Pattaya is Thailand’s original resort city. Once a small fishing village, Pattaya’s picturesque waterfront and laid-back lifestyle attracted the attention of domestic and international travelers in the 1960s. Decades of investment in tourism, medicine, education, and infrastructure have transformed Pattaya from that small fishing village into an internationally-renowned destination. And best of all, Pattaya is just a short trip from Bangkok, the transit and financial hub of Thailand.
If you are in Bangkok for business or pleasure, Pattaya is the perfect option for a weekend trip. Here are your transit options for a fast and economical getaway to Pattaya:
For frequent departures and cheap fares, hop on one of the many buses that depart from Bangkok’s central terminals. Bus service from the Eastern Bus Terminal (next to the Ekkamai BTS station) includes departures every half-hour, 5:20 AM to 11:20 PM. You can also take buses departing from the Northern Bus Terminal or the Southern Bus Terminal, though these have less frequent departures. All terminals offer air conditioned coaches and the trip by bus takes approximately 2 hours. A one-way bus fare will cost approximately 120 baht.
Hotels and travel agencies often offer transfers via a mini-van service. These have more flexible scheduling and are slightly more expensive, around 400-500 baht per person, for the door-to-door convenience.
For a personalized and private transfer, you can always schedule a taxi or a private driver to drive you directly to your destination in Pattaya. Standard taxi rates for the trip to Pattaya are 1500 baht, and a private driver will negotiate the price with you individually. Rental cars are readily available with a prior booking from both of Bangkok’s main airports, however you will save yourself the hassle of navigating Bangkok’s traffic if you choose a taxi or mini van service. As with the bus and mini-van services, a taxi or rental car will take approximately 2 hours to drive from Bangkok to Pattaya, depending on traffic and other conditions.
A daily train departs from Hua Lamphong station at 6:50 AM for the most economical option — just 31 baht. Please note that the train trip takes three hours or more and only runs third-class cars.
If you are making a direct transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Pattaya, you have plenty of options available for you when you step off the plane. Rental car services such as Avis and Hertz have offices located in the main terminal, and metered taxis can take you at nearly any time of day or night. The cheapest option, though, is to take a free shuttle to the airport’s Transport Centre, where buses run directly to Pattaya every two hours. These buses cost 106 baht and are the best value for money for your BKK-Pattaya transfer.
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