Bkk,samet, Pattaya

[Aquila]

Hi, My wife and Have booked our flights to Thailand both international and domestic, but would appreciate some travel advice please.The first 5 nights We have planned to stay on Koh Samet followed by 10 nights on koh Samui.Whats the best way to travel onto Ban Phe, Rayong, for the ferry to Samet? I'd preffer to catch a bus from the airport as a taxi would be expensive. Our flight from Dubai gets into Bkk at 12.30 and we would like to be on koh samet the sameday.We then have a domestic flight booked with bangkok air leaving at 1300 from Pattaya to Samui how do we travel from Samet to Pattaya airport? is the only choice a taxi?

Thank's

[Electra]

Your arrrival time leaves it pretty tight and realistically you will not clear immigration and collect your baggage until say 1400 hrs at the earliest. The last ferry leaves Ban Phe circa 1600 hrs so a fast taxi ride at about 2500 - 3000 bt is your only alternative. Any hiccough and you are facing a night in Ban Phe or a costly speedboat hire.

Personally I would check into a Bkk hotel for a night, relax and catch a bus from Ekkamai bus terminal the following day to Ban Phe at 0900 hrs. It's usually a modern airconditioned bus taking about 2 1/2 hours and a ferry should have you on the beach by 1300 hrs.

A taxi from Ban Phe to U Tapao will be 1200-1500 bt, is easily arranged and the best way to make your connection worry free.The ferry timings and relying upon a bus to Pattaya would make me distinctly nervous about making a 1300hrs flight departure.

[12346]

Hi

The last boat to Koh Sammet leaves 18.00 and taxi from Airport to Ban Phe you can get it for 2000 bath and you will be in Ban Phe at 16.30 so you are in time. You can call my driver tel.nr. 0875535570 his name Charlie he drives for 2000 bath. Good luck...........

[Aquila]

Thank you both for taking the time to reply to my post,

2000baht seems a good price and means i'll easy get a ferry from Ban Phe to Samet if the last ferry is indeed 1800. do i need to book charlie in advance ?and if so how much notice do i give? also if i do opt for the bus route is Ekamai my only option I've heard there is a bus leaves from BKK for Rayong, but I'm not sure if this is correct?

ta!

[PattayaParent]

'Pattaya Airport' is not exactly in Pattaya, it's at Sattahip about 40kms from Pattaya and is called U Tapao Airport.

You'll need to get from Ban Phe to U Tapao, do not ask to go to Pattaya as that will be out of your way and you'll actually pass the airport on the way!