This has been mentioned from time to time but I'm wondering how many mongers actually use this. I've gone by taxi once at 3,000 baht and several times using this bus at 90 baht. You just can't beat the value.

The busses to Pattaya leave from Ekamai station on Sukhumvit road. It's very convenient since there is a Sky Train station just outside (Ekamai Station). Busses leave about every hour. I think the last bus is 9pm. The ride takes 90-120 minutes, the same as a taxi.

I've also met a few nice Thais during this ride. On my last trip back to Bangkok a very nice woman around 25-28 sat next to me. She was shy and quiet, but after a short time she kept dozing off and resting her head on my shoulder or next to my head. We'd hit a rough spot every now and then and she'd wake up, look around, and then go back to sleep on me. When we got to Bangkok she asked me where I was going. I wish I had more to this story, but I the truth is I was going directly to Don Muang airport to leave. At least it was a very pleasant ride back to Bangkok.

I always take the bus ... cept this last time. The taxi driver that picked me up in front of the Majestic was down to 1200 baht by the time we reached the bus station. I told him to go for it. We made the trip in just over an hour and a half, including a potty break. This was on a Saturday after noon. I was white as a ghost ... this driver was takeing the dirt bike track beside the highway to pass trucks some of the time.
About half way there he asks me if I know how to get to my hotel, he doesn't know Pattaya very well. We take the Central Pattaya exit and head toward the water. The driver keeps asking me if I see anything that looks familiar. About then a guy on a motor cycle pulls up next to the cab and jabbers something to the driver who jabbers back. The guy on the motor cycle turns to me and asks what hotel I am staying at. I tell him Flipper Lodge and he smiles and tells the driver, "Follow me". I comment to the taxi driver about what a nice guy this motor cycle man is. The driver informs me that motor cycle man is his boss and wants a ride back to Bangkok ... for free.
End of the story is I am unloaded at Flipper and get Bossman's business card along with his cell phone number, and am told that any time I want a cab just call him, "I give you good price". I'm leaning toward taking the bus back to Bangkok when I leave. (-;

Yeah, "special price for you." Where have I heard that before? The one time I went to Pattaya, I took the bus. Price can't be beat and takes no longer than a cab. Taking the sky train to the bus station is the easyest way to get there.

After taking every form of transportation to Pattaya, I will stick with the bus.

Of course, the best way to travel would be some private car or limo, and 2 girls.

The Penthouse Hotel offers a special deal for limo service with booze and girls for a pretty penny... over $100. If I was careless (or just filthy rich), I would do this with 4 girls and fuck them all, telling the driver to take the side streets.

Of course, if I were rich, American women would be all over me. Take a guess as to why they aren't already doing this...

A note, your bus ticket will have your seat number on it. The seat numbers are written on the back of each bus seat, so it's a bit confusing. One doesn't know whether to check the back of the seat, or sit behind the seat with your number. By counting back from the front of the bus you'll find that your seat number coresponds to the number written on the back of the seat. Every time I aways see people shuffling around trying to sort this out. Utimately, it really doesn't matter.

The a/c bus is really the best way to go for the money. I think a lot of the guys who toss around the dough for a private car are really just afraid to experience a little Thai life. It's kind of like traveling to a foreign land and eating at McDonalds. So for you first timers, don't be intimidated. Dive in and experience the place. You'll have much more interesting memories.

One of the BKK hotels with a branch in Pattaya will drive you down if youstay at their hotel. I cant remember which one though

694me,

You're referring to the Dynasty Hotel.

Yujin

I took the airport bus to Ekamai as per the ladies at the airport bus stations instruction. 100 Baht. Then the air conditioned bus to Pattaya for 90 baht. Very easy and worked great. However at a bar as I discussed my return trip with the bargirls one said it was faster and easier to take a meter cab to Mochi bus station for about 150 baht and then take the bus from there to Pattaya. I never tried it but she assured me it was faster than going to Ekamai and maybe only 50 baht more.

Returning I intended to take the bus but after a hard night of sex, drinking and more sex, I overslept and barely had time to bang my girl one more time and have the hotel call me a cab. That was 1200 Baht plus he made me pay the toll (100 baht toll and I'm not sure it wasn't supposed to be included in the price but it was late and I had no time to argue, in the future I would clarify the toll issue up front)

I barely made my plane. Security personally escorted me through customs to make sure I made it to the gate in time.

If I do it again I would probably take the bus again but try the taxi to Mochi bus station as per the bargirl to see if it is faster than Ekamai.

Best way to Pattaya.
USED A SERVICE THAT IS DOOR TO DOOR FROM BANGKOK TO PATTAYA AND BACK. Company is Bell Travel Service. Leave BKK 9:30 AM, 13:30 PM, and 17:30 PM each day, return is 9:00AM,13:00 PM, and 17:pm. COST is 250 Baht each way. They pick you up at your hotel in a 10 seater van w/AC and transfer you to a large luxury bus outside Bkk. Same thing happens in Pattaya were they deliver you to your hotel. Total time 3 1/2 Hours
Bangkok Phone 0-2747-4673, 5,6. In Pattaya 038-370-055,6
Email rrc_bus@hotmail.com.
They speak english.. Service and price were excellent

That's two hours of prime mongering time wasted.Plus when you get there you have to transfer to amother minibus and make a tour of the rattrap hotels of Pattaya-all a waste of time.

The right "limo " driver will get you there in one and a half hours for 1500 baht plus tolls. I'll take the comfort , convenience and time saving any day and pay the extra $25.

Dynasty shuttle costs 350 (1-way free if you're staying 2 nights at Dynasty in Pattaya) and takes maybe 10 minutes more than the cab.

the public buses go straight there and I have timed it many times and it has taken an average of 10 minutes longer to get to your hotel on the bus and thats only because you have to take a baht bus to your hotel from the bus stop. It usually takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours on a bus(excluding Songkran) and 1 hour and 35 minutes to 2 hours with a taxi. Minibuses on the other hand take 3-4 hours because of all the transfers and stops and it costs about 150 baht more than the public buses. The caveat to that is if you go from the airport straight to Pattaya, then you might want to jump into a meter cab and as you get on the toll road, tell him you will give him an additional 1,200 if he turns off the meter and goes to Pattaya...if he says no, tell him to drop you off at Ekamai bus station...he will always relent and take you to Pattaya. To many stops if you are going straight from the airport to Pattaya via bus, especially if you have a lot of luggage. The best case scenario is to stay at Dynasty Inn on your first night and then take the shuttle the next day to Pattaya.

Its not a matter of being able to afford not to worry about the small stuff, its just the principle of paying alot when you dont have to and can use that money for other things. I, unlike others on the board, dont compare costs to American dollars because you are in Thailand and have to think in terms of value for the baht. If your trips are short then I guess it really doesnt matter as time is of the essence and money no object.

Ekkamai vs Mo Chit bus station: I am told that the Mo Chit buses are better, that the Ekkamai station has a lot of local buses that stop in every little town on the way down, whereas all of the Mo Chit buses are express. If you are coming down from the airport, Mo Chit is closer than Ekkamai

Khom_mor,

How can I go about getting a "limo" straight from BKK to Pattaya? My next trip I am wanting to just go straight there.

Thanks