If you’re planning to travel around Thailand, you might have to do so by bus, minivan, boat or private taxi, as planes only reach the main big islands. One of the best places to buy your tickets is the booking site 12Go Asia. You might be wondering, is it even legit? And is it actually any good, or are you better off just buying tickets at the counter? I’ve used this site many times for my travels around Thailand, and in my opinion it’s 100% worth it.
I was actually surprised by how easy, quick and reliable it was. I appreciated 12Go Asia especially when I needed to book transport for a route that was a mix of bus and ferry, because I just bought one online ticket that I could show on my phone, could it be any easier?
In this review I’ll walk you through how 12Go works, the four routes I’ve personally booked through it, and my practical tips for getting the most out of it.
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Short On Time? Here’s My Quick 12Go Asia Review Overview
| What it is | Booking platform for buses, ferries, minivans and private transfers across Thailand, all in one checkout. |
| My experience | 8+ trips booked, none cancelled or left stranded. |
| Cost | Service fee of roughly 5-10% plus a tiny card fee. |
| Worth it for | Multi-leg island routes — you book the whole airport–pier–island–hotel chain as one door-to-door ticket instead of coordinating each leg. |
➤ Check routes, prices and availability on 12Go Asia
Is 12Go Asia Trustworthy? My Experience
Maybe I was lucky, but I’ve never had a bad experience with 12Go Asia. All my bookings went through, the vouchers arrived in my inbox within minutes, and I turned up knowing exactly where to go. I’ve never lost money or been left stranded. So far, it’s actually worked better for me than the booking sites in some European countries I’ve visited before. I find the website easy to navigate, and it shows photos of the actual carriage, reviews and all the obvious details you need.
I’ve booked through 12Go at least eight times for different kinds of trips, and the thing that keeps me coming back is how straightforward it is. When I travel, I want to be sure I’ll actually get where I need to get, and I don’t want to leave buying my tickets to the last minute and possibly find out that the minivan, which only holds about 15 seats, is sold out and I have to wait another hour for the next connection.
For me the biggest plus is that I can find everything in one place, so whether I’m taking a boat from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta or a bus from Bangkok to Hua Hin, I know immediately where to go and don’t have to think about which site is for boats and which is for buses.
So what’s the downside? I’ve noticed that sometimes the prices are a bit higher online compared to buying the ticket at the last minute at the counter, but it’s really not significant. You also have to pay a small fee for Visa or Mastercard payments, but for example for a 423 THB ticket, it’s only 16 THB.
What Is 12Go and How Does It Work?
12Go is an online travel booking platform that’s been running since 2012. It pulls together schedules and prices from thousands of local transport operators and lets you compare and book them in one checkout. Apart from Thailand, it also covers Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and more.
The idea is simple: instead of buying a bus ticket from one counter, then a separate ferry ticket at the pier, then arranging a taxi to your hotel, you book the whole chain in one go and get a voucher that ties it together. For island trips especially, where one “route” is actually a bus plus a ferry plus a transfer straight to your hotel, that’s the real selling point, and totally worth it.
The 4 Routes I’ve Booked Through 12Go
1. Bangkok to Koh Samet (minivan + ferry combo)
This is the kind of trip 12Go is great for. Getting to Koh Samet means a van down to Ban Phe on the coast, and then a ferry across to the island. Of course you can book the tickets separately, both at the bus station and at the pier, but the last thing I wanted to think about at Ban Phe pier was working out which boat company to trust. The minivan from Ekkamai Bus Station has a very limited number of seats and always leaves full, so I’m always glad I booked in advance.
➤ See my guide: How to Get from Bangkok to Koh Samet
2. Bangkok to Hua Hin
Hua Hin is one of the easiest beach escapes from Bangkok, and on 12Go you can choose the transport type that suits you best. It’s a direct connection and usually takes between 3 and 4 hours, with a private taxi being the fastest and most comfortable option. Apart from the central Bangkok locations, you can also take a direct bus from both Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.
➤ Check out my guide: How to Get to Hua Hin from Bangkok
3. Krabi Airport to Ao Nang (private taxi)
When I was planning our trip to Krabi, I assumed I could just use Grab to get from the airport to our hotel in Ao Nang, but then I read that Grabs actually aren’t allowed to come all the way to the arrival terminal. So I went on 12Go to check the options, selected the Krabi Airport to Ao Nang hotel transfer, and booked a private taxi for 500 THB. The driver was waiting for us in the arrival hall with a sign with our names, and we wasted no time negotiating with the local drivers.
➤ Check out my guide: How to Get to Krabi Thailand
4. Krabi Airport to a Koh Lanta hotel (door-to-door transfer)
With 12Go Asia I really appreciate that when it comes to island transport, you can book a transfer directly to your hotel, so when you book the ticket, you just add the name and address for the driver. Getting from Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta means a minivan plus ferry crossings to reach the island, finishing with a drop-off at your hotel. Booking it as one door-to-door transfer meant I didn’t have to coordinate any of the legs myself, which on a route like this is a real headache.
The minivan was parked right in front of the arrival hall with a sign, so it was easy to spot. We arrived earlier than expected, and the driver was kind enough to take us on an hour-earlier connection.
We also booked the tickets for the return journey to the airport, only a day in advance. As the driver has to pick up people from all over the island, the departure time is more of an estimation. The reception lady at our hotel was kind enough to call the number stated on our ticket to find out more. She got to talk to a real person, who told us the driver was on the way, and he really did show up in the next 5 minutes.
➤ Read my guide: How to Get to Koh Lanta
Is 12Go Cheaper Than Booking Direct?
Let’s be honest about money, because it’s the most common complaint you’ll see in reviews. 12Go adds a service fee, usually somewhere around 5-10%, to cover the convenience of putting everything in one place and handling the booking. So no, it’s not always the cheapest way to travel.
In Thailand, on many popular routes, the price you see on 12Go is the same or very close to what you’d pay locally. On simple single-leg trips, like a van to Hua Hin, you can often pay a bit less by buying at the counter. And for private transfers and multi-leg island routes, the convenience usually justifies the small premium, because the alternative is coordinating several legs yourself.
Collecting Your Ticket: Voucher vs E-Ticket
After you book, 12Go sends you either an e-ticket you can use straight from your phone, or a voucher you need to swap for a physical ticket before you travel.
So for example, when travelling from Bangkok to Koh Samet, I’d find the specific counter at the bus station and show them the voucher on my phone. They usually take the phone to zoom in, then give me a little ticket to show to the driver. Once at the pier in Ban Phe, I go to the counter again, where they give me another little ticket for the boat.
My advice: Just read the instructions on your voucher, and if it says “exchange at station,” get there with time to spare. I always take a screenshot too, in case the wifi drops when I need it most.
My Practical Tips for Booking with 12Go
- Book multi-leg and high-season routes ahead, as the good connections genuinely sell out.
- Always read the cancellation terms before you pay. They’re shown at checkout for a reason.
- Screenshot your voucher and note your booking number, in case you lose signal.
- If your voucher says “exchange at station,” arrive earlier to swap it for the paper ticket.
- If you’re travelling by minivan, don’t show up with two or more massive suitcases. There’s no space for that. From my own experience one suitcase per person is fine, and I usually had to pay an extra 100 THB for it in cash.
- The drivers usually make a stop at a service station for a quick toilet break and a shop visit.
- The fan or AC can be too much sometimes, so bring an extra layer.
- If you take a speedboat and suffer from seasickness, make sure you take the right medication beforehand. The waves can be brutal sometimes.
FAQ About 12Go Asia
Is 12Go Asia legit and reliable?
Yes, it’s been operating since 2012, it processes payments securely, and it has issued millions of tickets. I’ve lost count of how many trips I’ve booked through it, at least eight, and none of them were cancelled or massively delayed. Like any aggregator the experience can vary by operator, but the platform itself is trustworthy.
Is 12Go cheaper than booking direct?
Not usually, as it adds a service fee and you also pay a tiny bit for the Visa/Mastercard transaction fee, but honestly, we’re talking about a 1-5 USD difference at most. For the convenience, I think it’s totally worth it.
How do I collect my 12Go ticket?
You’ll get a voucher or e-ticket by email. For most buses, ferries and transfers in Thailand the voucher is all you need, but in some cases you have to go to the counter (the number is stated on the ticket) and exchange it for a paper ticket.
Can I cancel a 12Go booking and get a refund?
It depends on the operator and ticket type, and the terms are shown before you confirm. Some tickets are refundable, some charge a fee, and some aren’t refundable at all. If the operator cancels or there’s a major delay, 12Go generally refunds you.
What are the benefits of using 12Go?
You can buy one ticket for multiple legs of your journey, and when it comes to islands, it can take you straight to your hotel without having to get a local taxi from the pier. The website is also simple to navigate, and with its filters, you can select what suits you best.
Final Thoughts on 12Go Asia
To sum it up, I think 12Go Asia really deserves your attention when you need to plan transfers during your Thailand trip. It’s my go-to place whenever I need to book a ticket from point A to point B in Thailand.
If your route is straightforward, like from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, you can buy the ticket at the counter and maybe save a little. But for anything where you need to travel airport – pier – island – hotel, I’d 100% go for 12Go.
Check Out My Other Thailand Guides
- Best Travel Insurance for Thailand
- How to Get Around Bangkok
- Thailand Without a Scooter
- How to Get Around Thailand
- How to Get from Bangkok Airport to the City Centre
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