wpcoe Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 Today a pop-up notice notice on the Bell Travel Service web site: Wonder what caused that? The notice wasn't on their web site yesterday, so it just happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lou62 Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 Quite happy about this, you never knew in the past if you'd get a seat or not. Now you can plan in advance and be certain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bendejo Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 On more than one occasion on Bell trips there have been groups of guys from a certain Asian country who were drunk and rowdy, giving the attendant and driver a hard time. Once the driver was so angry he stopped the bus and threatened to drop these guys by the side of the road, turning various shades of crimson as he did so. Wouldn't be surprised if that's what lead to this. On the hand other it may be possible to make the reservation on a phone app (or just plain old telephone call) while you're waiting to clear immigration. With flight delays, lines at imm., luggage collection etc it can be difficult to get to your reserved bus on time. Or maybe Swampy upped its fees for soliciting passengers and this is Bell's way to try to dodge it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharecropper Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Does this go from the bus terminus or from where the Jomtien bus also departs the airport, from outside the terminal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joepattaya1961 Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 I guess that the Bell's sales-counter at Swampie has closed as well or did they turn it into a service counter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petermik Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 10 hours ago, sharecropper said: Does this go from the bus terminus or from where the Jomtien bus also departs the airport, from outside the terminal? Ground level next desk to the Jomtien bus desk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunBENQ Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 (edited) 12 hours ago, lou62 said: Quite happy about this, you never knew in the past if you'd get a seat or not. Now you can plan in advance and be certain. Agree with post #3 ! Some are happy, some not. Is it that crowded now even in deep low season? I am not happy. Example: My domestic flight lands 13:05h (by plan). Of course 14:00h should work out but ... Looks like I will NOT do a reservation and try a walk in to Jomtien. Or risk loosing the 2xx Baht? Have some time to think. To me it sounds like all Chinese individual tourist have now got the news about this service I remember a trip with more than 50% Chinese. Completely different to previous years. Not rowdys but very noisy, shouting over the rows. Thanks to the OP for the heads up Edited September 24, 2016 by KhunBENQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunBENQ Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 (edited) Waiting for first hand experience. Someone went through recently? Sales counter gone? Edited September 24, 2016 by KhunBENQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chivas Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Quite amusing that when I was on Bell on trip back to Pattaya after picking my lad up from domestic travel we were told to stop talking during the journey. I was lost for words and this was like a midday departure !! Absolutely true I'm not kidding anyone ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wpcoe Posted September 24, 2016 Author Share Posted September 24, 2016 8 hours ago, joepattaya1961 said: I guess that the Bell's sales-counter at Swampie has closed as well or did they turn it into a service counter? 7 hours ago, KhunBENQ said: Waiting for first hand experience. Someone went through recently? Sales counter gone? I took the Bell Travel bus from the airport to Hua Hin today. They can (and do) still sell tickets to Hua Hin, just not to Pattaya any more. The previous half of the counter that Bell Travel used (next to the Jomtien bus service) was blocked off and not manned. The Hua Hin counter was always discrete from the Pattaya counter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chivas Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 In the spirit of the fact Sterling has gone down the plughole and its a good £20 saved I have booked the 8am departure in 3 weeks time for my arrival. At that outrageous time of the day I can only assume we'll be fitted with gaffer tape over our mouths...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chivas Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 13 minutes ago, wpcoe said: I took the Bell Travel bus from the airport to Hua Hin today. They can (and do) still sell tickets to Hua Hin, just not to Pattaya any more. The previous half of the counter that Bell Travel used (next to the Jomtien bus service) was blocked off and not manned. The Hua Hin counter was always discrete from the Pattaya counter. I am surprised though joking aside they are not accepting walk ins. Rest assured the status quo will no doubt return next week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bendejo Posted September 24, 2016 Share Posted September 24, 2016 Perhaps the influence of the taxi, um, cartel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wpcoe Posted September 24, 2016 Author Share Posted September 24, 2016 ISTR that when Bell Travel began the bus service between the airport and Pattaya, there was some grey area about their legality. They couldn't have an official kiosk or counter. There was just a gal sitting in the chairs with a mobile sign stand saying "Bell Travel." Not sure what changed that they were later able to share counter space with the Jomtien bus folks, but maybe it was a fragile agreement that somehow came apart? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chivas Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 10 hours ago, bendejo said: Perhaps the influence of the taxi, um, cartel? Taxi Cartel.....?? Everyman and his dog are running illegal taxi services from the Airport Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHolmesJr Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 Strange policy….and I don't know how this deters certain nationalities from misbehaving and talking loudly on a bus. Luckily theres another company that also goes to pattaya that operates a counter right next to them….the blue and white buses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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