Official Baht Bus Opening Times And Routes?

[kola]

Hello all, I finally settled down in pattaya and I would like to ask you if you know where I could find baht bus routes and the opening times?

I live in view talay 1 and I noticed that it has not been possible to find a baht bus back from tesco (I went both time about before 20h via a normal baht bus, but came back a few hours later before tesco's closing time at 11pm) and have been only able to find baht bus drivers who charge 100 bahts to get me right to my place (it's ok, but I then realized that it would be nice to have a place to read about official baht bus opening hours and routes). I noticed that normal baht bus from view talay to pattaya central run all night, but not from view talay to tesco. (theprasit road)

Cheers,

James

[Musongman]

Hello James, to my knowledge, there have never been regular Baht buses on Theprassit Road, I often wish there were. However motor bike taxis are readily available for 30-340Baht.

As for published schedules and times, I don't think these exist either. Better to chat to other farang locals who can fill you in on the details.

Yes, the Jomtien-Pattaya Baht bus run is always operating, but getting back from say Big C Festival Centre often takes a change of bus at Pattaya Thai. I bought a unit in VT7 and find the transport convenient when I don't wish to use the car.

[PattayaParent]

There has never been a regular songthaew service up Thepprasit but I have noticed recently that there are 1 or 2 waiting at the traffic lights either end so things might be improving.

Your alternative to the exhorbitant charges is to shop elsewhere,

there's Big C up Second Road, although getting away from there is a hassle 'cos of the 1 way.

Tops also on Second Road at the junction with Klang.

Carrefour on Klang

Foodland on Klang

Friendship on South Road

all of which have regular songthaew services running by, you just have to change once either way.

[willyumcr]

James, I also live at View Talay 1. For that reason of the baht bus I don't use Tesco. Not sure if they have free delivery. I do know that Carrefore and Tops have free delivery. Across from Big C on Second road at soy 2 about 50% of the baht buses turn left and got to Beach road rather than go to the circle, if they don't have customers so this is handy from Big C. Also next door to VT 1 is Family Mart with a good selection of meats and imported goods. VT 1 is very handy for baht bus travel.

[davyboy]

Hello James, to my knowledge, there have never been regular Baht buses on Theprassit Road, I often wish there were. However motor bike taxis are readily available for 30-340Baht.

As for published schedules and times, I don't think these exist either. Better to chat to other farang locals who can fill you in on the details.

Yes, the Jomtien-Pattaya Baht bus run is always operating, but getting back from say Big C Festival Centre often takes a change of bus at Pattaya Thai. I bought a unit in VT7 and find the transport convenient when I don't wish to use the car.

30-340 baht, which way do they go for 340 baht??

[Musongman]

Typo daveboy should read 30-40Baht, as I am sure you already figured.

[kola]

Hello and thank you all for your answers. It's true that the 24h foodmarket next to VT1 is very convenient and I've been to tesco twice only because of the initial needs for home shopping, like bed clothing, cleaning tools/products and much more, I liked the choice of a big mall, but for everyday uses, the foodmarket is excellent.

As I said, before 8pm I have been able to take regular baht bus to tesco both times, so I suppose they are also coming back, but only up to a determined time. It's true that I sleep most of the day and I'm only "active" from afternoon to early morning :-)

I'll probably discover other big malls such as Big C and carrefour in the next days, I already went to tukcom to buy a few computer related products, here too the baht bus from vt1 to pattaya was very handy.

Why do you think there is no official timetable for baht bus routes? Is it because they change often or because there is no company to manage and centralize the bahtbuses and this information? I thought bahtbus were just like standard public buses with routes and opening times, but now it looks more like individual taxis drivers, I'm still not sure :-)

Thanks again for your information.

[PattayaParent]

^ search for Baht Bus Mafia in these forums to find all you need to know.

[Jingthing]

I occasionally take that route. There is no official time for the buses there. They are very irregular, depending on time of day, day of the week. Much more frequent on weekends. The trick to going back is that the buses waiting or passing near the end of Suk near the outlet mall will see a foreigner with shopping bags and insist on a charter. Simply walk a while west and the same buses that insisted on charter will do you for 10 baht. NEVER talk to them. If they try to talk to you to charter, forget it. Unless it is really is late and you don't want to wait a few minutes.