[subpages]
Bangkok to Pattaya by Bus
Ekamai bus schedule from Pattaya to Bangkok is 5 a.m. till 8 p.m. (last bus).
When you get off the bus at Ekamai in Bangkok, take the BTS (new sky tram) up the street. It will save time in fighting traffic. If you stay near the Nana area, get off at the Nana stop and get a meter taxi along the Sukhumvit Road.
The bus fare for the normal (non-air con) buses along Sukhumvit is 5 baht. Once you get on the bus, an attendant will collect the fare. If you stay in the Sukhumvit area and want to pace up and down, take bus #25 or 40.
Airport Bus to Bangkok
The booth to buy your ticket is located outside Terminal 2 to the left. For 100 Baht you can ride in an air conditioned bus downtown. Take the A3 bus for Sukhumvit. For the Nana hotel they let you off near Soi 7 in front of Tony Romas. You have to walk it over the walk bridge and over to the Nana hotel, so this won’t be an option if you have a lot of baggage.
The Bangkok airport bus has four routes. The fare is 100 baht. The bus stops at Term 1, Term 2, and domestic.
The bus numbers are A1, A2, A3, and A4. DO NOT TAKE THE SHUTTLE BUS! The shuttle is free and runs between the international and domestic terminals.
As tired as you are after your flight, ignore any persistant person who asks “Where you go?” or “taxi?” and look for the “Airport Bus” sign. It will be suspended and point you to the right exit, ususally at the left (as you walk into the arrival hall from customs) end of the arrival hall.
Do not ask where the bus is; the person you ask may have an interest in you not taking it and will tell you that it’s “finished” or “no good.”
There will be a kiosk on the sidewalk near the bus stop. An English-speaking woman will ask where you’re going and tell you which bus to take. A3 goes down the expressway to Sukhumvit and then down to Ekamai bus station. A1 goes down the expressway and eventually to Silom to New Road. Another does the expressway down to Rama IV Rd. and finishes at Hua Lompong train station.
The buses are the same bus used by the “Micro Bus” and the skytrain shuttles.
Once ticketed and on board, a woman will ask where you stop. You may give either a hotel or soi number. The service is excellent.
Caveat. If you’re connecting to a train, think twice before taking the airport bus to Hua Lompong. There’s a train station across the highway from Term 1 that goes to northern and northeastern cities. For southern and eastern destinations, you may have to go to Hua Lompong.
Sometimes, You Have to Walk
With the heavy traffic jams (especially on weekdays between 3 – 6:30 p.m.), you might find it faster to walk than to find a taxi. If you do need to cross the street, don’t jaywalk. Instead, use the walk bridge.
Meter Taxis
Coming from the Airport. It is usually cheaper to go to the counter outside and get a meter taxi. Tell the lady at the counter where you are going, and she will give you a ticket. There is a 50 Baht surcharge that you must add to the meter, and it is best to tell him to take the highway and you will pay the tools. That adds another 70 Baht, but saves much time. Your total will be under 300 Baht. Most of the other
services charge 400 to 600 Baht.
In the City. You can find meter taxis throughout Bangkok. They offer the most comfortable, safest, and least expensive (except for motorbikes) means of transportation. The meter taxi drivers are usually fair and honest (although you may find the rare one who won’t turn on the meter and therefore overcharge you).
NOTE: The red light in the corner of the TAXI sign on the roof of the cab, when lit, indicates that the taxi is vacant. Just wave at the driver as he heads towards you and he will stop. Most of the time, they can pull over just about anywhere to pick you up or let you off.
Want an Adventure? Take a Tuk Tuk Ride
The girl I was with in Bangkok had us take three Tuk Tuk rides when traffic got bad. It was like an Indiana Jones movie as we darted down alleys, dropped thru subterrain parking garages, and weaseled pass stopped cars. These guys know all the back ways. All by the seat of your pants, no seatbelts here. We did make some good time, you have to get used to the fumes. I’ll remember those rides for a long time. It should be on your list to try.
BTS Sky Train
One of the most pleasure experiences in Bangkok is the BTS Sky Train. From your seat, you get a bird’s eye view of the vibrant city life. A 1-day ticket (unlimited rides) costs 100 Baht ($2.50 US). A tourist ticket valid for 10 trips costs 250 Baht ($6.25 US).
There are two lines: the Sukhumvit line and the Silom line. Change lines at Central station.
For more information, visit the official website. official website.
[cm_ad_changer campaign_id=”1″]
[cm_ad_changer campaign_id=”2″]
[cm_ad_changer campaign_id=”3″]
[cm_ad_changer campaign_id=”4″]
[siblings]