Arriving at Pattaya Bus Station..*

[DAMO]

Once ya there, can one hire a scooter from a place near the station?

I ended up paying couple hundred baht for a taxi to down town pattaya.
and since i gotta go back to the station, i thought itd save a bit of coin.

[Minder]

Originally Posted by DAMO

Once ya there, can one hire a scooter from a place near the station?

I ended up paying couple hundred baht for a taxi to down town pattaya.
and since i gotta go back to the station, i thought itd save a bit of coin.

Next time ignore the taxi touts (not usually that many there anyway, you were unlucky to get ripped - mai bpen lai) and follow the crowd back toward the front of the bus station.
There will be several baht buses 'songtaew' there being filled up one by one - there may even be a sign that says "Hotel transfer 20 baht" - cram in, sit down and wait and act bored like you have done it a thousand times before - someone will ask everyone "what hotel?" and you pay the driver on arrival at your hotel. It is the cheapest way to get to your hotel and has been running that way for years.
Luggageless and in a hurry, I once grabbed a motor bike taxi by going out onto the main road area - ended up costing more, was not worth the hassle and I have not done so again. Enjoy.

[ub2yoo]

I honestly didn't know that there is a bus station in Patt's, I could have guessed...but it never got even close to me.

Still, just to save a couple of hundred of baht? ...coming all the way from Christchurch?

[Minder]

Originally Posted by ub2yoo

I honestly didn't know that there is a bus station in Patt's, I could have guessed...but it never got even close to me.

Still, just to save a couple of hundred of baht? ...coming all the way from Christchurch?

In the days of Don Muang airport, Stickman always referred to the Ekkami - Pattaya bus as the "sex tourist express" - it got a lot more use before the new airport opened on the Pattaya side of town - now most get a taxi straight to Pattaya from the new airport instead of heading back to Sukhumvit and back down again by bus.
We use the bus seldom these days as the in-laws place is also on the Pattaya side of town - was a bargain ride though - BKK to Patts for around 100 baht.
This map shows the bus station location - usually costs about 60-100 baht to get a songtaew back to the bus station from your hotel as a single hire.

[ub2yoo]

Originally Posted by Minder

In the days of Don Muang airport, Stickman always referred to the Ekkami - Pattaya bus as the "sex tourist express" - it got a lot more use before the new airport opened on the Pattaya side of town - now most get a taxi straight to Pattaya from the new airport instead of heading back to Sukhumvit and back down again by bus.
We use the bus seldom these days as the in-laws place is also on the Pattaya side of town - was a bargain ride though - BKK to Patts for around 100 baht.
This map shows the bus station location - usually costs about 60-100 baht to get a songtaew back to the bus station from your hotel as a single hire.

100 Baht a ride...that's not bad really.

I think if you really have the time, or better the nerve, to get on a bus after a long plane journey, it's quite good value for money.

My wife's brother is a cap driver in BKK and she always gives him a buzz to pick us up when we arrive ... I always try to tell her that's not necessary...but somehow it's not that easy to convince her otherwise ;-)

As for the new airport, I sometimes do miss the quick short trips into BKK when instead driving straight to Patt's after arrival.

[Pentire]

I find threads like this amusing, you guys travel half around the world, are prepared to spend spend spend on booze and birds (as you do) and yet the idea of being ripped off for a couple of quid on some necessary transport is like venturing to the dark side of the moon

For the record and to add more positive input to this thread, I arrived at the North Pattaya terminal two days ago, having taken the 113 Baht air conditioned 100 minute bus ride from Ekamai.
On arrival, I jumped on a motor si taxi to my hotel in Central Pattaya and five minutes later at the instructed destination, handed over 50 Baht.....No discussion or haggling ever took place.

And DAMO, best to hire that scooter from somebody closer to your hotel.

[DAMO]

Originally Posted by ub2yoo

I honestly didn't know that there is a bus station in Patt's, I could have guessed...but it never got even close to me.

Still, just to save a couple of hundred of baht? ...coming all the way from Christchurch?

coming from Hiroshima this time, im on my way back after a year at Uni here.
The thing is, i shouldnt really be going to Thailand at all, havent saved much money (being a student & not a full time worker). and iv got to pay back my cc debt, but i figure since im going home via Singapore Airlines, may as well spend about 50,000 yen in Thai for 10 days, its not much cash but Im spending a week in Phuket and all I want there is the beach. ...ok maybe a bj too.

[dogblower]

Motorcycle taxi. 50 baht straight to your door. As Pentire said, rent a bike close to where you stay. If you've been there before and trust the staff, ask one of them and you'll possibly get an even better deal.

[DAMO]

cheers!
Ill do that.

Last year I got to put a snake around my neck somewhere down walking street for 50 baht, didnt have my camera then. are those guys always around? Would like to sit on an elephant too, hold a tiger..

for the elephant and tiger bit, is my only option going to one of those half-day tours?
Im going to Bangkok, Pattaya & Phuket so if you know of any cool places.. ;-)

[Captain]

Could have been worse, like sit on a tiger, hold a snake or elephant around the neck.

[edje123]

Originally Posted by DAMO

cheers!
Ill do that.



for the elephant and tiger bit, is my only option going to one of those half-day tours?
Im going to Bangkok, Pattaya & Phuket so if you know of any cool places.. ;-)

In Phuket zoo you can have your picture taken with a tiger.
The guy who took care of the tiger, and assisted tourists had only 1 arm. Not very inviting

[Minder]

Originally Posted by Pentire

I find threads like this amusing, you guys travel half around the world, are prepared to spend spend spend on booze and birds (as you do) and yet the idea of being ripped off for a couple of quid on some necessary transport is like venturing to the dark side of the moon .

Each to their own, it is the dark side for me. Being ripped off - for any amount - even 10 baht on a bottle of water - can ruin my day. It is not the money lost, it is the raw deal and the lack of respect that will eat at me. I tink to mush

I still prefer the baht bus, the motor cycle taxi with my heavy luggage perched between the handle bars once was enough to make me realise I had travelled for 20 hours to risk coming unstuck at the end trying to save 10 minutes.

Bus Ekamai to Nth Pattaya - currently 113 baht - noted.
Can anyone confirm the current price of the shared baht bus transfer from the bus station to a central Pattaya hotel? (My 20 baht price tag was correct circa 2004/5)

[erogenous]

found this thread via google and have had an account here but dont think ive ever posted, firstly, after all the replies i dont think anyone bothered to answer the Op's question: are there any scooter rental places near the bus station. a question i have also as i'd like to be able to rent my weekly scooter and drive myself into town, and drive myself back and hop on a bus back to bangkok.

secondly, pentire's comments are downright pathetic about being stingy, who are you to judge others and where they spend their money? minder got it right in the post above mine, and i'd like to add that its the morons that overpay for everything that keep driving the prices up in thailand. god knows how many backpackers ive met over the years that thought their 1000 baht 'deal' from the airport in BKK was cheap. pathetic.

oh and im sure ill get a nice welcome to the forums

[Talbotman]

JUST CANT understand why guys head for the pleasure palace of the world and then try to economise on taxis and travel to save maybe 100 bhat christ they must be the heart and soul of the party when they go out at nights 555555 from bangkok to patts its always taxis for me around 12-1300 bhat i could not be bothered with buses and such like just to save a few bhat.

[dan boy]

Originally Posted by Talbotman

JUST CANT understand why guys head for the pleasure palace of the world and then try to economise on taxis and travel to save maybe 100 bhat christ they must be the heart and soul of the party when they go out at nights 555555 from bangkok to patts its always taxis for me around 12-1300 bhat i could not be bothered with buses and such like just to save a few bhat.

I feel the same. We see countless threads and posts about how much is a taxi from here and there. Who gives a sh1t, it's not as it you are gonna cancel your trip if a taxi is 100 baht more than you anticipated....

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by Minder

Each to their own, it is the dark side for me. Being ripped off - for any amount - even 10 baht on a bottle of water - can ruin my day. It is not the money lost, it is the raw deal and the lack of respect that will eat at me. I tink to mush

I still prefer the baht bus, the motor cycle taxi with my heavy luggage perched between the handle bars once was enough to make me realise I had travelled for 20 hours to risk coming unstuck at the end trying to save 10 minutes.

Bus Ekamai to Nth Pattaya - currently 113 baht - noted.
Can anyone confirm the current price of the shared baht bus transfer from the bus station to a central Pattaya hotel? (My 20 baht price tag was correct circa 2004/5)

It was still 20 Baht last year. Haven't been there this year.

BTW, I once took the bus from Suvarnabumi to Pattaya. It was very cheap, can't remember exactly, but under 100 Baht. I hadn't just traveled half way around the world, was just coming back from Cambodia. The trouble is, however, that it is very time consuming. There is no bus at the airport. You get in a free shuttle bus that takes you to the bus station, several miles away. Then you buy your ticket, and have to wait for the bus, which can be an hour or two. So it is the trip to the bus station, and the waiting there, that makes for a long day. Although the bus ride is more comfortable than riding in a little car, but the car is much faster. If you are not in a hurry, and want to save 1000+ Baht, it is not a bad option.

[dennisinkamala]

You insult Pentire and then go on to insult other people as 'morons' because they do not want to spend THEIR money in the way that you feel they should in order to keep the natives fresh, poor and happy to see a cheapskate like you sweating and grunting at them.

Dont accuse others of being judgemental when youy are guilty yourself. As for the backpackers bargains, not you business and impolite to laugh at people who have less eperience than yourself.

WTTB, I hope you mellow a little and learn to accept that people are different and rejoice in that aspect of human nature rather than considering those who are not 'like you' somehow lacking.

Pomposity and supercilliousness are not attrative traits in anyone.

Originally Posted by erogenous

the morons that overpay for everything that keep driving the prices up in thailand. god knows how many backpackers ive met over the years that thought their 1000 baht 'deal' from the airport in BKK was cheap. pathetic.

oh and im sure ill get a nice welcome to the forums

[Minder]

Originally Posted by erogenous

....who are you to judge others and where they spend their money? minder got it right in the post above mine, ....
oh and im sure ill get a nice welcome to the forums

Okay okay Dennis...perhaps not the sort of comments we expect on an intro but no denying he does have an eye for informed opinions.....

erogenous, welcome to the board, now "jai yen yen" mate and enjoy.

Originally Posted by JayBee

It was still 20 Baht last year. Haven't been there this year.

BTW, I once took the bus from Suvarnabumi to Pattaya. It was very cheap, can't remember exactly, but under 100 Baht. I hadn't just traveled half way around the world, was just coming back from Cambodia. The trouble is, however, that it is very time consuming. There is no bus at the airport. You get in a free shuttle bus that takes you to the bus station, several miles away. Then you buy your ticket, and have to wait for the bus, which can be an hour or two. So it is the trip to the bus station, and the waiting there, that makes for a long day. Although the bus ride is more comfortable than riding in a little car, but the car is much faster. If you are not in a hurry, and want to save 1000+ Baht, it is not a bad option.

Thanks Jaybee.

Now since my last posting, Mrs Minder and I grabbed a bus from the airport in February, it left from right outside the terminal and we purchased the ticket at a booth (which was at least one level above ground level on the area outside the terminal building but still under the roof cover). Last two seats and a tout rushing us downstairs shouting the Thai equivalent of “Hold the bus”….

Price was a 105 baht each and included a bottle of water and one of those sweet bean buns handed out by the cute little hostess (guy next to me, looks at the water, and then as we get handed the food says "All for a 100 baht!?!!, I tell ya if she starts dancing around that pole I'm staying on this bus").

Comfortable enough seating and even a movie with a so-so sound system. Bus was just leaving as we came out of the terminal so it was probably a quicker exit than a taxi BUT thinking it would terminate at the North bus terminal was a mistake - still don't know where it was going to - it let us out on what I guess was Sukhumvit road around Central Pattaya - and the take-it-or-leave-it songtaew ride cost 200baht to Baboona hotel back near Soi 3 - you win some you lose some - that's half the fun. Enjoy.

[erogenous]

should have been more specific in my first comments, that the '1000 baht' taxi ride for backpackers was from suva to sukhumvit (IN BKK!) (metered around 220). i've also paid more than i should have but not by that much, and i've even given a tip on an already exorbitant price because he got me there so damn fast (the guy had a screw loose but was a good driver). as for the rest, i stand by my original comments about not being stupid and paying 10 times the normal (already inflated) price to taxi drivers that already make a good enough living based on their chosen profession.

back to what this thread was about, i found a possible rental place a short walk from the bus station on sukhumvit road (pattaya) and want confirmation of whether it actually is a rental place, and how much they charge. if there are any user experiences then that would be great too. attached is a screenshot from pattayaphotoguide with the location details.

also looking forward to visiting phuket on my next trip, not so much for mongering though

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by Minder

Now since my last posting, Mrs Minder and I grabbed a bus from the airport in February, it left from right outside the terminal and we purchased the ticket at a booth (which was at least one level above ground level on the area outside the terminal building but still under the roof cover). Last two seats and a tout rushing us downstairs shouting the Thai equivalent of “Hold the bus”….

Price was a 105 baht each and included a bottle of water and one of those sweet bean buns handed out by the cute little hostess (guy next to me, looks at the water, and then as we get handed the food says "All for a 100 baht!?!!, I tell ya if she starts dancing around that pole I'm staying on this bus").

Comfortable enough seating and even a movie with a so-so sound system. Bus was just leaving as we came out of the terminal so it was probably a quicker exit than a taxi BUT thinking it would terminate at the North bus terminal was a mistake - still don't know where it was going to - it let us out on what I guess was Sukhumvit road around Central Pattaya - and the take-it-or-leave-it songtaew ride cost 200baht to Baboona hotel back near Soi 3 - you win some you lose some - that's half the fun. Enjoy.

Thanks for that bit of info, Minder. I'm pleased to hear that, as I so hate to haggle with taxi touts. Obviously, that is a charter service and not the usual public service(water and bean buns, movie). They didn't have that when I was last there, but I think it is a great idea, and glad some enterprising bus folks are now offering that service.

As one becomes more familiar with Patts, it can save you a good few baht, and a bit of time, as well. If you had known the bus was on Sukhumvit and not going to the North Pattya Rd. bus station, then you could have had the bus stop at the corner of Sukhumvit and North Pattaya Rd., from which corner is a very short walk to the bus staion, where you can catch the baht bus there. Jump on the baht bus there and you would be at Baboona in no time at all! Of course, you have probably already figured that out yourself!

[Caerphilly]

public transport in Pattaya is brill........Phuket really should look and learn, yes I know its a racket etc.......but the "dead money" for getting around in Phuket and the ease of transport in Pattaya doesn't add to my desire to return to Phuket

[JayBee]

Originally Posted by Caerphilly

public transport in Pattaya is brill........Phuket really should look and learn, yes I know its a racket etc.......but the "dead money" for getting around in Phuket and the ease of transport in Pattaya doesn't add to my desire to return to Phuket

As much as I love Phuket, my last two trips I have favored Patts. Cost of transportation, and how hassle-free it is, is probably the number one reason(altho girls is a factor, as well).

[Happpy-Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Pentire

I find threads like this amusing, you guys travel half around the world, are prepared to spend spend spend on booze and birds (as you do) and yet the idea of being ripped off for a couple of quid on some necessary transport is like venturing to the dark side of the moon

For the record and to add more positive input to this thread, I arrived at the North Pattaya terminal two days ago, having taken the 113 Baht air conditioned 100 minute bus ride from Ekamai.
On arrival, I jumped on a motor si taxi to my hotel in Central Pattaya and five minutes later at the instructed destination, handed over 50 Baht.....No discussion or haggling ever took place.

And DAMO, best to hire that scooter from somebody closer to your hotel.

I agree with you Pentire, but i also remember my first trip on which i had a similar mentality to Damo, although in my defence i was there for nearly 7 months not a week.
On my second trip a year or so later which was of a similar length, i came to my senses, i realised it just didn't make any sense penny pinching on hotels and transport and making life less comfortable, especially when i was out every night dropping anything between 2 and 6000b on booze and birds.

Although i still now and then like to use the bus from Ek to Patt rather than a taxi or the bus or train and boat from bkk to samui and the bus and boat from phuket to samui rather than flying it's because i quite enjoy travelling like that on occasion, it's not to save a few hundred baht, but in general partly due to the climate, comfort and convenience is more important than saving a few or a few hundred baht for me.

[erogenous]

Originally Posted by erogenous

secondly, pentire's comments are downright pathetic about being stingy, who are you to judge others and where they spend their money? minder got it right in the post above mine, and i'd like to add that its the morons that overpay for everything that keep driving the prices up in thailand. god knows how many backpackers ive met over the years that thought their 1000 baht 'deal' from the airport in BKK was cheap. pathetic.

i guess after re-reading this comment i made a while ago, i realise now how hypocritical i was, however the general discussion in this thread wasn't surrounding what the Op wrote, but about stinginess etc. so i apologise for that conflict in my comments but at the same time most of them still stand and are still how i feel. but i have probably mellowed out a little as my next trip i have booked flights etc. with bkk air instead of taking the train+bus to the south which would have been a major saving, but prefer the convenience now in my getting older age (late twenties lol

my views are basically that there is nothing wrong with taking a bus to save a few baht, but throwing away cash to obvious dishonest thai scammers is something i frown upon as it just lines their greedy pockets and contributes to this common thai theft and adds to making thailand a worse destination to holiday every single year. if i get ripped too much this upcoming trip it would probably be my last....

my next trip is only a few weeks away, and i am still wondering whether i can find a scooter rental near the bus station for convenience sake of driving myself to and from it, but i probably wont end up doing so. ill check out the area surrounding the bus station and see whether there are any options available and report back here (if i remember).

cheers.

[petruccis_son]

Originally Posted by DAMO

I ended up paying couple hundred baht for a taxi to down town pattaya.
and since i gotta go back to the station, i thought itd save a bit of coin.

as everyone has already said, a cab can be had for just over 1k, and even less on the way back. why waste a huge heap of time and added stress? when the taxi will take you to the door, in your own comfortable space. it doesnt seem logical to me as a farang going on holiday to a place like patts

my views are basically that there is nothing wrong with taking a bus to save a few baht, but throwing away cash to obvious dishonest thai scammers is something i frown upon as it just lines their greedy pockets and contributes to this common thai theft and adds to making thailand a worse destination to holiday every single year. if i get ripped too much this upcoming trip it would probably be my last....

my next trip is only a few weeks away, and i am still wondering whether i can find a scooter rental near the bus station for convenience sake of driving myself to and from it, but i probably wont end up doing so. ill check out the area surrounding the bus station and see whether there are any options available and report back here (if i remember).

i just dont see how taking a taxi to patts in any way relates to your response comments re (the 'penny pinching' 'attacks') scams. 1100 baht from the airport (or your hotel) direct to your hotels door in patts is a bargain, including tolls you're looking at what, £25? if not, you've got to get a taxi to the bus station, then the bus, then another form of transport (whatever floats your boat) from the patts bus station to your hotel. after a long flight thats the last thing anyone needs, to save probably £10 at best? what happens if someone goes wrong with the scooter - you've got traips all the way back to the place near the bus station. more unnessesary trouble / risk. seems so illogical to me. if a candy bar in the vending machine in my office was 10 cents cheaper down the road in the store, but it was a 10 minute walk... is it really worth taking that walk there and back and loosing 20 minutes of my time, just to save 10 cents? also take the risk that it'll end up getting melted in the heat by the time i get back to the office?...

the day before i headed off to patts i asked a random taxi driver 'how much to patts'. he said 1300. i asked him would he do 1100 and i pay for tolls (knowing that even at 1300 i would be paying for tolls anyway). he said yeah no problem, gave me his card. done deal and the next day he was there bang on time. via bus the whole ordeal would perhaps cost 3 times less maybe, but take 3 times as long and involve 3 times as much stress. and it was only 800 on the way back Including tolls (didnt notice any actually on the way back?) !

as others have said, if you are out on a night spending 1000s on booze and girls - this 1 small expenditure is nothing in the grand scheme of things.

[Cicero1520]

Originally Posted by DAMO

Once ya there, can one hire a scooter from a place near the station?

I ended up paying couple hundred baht for a taxi to down town pattaya.
and since i gotta go back to the station, i thought itd save a bit of coin.

Not sure I fancy a scooter with my luggage.

Some of the chaps on here seem to have bottomless pockets,in which case as the man said,who gives a shit.