Phantip 1970 vs Koh Tao Booking Center
Compare Phantip 1970 and Koh Tao Booking Center — routes, service areas, and coverage across Thailand. See where they overlap and where each operator goes its own way.
Operator A Phantip 1970 vs 
Operator B Koh Tao Booking Center What travellers say: Phantip 1970 vs Koh Tao Booking Center
Both operators earn nearly identical high ratings (Phantip 1970 at 4.27/5 from over 7,400 reviews and Koh Tao Booking Center at 4.3/5 from 785 reviews) with 79.6% positive feedback, yet travellers highlight distinct strengths and recurring friction points across multi-leg journeys.
Phantip 1970
Reviewers describe Phantip 1970 as a reliable, well-coordinated operator for southern Thailand routes combining vans, buses and ferries, frequently praising smooth transfers, on-time or early arrivals, helpful staff, flexibility for earlier departures, and good value, while noting Seatran ferries as comfortable; common complaints centre on reckless or distracted drivers, cramped minivans, poor communication at change points, luggage surcharges and occasional old Raja ferries. Book Phantip 1970 tickets on ThailandBoatTickets.com to benefit from their 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook.
Koh Tao Booking Center
Travellers view Koh Tao Booking Center as a convenient coordinator for island and mainland transfers, especially praising easy e-ticket check-in, free luggage storage, punctual and comfortable speedboats or ferries, helpful office staff and the overnight sleeper boat experience; the main drawbacks involve partner van and bus legs with reckless drivers, overcrowding, delays, weak information during transfers and occasional surprise fees or overbooked sleeper beds. Secure Koh Tao Booking Center journeys on ThailandBoatTickets.com and use their 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram or Facebook for support.
Sentiment is comparably positive for both, with Phantip 1970 edging out on transfer coordination volume and Koh Tao Booking Center on boat comfort, though land-leg issues affect travellers across the board.
Pros & cons
Phantip 1970 Pros
- Smooth, well-organised, coordinated transfers with helpful staff using destination stickers
- On-time or often early arrivals, with flexibility to take earlier departures at no extra charge
- Good value for money on multi-leg routes combining minivan, bus, ferry and transfers
- Helpful and friendly office staff who assist with issues like missed connections
- Comfortable Seatran ferries with AC, clean seats, shop and sun deck
Cons
- Reckless driver behaviour including speeding, phone use and overtaking on blind corners
- Poor communication at transfer points leading to confusion and long waits
- Cramped, overpacked minivans with limited legroom and luggage stuffed in aisles
- Luggage surcharges of 100-300 baht for larger suitcases, sometimes applied inconsistently
- Longer-than-advertised journey times due to extra stops, errands or detours
Koh Tao Booking Center Pros
- Easy and smooth booking and check-in process, often allowing quick boarding with e-ticket
- Free luggage storage at the office before departure
- On-time and reliable boat departures and arrivals
- Comfortable boats with AC, pillows, blankets and the experience of overnight sleeper travel
- Helpful and friendly office staff who assist with lost items or ticket issues
Cons
- Cramped and uncomfortable connecting van/bus legs with reckless driving and weak AC
- Delays, long waiting times and lateness especially on land transfer segments
- Poor information about transfers, vehicle changes and schedules at piers
- Sleeper boat issues including thin mattresses, overbooking leading to floor sleeping and very cold AC
- Extra or unexpected fees for hotel drop-offs and higher online prices versus pier prices
Service areas at a glance
Based on currently active routes for each operator.
Both operators 17
Only Phantip 1970 1
Only Koh Tao Booking Center 13
Routes & coverage compared
Both operators run head-to-head on routes including Ao Nang to Koh Phangan, Ao Nang to Surat Thani, Khao Sok to Surat Thani Airport, Koh Phangan to Hat Yai, Koh Phangan to Khao Sok, Koh Phangan to Koh Lanta, Koh Phangan to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Phangan to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan to Trang, Koh Phi Phi to Koh Phangan, Koh Samui to Koh Phangan, Koh Tao to Surat Thani Town, Krabi to Koh Phangan, Krabi to Koh Tao, and Surat Thani Airport to Koh Tao. Book these overlapping routes at ThailandBoatTickets.com where our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) is available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook.
Phantip 1970 uniquely serves routes such as Ao Nang to Koh Phi Phi, Donsak to Krabi, Hat Yai to Donsak, Koh Phangan to Bangkok, Koh Phangan to Phuket, Phuket to Koh Samui, Surat Thani to Ao Nang, and Surat Thani Airport to Koh Phangan, while Koh Tao Booking Center exclusively covers George Town to Koh Tao, Koh Phangan to Kuala Lumpur, Koh Phangan to Penang, Koh Phangan to Koh Lipe, Koh Tao to Khao Lak, Koh Tao to Ranong, and Koh Tao to George Town. Plan these distinct journeys at ThailandBoatTickets.com with our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook.
Routes both operators run
Same departure and destination — true head-to-head options.
Price distribution
How ticket prices spread across each operator's routes (THB).
Phantip 1970 tickets usually fall between 530 THB–940 THB (median 770 THB), while Koh Tao Booking Center between 1,110 THB–1,840 THB (median 1,360 THB). On the whole, Phantip 1970 offers the cheaper tickets.
Which should you pick?
Frequently asked questions
Phantip 1970 vs Koh Tao Booking Center