Taxi from Bangkok to Ban Phe (Koh Samet Pier)
A private car from your Bangkok hotel to the piers of Ban Phe costs 2,199 THB for the whole car, a Standard Sedan for 3 passengers. The road is 210 km and takes about 2 h 30 min. The driver drops you at the pier of your boat, and the price does not change with the number of passengers.
| Car | Passengers | Price per car | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard SedanToyota Corolla | 3 | 2,199 THB | Book |
| Premium SedanToyota Camry | 3 | 2,299 THB | Book |
| Toyota InnovaToyota Innova | 4 | 2,499 THB | Book |
| Toyota FortunerToyota Fortuner | 4 | 2,599 THB | Book |
| Toyota CommuterToyota Commuter | 9 | 3,299 THB | Book |
| Hyundai H1Hyundai H1 | 6 | 3,799 THB | Book |
| VIP CommuterVIP Toyota Commuter | 8 | 3,799 THB | Book |
One way, the price is for the whole car, not per person. Fuel, tolls and parking are included.
Pick-up anywhere in Bangkok
Give the name of your hotel, condo or house and the street in the order form, and the driver arrives at the time you set. There is no meeting point to find and no rank to queue at. Bangkok traffic is the one thing that moves the start: a pick-up before 7 in the morning leaves the city almost empty, while the hours after 8 are slow on the way out of town.
If you land at an airport instead, use the Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang page, where the driver waits in the arrivals hall with your name on a sign.
Which pier the car goes to
Ban Phe is a fishing town with eight piers close together, and each boat operator uses its own. The order form has a drop-down list of them. Choose the one printed on your ferry or speedboat ticket. If you have not bought a ticket yet, ask your resort on Koh Samet which pier its boat leaves from, or read the guide to the piers.
The price is the same for every pier, so changing your mind on the day costs nothing.
From the pier to the island
The ferry from Ban Phe to Koh Samet costs 70 THB per person one way and 120 THB return, runs daily from 08:00 to 18:00 and takes 30 to 40 minutes. Tickets are bought at the pier and are not part of the taxi price. A speedboat takes about 15 minutes and is priced per boat, at 1,000 to 2,000 THB depending on the destination beach, so it pays off for a group rather than for one traveller.
The timetable runs until 18:00. With 2 h 30 min on the road, a pick-up in Bangkok by about 13:00 leaves comfortable room to buy tickets and board the last departures.
The road to Ban Phe
The car leaves Bangkok on the eastern motorways towards Chon Buri, then continues down the coast road to Rayong and on to Ban Phe, 210 km in all. Tolls are paid by the driver and are inside the price. Allow a stop for coffee or a toilet; the driver waits at no charge.
Friday afternoon and the first day of a long weekend are the slow times out of Bangkok. If you travel then, set the pick-up earlier rather than later.
Choosing the car
The Standard Sedan (2,199 THB) and the Premium Sedan (2,299 THB) take 3 passengers. For 4 passengers with suitcases, the Toyota Innova costs 2,499 THB and the Toyota Fortuner 2,599 THB. Larger groups take the Hyundai H1 for 6 at 3,799 THB, the VIP Commuter for 8 at 3,799 THB or the Toyota Commuter for 9 at 3,299 THB.
Fuel, tolls and parking are included. You pay the driver in cash, or by Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, transfer by QR code or bank transfer to a Thai account if you prefer. Cancelling a booking is free. From 24 December to 5 January the price rises by 400 THB per car.
Questions and answers
Do I have to buy the boat ticket before the taxi?
No. You buy the ticket at the pier after you arrive, and the driver takes you to the pier you choose in the form.
How long does the drive take from Bangkok?
About 2 h 30 min for 210 km. Traffic out of Bangkok on Friday afternoon can add some time, and the price stays the same.
Can the driver wait while I buy the ferry ticket?
Yes. The driver helps with the bags to the ticket counter, and there is no charge for the few minutes it takes.
Is the price per person?
No, it is per car. A Standard Sedan costs 2,199 THB with one, two or three people in it.
What if I want to come back from the island?
Book a second transfer from Ban Phe. The return costs the same as the trip out, and you can add it in the same order form.
Book Bangkok city to Ban Phe (pier to Koh Samet)
Free cancellation. Pay the driver in cash, or by Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, transfer by QR code or bank transfer to a Thai account if you prefer.