Pattaya, part 8
A ferry of the Sailing Club leaves daily at 9:30 and 11:30 and returns 16:00. The price per person is 250 Baht with lunch or 120 Baht without lunch. Most travel agencies organize daily trips at 280 Baht or more.
Transportation to/Around Pattaya & Jomtien
Bangkok - Pattaya
The State Railways of Thailand has a weekend excursion train (Saturdays and Sundays only) departing from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station at 6:20. Tel 225-6964 for further details.
Buses from Bangkok’s Eastern Bus Terminal on Sukhumvit Road; 149km, non-aircon 29 Baht, 5:25, 6:10, 7:05, 7:55, 8:30 and every 35min until 21:00; aircon 53 Baht, 6:30 and every 30min until 22:00
Buses from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal on Phahonyothin Road, 6:00 and every hour until 19:00.
Diamond Coach buses (reservation Tel 259-4108, 258-1155) depart from their office on Sukhumvit Rd, Soi 26, 110 Baht, 8:30, 12:30 and 16:30. Erawan Coach buses (reservation Tel 252-1083, 252-5887) depart from Siam Orchid Inn (beside Naraiphan, Rajadamri Rd), 110 Baht, 9:00, 13:00 and 17:00.
Thai Airways International has coaches from Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport, 180 Baht, 9:00, 12:00 and 19:00. Tickets and reservation in the arrival lounge, Tel 535-2801, 535-2803.
Aircon coach tickets for Pattaya are also available at World Travel Service counters in the following Bangkok hotels:
Regent Bangkok, Tel 251-6127
Dusit Thani, Tel 233-1130 to 9
Indra Regent, Tel 251-111
Manohra, Tel 234-5070
Montien, Tel 234-8060 to 9
Oriental, Tel 236-0400 to 39
Le Meridian President, Tel 253-0444
Tawana Ramada, Tel 236-0361 to 90
Siam Intercontinental, Tel 253-0355 to 7
Pattaya - Bangkok
Aircon buses from Pattaya’s Aircon Bus Terminal on North Pattaya Rd, near Sukhumvit Road; 53 Baht, 6:00 and every 30min until 20:00, last bus at 21:00.
Non-aircon buses from Pattaya’s Non-aircon Bus Terminal in South Pattaya, 29 Baht, 4:00 and every 30min until 18:00.
Diamond Coach buses depart in Pattaya at Nipa Lodge Hotel (Tel 42-8321 to 2, 42-8195); 110 Baht (to the airport 190 Bath), 8:30, 12:30 and 17:00. Erawan Coach buses depart in Pattaya at Siam Bay View Hotel (Tel 42-8727 to 9), 110 Baht.
Thai Airways International has coaches to Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport, 180 Baht, 6:30, 13:00 and 18:30. Departure from Alcazar Unity, Pattaya. Tickets and reservation at Pattaya Alcazar Cabaret, Tel 42-3140 to 1.
Travel within Pattaya is most convenient by passenger pickup (otherwise referred to as mini-buses or Songthaew). They continually ply the Pattaya Beach Rd and Pattaya 2 Road in counterclockwise circuits. Fare is 5 Baht per person per ride. Fares beyond the main bay area have to be agreed upon before starting the trip.
It makes a difference whether one just boards a passenger pickup and drives along its route while the driver lets other people board, or whether the trip is individual. The rates for individual trips during which the driver does not pick up additional passengers are much higher.
Newcomers to Pattaya regularly are confronted with drivers who later designate a trip as individual or special and demand a higher fare than just the 5 Baht, even though the passenger intended it just a 5 Baht travel. Such situations occur when newcomers ask a driver whether he passes by a certain place. The driver interprets such a specifically named destination as a request for a special or individual trip. Those familiar with Pattaya just board a pickup along the roads and do not mention a destination but just give note when they want to alight and then pay 5 Baht.
While fares for individually hired passenger pickups are not regulated, the Pattaya Police, the Tourist Police, the Tourism Authority and the Pattaya City administration have agreed with the Pattaya Minibus Cooperative on a set of guideline rates for certain destinations. They include:
Sukhumvit Road - 20 Baht from North Pattaya, 30 from Central Pattaya and 20 from South Pattaya.
Naklua Market - 30 Baht from North Pattaya, 40 from Central Pattaya and 50 from South Pattaya.
Jomtien Beach Road - 70 to 90 Baht from North Pattaya, 60 to 80 from Central Pattaya and 50 to 70 from South Pattaya.
Mini Siam, Elephant Kraal - 30 Baht from North Pattaya, 40 from Central Pattaya and 50 from South Pattaya.
Elephant Village, Panarak Park - 100 Baht from North Pattaya, 100 from Central Pattaya and 100 from South Pattaya.
Nong Nooch Village - 200 Baht from North Pattaya, 200 from Central Pattaya and 200 from South Pattaya.
Vehicle Hire
Those who wish to be independent or to explore Pattaya’s surrounding countryside and beaches at leisure, can hire motorcycles, jeeps or cars. The visitor should shop around, for different companies offer different prices and conditions.
There are many cars and jeeps for rent in Pattaya. Jeep and car owners park their vehicles along the Pattaya Beach Rd, Central Pattaya Rd and in South Pattaya, just with a signboard saying "for rent" on the top of the car or jeep.
Water Travel
Ko Larn, Pattaya’s nearest island is some 45 minutes from the resort by boat. Local travel agents sell round trip tickets at 250 Baht per person, including lunch, for a ferry departing at 9:30 and 11:30. Without lunch, it’s 100 Baht per person.
Sailing junks also offer the trip to Larn island. The trip includes lunch and coral viewing with departures at 9:30 and returns at 16:30 and typically also costs 250 Baht per person. Such junks may also be chartered for 3,000 Baht per day.
Boat charters cost 700 to 1000 Baht per day depending on the season and size of the boat, most of which are converted fishing smacks. Boats can be hired from many owners along Pattaya Beach Rd. Some are equipped with speed engines.
| 
