Are mini buses still available at Victory Monument for trip to Pattaya?

[thairookie]

Landing @ Don Mueng this time for onward transfer to Pattaya.

 

Since Don Mueng does not have coach buses leaving for Pattaya, I am thinking of going via minivans.  But since the clamp down on minivans, I am wondering if the clamp down is complete and minivans are still or no longer available at Victory Monument.

 

Has anyone travelled via minivans to Pattaya @ Victory Monument ?

[giddyup]

Minivan = death on wheels.

[champers]

Get a cab DM to Morchit bus station. Minibusses and regular busses are available there.

[berybert]

If you re going to Victory Monument you will be seconds from the BTS, you might even be going there on the BTS. Why not stay on it until you get to Ekamai.  Get the bus from there.

[craigt3365]

No minibuses at Victory Monument.  They are now at Morchit.  And from what my friend has said, not easy to find.

[craigt3365]

Just now, berybert said:

If you re going to Victory Monument you will be seconds from the BTS, you might even be going there on the BTS. Why not stay on it until you get to Ekamai.  Get the bus from there.

My friend use to take the minibuses from VM before.  He said it was at least an hour faster than trying to get to Ekamai and take the bus.  If not 2 hours as these buses seem to stop in the middle of nowhere to gas up and get passengers to disembark and buy stuff at the attached market.

[berybert]

Just now, craigt3365 said:

My friend use to take the minibuses from VM before.  He said it was at least an hour faster than trying to get to Ekamai and take the bus.  If not 2 hours as these buses seem to stop in the middle of nowhere to gas up and get passengers to disembark and buy stuff at the attached market.

I often use that bus, it stops once to pick up extra passengers just before the motorway then non stop to Pattaya.

It does stop on the way back at different places but not on the way there.

Me personally would get to Mo Chit and take the BTS to Ekamai  then the bus to Pattaya.

 

[thairookie]

5 minutes ago, berybert said:

If you re going to Victory Monument you will be seconds from the BTS, you might even be going there on the BTS. Why not stay on it until you get to Ekamai.  Get the bus from there.

Doesn't make sense to forgo Morchit Bus Station in favour of Ekkamai when you are near Don Mueng.

[craigt3365]

Just now, berybert said:

I often use that bus, it stops once to pick up extra passengers just before the motorway then non stop to Pattaya.

It does stop on the way back at different places but not on the way there.

Me personally would get to Mo Chit and take the BTS to Ekamai  then the bus to Pattaya.

 

There's quite a few threads here about the bus stopping in Chonburi somewhere for a gas stop.  It's happened to me a few times also.  But yes, I've never had it stop on the way to Bangkok.  Just on the way back.  Unfortunately! LOL

[KhonKaenKowboy]

Just don't board the bus parked out front of ekhami...it is a scam...long running..breaks down and you have to pay twice...only buy tix at the counter.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

27 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

My friend use to take the minibuses from VM before.  He said it was at least an hour faster than trying to get to Ekamai and take the bus.  If not 2 hours as these buses seem to stop in the middle of nowhere to gas up and get passengers to disembark and buy stuff at the attached market.

 

nonsense

[craigt3365]

2 minutes ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

 

nonsense

What is?  The fact taking the skytrain for probably an extra 45 minutes, then possibly waiting 30 minutes for a bus, then a 2.5 or 3 hour ride to Pattaya vs. a minibus from VM which can take anywhere from 1 3/4 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic?  Right...pure nonsense! LOL

[Pattaya46]

Strange idea in going take a bus at Ekamai when you land at Don Muang...

 

I wrote that 1 month ago:

On ‎25‎/‎02‎/‎2017 at 0:03 PM, Pattaya46 said:

// took it this week to go Pattaya from DM airport:

- bus A1, at gate #6, every 5 minutes, 30 B, ~18 km, ~25 min. Go to "Mo Chit 2" bus terminal, but stop also at BTS station before

- bus #48 to Pattaya North station,  every 20 minutes, 117 B, ~160 km, ~2h30

- bahtbus in Pattaya to South Rd, 10 B, ~5 km, ~8 min

[theguyfromanotherforum]

2 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

What is?  The fact taking the skytrain for probably an extra 45 minutes, then possibly waiting 30 minutes for a bus, then a 2.5 or 3 hour ride to Pattaya vs. a minibus from VM which can take anywhere from 1 3/4 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic?  Right...pure nonsense! LOL

 

The nonsense about bus stopping in the middle of nowhere and passengers disembarking to "buy stuff". 

[craigt3365]

11 hours ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

 

The nonsense about bus stopping in the middle of nowhere and passengers disembarking to "buy stuff". 

Read this forum.  You'll see many have reported this happening.  Including myself.  Research is a good thing before making a silly post.

[frimu]

1 hour ago, craigt3365 said:

Read this forum.  You'll see many have reported this happening.  Including myself.  Research is a good thing before making a silly post.

It has never happened to me and I took the bus from Ekamai quite a few times. Most recently two months ago. (I live near BTS On Nut, so it makes sense for me to take that bus from there.)

[craigt3365]

2 minutes ago, frimu said:

It has never happened to me and I took the bus from Ekamai quite a few times. Most recently two months ago. (I live near BTS On Nut, so it makes sense for me to take that bus from there.)

I've take this bus probably 50 times.  It seems to have started happening about a year ago or so.  And many here have reported experiencing it.  Some have not.  TiT! LOL

[4737 Carlin]

15 hours ago, thairookie said:

Doesn't make sense to forgo Morchit Bus Station in favour of Ekkamai when you are near Don Mueng.

The 30 baht bus from Don Muang airport to Morchit stops at the BTS only - which is nowhere near the bus station unfortunately. Doesn't make any sense but makes the cheapest option a BTS to Ekkamai and bus from there. 

[pauleddy]

I heard that there is a bus from Swampy to Patts. There is allegedly a bus from DM to Swampy. Go figure... 

[Teelak17]

Minivans in Mochit to Pattaya is for 92b.Easy to find them.They park near the big bus.You can ask the driver to stop at Naklua,Pattaya Nua,Pattaya Klang,along Pattaya Tai until Bali Hai pier with no more charge.

[biggles45]

A taxi from Don Muang to Mor Chit bus station is around 100-120 baht and takes only 20 minutes or so. I would regularly use them when landing at DM. 

[thairookie]

2 hours ago, 4737 Carlin said:

The 30 baht bus from Don Muang airport to Morchit stops at the BTS only - which is nowhere near the bus station unfortunately. Doesn't make any sense but makes the cheapest option a BTS to Ekkamai and bus from there. 

Pattaya46 just mentioned that he took the A1 bus last week to Morchit 2 Bus Terminal.

[thairookie]

5 minutes ago, biggles45 said:

A taxi from Don Muang to Mor Chit bus station is around 100-120 baht and takes only 20 minutes or so. I would regularly use them when landing at DM. 

The waiting time for the taxi ?  My last 2 visits to Don Muang, the taxi queues filled up the entire hall.

[thairookie]

1 hour ago, Teelak17 said:

Minivans in Mochit to Pattaya is for 92b.Easy to find them.They park near the big bus.You can ask the driver to stop at Naklua,Pattaya Nua,Pattaya Klang,along Pattaya Tai until Bali Hai pier with no more charge.

Is this before or after the crackdown on minivans ?

[theguyfromanotherforum]

4 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Read this forum.  You'll see many have reported this happening.  Including myself.  Research is a good thing before making a silly post.

 

I don't need to read the forum. I take this bus once a month. It has never happened to me.

 

First you said your friend reported than you changed your story saying you took this bus 50 times.

 

So far you are the only one saying this is happening.

 

I don't doubt the bus will sometimes stop to refill the tank, but your sensationalist post is off base. 

[craigt3365]

9 minutes ago, theguyfromanotherforum said:

 

I don't need to read the forum. I take this bus once a month. It has never happened to me.

 

First you said your friend reported than you changed your story saying you took this bus 50 times.

 

So far you are the only one saying this is happening.

 

I don't doubt the bus will sometimes stop to refill the tank, but your sensationalist post is off base. 

It did happen to me.  Sad you won't research it here as you won't see the other members who've reported the same thing.

 

Just because it didn't happen to you doesn't mean it has never happened.  It did happen to me.  And others.

[petermik]

Last month I went to the Trendy Building in BKK to renew my British passport,I went and returned by bus to Ekamai and CAN comfirm on the return trip the bus stopped to refill with fuel....all off the bus and a 20 minute wait..............on thursday I will be going back to pick up my new passport and will report back

[ricklev]

1 hour ago, thairookie said:

Pattaya46 just mentioned that he took the A1 bus last week to Morchit 2 Bus Terminal.

Yes, it stops first at the BTS then continues to the Morchit bus terminal.

[hawker9000]

3 hours ago, pauleddy said:

I heard that there is a bus from Swampy to Patts. There is allegedly a bus from DM to Swampy. Go figure... 

There is a bus from Swampy to Patts.  Their counter is right next to Bell Travel's.   Cheaper than Bell and no reservation required, but the seats do fill up and you might have to wait.  'Don't know about busses from DM to SUV, but I thought there was some discussion somewhere a short while back about the startup of such a service.   SUV is on the "Pattaya-side" of BKK; DM is not and would be a longer trip to Pattaya (and I guess would actually have to essentially go through BKK, and past SUV, on its way to Pattaya anyway - but that's a guess, don't know for sure).

 

[pauleddy]

Old THaimer's Trick--Don't get bogged down in the DM taxi queue.  Go upstairs to departures and exit the very last door near Taurus coffee shop. You will find a taxi who has dropped off--sometimes 3-4 of them. Also you escape the 50b line fee.  You will see police and guards hanging about, but, despite many threats, the same wheeze has been going on for years. Someone pays someone, I guess. It is not illegal to post this, as it is not an arrestable offence.

 

Swampy used to be the same, but they put big turnstiles up top. BUT--it can still be done by the agile.

 

Eddy