Phantip 1970 vs Seatran Ferry
Compare Phantip 1970 and Seatran Ferry — 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 Seatran Ferry What travellers say: Phantip 1970 vs Seatran Ferry
Travellers rate both operators highly for southern Thailand routes, with Seatran Ferry earning a higher average score and more uniform praise than the broader multi-leg services of Phantip 1970.
Phantip 1970
Reviewers describe Phantip 1970 as a reliable, good-value coordinator of bus-ferry-van journeys that often arrives early and offers helpful staff with destination stickers, though complaints frequently cite reckless drivers, cramped minivans, luggage surcharges, poor transfer communication and occasional use of older Raja ferries instead of the praised Seatran vessels.
Seatran Ferry
Travellers consistently praise Seatran Ferry for punctuality, smooth and easy experiences, comfortable clean ferries with on-board amenities, and flexible staff who accommodate early arrivals or missed connections, while noting that connecting buses and vans are the weaker element with variable age, air-conditioning and occasional driver issues.
Overall sentiment is stronger and more consistent for Seatran Ferry at 4.6/5 versus Phantip 1970 at 4.27/5; book either operator seamlessly at ThailandBoatTickets.com where our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) is available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook to assist with any questions.
Pros & cons
Phantip 1970 Pros
- Smooth, well-organised coordinated transfers with staff using destination stickers on clothing
- On-time or often early arrivals with flexibility to switch to earlier departures at no charge
- Good value for money and affordable multi-leg journeys
- Helpful friendly staff especially at offices and counters
- Comfortable vehicles and ferries on good legs with clean AC seating and sun decks
Cons
- Reckless driver behaviour including speeding, overtaking on blind corners and phone use
- Poor communication at transfer points leaving passengers confused with no information
- Cramped overpacked minivans with little legroom and luggage stuffed in aisles
- Luggage surcharges of 100-300 baht for larger suitcases applied inconsistently
- Longer than advertised journey times due to extra stops and package deliveries
Seatran Ferry Pros
- Strong punctuality with many arrivals earlier than scheduled
- Smooth easy hassle-free experience with good organisation and clear signage
- Helpful friendly staff who assist with missed connections and luggage
- Comfortable clean ferries with AC cabins, sun decks, on-board shop and stable crossing
- Flexibility to board earlier ferries on the same ticket when arriving early
Cons
- Old uncomfortable buses or vans with weak or broken AC and occasional breakdowns
- Driver issues including reckless driving, phone use and demands for extra cash
- Ticketing confusion with online prices higher than counter and child discounts not applied
- Schedule mismatches with long waits or journeys running hours longer than promised
- Extreme heat or overly cold AC on some legs and limited luggage space
Service areas at a glance
Based on currently active routes for each operator.
Both operators 7
Only Phantip 1970 11
Only Seatran Ferry 2
Routes & coverage compared
Both operators run the same core routes connecting Koh Phangan to Bangkok and Surat Thani Train Station, Koh Samui to Don Mueang Airport and Surat Thani, plus Surat Thani to Koh Samui, Surat Thani to Surat Thani Airport, and Surat Thani Airport to Koh Phangan. Trip planners can compare schedules and book these shared services at ThailandBoatTickets.com, where our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) is available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook.
Phantip 1970 alone covers an extensive network of connections from Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Surat Thani to Ao Nang, Hat Yai, Khao Sok, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Tao, Krabi, Phuket and Trang, including routes such as Ao Nang to Koh Phangan, Phuket to Koh Samui, and Krabi to Koh Tao. Seatran Ferry operates only the additional routes linking Koh Phangan and Koh Samui with Nakhon Si Thammarat in both directions. Book these unique options at ThailandBoatTickets.com, where our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) is 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 Seatran Ferry between 450 THB–710 THB (median 580 THB). On the whole, Seatran Ferry offers the cheaper tickets.
Which should you pick?
Frequently asked questions
Phantip 1970 vs Seatran Ferry