sonkran

[joseph1 6]

Hey guys,

How about some help. there are 3 things I need to know and it all pertains to Pattaya only.

1) I need to know exactly when Sonkran (water whatever) takes place. DATES

 

2) is this a 24 hr/day event or is the water throwing limited to a certain time frame.

 

3) is this happening only on the streets or is it also in the bars.

 

Now guys, I am arranging airfare and hotels for 6 people, I need only the people who are 100% sure of the answers, I am not looking for the " I think, or someone told me or usually this or that". If you do not know 100% what I am asking....please refrain from gueswwork.

 

Thanks.

[Basil B 46]

Starts 12th April until 19th.

 

Should have no problem getting in to Pattaya as the bottleneck is the intelligent people leaving...

[frostfire 1,279]

Well... if you want to know what the OFFICIAL dates are, someone here can tell you.

 

If you want to know the actual dates... nobody here can tell you.

 

At some point usually within a few days of the official start date for BANGKOK Songkran (Bangkok Songkran is a week before Pattaya officially), some drunk asshat decides to squirt some other assclown somewhere on Soi 7 or 8 at about midnight or so, and poof - the whole fucking town explodes in a waterfight.

 

To be fair, 4 years ago (my first Songkran here), it started at midnight on the official start date in Bangkok. For the last 3 years it has started early in some places, but most still start the day of..... but you may well get soaked at any hour of any day from 3 days before Songkran up until the last day. The first day it starts and the last day are the worst, with water play on all soi's off 2nd and Beach roads wet pretty much 24/7. For the week or so between the first and last day, water starts around 10am or so, and finishes by about 10pm in most places. It is supposed to finish at 7pm, but that NEVER happens. Some places will stop, but most will not (at the encouragement of drunk falangs usually).

 

Come planning on getting wet and not being able to avoid it... Some people love it, others hate it. I am in the middle - I LOVE it when I want to play - but friggin hate it when I go home after a day of play and try to sneak to Walking Street in dry clothes only to be soaked by some drunk bastard with no sense of fair play. (aka asshat) :)

 

Now, the official dates for 2011 are the 13th thru the 15th. Most of THailand will restrict themselves to those dates. PATTAYA IS AN EXCEPTION. Pattaya officially starts on the 17th and goes thru the 19th, but it WILL start sometime between the 11th-13th and continue thru the 19th.

 

The good news.... On April 20, 2011 most of the streets will be clean enough to walk barefoot (just for you villa!)

 

[joseph1 6]

thanks frostfire, I will let them know and they can decide what dates are good for them, myself, 1-2 days and I have had enough. I have been lucky in bangkok to avoid a lot of it.

 

had never been in Pattya for it and knowing Pattaya, was sure it would be more too it.

[Basil B 46]

Suppose it starts when the first thai A__ H___ sell the first super soaker to a like minded farang A___ H____.

[CheshireTom 1,377]

Well... if you want to know what the OFFICIAL dates are, someone here can tell you.

 

If you want to know the actual dates... nobody here can tell you.

 

The 'official' dates for Songkran are 13-15 April, it doesn't matter if you're in Bangkok or Pattaya. There are various festivals planned on different days around the country.

 

The additional celebration that takes place in Pattaya on the 18/19 April is the Wan Lai Festival.

 

There's actually a decent website that tells you the dates of the various festivals throughout Thailand.

 

 

Songkran Festivals

Edited November 29, 2010 by CheshireTom

[villayouth 37]

The good news.... On April 20, 2011 most of the streets will be clean enough to walk barefoot (just for you villa!)

 

 

Never thought of that

[puaa 1]

As to where and when...

I've experienced songkran a total of 8 times. One in Chiang Mai (fun, mostly polite), Krabi (very quiet, a little soaking in and around the bars), 6 in Pattaya. You're mostly safe in your hotel, shops. You're going to get wet on just about every street in town and any outdoor bars (bar beer). You are not safe on a baht bus. Mornings are calm (the drunks are still sleeping it off). After 12 noon, plan on getting soaked. Passport, camera, wallet and anything not waterproof must be plastic-bagged.

Chok dee.

[Big_Brian 179]

The really, really important thing is that it's over by the 23rd.

 

 

 

'cos that's when I get there.

[muddy 0]

Hey Guys,

My flight home from Pattaya is on the 17th April, will I have any trouble getting a taxi to come in to take me to the Airport ?? I plan on leaving around lunchtime.

[horizons 1]

I think that 19 April will be the big bad crazy stupid day for waterfight warriors. Note that Bell Bus transfers have all be concelled for that day - that is the hotel pickup/drop-off service, not the Swampy-Patts run:Please be informed that on April 19, 2011,

 

Bell Travel Service in Pattaya will not provide a pick-up or drop-off services between Bell Office and hotels in Pattaya

 

due to Songkran Festival in Pattaya city.

 

A service between Pattaya and Airport and Bangkok city will remain the same.

 

Passengers will have to manage your own transportation from Pattaya Bell office to your hotel and from your hotel to Pattaya Bell office.

 

We are sorry for this inconvenience and thank you for your kind corporation.

 

Bell Travel Service Team

 

Hey Guys,

My flight home from Pattaya is on the 17th April, will I have any trouble getting a taxi to come in to take me to the Airport ?? I plan on leaving around lunchtime.

[mmaaarrrkkk 41]

Hey Guys,

My flight home from Pattaya is on the 17th April, will I have any trouble getting a taxi to come in to take me to the Airport ?? I plan on leaving around lunchtime.

 

 

I'll answer this as it a polite question and unlike other I WANT I WANT I WANT questions.

 

 

The splashing starts noon but beware some idiots who are always on the lookout for a dry tourist. Eat your lunch in the hotel or room service if you have to. Shouldnt have any problems getting a cab but prebook it a few days in advance. Make sure you dont step out of the lobby maybe even room before your cab comes. And when you get into the covered cab (non sangtow) , make sure you stay in and not wander around even at a petrol station.

 

As you're staying till the 17th , you should get an idea by the time you leave.

[muddy 0]

Thanks Mate..