Ruea Chor Maetapee vs Fame Tour
Compare Ruea Chor Maetapee and Fame Tour — routes, service areas, and coverage across Thailand. See where they overlap and where each operator goes its own way.
Operator A Ruea Chor Maetapee vs 
Operator B Fame Tour What travellers say: Ruea Chor Maetapee vs Fame Tour
Both operators earn nearly identical average ratings just above 4.0, yet they differ sharply in review volume, consistency of written feedback, and the specific pain points travellers highlight.
Ruea Chor Maetapee
With only 20 reviews total and just four containing text, Ruea Chor Maetapee is described as delivering smooth, safe overnight ferry arrivals to Koh Tao, though reviewers note unclear boarding and transfer details, misleading arrival times, cold buses without toilets or blankets, and occasional dirty bathrooms. Travellers are advised to confirm every step in advance and bring warm layers.
Fame Tour
Fame Tour’s much larger set of 290 reviews shows strong praise for helpful English-speaking office staff, smooth overall coordination, and on-time or early arrivals, especially on the Sleeper Boat + Van combo rated 4.40. Common complaints centre on unannounced vehicle changes, frequent local stops, overcrowding, extra mid-journey fees, drop-offs away from advertised points, and poor toilet conditions. Book these operators through ThailandBoatTickets.com and use our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram or Facebook to clarify transfers and avoid surprises.
Ruea Chor Maetapee and Fame Tour post almost identical scores, but Fame’s far larger review base reveals more frequent comfort and communication issues while Ruea’s thin feedback still flags similar transfer-information problems; both benefit from booking via ThailandBoatTickets.com with VTA support for smoother journeys.
Pros & cons
Ruea Chor Maetapee Pros
- Smooth and safe ferry arrivals to Koh Tao Pier
- Adequate overnight ferry experience described as sufficient
- Solid overall rating of 4.05/5 with 75% positive reviews
Cons
- Unclear or missing trip information on vouchers and routes
- Misleading arrival times with buses often late
- Cleanliness issues including filthy bathrooms on night boats
- Uncomfortable bus conditions with strong AC and no toilets
Fame Tour Pros
- Helpful and friendly office/check-in staff with good English
- Good organisation and smooth transfers when successful
- Frequent on-time or early arrivals
- Strong value for money especially on Sleeper Boat + Van (4.40 rating)
Cons
- Surprise vehicle changes and non-direct rides common
- Frequent local stops extending journey times significantly
- Requests for extra mid-journey payments for luggage or legs
- Overcrowding discomfort and basic or overbooked sleeper boats
- Poor toilet conditions and inconsistent driver quality
Service areas at a glance
Based on currently active routes for each operator.
Both operators 13
Only Ruea Chor Maetapee 2
Only Fame Tour 19
Routes & coverage compared
Both Ruea Chor Maetapee and Fame Tour operate the same direct routes from Koh Tao to Ao Nang, Hat Yai, Khao Lak, Khao Sok, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Railay, and Surat Thani Bus Terminal, plus the return leg from Surat Thani Airport to Koh Tao. Book these overlapping services at ThailandBoatTickets.com where our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) is ready on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook.
Ruea Chor Maetapee alone runs Koh Tao to Penang plus numerous departures from Surat Thani to Ao Nang, Hat Yai, Khao Lak, Khao Sok, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Phuket and Railay. Fame Tour alone provides Bangkok to Koh Tao, extensive Chumphon departures to Koh Tao and many other destinations, plus Koh Phangan connections to Ao Nang, George Town, Hat Yai, Khao Lak, Khao Sok, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Krabi, Pak Bara, Phuket, Railay, Satun, Surat Thani Airport and Trang. Compare every option at ThailandBoatTickets.com.
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).
Ruea Chor Maetapee tickets usually fall between 460 THB–1,160 THB (median 810 THB), while Fame Tour between 710 THB–2,060 THB (median 1,110 THB). On the whole, Ruea Chor Maetapee offers the cheaper tickets.
Which should you pick?
Frequently asked questions
Ruea Chor Maetapee vs Fame Tour