trying out the coach from central Bangkok to Pattaya.

[JayMoon101 112]

After a night in Bangkok I thought I would try the coach from central Bkk to Pattaya, especially as I was right by Nana skytrain stop and it was only a few stops up the line to Ekkamai coach station.

OK - that didn't work. Having lugged my 20kg case up and down all the steps at the skytrain station coming in from the airport, there was no way I was going to do that again, so instead got a taxi to the coach station (80B). Coach was 115B and left in 10 minutes and was perfectly comfortable with plenty of leg room and I managed to sleep for a bit. Transit time probably a bit slower than a taxi - say 2.5 hours instead of 2 - given the traffic and roadworks.

Then baht bus to central Pattaya (30B) and another one to Residence Gardens (10B).

all up cost around 240B against around 1200B if you pre-order or more like 2000B if you just get one without any planning.

downside was that the 2 hours in the taxi is door to door. When you add the transport at either end to the slightly longer coach time it probably doubles the total time door to door.

Up to you - but hopefully this gives you the facts you need.

J

[Big_Brian 179]

Last time I took the sky train at Nana, I seem to remember an escalator.

[yorta2 693]

Yes there are escalators at Nana, but if you walk from (say) Soi 4 to Nana and take the first entrance to Nana Skytrain you will have to climb stairs. If you walk another 50 metres to the second entrance you will have an escalator. On the other side of Sukhumvit Road, I think, the stairs/escalator entrances are reversed.

[jacko 8,813]

Yes there are escalators at Nana, but if you walk from (say) Soi 4 to Nana and take the first entrance to Nana Skytrain you will have to climb stairs. If you walk another 50 metres to the second entrance you will have an escalator. On the other side of Sukhumvit Road, I think, the stairs/escalator entrances are reversed.

Is Phloen Chit not nearer? Crossing Sukhumvit with a suitcase is not much of an option.

 

The Skytrain seems busy at all times and anything other than a back-pack would be hard work in sweaty BKK.

[yorta2 693]

Ploen Chit is around the same distance, but a bit harder to walk there due to the crossings. You don't have to cross Sukhumvit to get to Nana station, nor Ploen Chit.

[jacko 8,813]

Ploen Chit is around the same distance, but a bit harder to walk there due to the crossings. You don't have to cross Sukhumvit to get to Nana station, nor Ploen Chit.

 

Yes I realise, I commented as you mentioned the escalators and stairs 'on the other side' of Suk.......not an option with a suitcase really.

[yorta2 693]

Yes, of course, Jacko. It all depends on which side you are on when you arrive at the station - both have escalators. If you are coming from Soi Nana, you can cross at the top of the street, but if you are coming the other way (Soi Cowboy end) it is difficult to cross unless you use the station overpass. But I guess this small banter is getting a bit off-topic.

[firth1974 2,659]

Back in January, I had to take the sky train from Nana to Morchit, with luggage, as after stopping 9 taxis, I couldn't get a single one to take me to the bus station. This was at 09.30am, and the train was fairly empty, so no issues regarding the luggage.

 

With regards to the OP, I use the bus for just about every journey I take in Thailand. Used them many times to get to Kanchanaburi, Korat, Pattaya, hell even all the way up to Sukhothai, and that's no mean journey on a bus!!!

 

I find them fast, cheap and efficient. Plus I love to observe life and what's happening in the stations, gives you a good idea abou the life of an ordinary Thai. No Hi-So's here!!! Lol

[firth1974 2,659]

Edited your title for you.

[sinbinjack 251]

I have taken the bus from the airport to Pattaya a couple of times , and found the experience not at all worrisome, but only when the times of the bus allow , at any other time a taxi is necessary.

[beefos 5]

Which station does the bus from Bangkok to Jomtien bus station come from?

That would have been easier to get to the RG at the Pattaya end.

[nkped 1,208]

Which station does the bus from Bangkok to Jomtien bus station come from?

That would have been easier to get to the RG at the Pattaya end.

You have the airport bus which runs between Jomtien at the corner of Thappraya and Thepprasit and Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can get to Suvarnabhumi via the Airport Link train combined with either the SRT or the MRT. It's a reasonable alternative if you only have a back pack, more than that--not so much.

[Chang_paarp 253]

Have taken the bus to and from BKK many times, the different bus stations in BKK for the different final destinations can be a minor challenge but nothing to worry about. I find them an efficient way of getting around.

 

Have also taken buses to many different parts of the wilds of Isan, to Hua Hin and to Puket with no major issue. A great way to see the country.

 

One thing to be aware of are the Thai holidays. Trying to get to Ubon Ratchatani during the songkran holiday can mean waiting for some time at Mor Chit but otherwise I've had few delays or issues. On the longer trips the bus pulls into a place for food which is usually included in the ticket price, the food is OK.

 

Just make sure you are getting a proper bus not a mini-van. The full VIP ones (36 seat?) have lots of leg room and run the air-con so cold you will be needing a blanket.

[misteregg 709]

Last time I took the sky train at Nana, I seem to remember an escalator.

Steps only at Ekamai

[Idefix 2,275]

A few remarks:

 

- This "Central Bangkok" is confusing. I think I never heard that. The title of the Ekkamai bus station is "the eastern bus terminal".

 

- 80 baht for a taxi from Nana to Ekkamai ? Didn't he use its meter ? Should have been about 40 baht.

 

- The baht bus from the Pattaya North Bus Station up to WS/2nd Rd is 20 baht. 30 baht is the price up to Jomtien. There is a led sign with prices just above the bahtbus departure area

[darkmancomes 75]

Need to get to Sukhumvit soi33 Bangkok from Suvarnabhumi Airport plane lands about 7.30am on a week day. I will be carrying a small case whats the best way does the skytrain go from the airport ?

[nkped 1,208]

Need to get to Sukhumvit soi33 Bangkok from Suvarnabhumi Airport plane lands about 7.30am on a week day. I will be carrying a small case whats the best way does the skytrain go from the airport ?

Properly speaking, it's the airport link and not Skytrain. You could take it all the way to Phya Thai and then take the Sukhumvit line to Soi 33. You could shorten the mileage but probably not save any time by getting off the Airport Link at the station which connects to the MRT (subway) and taking that to Asoke and switching to the Skytrain there.

[JONPAT 222]

Got any plans for how you are gonna use the money you saved?

 

I've done the Ekami to North Bus station several times, usually for the hell of it.

 

I've also taken the sky/whatever train out to airport and used the Bell bus direct to my hotel. Again for the hell of it.

[darkmancomes 75]

Well I am slightly confused I just knowing what they are like did not want to get the easiest way a taxi and be at their mercy (thieving B*****ds) and go straight from airport to hotel. Out of all the times I have been to Thailand I have never done a left turn always right and straight to Pattaya and I have been of recent getting the bus which I highly recommend as written before. So its airport link from downstairs to Phya Thai at a cost of? then change trains to the Sukhumvit line and get off at a station ? near Soi 33 ? at a cost of? . Thanks lads

[nkped 1,208]

Want to say 35-40 baht to Phya Thai. Have never gone as far as Soi 33 but I suspect you could make the entire trip from the airport for under 100 baht. You will have lots of company on the Skytrain at that hour.

[darkmancomes 75]

Want to say 35-40 baht to Phya Thai. Have never gone as far as Soi 33 but I suspect you could make the entire trip from the airport for under 100 baht. You will have lots of company on the Skytrain at that hour.

Thanks so just a final word to make it clear to me (sorry) is the second half of the journey skytrain or normal? assuming the first bit is airport link as stated by someone earlier.

[Gary 4,118]

I drive from upcountry to my Jomtien condo. As much as I dislike taking a bus to Bangkok, I dislike driving myself even more. The bus is really not that bad of a way to go. The Ekami bus station is in a good location to go most anywhere in the city. Some taxis from the Ekami bus station try to rip you off so rather than argue with them, I walk a couple hundred meters towards the downtown and flag one down. Maybe I should add that I don't carry any luggage, just a backpack.

[nkped 1,208]

Thanks so just a final word to make it clear to me (sorry) is the second half of the journey skytrain or normal? assuming the first bit is airport link as stated by someone earlier.

Phya Thai to 33 would be Skytrain.

[darkmancomes 75]

Phya Thai to 33 would be Skytrain.

Excellent now I have a fair idea where I am going. I should add that I specifically picked a hotel which stated they done airport transfer but when I went to set it up for my trip they stated they only do from the hotel to the airport! useless!

[darkmancomes 75]

Thanks to all .