dibidabi

go to flyertalk.com. everything there.

On second thought, you're probably right. But sometimes, you know, it is fun to save money whatever the cost. Next topic, please!

Of course, that's the catch! You're right, wagger, that sounds terrible. Thanks for the suggestion. So maybe in high season the public bus is better.

I just noticed that http://wikitravel.org/en/Pattaya has essentially the same information I gave you. It says that they need a 90 min advance booking by phone or mail so it's definitely not a walk-in deal. I am sure someone will get on the BKK-Pattaya bus and tell us all about it. Looks like one of the best kept secrets of Pattaya for now. Maybe things will change a bit this fall or next year when Suvarnabhumi airport opens up.

They dropped each of us off at the terminals of our choice. As to where to catch the bus they told me to make prior arrangements by phone or email. I don't think they have the right to park at the airport. We have to find out.

This is what I kept from the trip. Before the bus departed they exchanged the original ticket showing the amount paid with the one above which I had to show the driver on transfer to the second minibus. Note that it mentions Flipper Lodge where I actually stayed but which at this time didn't have anything to do with my transport. I inquired at the desk how I could get to BKK airport and all they could say was "by taxi". Sorry I don't know what to do to get the image to load. It's a scan of the Bell Travel business card and of my ticket Pattaya-BKK.

I didn't want to hijack Mr. Toom's post on his 1200 baht taxi so here is what I found out by accident: Bell Travel Service Co, Ltd, in cooperation with Roon Rueang Coach Co, Ltd operates a bus service from the terminal on North Pattaya Road to Bangkok Don Muan Airport for 250 baht per person. For 50 baht more they pick you up at the hotel. This is a fantastic deal since although the ride from the bus terminal to beach road can be had for 20 baht you can easily get ripped off for 10 times this amount going the other way. I was picked up at Flipper Lodge right on time at 0845 with a comfortable minibus (not a cattle transporter) and taken to the bus terminal where we met the other passengers and changed to an equally comfortable AC bus which left with a small delay in the direction of Bangkok. At the outskirts of BKK the bus pulled into a private station where we changed to minibuses again. Some passengers were then taken to hotels in Bangkok, I rode with another passenger to Don Muang Airport. Travel time was specified as 3 hours but I reached my destination before 1130. Bell Travel runs this service 4 times a day from Pattaya to Bangkok (0600, 0900, 1300 and 1700) and 3 times in the opposite direction (0930, 1330 and 1730). They can be contacted at rrc_bus@hotmail.com, Tel 038 370055-6 (Pattaya), 027474673 or 027474675-6 (Bangkok). I am planning to use Bell Travel going to Pattaya the next time and see how contacting them by e-mail works out. Their 300 baht service costs only slightly more than catching the regular bus at Mo Chit or Ekamai and is so much more comfortable. If anybody is gaining new experiences with this service please let it be known. I don't know the deal the people had who went to downtown Bangkok destinations, but that sounded like an interesting alternative.