Update on booking Bell Travel from Swampy to Pattaya.

[WhamBam]

A bit late in the day as I forgot

I had a previous topic running some weeks ago regarding booking the bus from Swampy to Pattaya.

I did book the bus on the internet using my credit card from the U.K. No hassle whatsoever with the booking. On arrival downstairs at the airport I gave the lady my name and booking number. She gave me my ticket. No hassle there either. On arrival at the bus station in Pattaya there was a mini-bus waiting with a sign in the windscreen to take me to my hotel. No need to haggle over the price of a baht bus or whatever.

Quick, cheap and efficient. What more can you ask for

Plus, no funny action on my credit card as some people in different threads seem to imply might be the case booking something like this.

[gk10002000]

I trust Bell. I have used them for years. I just as a rule minimize and try not to use my credit card while overseas. There are just too many potential risks.

[DEQ]

If you have a credit card issued in the UK, you have very few worries, due to some consumer-friendly laws (principally sections 83 and 84 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974). The only thing an honest person needs to avoid is giving your card to someone because in that case you are fully liable if that person misuses it. The same is not true of debit cards so be careful with those.

[WhamBam]

I have to admit, I have never had any problems using my credit cards in Thailand.

No, I would not use a debit card. I prefer the security of a credit card.

It was more about the efficiency of Bell Travel. Nice to have things work smoothly with no hassle.

[Jack Mountain]

If you want you can buy a ticket at the Bell Travel desk at the airport ...

[dddave]

I stopped using Credit Cards in Thailand about 6 years ago. I had used a small travel agency in Pattaya to book a flight to Siem Reap and used my CC for payment...the only time I used that CC on that trip. Almost six months after I returned to the US, a $600 charge for a rental car in Thailand appeared on my statement. I had never rented a car in Thailand.

It was quite easy to contest the charge with my bank as my passport stamps showed I was in the US at the time of the charge.

Always keep an eye on your statements...sometimes it can take a while for a fraudulent charge to appear.

[mikebell]

If you want you can buy a ticket at the Bell Travel desk at the airport ...

I have always done this (tho' I don't like the bossy girl at the desk.)

Sometimes the next bus is full & you might have nearly 2 hrs.

[petermik]

Been using Bell Travel for 6 years-great service

[WhamBam]

If you want you can buy a ticket at the Bell Travel desk at the airport ...

Yes, you can.

In my case I knew my arrival time and date and wanted to make sure I got a seat on the bus that is why I booked in advance.

Bell travel are good and often fully booked if you leave it to the last minute and another 2 hours waiting around after a long flight is no fun.