry is not in unchartered territory but back and forth 20- times a day.

 

Hotel was booked on the internet …..not risking the walk in rate so it was the Katcha on White beach at 2400 a night…nearly all the normal hotel prices on Koh Chang are 2k up and the better ones even more.

It has an average sized room. Buffet breakfast was included and it also has a large pool.

This was my 4^th visit to the island so well versed with all the places…last time stayed in Paddy Palms but this time it was fully booked.

Small Leo around 80 baht in nearly all the bars.

[driftwood 10]

Thanks for all the information. I will post the results for the ferry and prices. When I make the crossing.

[lanzalad 128]

Here's a report i did a while ago:-

 

Well we was running late as always and we got load up by 6am and collected our friends to head for the border of Cambodia and Thailand.

 

so with the two bikes and the four of us we was making good time and we got to the border around 10am and Krzysztof was in a bit of a panic as we all decided to do some shopping as my Cambodian visa was in process but he didn't bring a passport and didn't was the stamp...

So i started by getting the outward stamp and the officer ask if i was looking at getting 30 days and i just said yes bt mistake then i told NO i have a visa for Thailand, he then looked at me and i handed over all my papers i was told i didn't need anything at all as i already had the visa.

So then i headed into the line for the Cambodian visa (1500 baht) next to thai immigration still in Thailand as everyone of us all waited and the man who took my passport told me to wait here and don't go anywhere, but we had planned on shopping in Cambodia for a few duty free goodies.

I told Puang & Krzysztof's lady to go and me and Krzysztof would wait here.. 5 minutes later Puang comes back sad and says to me we can't go we have to pay for them go for us .... at this point i said mmmm "Thai mafia" and the Cambodian officer said yes to me..

Then i started to chat to him and he said mafia no good and told me to come to one side and we all got into his car and he drove all four of us around the small town inside Cambodia and took us shopping.

here's a few

So i ended up buying 2 sleeves L&M lights and case of Angkor beer for 850 baht what a deal...

Krzysztof was over the moon about it, he didn't even have a passport with him...

It was time to get my stamp back into Thailand no questions asked ... nothing he didn't even look at all the pages out/ in stamps, nothing just stamped my passport and handed it back to me.

NEXT STOP KOH CHANG

So next stop Koh Chang 2 hours and 20 minutes away, I was thinking if the ferries run every hour we would make the 1pm crossing so it was foot to the board and gain some ground while everyone had 40 winks.

For this leg we didn’t stop and got there around 12:40, its some kind of ticket drive thru and check in if you’re crossing with a vehicle.

At the first counter you pay and I told puang to tell them we are taking the truck, 4 persons and 2 bikes.

So Puang does her Thai bit then asks me for 440 baht, at this point I told Puang this is the price for the truck, 4 persons and 2 bikes?

She told me 80 baht each and the truck is 120 baht … what a deal. I was smiling all the way onto the ferry.

here's a few shots of the ferry port and on the ferry heading to Koh Chang.

So we landed on Koh Chang and everyone was wondering if I know where I was going I told them the same place all the baht buses are going up and over the top of that hill, at this point Puang looked up and said very hill and have cloud and we drive over? Yes we can just like everyone else can.

So we hit the hill and I put on the power and around the sharp corners the truck was wheel spinning and Puang gave out the odd scream…

We got the white sands and looking at the main street it seams more built but than before but I can remember the odd place as we drive past.

So I remember the name of the place tantawan but can I remember where it is.. I dove into the drive no sign as before and there we was…

Puang jumped out and looked around you could see the beach thru the bungalows she was smiling and couldn’t wait to get checked in.

Now when we have called before for this place to make a booking we have always been told there’s plenty of a bungalow so we have never booked and something else has come up and we have ended up not coming, so this time we didn’t call and we just turned up.

Puang asked about the rooms and they only had one room as four was taken this morning….

Well I was at pissed off at this point and you know what its like finding a good place to stay…

So we all jumped into the truck and we drove up white sands looking, we tried a few places and no Wi-Fi, not on the beach, rooms smelt of damp.

Driving on we came to this place on our second lap of white sands “grand View Resort”

Puang went in and asked the questions and out she came with a one of the staff and a bunch on keys.

Now I guess the staff here have a played out routine on this as we was shown the main road side bungalows first as 1000 baht then the second row at 1500 and the third row beach side as 2000, puang did her stuff and managed to get them for 1800 per night.

Sat on my balcony with all my supplies and WIFI..

Meet the neighbours

 

 

The day before we set off we was busy all day until late in the evening then needed to pack and I only had a few hours sleep then it was time to leave.

 

Everyone had at least 40 winks on the journey but me so by 8 at night I was ready to hit the sack and I turned in for the night while Puang got pissed with our new neighbors.

The next morning I was up at the crack of dawn while everyone else was hung over.

 

Day 2

 

After everyone woke up we had breakfast which was in the deal with the resort which was very nice for all included deal.

then we decided to head out on the bikes for a drive around western side of the island.

funny i've done this before but i remember the roads but not all the buildings, i remember fields as far as i could see.

i remember a small turning to one of the large waterfalls in Koh Chang so we headed to this as we all was looking forward to having a swim.

Here's a few shots.

 

I hope this helps..... but i don't know about any changes to the ferries to Koh Chang

Edited February 6, 2017 by lanzalad

[nkped 1,208]

Going over the "hill" on Koh Chang will pucker you up.