Pattaya to U-Tapao transport choices

[NanLaew]

OK, since my hotel was in Naklua, I had checked baggage, had to drop off a rental car up on Sukhumvit and it was lunch time, I opted for a Grab car. Checked out at noon, drove to rental office and while they were inspecting the car, I 'grabbed' a car on Grab taxi which was there in 2 minutes. Fare was 980 baht, agreed. Driver had me at the airport by 1.15 PM.

 

Driver says he had been stopped at police check points twice in the past month while headed to U-Tapao, breaking his balls about being a Grab taxi operator and one time confiscating his ID card... but not his Thai DL. He likes it when he gets a Thai as then they can pretend to be buddies or family. He was pleased that yesterday he had a farang with a half-arsed handle on Thai language so we could play the same game. No cops yesterday to bother Lek, my new-found Thai brother-in-law!

 

If I was staying in-town, no rental car and only had hand-carry, I would have used the AirAsia minibus. Since Avis and Thai Rent a Car operate at U-Tapao, all bases and eventualities covered now.

 

PS. Arrived at Udon, went and bought some Nayung coffee and ordered a Grab taxi. Picked up in 4 minutes and home in 20 minutes for 80 baht (normally 200 baht by the airport 'limo' services). Gave him 100, all smiles.

[sammieuk1]

You must be a VIP not rubbish said it as it was end of story.

[NanLaew]

  On 10/20/2017 at 3:36 PM, sammieuk1 said:

You must be a VIP not rubbish said it as it was end of story.

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I am far from being a VIP but I am comparatively literate.

[Eff1n2ret]

  On 10/20/2017 at 7:38 AM, NanLaew said:

Fare was 980 baht

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There seems to be a big difference between the fare from Pattaya to U Tapao and that in the opposite direction. I was meeting someone in the Arrivals Hall the other morning and there are at least 3 desks offering taxi/minibus to Pattaya and other destinations for 250baht - is that just a 'come-on' fare that gets you as far as the main road, or is the real problem finding taxis in Pattaya willing to make the trip for that price?

[champers]

  On 10/21/2017 at 3:53 AM, Eff1n2ret said:

There seems to be a big difference between the fare from Pattaya to U Tapao and that in the opposite direction. I was meeting someone in the Arrivals Hall the other morning and there are at least 3 desks offering taxi/minibus to Pattaya and other destinations for 250baht - is that just a 'come-on' fare that gets you as far as the main road, or is the real problem finding taxis in Pattaya willing to make the trip for that price?

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That fare takes you to your home or hotel in Jomtien and Pattaya. 10 passengers is 2500 Baht, so happiness all round.

[canopus1969]

  On 10/21/2017 at 4:09 AM, champers said:

That fare takes you to your home or hotel in Jomtien and Pattaya. 10 passengers is 2500 Baht, so happiness all round.

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The standard minibus fare is (and always was!) 250 Baht but still people complain 

[NanLaew]

  On 10/21/2017 at 3:53 AM, Eff1n2ret said:

There seems to be a big difference between the fare from Pattaya to U Tapao and that in the opposite direction. I was meeting someone in the Arrivals Hall the other morning and there are at least 3 desks offering taxi/minibus to Pattaya and other destinations for 250baht - is that just a 'come-on' fare that gets you as far as the main road, or is the real problem finding taxis in Pattaya willing to make the trip for that price?

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There's no difference. The 980 baht I paid was a private hire in my "new-found brother in laws" late model Innova via Grab taxi, not any sort of ride share. If I went online and tried to book a Grab car to come and get me from U-Tapao and take me to Pattaya, they would probably charge upwards of 900 baht.... and I would have to wait.

 

The minivans at the arrival hall all show 250 baht one-way and pretty much that's what they charge to go from Central Festival or wherever your chosen minivan operates from in Pattaya to U-Tapao. If you dig around the forum for U-Tapao travel related stuff, the notorious 'meter taxi' and others will charge upwards of 900 baht for a one-way to U-Tapao.

 

The current market rate for minivans is 250 baht one/way in either direction.

 

The current market rate for Grab cars and taxis is around 900 baht one-way in either direction.

 

It is what it is.

 

Up to you.

[orlov]

  On 10/17/2017 at 10:51 AM, NanLaew said:

And what rates are coming up?

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Uber 800 baht. But they have a promotion if you download Uber on you mobile for the first time you get 75 baht discount on your first 3 rides. The public bus service from Bangkok to Pattaya is also giving out Uber promotion leaflets (same deal) when you buy a ticket. At least they were a week ago when I got the bus from Ekkamai to Pattaya. 

[NanLaew]

  On 10/21/2017 at 9:00 AM, orlov said:

Uber 800 baht. But they have a promotion if you download Uber on you mobile for the first time you get 75 baht discount on your first 3 rides. The public bus service from Bangkok to Pattaya is also giving out Uber promotion leaflets (same deal) when you buy a ticket. At least they were a week ago when I got the bus from Ekkamai to Pattaya. 

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Good tips there. Nice to see the "app-enabled, ride-hailing" service that the both local cops and taxi (un)cooperatives have deemed to be illegal still sticking to their guns. I am a new user of Grab so happy with that for now but if Uber consistently beat them by 100 baht, then I guess I'll try them too. Good to see some degree of competition. It would be great to see taxi/limo fares for U-Tapao down to around 550 - 650 baht o/w which is much more realistic. Once again, depends on demand and with the very slim chance of a seasonal uptick in foreign charters versus LCC's flat-lining, that won't happen anytime soon.

[orlov]

  On 10/21/2017 at 9:40 AM, NanLaew said:

Good tips there. Nice to see the "app-enabled, ride-hailing" service that the both local cops and taxi (un)cooperatives have deemed to be illegal still sticking to their guns. I am a new user of Grab so happy with that for now but if Uber consistently beat them by 100 baht, then I guess I'll try them too. Good to see some degree of competition. It would be great to see taxi/limo fares for U-Tapao down to around 550 - 650 baht o/w which is much more realistic. Once again, depends on demand and with the very slim chance of a seasonal uptick in foreign charters versus LCC's flat-lining, that won't happen anytime soon.

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Sorry the deal I mentioned were with Grab, not Uber. Apologies, my mistake. 

[Francarley]

There is a mini van company for 250 Bath pickup in hotel.  Is also available for back in Pattaya. I'm sorry I lost number. U Can find number in soi buankao near massage in front nature view hotel. Better than this!!

[JamJar]

[siam2007]

  On 10/21/2017 at 9:00 AM, orlov said:

Uber 800 baht. But they have a promotion if you download Uber on you mobile for the first time you get 75 baht discount on your first 3 rides. The public bus service from Bangkok to Pattaya is also giving out Uber promotion leaflets (same deal) when you buy a ticket. At least they were a week ago when I got the bus from Ekkamai to Pattaya. 

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That is a recent fare?  In April I used Uber and it cost 600 Baht to U-Tapao

[siam2007]

  On 10/20/2017 at 4:31 AM, AlexCanada said:

Do you need to show a ticket confirmation that you are flying Air Asia?  

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nope, only the timetable is created to match departing and arriving AA flights.

Otherwise it is first come, first served

[digbeth]

  On 11/5/2017 at 1:29 PM, siam2007 said:

 

nope, only the timetable is created to match departing and arriving AA flights.

Otherwise it is first come, first served

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For AirAsia's shuttle you'd have to specify transfer to/from Central when booking your ticket

[amvet]

  On 10/17/2017 at 8:57 AM, digbeth said:

 

U Tapao has been there about as long as Pattaya and is one of the reason why Pattaya has a thriving 'industry' 

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Pattaya and Utapao around the same time 1960's to early 1970's

[siam2007]

  On 11/5/2017 at 1:41 PM, digbeth said:

For AirAsia's shuttle you'd have to specify transfer to/from Central when booking your ticket

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You CAN book the transfer when you book your ticket online, but there is no NEED to do so. You can just show up at the Central festival location and buy your ticket there (not sure if they sell seats a day before already).

At U-Tapao, there are several (not only AirAsia's) counters offering Minivan services and they all scream for your business

[amvet]

  On 11/5/2017 at 2:02 PM, siam2007 said:

 

 

You CAN book the transfer when you book your ticket online, but there is no NEED to do so. You can just show up at the Central festival location and buy your ticket there (not sure if they sell seats a day before already).

At U-Tapao, there are several (not only AirAsia's) counters offering Minivan services and they all scream for your business

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Or get to Sukemvit by motorcycle taxi (20 baht) the vans that run there to Pattaya were 10baht in 1968 and are up to 60 baht now or it may be 100 my wife and I can't agree as it's been a while since we took one.  Ask a Thai person.  "Lote du Pattaya te ni?"  Pattaya is pronounced "Patty ya" in Thai not "Pat tai ya." 

[NanLaew]

  On 11/5/2017 at 12:04 PM, JamJar said:

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Awesome find there JJ! I'll add that LINE and phone number to the 'check this out' list.

 

450 baht for a Lambo to UTP aint bad at all... but better not have any checked bags!

[NanLaew]

  On 11/5/2017 at 2:39 PM, amvet said:

Or get to Sukemvit by motorcycle taxi (20 baht) the vans that run there to Pattaya were 10baht in 1968 and are up to 60 baht now or it may be 100 my wife and I can't agree as it's been a while since we took one.  Ask a Thai person.  "Lote du Pattaya te ni?"  Pattaya is pronounced "Patty ya" in Thai not "Pat tai ya." 

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Haven't seen any motorcycle taxi's lurking around the terminals.

[siam2007]

  On 11/5/2017 at 10:26 PM, NanLaew said:

Awesome find there JJ! I'll add that LINE and phone number to the 'check this out' list.

 

450 baht for a Lambo to UTP aint bad at all... but better not have any checked bags!

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Hard to believe that this is a 2017 price. maybe somebody who tried to use their services recently can report?

[simoh1490]

Bump

[The manic]

  On 10/17/2017 at 7:21 AM, soistalker said:

Leave it to the Thais to build an airport near pattaya, which no one  knows where it is, and it is virtually inaccessible without a car.

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It is an ex military air base established in the Vietnam war era, and only recently bought into mainstream civilian use. Don't do rascist Thai bashing nonsense. It's obvious you do not know anything about Rayong airport,  it's history and future plans for it.