On 9/25/2020 at 7:28 PM, ricklev said:

I was wondering about that. I guess I will buy two seats together then.  Just as insurance.  It's a minimal price for comfort.  

best bet as the bus i took was full 

5 hours ago, moontang said:

I could have sworn there were several airlines, travelling five times faster, for less money than the government railroad will lose on every ticket sold. 

It is so much easier, and more efficient to use the rail. Typically, the average person spends at least 3 additional hours with a domestic flight, when you factor in travel to the airport, waiting, security, delays, etc. And time at the destination airport too. Any nation that wants to call itself developed, needs high speed rail. The US being the exception to that rule, as the vision, and will was never there to get it done. 

 

45 minutes from BKK to Pattaya? Brilliant. Which airline runs that route? How about Bangkok to Hua Hin, or Chumporn? Right now, it is a nightmare journey by road, unless you leave Bangkok at 5am, which I usually do, to get past the insane road work in Samut Sakorn. How about getting into Bangkok, from the north, or the south, during the day? I have spent three hours just traveling from Saraburi to BKK. Any flights?

 

 

A baiting remark has been edited fro ma post and another post with flaming reply removed. Please keep it civil

On 9/28/2020 at 6:52 AM, jacko45k said:

Actually it depends if any passengers want to get off prior, they are quite accommodating for Thais. They often stop in Laem Chabang and the Rhompoe just past which involves a detour, rather than taking #7 to where it hits Suk between Nua and Klang.

Once had a load of students on board and the damned thing went a bit further North towards Sri Racha.

Yes correct sometimes.. That's called social service..... What's the rush anyway to get in the first bar????? 5555555

3 hours ago, jomtienisgood said:

Yes correct sometimes.. That's called social service..... What's the rush anyway to get in the first bar????? 5555555

I used to get pretty darned impatient thinking of my 'night out' riding the bus many a time......particularly when on the long trip from Korat to Patts.

On 9/27/2020 at 6:43 PM, steven100 said:

what's a private taxi    ? 

A car hired from a private company (not a taxi company) that runs cars only between certain places. Like between BKK and Pats. It's more of a mom and pop organization. They have set prices.

On 9/25/2020 at 5:37 PM, steven100 said:

I always get a Limousine hire as it's much more comfortable and not expensive.

A bus I expect would be a hell trip, cramped and stopping every 20 minutes .... no thanks.

Have you ever gone on the Bkk Pattaya bus from Ekamai? Apparently not from that.

On 9/27/2020 at 4:44 PM, jomtienisgood said:

Doesn't stop every 20 mins.... Straight from Ekemai to Pattaya... Only stops once at the entrance of it...

However.............................

I once got the "other" bus which does stop every 5 seconds to pick up passengers on the way. No toilet and costs more than the proper one. To add insult to injury the bus broke down and we had to stand on another bus for an hour. That was not a happy trip.

 

Even the proper bus does stop before destination to let people off, sometimes three or more times. Last time I used it they had a scam where they stopped at a fuel station outside Pattaya for 1/2 an hour. So close and yet so far away.

5 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I once got the "other" bus which does stop every 5 seconds to pick up passengers on the way. No toilet and costs more than the proper one. To add insult to injury the bus broke down and we had to stand on another bus for an hour. That was not a happy trip.

Almost exact same thing happened to me and my then girlfriend  first time we came back to Pattaya

from the British Embassy..we did actually go to the bus station but a tout there was shouting loudly 

"bus to Pattaya" so we jumped on not knowing it was actually a "ghost bus"  that stops so often to pick up passengers along the way it was ridiculous, when the first one broke down and everyone was hustled onto another bus there where no seats left so I sat on the engine cover next to the driver  who wasn't happy but I told him I paid for a seat I'm sitting down.

6 minutes ago, johng said:

Almost exact same thing happened to me and my then girlfriend  first time we came back to Pattaya

from the British Embassy..we did actually go to the bus station but a tout there was shouting loudly 

"bus to Pattaya" so we jumped on not knowing it was actually a "ghost bus"  that stops so often to pick up passengers along the way it was ridiculous, when the first one broke down and everyone was hustled onto another bus there where no seats left so I sat on the engine cover next to the driver  who wasn't happy but I told him I paid for a seat I'm sitting down.

Yeah, that tout had my bags stowed before I knew it and once the bus left and I realised that I'd been scammed it was too late to get off.

12 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Yeah, that tout had my bags stowed before I knew it and once the bus left and I realised that I'd been scammed it was too late to get off.

Almost everyone I know took that wretched bus the first time they  left from Ekamie.  It's not hard to guess why that bus and its touts was/is allowed to park at the entrance. 

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I realised that I'd been scammed it was too late to get off.

For everyone else who might get caught out   at Ekamai bus station

always buy your tickets from the glass fronted ticket booth.

7 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Have you ever gone on the Bkk Pattaya bus from Ekamai? Apparently not from that.

never ...  but i guess cheap Charlies do,  why do you think the visa situation has changed from the cheap to the money guys ?     imo

6 minutes ago, steven100 said:

never ...  but i guess cheap Charlies do,  why do you think the visa situation has changed from the cheap to the money guys ?     imo

They are delusional.  Here are photos from my ten dollar per night room in HH...just to rattle your cage, Steven.

10 hours ago, steven100 said:

never ...  but i guess cheap Charlies do,  why do you think the visa situation has changed from the cheap to the money guys ?     imo

And that did not stop you telling us what to expect from one, quite erroneously. It is actually quite convenient, off the Skytrain onto the bus and drop off near my home. Had my issues with so called Limos too, the bus drives at a safe speed. 

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

And that did not stop you telling us what to expect from one, quite erroneously. It is actually quite convenient, off the Skytrain onto the bus and drop off near my home. Had my issues with so called Limos too, the bus drives at a safe speed. 

Isn't is amazing that posters that have never done something claim to know everything about the subject.

11 hours ago, moontang said:

They are delusional.  Here are photos from my ten dollar per night room in HH...just to rattle your cage, Steven.

I'd give everything I have to be able to change places as long as it was for the rest of my life. You are very lucky and I'm sure you know it.

On 9/25/2020 at 2:43 PM, Leaver said:

OP, be prepared for the journey from the bus station in Pattaya to your hotel to cost more than the journey from Bangkok to Pattaya.   

30 baht on the baht bus. Down from 50 a while ago. 

21 hours ago, johng said:

For everyone else who might get caught out   at Ekamai bus station

always buy your tickets from the glass fronted ticket booth.

Yep, to Pattaya I always buy from the very 1st booth on the right hand side as you're looking into the building, 119 THB one-way & the bus goes from bay 1

 

On 9/27/2020 at 1:40 PM, Jingthing said:

Question. 

 

Assuming people don't book this route in advance and they run hourly what are the odds of getting a seat on a bus that only can sell half their seats?

 

Any tips about that?

Last Saturday I was lucky, I got to Ekamai at 12.18, got a ticket for the 12.20 and we were away. A few empty seats but not many. 

4 hours ago, rott said:

30 baht on the baht bus. Down from 50 a while ago. 

Can only report on the recent experience of a friend, as previously posted. 

36 minutes ago, Leaver said:

Can only report on the recent experience of a friend, as previously posted. 

Well if you make it a private trip to somewhere a bit out of the way, yes it will come a bit pricey. But the baht buses inside the bus station now charge 30 per head for a shared trip to anywhere up to Beach Rd. Possibly a bit further can't be sure. 

4 minutes ago, rott said:

Well if you make it a private trip to somewhere a bit out of the way, yes it will come a bit pricey. But the baht buses inside the bus station now charge 30 per head for a shared trip to anywhere up to Beach Rd. Possibly a bit further can't be sure. 

He, and other passengers on the same bus from Bangkok, wanted to go to their hotels and / or condo's. 

 

My friend was staying in a hotel in Central Pattaya.   Sure, it deviates from a baht bus route, but for the people getting off after the first drop off, it's poor service, and basically a rip off.  

16 minutes ago, Leaver said:

He, and other passengers on the same bus from Bangkok, wanted to go to their hotels and / or condo's. 

 

My friend was staying in a hotel in Central Pattaya.   Sure, it deviates from a baht bus route, but for the people getting off after the first drop off, it's poor service, and basically a rip off.  

You want baht bus to do assorted hotel drop offs for the same flat fee? Taxi fare would be ok tho! Your a dreamer.

5 minutes ago, Olmate said:

You want baht bus to do assorted hotel drop offs for the same flat fee? Taxi fare would be ok tho! Your a dreamer.

It wasn't me, it was my friend, and he has been here many times, and speaks some Thai. 

 

The baht bus did multiple hiring, but all for Central Pattaya locations, which were close together.

 

It would have been cheaper and more pleasant in a proper air conditioned metered taxi, similar to those in Bangkok, than the baht bus, sitting on a bench, with strangers, waiting your turn to be dropped off.  

 

If you are defending the situation, perhaps you can can explain how the first person to be dropped off pays the same as the last person to be dropped off, around 30 minutes later, but in close proximity to the first drop off?

 

Just because tourists get used to the rip off, doesn't mean it stops being a rip off, not to mention, poor service and safety standards, in this so called "World Class Tourist Destination."    

24 minutes ago, Leaver said:

It wasn't me, it was my friend, and he has been here many times, and speaks some Thai. 

 

The baht bus did multiple hiring, but all for Central Pattaya locations, which were close together.

 

It would have been cheaper and more pleasant in a proper air conditioned metered taxi, similar to those in Bangkok, than the baht bus, sitting on a bench, with strangers, waiting your turn to be dropped off.  

 

If you are defending the situation, perhaps you can can explain how the first person to be dropped off pays the same as the last person to be dropped off, around 30 minutes later, but in close proximity to the first drop off?

 

Just because tourists get used to the rip off, doesn't mean it stops being a rip off, not to mention, poor service and safety standards, in this so called "World Class Tourist Destination."    

The friend ,you keep referring to, who has been here many times, chose the service. Seems strange! Safety standards obviously don,t worry him.

11 minutes ago, Olmate said:

The friend ,you keep referring to, who has been here many times, chose the service. Seems strange! Safety standards obviously don,t worry him.

He is used to "the system" here, but that doesn't mean it's not a p*ss take.

 

Given this is a so called "World Class Tourist Destination" where are the proper metered taxis? 

 

In my opinion, the baht buses, when circulating their routes, are great.  However, the corruption that allows no metered taxis and baht buses to set a price, for multiple passengers, from the bus stops / station, is a disgrace.   

2 minutes ago, Leaver said:

He is used to "the system" here, but that doesn't mean it's not a p*ss take.

 

Given this is a so called "World Class Tourist Destination" where are the proper metered taxis? 

 

In my opinion, the baht buses, when circulating their routes, are great.  However, the corruption that allows no metered taxis and baht buses to set a price, for multiple passengers, from the bus stops / station, is a disgrace.   

Quite a bit worse in Phuket.  I always get a taxi that is already moving, but can mostly avoid the entire mess.

14 minutes ago, moontang said:

Quite a bit worse in Phuket.  I always get a taxi that is already moving, but can mostly avoid the entire mess.

The land transport system in Phuket is a national disgrace.  The mafia control all of it.  No wonder the province has such huge road death statistics.  

1 hour ago, Leaver said:

The land transport system in Phuket is a national disgrace.  The mafia control all of it.  No wonder the province has such huge road death statistics.  

Are you an expert on all things Phuket now as well?