From Hatyai, we were picked up in front of our hotel and arrived Pakbara after 2.5 hours, sharing a van with 11 strangers. I thought we had to find our way to the ferry but it was not to be. The staff from Sita took our bags and took us to their office a few short steps away. Served us cold water and got us comfortable for our 12noon (delayed from 11.30am) ferry, issuing 2 reusable tickets numbering 1 and 2 (boarding by number). Sita staff also gave us our ferry vouchers for the return trip.
The ferry (actually a speed boat with canvas top) was very crowded, each row seats 3, with a central aisle in between, life jacket draped over the back of the seats, which nobody used except as seat cushions as the heavy rain just before boarding made all seats wet. The trip from the office to the jetty is only a few minutes walk and with 2 heavy bags, we were thankful for the golf cart ride as the driver also took care of handing them over to ferry crew. I think the ferry was over crowded. Good thing was that our bags were loaded and carried off by Sita staff or else the load will be a challenge for me to handle. The boat landed on the beach and were met by Sita staff and were ferried to the resort by a golf cart.
Check in was simple as our arrival was already expected. Our pool facing room is superb. It comes with both an inside and outside shower, free WiFi (they gave you the log in password during check in), room safe, kettle, mini fridge, daily 2 bottles of drinking water and flat screen TV. The bed is king size plus there is another day bed. The room is cleaned daily and you can get unlimited number of beach towels which we did every time we swim in the sea in front of the hotel. Though there are 2 swimming pools in the resort, they don't have a chance at all as the sea is calm and the water is clean, warm and clear.
Good spread at the buffet breakfast and we thoroughly enjoyed the selection.
As we were there in the low season of October, most of the shops in Walking Street are closed but but there are enough restaurants serving good Thai food to keep us happy. There are a couple of convenient shops too (the mineral water cost 2x more than Hatyai but then everything had to be ferried in). However, we were very glad we brought along our torch light as it gets very dark walking the beach going back to the hotel. Be warn that there are PLENTY of dogs and they poop everywhere, including the beach, but don't let that spoil your vacation - we didn't and we stayed 4 nights.