InterContinental Hotels: Priority Club & Inter-Continental Ambassador - motorboat transfer USM apt to IC Koh Samui 15.000THB!!!

My wife and I are planning our trip to IC Koh Samui later this year. We found out the hotel has a black motorboat on side and I asked concierge if it is possible to come and pick us up at the apt (I've read a lot of things about the long car drive from the apt to the hotel)

Last night I received (very quick) response stating the cost is 15.000THB per way! for a 35m ride. Knowing they charge 8000THB for a King Room!!!

I asked the guy wether the ride was worth a 2night stay...
waiting for the answer.

You guys have dealt with this problem? or concerning the hotel/management

thx

Not outrageous. You just have to ask yourself if its worth the $ to save time.

Massive Island :D

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=koh+samui+size&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1249&bih=575&wrapid=tlif133606806691911&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=5seiT_zsNYOe0QXL2tjnCA&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=3&ved=0CDIQ_AUoAg

To be fair USM and the IC are almost as far apart as it is possible for 2 sites to be on the island ;)

The trip would typically take less than 45 minutes by car which would cost a lot less.

If it was a 35 metre journey , then that would pretty high :)

For a 35 Km journey, then doesn't seem that outrageous to me and I don't see that it is a "problem" to deal with. A price was requested and one was given and only you can decide if that amount is worth paying

Petrol for 70 Km r/t plus the length of time that the boat is going to be hired would be fairly high

Dave

If it was a 35 metre journey , then that would pretty high :)

For a 35 Km journey, then doesn't seem that outrageous to me and I don't see that it is a "problem" to deal with. A price was requested and one was given and only you can decide if that amount is worth paying

Petrol for 70 Km r/t plus the length of time that the boat is going to be hired would be fairly high

Dave

Hmm.. this is Thailand after all.. so maybe a little bargaining is expected ?

And 35km ? The distance you can max get on Samui maybe 10km east to west and prob 15km north to south..

I'm sure this is priced proportionally with their car service in comparison to the local alternative. If the car service is 2000 THB and a taxi is 300 THB, then quite possibly one can hire a local to take them via boat for 15% of what they are offering. The cost is a bit inflated, but since most people here don't want to bargain with locals and are already spending lots of money on the resort, they can price accordingly. Would I pay it? No. Would I pay it if I was doing something extravagant like getting married or a honeymoon? Well, I'd consider it then ;)

At that price I would fly into Marco Polo Airport and negotiate a water taxi transfer to Koh Samui - I hear that Venezia is well know for the reasonableness of its water transfer services and you have the benefit of a trip through the Suez and a pitstop in the Maldives. The added bonus of the home movies outrunning the various pirate factions will provide countless hours of mirth for grandchildren at family Xmas get togethers.

Just mailed the GM of the property and proposed to pay half.
Keep you guys updated!

@benzemalyonnais: the 2000THB for the drive, is operated by Intercontinental?
Can I trust taxis? safe?

The 15,000 THB private boat transfer rate is published on the IC Koh Samui website (http://samui.intercontinental.com/Cruise),

Airport Transfer pricing:

Airport transfer by speedboat can be organized between 07:30 Last and 18:00, and its charged at 15.000 THB+++ per way. The leisurely trip includes a glass of sparkling wine and canapé.

The airport transfer by speedboat is Subject to weather conditions and available daylight.

Terms & Conditions:


A minimum of 4 days advanced booking is required to confirm any airport transfer by speed boat.
Subject to weather conditions
Cancelation by the hotel will not be chargeable
Any cancelation 48 hours prior to service will not be chargeable
Cancelation less than 48 hours prior will be subject to 50% cancelation fee
Cancelation less than 24 hours prior to service will be subject to a 100% cancelation fee
It doesn't seem the hotel is trying the scam anyone.

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/6f/b4/20/filename-p1014aa-jpg.jpg

Doesn't look like anything special.

15,000+++ seems to have one extra +. I'm guessing that's an additional 20% of something for a grand total of 18,000 THB.

Yes, the property is charging you 582 US dollars each way for a boat transfer!! I guess that explains what kind of clientele they are catering to :p

Hmm.. this is Thailand after all.. so maybe a little bargaining is expected ?

And 35km ? The distance you can max get on Samui maybe 10km east to west and prob 15km north to south..

the road distace according to google maps is >30Km and the water distance would look to be further. With it being a r/t , 70Km seems about right

Given that this is the hotel's published price, I don't see why bargaining would be expected

Been there, done that (not the boat transfer, no:D) for the past 15 years...
For that amount of money you should get a nice car with GPS from Hertz at the airport and that for five or six days!
Lots to see and driving during daytime is quite alright (beware from tourists riding motorbikes though).
Or maybe you should consider using the amount to upgrade to 4Seasons, arguably the best hotel (and beach) on the island.
And if you fancy boat ride, drive up to Bophut Beach and take a local longtailboat for a couple of hundred bath!
Enjoy!

just got reply from GM:

final offer for an ambassador: 12.000THB one way
Amount is that high due to high petrol prices (i can understand).

so seeing the other options: what would you guys suggest?

The road transfer is not that bad, sure it takes about 45 minutes and some of the roads to / from airport can look bad to the tourist but in no way is it unbearable.

The car is comfortable, there is cold towls, cold water or soft drinks and the driver is telling you all about the sights one is passing.

The boat transfer is expensive and remember you actualy first have to take a car from the airport to the habour and than you end up at the pier at the IC where without wet feet you won't get onto the resort.

Also if you book the club package at 3000 (plus plus) than your airport transfer via car is included both ways.

It takes me more than 45 minunte on worse roads to get from the airport in Dubin to my office than from the airport in USM to the IC.

Enjoy the ride.