Taking a bus to Pattaya from Bangkok or the Airport

[Somchai]

If you are in Bangkok City and want to go to Pattaya, then the bus is a good cheap alternative to a taxi. If you are in Nana area, then catch the sky train 4 stations along to Ekamai sky train station. This will drop you outside Ekamai Bus Station. Get a ticket from the window marked (guess what?) Pattaya. A ticket will cost you around Bt 110 or $3 for an aircon bus. Buses leave about every 20 minutes but are not available between 12 midnight and 5.30 am. It takes around 2 hours or maybe more if theres a lot of traffic. The bus will drop you at Pattaya Bus station on the edge of central Pattaya.

Be sure to purchase your ticket only at the window. There is a minor scam in operation at the bus station. Buses will wait at the exit to the bus staion as you are entering. They will tell you that they are the fast bus to Pattaya and get on quickly as they have seats available. You will think yourself lucky at having just made the bus. They lie. Its the slow bus and it will take you up to 5 hours to get to Pattaya.

At Pattaya bus station there are motorcycle taxis and pickup truck taxis to take you to your hotel. With a good sized suitcase the pickup truck is probably best at around Bt150.

There are also buses from Pattaya Bus Station to Ekamai and the other Bangkok bus terminal Morchit. Also buses to the new airport.

If you arrive at Bangkok International Airport and want to go to Pattaya by bus. Follow these instructions.

Exit the airport building on Floor 1. Look for a bus stop. On the bus stop sign it will say " Shuttle Bus". Wait for a shuttle bus to come along. Get on it, its free. Tell them you want to go to the bus terminal. The bus drives slowly round the airport mainly picking up and dropping off staff. After about 6 stops it arrives at the airport bus terminal. The bus stand and ticket office for Pattaya is nearest to the entrance to the terminal. Buy a ticket for Pattaya at Bt 117 and get the bus to Pattaya Bus Station. From there follow instructions above. Journey time under 2 hours.

So if you go by bus you have saved yourself the price of a short time on Soi 6 in Pattaya. Who says theres no such thing as a free f**k!!

[Craig]

Both times I have landed at the new airport in Bangkok, I went to the ground floor and out the door to your far right. There is a taxi stand here with a table, you get a slip from the table then they assign you a meter taxi from the queue. They alway try to set a flat rate with you at the table. Usually 400B to Nana in Bangkok. I have been told the meter is cheaper and if asked the man at the table will write meter on your slip. You pay for the tolls and take the freeway. Perhaps the flat rate would be cheaper during times of high traffic.

Don't ever agree to go with anyone harrassing you on the arrivals level, just say you are taken care of already. Engage any one of these individuals and you will never be rid of them and likely get ripped off.

Apparently one trick is to go up to the 4th floor departures level and get a taxi that has just dropped off someone. There is sometimes a makeshift queue up there.
Word is that you often will get a better driver and car, since most of the worst drivers and cars are the ones that work the main queue downstairs. At departures you could be more likely to get a driver that knows the city better.

[Jud]

I always just tell them meter and don't usually have any problem. It usually costs around 200 baht for the fare plus another 100 for tolls.

Their favourite trick is not to switch the meter on. When you point it out they try and negotiate a 500 baht fare. Ignore them and tell them to turn on meter or go back.

[69billy]

Somchai..
This one should be your first choice from airport..if you want the bus..

Bell Travel Service Co.,Ltd Tel. Bangkok Office: 02-747-4673, 02-747-4675Tel. Pattaya Office: 038-370-055, 038-370-056 Suvarnabhumi airport:Contact number is +66(0)89-449-8843..
rrc_bus@hotmail.com
Airport to pattaya
8am 10 am 12noon 2pm 4pm and 6pm

From airport at bottom level, gate 7
Fare is 150 baht each way..and this price is up to your hotel ...

[Somchai]

Thanks Billy, thats very useful information.

Cheers Somchai :)