Bus 999 from Ekamai to Koh Chang Pier: how to buy in advance?

[JackGats]

I'd like to secure seats in advance but I won't be in Bangkok. Will they sell me tickets at Pattaya bus station? I guess not, they will only sell tickets departing from Pattaya, not tickets departing from Bangkok. I hate death trap minivans, that's why I prefer to go to Bangkok first to board a big bus. Do you win time flying from Suvarnabumi to Trat compared to the bus ride?

[scubascuba3]

If you want the big bus from Ekamai to Pattaya Nth Pattaya road, then you can book in pattayabus.com

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

If you want the big bus from Ekamai to Pattaya Nth Pattaya road, then you can book in pattayabus.com

He doesn't.

[thaibeachlovers]

4 hours ago, JackGats said:

I'd like to secure seats in advance but I won't be in Bangkok. Will they sell me tickets at Pattaya bus station? I guess not, they will only sell tickets departing from Pattaya, not tickets departing from Bangkok. I hate death trap minivans, that's why I prefer to go to Bangkok first to board a big bus. Do you win time flying from Suvarnabumi to Trat compared to the bus ride?

Use the opportunity to hang out in Bkk a bit. It's a fascinating city and worth the time.

 

Have you been to the bus station on Sukhumvit where the buses to Jomtien stop to drop off passengers? There may be a service you can buy a ticket on from there, as there will be empty seats from Pattaya. Perhaps that bus stops there too.

[scubascuba3]

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

He doesn't.

but if you read his post he doesn't want a deathtrap minibus

[thaibeachlovers]

I think the white songtheaws on Sukhumvit go where you want. Not sure.

[steven100]

Buy a ticket at Ekkamai bus station to go to Koh Chang or you can go to the airport and get a flight to Trat,  Bangkok airways operates 1 hour flights to Trat. 

[Unamerican]

There seems to me absolutely no relevant information in these replies!  

Why is this? 

[bradiston]

35 Group run a good midi (a lot bigger than mini) bus service from Pattaya to KC. Used them many times to get to Koh Mak and back. They pick you up from your hotel in Pattaya and drop you at your hotel on KC. They're on 3rd Rd, near the junction of 3rd and Tai. You can book over the phone. Decent English spoken. 350 THB last time I went. No need to schlep up to Ekkamai, and there's only 2 "999" buses a day I think from there to KC.

 

They'll be extremely busy I'd say this time of year, and Russians use their service a lot. Also, getting on and off KC will probably take all day.

[scubascuba3]

56 minutes ago, Unamerican said:

There seems to me absolutely no relevant information in these replies!  

Why is this? 

You just don't understand the replies, there isn't a big bus from Ekamai to Koh Chang pier 

[RSD1]

My friend just went. He rented a car from Swampy and drove himself. And then took the car onto one of the ferries and over to the island. If you are going as a group of 3-4, and not on a tight budget, then that might make more sense.