Bus/Van Pattaya to Aranyaprathet border

[kinglevuathan]

 

 

I am aware of the yellow bus that goes from Pattaya to Aranyaprathet (to get to Cambodia). I want to leave earlier than the scheduled times with the yellow bus, I have heard there are also passenger vans that can drive you there.  What is the process for getting one of these vans and how much should one expect to pay.  Note: I'm not sure if I am staying in Pattaya, Jomtien or Nakhlua yet so if you can advise for each option that would be useful

[Gottfrid]

Ok, let´s get it right here. Nakhlua and Jomtien is Pattaya. It would be like saying you are not sure if you stay in Chaeng Watthana, Klong Toey or Bangkok.

However, when it comes to passenger van, as you like to call them. They are fairly priced, but gives you the opportunity the play a little. Do you feel lucky? Are you going to get one with working air-con or not? Is the driver looking more on the road than the mobile phone? Is there going to be people picked up everywhere, that makes you sit like cement in the corner.

After that the driver might get tired and decide to take a small "lap nai". We all know what that means, and are directly back to "Do you feel lucky?". Is he going to hit a tree or make a frontal collision with an 18 wheeler?

Ok, now it do not have to be that bad. I have actually travelled with them a few times. I am still alive and kicking. What I think about everyday, though, is that if I just been lucky or not. 

[Thailand J]

This was where I took a minivan to Cambodia border.

The service was shut down due to Covid. Don't know if it has resumed.

https://goo.gl/maps/FtjxADK5bKj3aF8SA

[The Hammer2021]

There is a big difference  between  Naklua, Jomtien  and Pattaya in terms of where to stay if you want accommodation  near your departure  point. Not just physical  distance  but traffic  jams.

[treetops]

6 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Ok, let´s get it right here. Nakhlua and Jomtien is Pattaya.

Perhaps he should just have said he wanted a bus from Chonburi Province to Sa Kaeo Province, but he sensibly narrowed it down to local areas using names they are commonly known by.  Why be a pedant and waste everybody's time with your unhelpful response?

 

OP.  You may want to try the border run agents rather than the regular minibuses.  One operates from the Queen Vic on Pattaya Beach Road Soi 6 and there are others that hopefully someone else can help with.

[bbko]

If you're looking for a one-way trip I'd contact the place @Thailand Jposted.

 

If you're looking to do a visa run, stop by any of the many travel agencies along Soi Buakow, they can help you get a van service to/from Aranyprathet/Poi Pot and they'll pick you up from anywhere in the Pattaya area.

[Gottfrid]

8 hours ago, treetops said:

Perhaps he should just have said he wanted a bus from Chonburi Province to Sa Kaeo Province, but he sensibly narrowed it down to local areas using names they are commonly known by.  Why be a pedant and waste everybody's time with your unhelpful response?

 

OP.  You may want to try the border run agents rather than the regular minibuses.  One operates from the Queen Vic on Pattaya Beach Road Soi 6 and there are others that hopefully someone else can help with.

Waste everybody´s time? First, you are free to read or not which can help you save time. Second, if it took you so long time to read something so short, that you start thing about wasting time. then it´s time to read more and get back to speed. ???? 

After that, my post is not unhelpful. First I assumed the OP does not know that Jomtien actually is Pattaya as many make that mistake. Second, I pointed out the risks of taking a minibus to make sure he have it all covered.

[kinglevuathan]

OK  guys - I'm the poster. I just thought there might be a pickup points for each of Jomtien, Pattaya and Naklua as i believe they are far from each other. I was just trying to be helpful by covering all basis with information. 

 

So i have booked a place. I will stay in Pattaya City....Near Central Pattaya Road and Pattaya 3rd road (looking at google map). It does look a bit far from the place suggested by @Thailand J but certainly doable.

 

I'm just a backpacker, so not looking to do a visa run. Looking for a cheap and convenient way to make my Siem Reap or maybe Battambang. Though the visa run idea isnt that bad an idea as i will need to return to Thailand a few days later anyway to fly home.

 

As for the traffic - i would hope to leave 6am (which is earlier than the yellow bus)

[Thailand J]

The van service has resumed. The destination is a bit too far to walk to the border so you will need to take a tuk tuk or a motorbike taxi.

 

From Pattaya, cost:250B

Time : every hour from 5am to 5pm

Contact : 062 372 6371

From here: https://goo.gl/maps/CsWbEcC76jAqwMuQ7

To here: https://goo.gl/maps/rK1e3kxySyJoXkyc7

 

here is the exit from Thailand: 

https://goo.gl/maps/gKk6BfynWTwSCsuK6

 

[Myran]

6 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Waste everybody´s time? First, you are free to read or not which can help you save time. Second, if it took you so long time to read something so short, that you start thing about wasting time. then it´s time to read more and get back to speed. ???? 

After that, my post is not unhelpful. First I assumed the OP does not know that Jomtien actually is Pattaya as many make that mistake. Second, I pointed out the risks of taking a minibus to make sure he have it all covered.

This is absolutely going to blow your mind: The same name can refer to different things. Take Chiang Mai as an example; it is both a city and a province. You'll have to look at the context to see which one someone is referring to.

 

In this case, the poster is clearly referring to the towns named Pattaya, Jomtien, and Nakhklua, and not the municipality Pattaya. Don't worry, it's a mistake many people make.

[The Hammer2021]

6 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Waste everybody´s time? First, you are free to read or not which can help you save time. Second, if it took you so long time to read something so short, that you start thing about wasting time. then it´s time to read more and get back to speed. ???? 

After that, my post is not unhelpful. First I assumed the OP does not know that Jomtien actually is Pattaya as many make that mistake. Second, I pointed out the risks of taking a minibus to make sure he have it all covered.

Nah. Big  difference  between Jomtien,  Pattaya and Naklua- geographically,  culturally  and the distances are important  when considering  traffic  jams

[Myran]

What has you confused, @steven100?

[Lemsta69]

6 hours ago, kinglevuathan said:

OK  guys - I'm the poster. I just thought there might be a pickup points for each of Jomtien, Pattaya and Naklua as i believe they are far from each other. I was just trying to be helpful by covering all basis with information. 

 

So i have booked a place. I will stay in Pattaya City....Near Central Pattaya Road and Pattaya 3rd road (looking at google map). It does look a bit far from the place suggested by @Thailand J but certainly doable.

 

I'm just a backpacker, so not looking to do a visa run. Looking for a cheap and convenient way to make my Siem Reap or maybe Battambang. Though the visa run idea isnt that bad an idea as i will need to return to Thailand a few days later anyway to fly home.

 

As for the traffic - i would hope to leave 6am (which is earlier than the yellow bus)

hi mate, you are correct about those places being far enough away from each other to warrant being listed separately. also I've been kicking around Pattaya for a long time now and from the off I was given to understand that "Pattaya" means just the main area between Beach Road and Sukhumvit. Na Kluea starts at the Dolphin roundabout or maybe a little bit after and Jomtien starts... well I could never figure that out as I rarely venture south of Walking Street ????

[steven100]

2 minutes ago, Myran said:

What has you confused, @steven100?

I always considered Naklua as a suburb of Pattaya and Jomtien being the another town next door. 

But I suppose if someone is new to Pattaya they won't really know them all geographically.

[Gottfrid]

23 minutes ago, The Hammer2021 said:

Nah. Big  difference  between Jomtien,  Pattaya and Naklua- geographically,  culturally  and the distances are important  when considering  traffic  jams

Yep, it´s quite far between Samphanthawong and Din Daeng too. Still it´s Bangkok

[Wongkitlo]

14 hours ago, kinglevuathan said:

OK  guys - I'm the poster. I just thought there might be a pickup points for each of Jomtien, Pattaya and Naklua as i believe they are far from each other. I was just trying to be helpful by covering all basis with information. 

 

So i have booked a place. I will stay in Pattaya City....Near Central Pattaya Road and Pattaya 3rd road (looking at google map). It does look a bit far from the place suggested by @Thailand J but certainly doable.

 

I'm just a backpacker, so not looking to do a visa run. Looking for a cheap and convenient way to make my Siem Reap or maybe Battambang. Though the visa run idea isnt that bad an idea as i will need to return to Thailand a few days later anyway to fly home.

 

As for the traffic - i would hope to leave 6am (which is earlier than the yellow bus)

If you go to Battambang first you can go through Psar Phrum. It is a lot less stressful border and you are less likely to get overcharged by Cambodian Immigration or scammed by the van drivers. Arunyaphatet is infamous for scams. From Battambang you can get to SR just as easily as from Arunyaphatet/Poipet. If you go to Rayong bus depot you can get a van to Chantaburi then to the Phsar Prum border. To get to Rayong you can catch the van from Numchai on Sukumvit Rd or  just stand on Sukumvit Rd at the overpass near Pattaya Central Rd and just wait for the Rayong van to stop. They are pretty regular and leave early. Before you go I would walk up Pattaya Central to Sukumvit Rd, turn left, cross on overpass walk further along away from Pattaya central 200m or so and at Numchai walk out the back and you will find where the van goes from. Wikitravel/voyage  is a good resource. Get an evisa or USD for your Cambodian visa. 

[kinglevuathan]

@Wongkitlo interesting idea.

Are we sure the the Psar Phrum border is open to travellers at the time?  I took a quick google and didnt see anything

 

Also how long can one expect this journey to take?

[treetops]

19 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Waste everybody´s time? First, you are free to read or not which can help you save time. Second, if it took you so long time to read something so short, that you start thing about wasting time. then it´s time to read more and get back to speed. ???? 

After that, my post is not unhelpful. First I assumed the OP does not know that Jomtien actually is Pattaya as many make that mistake. Second, I pointed out the risks of taking a minibus to make sure he have it all covered.

More drivel.  Sometimes you're better to stop digging when you're already in a big hole of your own making.  Do the forum a favour and try it sometime.

 

 

3 hours ago, kinglevuathan said:

@Wongkitlo interesting idea.

Are we sure the the Psar Phrum border is open to travellers at the time?  I took a quick google and didnt see anything

 

Also how long can one expect this journey to take?

Thailand Pass website lists all the open crossing points.  Psar Phrum appears to be on the Cambodia side across from Chantaburi province where there are two crossings currently open.  I've no idea if they are near Psar Phrum though.

 

Places are being added to this list regularly so keep checking if it's an option for you.

 

[Wongkitlo]

Phsar Prum  is one side and Pailin the other from memory. You used to  catch the van from Chantaburi then cross the border and car to Battambang. Battambang is like a dead end becaise of the mountains so you have a choice of going out through Phsar Prum or back to Arunyaphatet as  the OP mentioned Battambang can do a loop - Chantab, Phsar Prum, Pailin, Battambang, SR, Arun, BKK. I think from memory chantab to Phsar Prum is an hour and a half then an hour to Battambang. Arunyaphatet has a scam where they stop at a cafe near the border and force you to give them your passports and get your visa for you at an inflated price. If you say no they dump you at tge cafe. 

 

 

[Wongkitlo]

11 hours ago, kinglevuathan said:

@Wongkitlo interesting idea.

Are we sure the the Psar Phrum border is open to travellers at the time?  I took a quick google and didnt see anything

 

Also how long can one expect this journey to take?

Treetops 

 

11 hours ago, kinglevuathan said:

@Wongkitlo interesting idea.

Are we sure the the Psar Phrum border is open to travellers at the time?  I took a quick google and didnt see anything

 

Also how long can one expect this journey to take?

Treetops said it was open according to Thaipass. I answered his post. Ideally 2 hours to Chantaburi, 1.5 to 2 to  Pailin((Is the actual border near phsar Prum) then 80km to Battambang. I just found this on a Wikivoyage search for Pailin. There are scams at Arunyaphatet to get your money. Many of the posters on this forum just pay them to save the trouble but as a backpacker you probably want to save. I said go to the shop behind Numchai to check before you go because they might help you but be aware - hard to believe anything Thais tell you about travel in Thailand. I think their Chantab van leaves around 7 am or as said go to Suk Rd. Numchai van goes by the motorway so is quicker. If you get to Chantab and can not get to Pailin you can just switch to an Arunyaphatet van, I think. Check Wikitravel and Wikivoyage for more info. 

[Jai Dee]

Several off-topic posts containing petty bickering have been removed.

[JimTripper]

If you do this segment on your own watch out for delays, the usual bus scams, etc. Otherwise go with an organized tour. Queen Vic Hotel brings you there and back same day but seemed pricey last time I checked.

 

I remember something about people getting off at a remote bus station way off from the border and needing to taxi in at high prices. Not sure if it's still a problem.

 

I never made the run. I think I flew out of Bkk to Siem Reap on Air Asia for about the same price.

[it is what it is]

12 hours ago, Wongkitlo said:

Phsar Prum  is one side and Pailin the other from memory. You used to  catch the van from Chantaburi then cross the border and car to Battambang. Battambang is like a dead end becaise of the mountains so you have a choice of going out through Phsar Prum or back to Arunyaphatet as  the OP mentioned Battambang can do a loop - Chantab, Phsar Prum, Pailin, Battambang, SR, Arun, BKK. I think from memory chantab to Phsar Prum is an hour and a half then an hour to Battambang. Arunyaphatet has a scam where they stop at a cafe near the border and force you to give them your passports and get your visa for you at an inflated price. If you say no they dump you at tge cafe. 

 

 

Arunyaphatet has a scam where they stop at a cafe near the border and force you to give them your passports and get your visa for you at an inflated price.

 

easy to avoid, just arrange visa beforehand, once they know you have a visa already they put you on the next shuttle bus to the border, nice and quick ????

[Wongkitlo]

22 hours ago, it is what it is said:

Arunyaphatet has a scam where they stop at a cafe near the border and force you to give them your passports and get your visa for you at an inflated price.

 

easy to avoid, just arrange visa beforehand, once they know you have a visa already they put you on the next shuttle bus to the border, nice and quick ????

A friend was kicked out of the van and their luggage thrown off. It was only 500m from the border when they checked maps. The OP said he wanrts to go to Battambang and SR. Is a longer journey pattaya. Arun, Battambang, SR then back to Arun to go to Swampy. I would go Patraya Pailin(Phsar Prum) Battambang, sSR. Arun. Bkk

[Thailand J]

What do you think will happen if you refuse to get off the van at the final stop?

 

The final stop of the van service from PTY is at at a market a few hundred meters from the border. it will cost 20-40B for a motorbike taxi  or a three wheeler from there to the border.

 

At the PTY station, pay 250B to the lady at the desk, she will write down you name and destination for the driver. I have not  experienced any scam attempt.

 

 

 

 

 

[Thailand J]

After the Thai immigration you need to walk pass the big casinos, if you want you can visit their clean and free toilets. Cambodian immigration is on the right side of the road here:

https://goo.gl/maps/qyLMY6biXk2fnVKq5

Cambodian immigration may ask you for 100B for no reason, just pay it.

 

Their are taxi drivers waiting at the exit, or you can walk to the traffic circle to get a taxi.

https://goo.gl/maps/C517bWPvNhtZyxiJ9

 

I don't know about Battambang. Shared taxi to SR is about $10-13, takes you to you hotel.

 

Do NOT get on the free shuttle buses at the immigration exit. They will take you to one of the two government bus stations where you may have to wait for hours for a bus and the last stop is far from town.

 

 

 

[Thailand J]

just want to add the last time I was there I shared a three-wheeler with another farang from the van stop to the border. Don't remember how much , should be no more then 40B.

https://goo.gl/maps/S7ZkrrzbiHmxt7bDA

[JimTripper]

On 5/26/2022 at 7:02 PM, Thailand J said:

just want to add the last time I was there I shared a three-wheeler with another farang from the van stop to the border. Don't remember how much , should be no more then 40B.

https://goo.gl/maps/S7ZkrrzbiHmxt7bDA

I tried that once as a newbie with some old lady who was asking to share at the end of the terminal.

 

The other person got out at their stop and paid nothing. The trike continued to drive and demanded payment for two people at my final destination, and also the diversion taken to drop the first person off.

 

There are skint travelers who hang around bus stops and the like who want to share rides in this manner.

 

I paid it since I was the last man standing, but I don't share transport anymore.

[ROY IN PHILIPPINES]

HI keen on a local to advise me. A mini van uswd to depart from near side road, alongside BIG C south Pattaya to Poipet border. Can someone advise me if the business is still located there or as I suspect it has a new location.  My last trip ( over 5 years ago)  the mini bus left from near the conner of Pattaya Thi Road

[mran66]

On 5/27/2022 at 7:46 AM, Thailand J said:

After the Thai immigration you need to walk pass the big casinos, if you want you can visit their clean and free toilets. Cambodian immigration is on the right side of the road here:

https://goo.gl/maps/qyLMY6biXk2fnVKq5

Cambodian immigration may ask you for 100B for no reason, just pay it.

 

Their are taxi drivers waiting at the exit, or you can walk to the traffic circle to get a taxi.

https://goo.gl/maps/C517bWPvNhtZyxiJ9

 

I don't know about Battambang. Shared taxi to SR is about $10-13, takes you to you hotel.

 

Do NOT get on the free shuttle buses at the immigration exit. They will take you to one of the two government bus stations where you may have to wait for hours for a bus and the last stop is far from town.

 

 

 

 

A bit off the topic of OP, however related question as you seem to be knowledgeable of that border: I've been considering to pay a visit to SR & Angkor from Pattaya too, just to see how much the place has changed since 22 years ago when i was there previous time. 

 

However I am wondering whether have safe parking service near the border so that could leave my car there for few days (just like you can nicely do in Nong Khai).  Also heard this border crossing maybe have some hassle issues. I have non-O retirement visa and return permit, should I expect to have any issues (other than the omnipresent touts that could just politely decline)?