Depending on your time of arrival and how much you want to spend, there are a number of options for getting from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport to Pattaya. A comfortable air-conditioned bus will get you straight from the airport to Pattaya for as little as 106 Baht whilst a public taxi will cost around 1,400 Baht (as of April 2008). Journey time is between 1.5-2 hours. Having just returned from a few days in Pattaya I thought it would be helpful to post the current situation. Show Bus to PattayaWhen Suvarnabhumi first opened in September 2006, getting a bus to Pattaya meant going via the transportation centre or getting an airport bus to Mo Chit or Ekamai bus terminal. Fortunately, it is a lot easier now with direct services available from Bangkok airport to Pattaya. Government Bus Service 07.00 I haven’t yet taken this bus, but I asked at
the counter and they told me it stops at all three bus stations in Pattaya: North Pattaya (Pattaya Nua), Central Pattaya (Sukhumvit Road) and Jomtien Beach where the service terminates. (Note: the 22.00 service only stops at Pattaya north bus station) Bell Transport Company 08.00 More details on the Bell Travel website. Buses from the Public Transportation Centre The bus I took was the 11.00 which took 1 hour 45 minutes to reach the North Pattaya bus terminal where the service terminates. From the bus terminal a shared songthaew to central or south Pattaya is 20 Baht. One thing that impressed me this time on arrival at Pattaya bus station was the presence of tourist information staff (easily spotted in blue polo shirts) offering genuine and helpful advice to new arrivals at the bus terminal.
Public taxi to PattayaThe public taxi counter at Bangkok airport is located on Level 2 (the same level as arrivals). The counter is actually just a small desk set up on the kerbside just outside of the terminal building. Join the queue and when you reach the desk you will be asked where you want to go. The person at the counter will then write out a ticket, hand it to you and allocate your taxi. This ticket will have the price of your fare written down because it is a set fare to Pattaya and is not charged on the meter. You do not hand over money to the person at the counter; instead you pay the driver on arrival in Pattaya. The last time I used a public taxi from Bangkok airport to Pattaya was in July 2007 and the price was 1,300 Baht (including expressway tolls) but I’m advised by Pattaya regulars that the current price as of April 2008 is 1,400 Baht. As the taxi drivers are Bangkok-based they may have limited knowledge of Pattaya’s streets and hotels, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself stopping at a service station in Pattaya while the driver asks for directions to your hotel. AOT limousine serviceAn official AOT (Airports of Thailand) limousine service to Pattaya will set you back around 3,000-3.500 Baht. Kiosks are available from inside the terminal building near baggage reclaim and again as you enter the arrivals hall. Unlicensed taxisDespite occasional clampdowns by airport authorities, there are still large numbers of taxi touts inside the arrivals hall so be prepared to be approached by somebody offering you a taxi service. My advice is to just ignore them and make your way outside to the official taxi counter or use the bus services mentioned above. Is there a bus from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya?If you are travelling on a budget, taking the Airport Pattaya bus from Suvarnabhumi airport (BBK) is the best option for you, as tickets only cost €3.40 (120 Baht). However, if you miss your bus, you will have to wait for the next one (around 1 hour), adding onto your 2 hour trip to the city centre.
How do I get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya?Airport Pattaya Bus operates a bus from Pattaya Jomtien Bus Station to Suvarnabhumi Airport every 4 hours. Tickets cost ฿130 and the journey takes 2h 10m. Bell Travel Service also services this route once daily.
Are buses running from Bangkok to Pattaya?Bangkok residents often get to Pattaya by bus. Some of the most frequent departures are from the Eastern Bus Terminal, adjacent to the Ekkamai BTS Station on Sukhumvit Road at Soi 63 (Soi Ekkamai). Air-conditioned buses leave approximately every 30 minutes between 5 am and 11.30 pm each day.
How much is a grab from BKK to Pattaya?Transportation Options from Bangkok to Pattaya. |