Anyone Driving To Pattaya For Songkran?

[james24]

Just on the off chance is anyone driving to Pats for Songkran? I cant get a bus and really need to get there, anyone have any space?

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Why not fly? Flights available tomorrow and the day after. If you take the 8:25 flight on Air Asia then you connect nicely to the 10am Bell Travel bus. (Can (should) be booked in advance too at http://belltravelservice.com/ ) Or taxi of course.

Really quite convenient; I leave the house at 7:30 and am off to the beach before noon.

[JeffreyMcCollum]

I usually go there for Songkran.

remember they play there water games 1 week after CM does.

So I go there to miss here in CM and return to Cm the next week to miss the water games there

Works wonderful !

[Ulysses G.]

That was true a many years ago, but from what I understand, they usually start in Pattaya on the 12th and continue to the 19th these days. It is "worse" than Chiang Mai.

[hellodolly]

That was true a many years ago, but from what I understand, they usually start in Pattaya on the 12th and continue to the 19th these days. It is "worse" than Chiang Mai.

Ya they have a ocean of water compared to our small moat.

[Ulysses G.]

I was thinking 8 days as opposed to 4 or 5.

[mcgriffith]

I have friends in my local gym who are pretty much full time Pattaya residents- who come to Chiang Mai to escape Pattaya Songkran every year...

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I have friends in my local gym who are pretty much full time Pattaya residents- who come to Chiang Mai to escape Pattaya Songkran every year...

That's because Songkran is truly horrific in Pattaya. I tried it once, and it doesn't work there and isn't fun for MANY reasons.

[uptheos]

I have friends in my local gym who are pretty much full time Pattaya residents- who come to Chiang Mai to escape Pattaya Songkran every year...

That's because Songkran is truly horrific in Pattaya. I tried it once, and it doesn't work there and isn't fun for MANY reasons.

Absolutely agree. If people think that Chiang Mai has idiots during Songkran, it fades into insignificance compared to the dredges of society at this time of year in Pattaya......... Neanderthal certainly springs to mind!!

[WinnieTheKhwai]

That's needlessly demeaning to Neanderthals. But aside from the, ehm, "people issues", there are other reasons as well. It's been a while since I summed them up so here it goes:

* There isn't actually all that much available water. The sea is not all that accessible for the in town party, so mostly tap water is used, which is reduced to just a trickle. Compare that with the big, easily accessible moat in Chiang Mai around which the party revolves.

* It's central Thailand: they use chalk in abundance. Nuff said.

* They don't stop in the evening; can't have a nice evening after-party.

* Because the official dates for Chonburi province are a week later, this dilutes the festival: You get some people wanting to play on the regular dates (around April 13) and a similar number who really, REALLY don't want to play around these dates. So you have half of town opting out at either date range.

But yeah, the people issues are the main reason. The fun Chiang Mai atmosphere is just not there, and there are way too many foreign idiots. (I'm being nice, using just 'idiots'. )

[uptheos]

That's needlessly demeaning to Neanderthals.

I did wrestle with my conscience first.......but with sincere apologies to the Neanderthals, I remain unmoved.

[bristolgeoff]

you must be crazy it is 24/7 for about 2 weeks

[WinnieTheKhwai]

you must be crazy it is 24/7 for about 2 weeks

There is some attraction to certain sois during the party, with everyone wet and drunk. Overall I greatly prefer Chiang Mai, but can also understand the attraction.