Tara Tour and Travel vs Smile On Transport
Compare Tara Tour and Travel and Smile On Transport — routes, service areas, and coverage across Thailand. See where they overlap and where each operator goes its own way.
Operator A Tara Tour and Travel vs 
Operator B Smile On Transport What travellers say: Tara Tour and Travel vs Smile On Transport
Traveller reviews show Smile On Transport with a higher average rating than Tara Tour and Travel, though the latter draws from a much larger review volume with more varied feedback.
Tara Tour and Travel
Reviewers of Tara Tour and Travel consistently note it gets travellers safely to destinations like Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi and Koh Chang at budget prices, often with extras such as water, snacks or a burger, but highlight frequent issues with delays, minivan-to-bus transfers, overcharging perceptions, weak English communication and variable comfort on the dominant Bus Express class.
Smile On Transport
Feedback on Smile On Transport praises professional, polite and punctual drivers along with helpful coordination on services like Economy taxis and combined taxi-plus-speedboat transfers to islands, though a small number of reviews flag safety concerns, language barriers and occasional lateness without apology.
Smile On Transport earns stronger overall sentiment in its limited reviews while Tara Tour and Travel shows more inconsistency despite its scale; ThailandBoatTickets.com is the best place to book either, with our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) available on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram and Facebook.
Service areas at a glance
Based on currently active routes for each operator.
Both operators 20
Only Tara Tour and Travel 16
Only Smile On Transport 21
Routes & coverage compared
Both operators run identical routes including Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi, Koh Chang, Koh Samet, Nong Khai, Phetchaburi, Phuket, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Suvarnabhumi Airport, Trat and Udon Thani plus Chiang Mai to Pai, Kanchanaburi to Bangkok, Pai to Chiang Mai and Suvarnabhumi Airport to Chanthaburi. Book these shared routes at ThailandBoatTickets.com and chat with our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram or Facebook.
Tara Tour and Travel alone covers Bangkok to Cha Am, Kamphaeng Phet, Khao Lak, Koh Kood, Koh Lipe, Koh Phangan, Koh Phayam, Koh Samui, Krabi, Lampang, Mae Sot, Pai, Phayao, Phitsanulok, Phrae, Ranong, Sukhothai, Tak and Uttaradit plus multiple Ayutthaya and northern legs, while Smile On Transport alone runs Bangkok to Chumphon, Khon Kaen, Koh Larn, Loei, Nam Nao National Park, Pattaya, Phetchabun, Prachinburi and Rayong plus extensive southern connections around Phuket, Krabi, Ao Nang, Koh Lanta and Phang Nga. Compare every option at ThailandBoatTickets.com and message our 24/7 Virtual Ticket Assistant (VTA) on WhatsApp, Instagram DM, Telegram or 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).
Tara Tour and Travel tickets usually fall between 680 THB–1,070 THB (median 880 THB), while Smile On Transport between 2,740 THB–5,400 THB (median 4,100 THB). On the whole, Tara Tour and Travel offers the cheaper tickets.
Which should you pick?
Frequently asked questions
Tara Tour and Travel vs Smile On Transport