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HOW TO GET AROUND PATTAYA
Most of Pattaya Beach’s hotels, clubs, bars and shops are condensed into an area that spans little more than a few kilometres, so it’s perfectly possible to get around entirely on foot. However, the transport facilities here are so regular, reliable and affordable that you’ll probably see little point. Getting to anyone of the nearby beach areas, like Jomtien or Naklua, is also just as easy.
1. MOTORBIKE & CAR RENTALS
Motorbikes can be rented for B150 to B200 baht a day for a 100/125 cc model. If you're looking for something bigger, a 750cc or 1000 bike can be rented for B500 to B2500 a day.
Renters are expected to have a valid driver's license. This means either a Thai license or an international license. The rental agency won't check for the license, but the police might and if you don't have one it will cost B500+. Helmets are mandatory and the fastest way to get stopped by the police is to not wear one. Thai law requires motorbikes to be operated with the headlight on and Thai spec bikes have them permanently illuminated. Accidents are common in Pattaya; driving defensively is the only way to survive and if you have never used a motorbike previously, it is best to learn elsewhere.
Car rentals are available from both local and international companies like Budget +66 (03) 871-0717, Hertz +66 (03) 871-6693, Avis +66 (03) 836-1627, National +66 (03) 841-125 /6. The most popular rental vehicle is a Suzuki jeep. They rent for about B1000 from locals and more if using one of the international big guys. As with a motorbike you will need a valid license although local companies rarely ask for them. Check the vehicle is insured.
2. MOTORBIKE TAXI
Pattaya is chocablok with easy to identify motorbike taxis. The operators wear colourful vests and can be flagged down as the cruise the streets or camp on street corners chatting and playing checkers. A trip within pattaya usually costs 30-40 baht.
3. SONGTHAEW
The most common form of transport in Pattaya is a songthaew, a dark blue pick-up truck with two benches in the back and a cover on top. Called 'baht buses' by most people, the official fare within Pattaya is B5, but foreigners are expected to pay B10. Although two tier pricing irritates many people, fighting the system probably isn't worth the effort. The fixed fare only applies when the songthaew is following a set route like a bus. If you want it to take you somewhere off its route, you'll have to negotiate a price.
The most frequently used route is a circular one along Beach Road, then left on South Pattaya Road to Second Road where it again turns left and travels parallel to Beach Road. When it reaches the Dolphin Circle roundabout, it travels back to Beach Road and begins the journey again. At Dolphin Circle some songthaews head to Naklua Beach and others up North Pattaya Road to the a/c bus terminal and Sukhumvit Road. Songthaews from the North Pattaya Road bus station to points along Beach Front and Second Road are B20. Songthaews to Jomtien can be boarded at the intersection of South Pattaya and Second Road.
4. TAXIS
Since Pattaya is a frequent destination for taxis from Bangkok, cabbies will often take fares in Pattaya until they find someone heading back to Bangkok. Taxis are particularly useful if you are travelling more than a couple of blocks, but you'll have to negotiate a price. There are also cars and mini-vans available in Pattaya for longer trips into surrounding areas.
5. PATTAYA BUS TERMINAL
The main Pattaya bus terminal is found on North Road (Pattaya Nua), close to where it meets Sukhumvit Road. Fully named the “Air Conditioned Bus Terminal Pattaya-Bangkok”, its services combine comfort and convenience with fairly impressive speed and low ticket prices, making it one of the most popular methods of travelling to and from the country’s capital.
There are three services running from the Pattaya Bus Terminal to Bangkok, going to the Eastern Bus Terminal in Ekkamai (124 baht per person), the Northern Bus Terminal in Morchit (136 baht) and the Southern Bus Terminal at Sai Tai Taling Chin (136 baht). Tickets cannot be booked in advance. Instead, you have to go to the relevant counter at the terminal and they will give you a seat on the next available bus. With departures every 30 or 40 minutes from 04:30 to 23:00, you won’t have to wait long.
For travellers arriving from Bangkok, you will find a choice of songthaews (pick-up truck taxi) and taxis (including motorbike taxis) waiting by the entrance to take you on to your final destination. Expect to pay around 20 to 50 baht per person for a songthaews into central Pattaya.
Location: North Pattaya Road, North Pattaya
6. AIRPORT BUS STATION
There is a bus service from Pattaya directly to Suvarnabhumi International Airport, but it is not operated by Roong Ruang Coach Company and therefore does not depart from the North Road Pattaya Bus Terminal. Tickets cannot be booked in advance and need to be bought from the office on the day of travel.
The airport buses leave every hour on the hour from 07:00 to 21:00 and take approximately two hours to reach Suvarnabhumi Airport Departures (Level 4). Tickets cost 122 baht per person. As with the Bangkok buses, the vehicles are generally clean and well-maintained, they make use of the main highways and they have no other stops along the way, making them among the fastest, safest and most convenient means of getting to the airport.
Location: Thappraya Road, South Pattaya
4. BALI HAI PIER
Bali Hai Pier – commonly known as Pattaya Pier – is a central feature of the city, located at the end of Walking Street, near the southernmost point of Pattaya Bay. It is a hive of activity, with endless day-trippers on the way to the nearby Coral Island (Koh Larn), as well as scuba divers, fishing enthusiasts and even private charter boat trips setting off or returning to dry land.
Location: Southern end of walking street Pattaya
7. U-TAPAO AIRPORT
Pattaya Airport or U-Tapao International Airport is situated about midway between Pattaya and Rayong, being roughly 40km from each city. Seperate from the main terminal - which services scheduled and charter flights - U-Tapao Airport is also a Royal Thai Navy Air Station and home of the Navy's First Air Wing. For this reason, passengers are always asked not to take photographs out of the window during take-off and landing.
The airport operates a small number of daily domestic and international flights, with other services flying only on three or four days per week. Destinations include Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai and Udon Thani in Thailand, Shanghai, Macau, Nanchang and Nanning in China, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Singapore. There are plans to further expand the commercial capabilities of U-Tapao, effectively making it Bangkok's third airport.
Getting to Pattaya and nearby seaside towns from U-Tapao Airport is conveniently simple. The taxi/bus service desk by the terminal exit can help arrange transportation to your final destination, whether it is Bangkok, Pattaya, Phe Pier (for Koh Samet), or Trat Pier (for Koh Chang). You will also find a car rental service desk nearby.
Location: Rayong Province
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