Look, here's the thing about Koh Larn - everyone goes to the wrong beach and half of them miss the last ferry back. Don't be that tourist calling your hotel at midnight from a deserted pier.

Ferry Schedule Reality Check

Ferries leave Bali Hai Pier (south end of Walking Street) at 7:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM, and 6:30 PM. Regular ferry costs 30 baht one way, takes 45 minutes. Speedboats are 200 baht but only 15 minutes if you're the impatient type. Critical detail: last return ferry is 6:00 PM from Naban Pier or 5:00 PM from Tawaen Beach. Miss it and you're either paying 1,500 baht for a private speedboat or sleeping on the beach.

Skip Tawaen Beach

Everyone gets dumped at Tawaen Beach because it's the main pier. It's also where every tour group in Thailand ends up. Head to Tien Beach instead - rent a motorbike on the island for 200 baht per day or take island songthaews for 20 baht per ride. Tien Beach has the same white sand but actually lets you think without competing with 500 other tourists for Instagram shots.

Practical Warnings

Bring cash - card machines work about as reliably as WiFi on a songthaew. The ATMs charge 220 baht fees and sometimes eat cards. Pack sunscreen, water, and snacks because island prices are brutal (100 baht for a bottle of water that costs 15 baht in Pattaya). Water activities are available but negotiate prices first - they start at tourist pricing and work down.