Catching the Satun Ferry to Langkawi may sound like a no-brainer, and for the most part it is, however, there are a few things first timers might want to take note of. As of this initial writing, in December 2022, there is just one ferry a day from Satun to Langkawi and it’s at 11:30am (Thailand Time). The ferry arrives in Langkawi about 75-minutes later (give or take); 12:45pm Thai time (which is 1:45pm Malaysia time). *Malaysia is one hour ahead of Thailand* At any rate, in October 2022, the Satun ferry (from Tammalang Pier) resumed operations after a 2-year ‘pandemic’ break. *March 2024 updated… Satun Ferry to Langkawi is still scheduled for just once a day and the times may vary a bit due to tides. Additional ferry times may be added during holidays. Also be sure to get your Malaysia Digital Arrival Card HERE
In November 2022, after a week-long conference and media trip, I found myself in Hat Yai, Thailand and ready to return to Langkawi. For years I have been a big fan of the scenic Malaysia route between Langkawi and Hat Yai, due to the generous ferry schedule Kuala Perlis always had; 10 daily ferries vs just 3 daily ferries previously for Satun. Taking the ferry from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi (or visa versa) was less ‘time sensitive’ and thus less stressful in my book.
But that’s changed. Post-pandemic Kuala Perlis (and Kuala Kedah) ferry schedules are no longer 10 daily set in stone scheduled ferries. In fact, the Kuala Perlis ferry is now a nightmare of often sold-out tickets and spontaneous last minute additional ferries scheduled that make it very challenging to plan a last-minute trip around. And good luck getting a ticket if you dare to travel on a holiday or weekend.
So, there I am in Hat Yai, pondering my usual route and decided that no, I would return to Langkawi via the Satun Ferry at Tammalang Pier and avoid that potential nightmare. I wasn’t 100% sure the Satun Ferry was running so I asked a local Hat Yai tour guide. And guess what? He didn’t know. Truly, it never looks good when your local tour guide doesn’t know about basic transportation options.
He then called a tour guide in Malaysia (a friend) and that person also didn’t know. And, of course, neither tour guide had the Tammalang Pier on speed dial so a few shoulder shrugs later I felt panic creep into my adventurous self and a wave of exhaustion hit me like a ton of bricks. I was flat out not in the mood to deal with transportation issues or clueless tour guides.
Thankfully, the manager of the hotel where I was staying made a phone call and got the updated 2022 ferry information. She gave me a website link and told me that I needed to book the ferry in advance. I asked the manager if ferry tickets could be booked/ purchased through the hotel, but unfortunately they didn’t offer that service option (only taxi pre-bookings).
So, I looked at the website and it was archaic and spooky looking. No way I wanted to use a credit card on it, because it just didn’t look cyber ‘safe’. Then I found another website: www.thailandferrybooking.com, but I was unable to book it through my laptop. I then asked the front desk manager if she could try booking it from her hotel computer. It worked. However, the website stalled a few times and I started to feel uncomfortable about the cyber security of things. Thankfully the site accepted American Express, just in case there were any issues later.
Here’s what I learned about taking the Satun ferry to Langkawi:
1. Booking Tickets for the Satun Ferry to Langkawi
On the advice of my resourceful hotel manager, I was told I should book my Satun to Langkawi ferry ticket in advance, because seats are ‘limited’. She was under the impression that the ferry was a speed boat such as the ones that leave from Pak Bara. I know that not to be the case (but it post pandemic times, I wasn’t 100% sure). *Updated March 2023: Ferry times may now encounter ‘tide’ issues, can now check Andaman Ferry Service. com for possible tide related time changes and updates to the ‘present’ month (no ferry available often means website schedule isn’t updated yet)
After the weird website booking experience, the hotel manager then called the ferry booking company and confirmed that my booking did go through. ** Notably when I later checked my American Express billing statement, the exact amount for the ferry came in as a spa visit in Bangkok. So, you do with that information as you will. Seems super shady to me and I’m not sure I would use them for future bookings of any kind.
However! The good news is, that there is no need to book in advance for the Satun Ferry to Langkawi. You can easily buy them at the Tammalang Pier (NOT to be confused with Pak Bara Pier). The Satun Ferry to Langkawi is a full-size ferry and not a ‘speed boat’. It also has plenty of seats. In my case, I was able to just show a photo of my booking confirmation at the Tammalang Pier (and my passport) and was given a paper ticket.
2. Getting to Satun
Since I was coming from Hat Yai (two-hours away), I needed to be at the Tammalang Pier by 10:30am (at least 1 hour before departure). This allows time for proper check in (or to purchase a ticket). A taxi is way more expensive than a minivan (from bus station #1 or the clock tower), but from my personal experience of traveling this route for 10 years, minivans can be quick and efficient OR they can make many stops along the way and absolutely kill your scheduled plans. My advice, take a taxi. That goes for coming from Pak Bara Pier as well. You are looking at about 1500baht (RM190/ 43usd); a small price to pay for peace of mind.
*If you need a taxi to get to or from Satun, I can personally recommend my friend An who is available for transportation or private tour guide hire. We first met in 2015. He speaks English, Bahasa Melayu and Thai, and is an excellent resource. If he is unavailable, he can assist with arraigning another driver for you. His WhatsApp number is: +66 82 176 6382
If you decide to take a minivan:
Do note, that you don’t just want to get to Satun, you want to get to Tammalang Pier (which is outside of ‘Satun City’ drop off points. This is where confusion can come in and precious time can be eaten up. If you get dropped off in Satun, you could be being dropped off at several different locations within Satun City. From that drop off you will then need to get a ride to the Tammalang Pier; with popular transportation modes being motorbike or community Songthaew (trucks).
I’m personally not a big fan of motorbike travel with a suitcase (or in possible rain). If you are a thrill seeker, then go for it. If you also enjoy the anxiety that comes with community transportation and wondering if you’ll make it to your destination in time, then you will love both of these options. Good times!
If you are already in Satun:
If you are already in Satun the morning of your planned ferry departure, then you’ll have no issues. Just ask your hotel/ guest house to help you arrange transportation to the Tammalang Pier, they will happily assist. For more info about Satun: Satun, Thailand: More Than Just a Border Town
3. Satun Ferry to Langkawi (the final leg)
I showed my passport and a photo of my booking confirmation at the Tammalang Pier and was given a paper ticket and then instructed to wait. I had arrived around 10:00am, so I had 90 minutes to kill.
Tammalang Pier is an open-air jetty space with seats inside and outside. A couple of snack vendors are usually parked outside, but there is also an onsite restaurant and sundry shop inside along with an assortment of tour operators. There is no ATM machine at the Tammalang Pier, but there is a money exchange counter. Toilets are also available.
About 30-minutes or so before departure, immigrations begin checking ferry passengers out of Thailand, after which passengers can then proceed to board the ferry. Once you are checked out of Thailand there is no going back into the ferry building or out on the street; just straight to the docks and the ferry boat.
The ferry staff I encountered were super friendly, and although tickets had numbered seats, we were instructed to sit anywhere we wanted to. I picked a cozy little corner with a window to eliminate any potential seat kickers sitting behind me, and to have an unobstructed sea view. Unfortunately, the window was a bit dirty and scratched up, but at least I had achieved my goal and was on my way home. We departed on the dot at 11:30am (Thai time).
The Satun ferry to Langkawi is an older ferry boat, but the temperature was comfortable, they have movies, and of course toilets. If you’re going to need snacks or water, be sure to bring them with you because I didn’t see any snack vendors onboard.
On arrival to Langkawi 75-minutes later (1:45pm Malaysia time), passengers are ushered straight to the immigration counter for check in to Malaysia. Post check in, new arrivals may also be required to screen their luggage (I was). After that, the journey is complete.
For newbies, I highly recommend ignoring the taxi touts and head straight to the front entrance of the Kuah Jetty building and hire your licensed taxi there. You can also call a GRAB taxi (downloadable app from Google Play). There is an ATM machine near the front entrance as well. *For the record, the regular taxi rates and the GRAB taxi rates (from the ferry building) are very similar, so it’s often just not worth the hassle of using GRAB.
Satun Ferry to Langkawi Recap
1. Be at Tammalang Pier at least 1 hour in advance (10:30am at least).
2. Purchase ferry ticket or show purchased ticket proof and passport at the ticket counter.
3. Check out of Thailand via Tammalang Pier immigration counter.
4. Depart Tammalang Pier (11:30am Thai time).
5. Arrive in Langkawi ‘approximately’ 75-minutes later (1:45pm Malaysia time).
6. Check into Malaysia at the Kuah Jetty immigration.
7. Bypass taxi touts at the arrival gate and find licensed taxis at the entrance of the Kuah Jetty.
8. If you need an ATM machine, there is one located near the front entry of Kuah Jetty. Use it.
My two cents:
*ALWAYS keep in mind the time change.
*The more transportation steps you add, the higher the risk of ‘something’ happening that can throw your time schedule off. You may save a few Ringgits here and there, but having to spend an extra night somewhere because you missed the ferry (bus, train, flight, etc.…), is something to consider in the grand scheme of things.
*I also recommend dressing modestly as a show of respect to immigration officials as well as other passengers. It also downplays your ‘hey look at me I’m a tourist!’ appearance. Looking like a tourist is not always in your best interest.
*Don’t play with immigration officers; they are completely in charge of who gets in and who does not.
*Have proper currency before you get into a Langkawi taxi; detours to ATM machines can be inconvenient for taxis at certain times of the day.
Vanessa, I’m trying to do this exact trip and this was super helpful! Thank you :)
You’re welcome! I thought it might come in handy for someone, especially with post pandemic transportation schedules still being ironed out. Satun was supposed to go back to 3 ferries a day in 2023, but still waiting on that. :D
Hey, Vanessa. I’m making this trip in about 2 weeks. I’ve tried calling the ferry office in Satun but it’s a bogus number on their website. Do we know if there is more than 1 ferry yet? Otherwise I need to head down the day before. Great info. Thank you.
Hey John, it is still one ferry a day as far as I know within the last 2 weeks. You can whatsapp message An (mentioned in blog post) and he can double check in real time. But you do need to be at that ferry minimal 1 hour before departure (Thai time). If you haven’t spent any previous time in Satun, it’s much more interesting than it may seem and worth coming early for anyway. *Alternatively, of course is crossing the land border into Perlis or Kedah, Malaysia. There are also ferries from Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah, Alor Setar that go to Langkawi. There is also a car ferry in Kuala Perlis that will also allow pedestrian passengers if the regular ferries are sold out. Satun is the easiest route though in my opinion. *Do note also that Ramadan begins March 22/23 and that can also affect the ferry schedules in Malaysia. Hope this helps.. :)
You are the bee’s knees. Not much info about this.
Thanks John, when these little travel bumps happen to me I figure someone else is going to have them as well, so I might as well share my experience. :D
Interesting info. I was trying to find-out about the number of ferries going from Tammalang to Langkawi and finally got this info by calling the Langkawi ticket office. BUT, we will be in Koh Lipe in July and the speedboat from Koh Lipe to Pak Bara will at the earliest arrive at 11AM (Thai time), so this will be too late to catch the 11:30hrs ferry from Tammalang to Langkawi. I guess only other option is to travel from Pak Bara to Kuala Perlis and catch the ferry there. Is it easy to travel to Kuala Perlis as I do not see any roads along the sea? Any travel suggestions?
Hey Hauk, no seaside road from Thailand to Malaysia… the least confusing is to get a mini van to Padang Besar and to Kuala Perlis from there. Or just plan on spending a night in Satun. If you do spend the night in Satun try to pick a hotel before you get there and ask the driver if he can drop you off at the hotel. Otherwise you might get dropped at the bus station. Alternatively you can call my friend An (number in blog post)… just text him is fine. He is a taxi driver and can probably get you to Perlis quicker than a mini van. Won’t be as cheap as a mini van but he speaks English, Malay and Thai so you won’t have any communication problems.
Thx for your feedback, much appreciated
You’re welcome! Safe travels. :)
Thank you so much for your useful information, I found it very helpful. We did this trip from Hat Yai to Kuah two days ago. I even called the driver (aan) and booked him. I haggled him to the fare ypou paid without too much diffficulty. His car has seen better days but he is a charming and helpful man. At Tammalang he put our big bags near rhe shop and encouraged us to relax in the coffee shop. We glanced at the queue periodically and it was not until 1115 that we got up and joined it, by which time most pax had gone through. As you say, the assigned seat numbers are ignored. The boat was bsy bit still plenty of seats in the rear section. On arrival at Kuah you just have to get off and stay near the boat until your bag appears. Even though many people had gone ahead of us, the lines at immigration were short. I was greeted profusely by many differemnt officials. The regular Thai pax were just processed efficiently and allowed on their way. You need 0.5 MYR for the toilet at the very clean and specious ferry terminal. We got a taxi outside at the official desk but a Grab would have been 30% cheaper.
Glad to hear everything went well. Kuah taxi fares vs GRAB can vary.. depending on the time of day or which way the wind is blowing. I personally find it good Karma to go with a local taxi who is in que for passengers. The ‘older’ the better, because they are definitely locals and can often give interesting bits of information, etc.. Especially if you don’t already have a Malaysia SIM card to use a GRAB app. :D
Thank you so much for you information! We are planning to take the ferry from Tammalang pier to Langkawi tomorrow but have not yet bought tickets. Do you still think it is necessary to book them online or do you recommend buying them tomorrow at the pier?
Hey Justine if you are in Satun NOW, just go early enough to get ticket and do the immigration thang. Ask your guest house/hotel to confirm the departure time so you don’t miss it… or the time is changed last minute. If guest house /hotel scratches head then ask them to call An (number in blog post). I do not recommend buying tickets online in advance (cuz no need). They will have plenty of space and some of the online booking for tickets are a bit sketchy (in my opinion :D )
Hi Vanessa,
Amazing post, thank you!
I have a question though, this is my first time travelling outside Europe and I am trying to figure out how to get from Kuah Jetty to Koh Lipe. The trip between Kuah Jetty to Tammalang, Satun seems like it can only take place at 8.30am ? So you recommend I buy tickets from the pier beforehand as I understand there is no online booking?
Also, I noticed that the last boat from Pakbara to Koh lipe is at 13:30, do you think, it is feasible?
Many thanks,
Gina
Hey Gina, the Kuah Ferry time ‘could’ change by an hour or so and the time is usually 9:30am (Malaysia time)… Malaysia is 1 hour ahead of Thailand. You leave Kuah at 9:30am and arrive in Thailand at 9:30am. I ‘think’ you can buy a Pak Bara – Koh Lipe ticket at the Tammalang Pier.. but at the very least you can confirm Pak Bara departuure times. From personal experience I nearly tore my hair out last time I tried to take a mini van from Tammalang to Pak Bara AND make the ferry, cuz the mini van stopped at a few places, drove super slow and dropped me just outside of Pak Bara so I was forced to take a motorbike taxi the rest of the journey (I missed the boat and was then forced to spend the night in Paka Bara) **I think the boat from Pak Bara to Koh Lipe is 1230 (Thai time). (between Malaysia and Thai websites the times can get very confusing unless they are specifying Thai or Malaysia times. I would highly recommend just jumping in a taxi at Tammalang Pier and head straight to Pak Bara pier just for piece of mind. My friend An (number listed in blog post) can get you there in time. It will cost more than a mini van, but it’s worth it. *Alternately you could just spend the night in Satun and get an early mini van start the next day. Tammalang -Langkawi tickets are no problem as there is plenty of room no need to buy in advance. Pak Bara to Koh Lipe could be problematic if you are traveling on a weekend or school holiday. If traveling now, this is ‘rainy season’ so you should be ok. I do highly recommend waterproofing everything for journey from Paka Bara to Koh Lipe, because there is a very good chance you will get wet during the ride. Get a rain poncho too. I got drenched before going in July and spent my holiday wearing a housekeeping uniform while my clothes tried to dry. :P True story :D
Hi Vanessa!
You’re a star! Thank you so much for your help! Yes, indeed not a great season to be going there but getting waterproof covers for everything!
One more question, we are due to leave Koh Lipe on the 17th and fly out from Kuala Lumpur at 19:00 on the 18th.
I understand that from Koh Lipe we have an option of going towards Langkawi on the 17th and flying from Langkawi on midday of the 18th OR go from Koh Lipe to Pak Bara on the 17th and onwards to Hat Yai, stay overnight in Hat Yai and fly from there on the 18th. What is your experience of the two airports? Would you recommend the one route over the other?
Honestly cant thank you enough :D
Hmmm… the easiest would be a mini van (or private taxi) from Pak Bara straight to Hat Yai airport and fly direct to KL (IF flights meet your time line & budget). (you cannot get a ferry from Koh Lipe direct to Langkawi this time of the year, it’s seasonal Oct thru May only)
Another adventurous option would be to get to Arau, Perlis train station and catch the southbound train which lands in KL Sentral. Taxi (my friend An) can help with that. OR head to Padang Besar, Malaysia train station (via taxi or mini van). *Platinum train*. The train from Padang Besar to KL Sentral takes about 5.5 hours and it’s very picturesque. Racing to catch the one ferry back to Langkawi and then hotel and taxis, etc… and possibility of flight delays… too exhausting & risky (in my opinion). *https://www.theislanddrum.com/hat-yai-to-padang-besar-by-train/
https://www.ktmb.com.my/traintime.html
Lots of hotels and food in KL Sentral and the train can get you back to the airport the next day for about RM55
**Do book your Malaysia KL bound train online in advance** and don’t forget the time differences
Keep me posted on what you decide and how it goes. :)
As of January 2024, can anyone confirm if there is more than one ferry per day from Tammalang Pier to Langkawi? I am planning to do this trip around the end of this month. Thanks
From Satun side the easiest would be to Whatsapp An (his number is listed in the post). He is there every day and can give you an update on any recent changes or last minute changes due to tides. As far as I know… so far … on Langkawi side… it appears that yes it is still one ferry a day. https://andamanferry.com.my/
Ok, thank you.
You’re very welcome. :)
Update: An says there’s currently only one daily ferry departure (11:30 Thai time) from Tammalang Pier to Langkawi. 🙏
Thanks, so now we know nothing has changed. Always good to double check in case tides or special holiday traffic alter the schedule. An is an awesome resource too, btw, so be sure to keep his contact number. :)
Yes, I’ve saved his number. As of the first of the year, Malaysia is now requiring digital arrival cards for entry. 🙏
Yes, that is also true. But one can do the digital visa on the day of arrival or 3 days in advance. It is immediately recorded.
Thank you for valuable information,…I’m in need for a boarder bounce,…from Tam Malang pier to Langkawi,..arrive in my own vehicle,…is it possible to get a return the same day from Langkawi,…so it’s an in and out trip, boarder bounce. The date is 11/2-2024
Regards Mick
Yes and no. Satun Ferry is just once a day. Your bounce back ferry would be Langkawi to Kuala Perlis and either hire a taxi to drive you from there back to Satun… or catch a taxi (or GRAB) to Padang Besar, Malaysia and then to immigration in Padang Besar, Thailand ‘border control’. There is a mini van lady across the street from the Padang Besar, Thailand immigration/ border control. Might actually be easier just to spend 1 night in (Kuah) Langkawi and leave the next day at 9:30am (Malaysia time).
Thank you so much for your post, it was a solid lifeboat in the sea of uncertainty about using Tamalang Pier to Langkawi mid February 2024.
I am now making the reverse journey and just thought I’d post my appreciate and an update from the Malaysian side – the boat now leaves at 10:30 Malaysian time from Langkawi, and costs RM55 per person.
Hey James, thanks for that. Yes I just visited Satun last month also. My departure time was 9:30am on Feb 26, but I did notice that a couple of times during Chinese New Year they had scheduled additional ferry times.. maybe it’s just safe to say ‘maybe 9:30 or maybe 10:30’… during Ramadan all the ferries also have different schedules; usually less scheduled for mainland. I overlooked the new price though, thanks. :)
Thanks, just pulled into Hat Yai last night and on my way to Langkawi so great to find your website. I’m driving (Chiang Mai – Singapore – Chiang Mai) so plan to park my car in Satun and ride my bicycle to ferry/on island. Any suggestions of safe resort to park for a few days and also did you see any bicycles on the ferry? I expect neither should be a problem bur any tips appreciated. Cheers!
Hey Jonathan, the Satun Boutique Resort folks are especially nice and their place is off the main highway a bit near the museum area. They have plenty of room for sure. They might charge you a few bucks, but it would be worth it. (*Ps, just an FYI, there is another resort with a nearly identical logo and has no affiliation). Be sure to double check the ferry time too, because it is presently Ramadan and that sometimes affects transportation times. https://www.theislanddrum.com/unique-things-to-do-in-satun-thailand/
Do u know anyone do a tour with minivan?planning to go there with family next month from langkawi to satun..then go to hatyai for 3 days
Hey Jazz, not really. You can call An, his number is on this post. He maybe can refer you to someone. Otherwise, try Thanaphat Tour +66 83 156 5489 (ask for Grand). It would be a good idea to know ahead of time some of the things you might want to see, so basically YOU creating an itinerary. Lots to see and do in Satun as well as Hat Yai.
Hi,
I’m looking to make this journey in June. Do you know if the ferry runs during June? Because when i click on your link to book it says no trips available.
Thanks
Hi Arun, some of the various transportation websites don’t update in a timely manner. Meaning if they list for June at all it won’t be listed until end of May. The Satun Langkawi ferry does run year round. The time ‘may’ vary an hour or so do to tides, but it will be available. There will be no risk of tickets being sold out as it will be off season. Just wait until closer to June and check again, or call them, or just show up. The ‘sorry no tickets available’ is a common occurrence for ferries, trains, buses, when schedule for that particular month isn’t posted yet.
Hi,
Thank you for this great information! We are doing the reverse version of your trip at the end of June, Langkawi to Hat Yai to catch the train to Bangkok. I was very anxious to use this route as I could not find much information about transport connection.
Is there official taxi booking shop in Tammalang Pier “station” (not sure how it’s called)? Is it safe to use a private taxi?
Hey Olga, sorry for the late reply. I have mentioned my friend An in the blog post. He is a local I have known a long time and I have used his services numerous times.He can get you to Hat Yai or arrange a ride for you. Alternatively, you can just get a ride into Satun and spend a night and book a taxi or mini van through your hotel. Another less intimidating route would be from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis by ferry and book a taxi to the Pedang Besar, Malaysia train station and just take a shuttle train into Hat Yai. https://www.theislanddrum.com/malaysia-train-travel-kuala-lumpur-to-perlis-and-beyond/. It’s nearly fool proof. The train station also has mini van services to Hat Yai. When it comes to ‘private’ taxis, there is always the risk of paying ‘special’ prices. Taxis run from 700 to 1500 baht, mini vans 60baht, shuttle train seat 50baht. If Satun is your preferred plan, text An via Wassap and you can talk with him. He speaks English , Thai and Malay. He is trustworthy and will give you a good price. **There are taxi trucks at Tammalang Pier that arrive in time for the incoming ferry. They can drop you in Satun or at the bus station. There will be mini vans at the bus station heading to Hat Yai. Not always heaps of fun, but safe and cheap. **IF you are heading to a hotel in Hat Yai ‘sometimes’ the mini vans will drop you off directly (which is a huge convenience). But it isn’t guaranteed.Smile big and you might get lucky. :D
Hello do you know how to get from Tammalang to Pak Bara pier? Is there a place for us to get a bus or minivan service?
Yes there are tuk tuks and taxis at the ferry terminal parking lot, that can take you to the bus station and you can catch a mini van from there or be dropped off at a location where a mini van is waiting to go to Pak Bara. They will all be in the parking lot when the Langkawi to Tammalang ferry arrives. If your goal is to catch a ferry in Pak Bara… the timing will be challenging because by the time you get to Pak Bara those ferries to Koh Lipe and beyond are already departing. Best bet is to take a taxi and get there as fast as possible OR plan on spending a night in Satun or Pak Bara. My friend An (mentioned in blog post) often takes more than 1 or 2 passengers, so you will cut costs on ‘private taxi’.
I wanted to leave a feedback for everyone who is still unsure. We booked An from Tammalang to Hatyai. He is excellent bloke! He charged 1800 baht, which about $73 australian dollars, which we think is very reasonable price for the distance, considering he needs to drive back most likely empty as he lives in Tammalang. We paid him extra and he drove us beyond and above. He stopped for money exchange, for local sim card, for lunch, and even took us to a floating market off the way to Hatyai as we had plenty of time before our train. His car is quite old, no any tech problem though, but he is planning to buy a new one next year :).
So, if you doubt, then don’t. I would recommend him and book him again if we happen to go that route again!
Thank you Olga! I guess maybe I should add the old car part to the blog post, but since I also drive an old car I tend to forget that some folks prefer ‘fancy’. I think it’s safe to say that many of us who explore this part of Southern Thailand consider old cars an upgrade from public transportation though. :D Sounds like you had an adventurous and successful travel experience too. Thank you again for the feedback. :)
I am not sure if you need to add information about the car, it’s up to you :) But it was a bit of a shock, I haven’t seen winding windows in a car for 15 years or so :))))) but it really doesn’t matter. The main thing is An is excellent guy, and aircon was working!!! :)
Thank you, Vanessa, for posting this information and sharing his phone number, we would never go down that route if I did not find this info! Now my husband liked it so much that we are thinking to do that again and stop in Hatyai for a few days to explore.
You just made me LOL. :D Glad it was helpful info. Actually when I decided to write this I had just come from a media trip and was trying to get back to Langkawi quickly. I was in Hat Yai at the time and was shocked that my ‘official’ tour guide didn’t know the ferry schedule and even getting a taxi seemed to be problematic. The dude was clueless. I’ve been ‘travel writing’ over 12 years and if I have problems then I know other people will too. And it can get scary, as well as exhausting, when people who should know things don’t know them. And low and behold, when I finally made it to Tammalang I ran into An. It had been many years but we recognized each other right away. Now he’s my go-to guy. And hopefully a new car will be in his future soon.