Transfer Bangkok – Koh Kood

This is probably the easiest and fastest way to get to Koh Kood from Bangkok without worries. Transfer Bangkok – Koh Kood consists of three stages. The first one – is moving from Bangkok in a comfortable minibus to the ferry pier in the province of Trat. The second stage is a ferry to Koh Kood on a modern speed catamaran. The third stage is delivery to the door of your hotel on the island of Koh Kood by local taxi. All connections are guaranteed and you don’t have to worry about being late for the ferry. Koh Kood Island is the farthest Thai island on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Therefore, the whole journey from Bangkok to Koh Kood takes 7-8 hours (depending on the departure time).

As a rule, there are three transfers daily from two transport companies. The first option is offered by Boonsiri. The first branded minibus of this company leaves Bangkok at 05:00 in the morning and allows you to arrive at Koh Kood at noon. Boonsiri’s second minibus is more suitable for those who prefer to sleep longer in Bangkok. In this case, the minibus leaves from Bangkok at 07:30 in the morning and allows you to arrive on Koh Kood island until 16:00. The transfer fee does not depend on the departure time from Bangkok and is 900 THB. This price includes water and snacks. The current transfer schedule, its cost and availability for your dates, you can always on the website of the smart search for transport in Asia (link to the desired route, English version of the service).

Minibus pick-up point in Bangkok to Koh Kood

The Boonsiri minibus boarding point in Bangkok is The Street Hostel, located on 62 Ta Nee Road (see map). You will receive the detailed coordinates of the landing point in the voucher after payment. This street is located in the historical district of Bangkok, in the area of ​​the famous Khao San Rd. Given that there are no underground or surface metro stations in this area of ​​the city, it is easiest to spend the night somewhere nearby. I could recommend the same The Street Hostel for the night before the transfer, but it is very popular and it is not easy to reserve places in this hostel. At the same time, there are always many other options for budget housing in the area and with the help of a smart hotels search  you can always choose the best option.

Comfortable high-speed catamaran to Koh Kood

The second transport company is called SuperJet and allows you to get from Bangkok to the island of Koh Kood for the same price – 900 THB. At the same time, the landing place on the minibus is Victory Monument Square (southeast corner). On the one hand, this place has good transport accessibility thanks to the nearby BTS SkyTrain station. But since the minibus from Bangkok leaves at 05:00 in the morning, and you must arrive at the pick-up point earlier, you can’t use the SkyTrain because it doesn’t work at night. As a result, you must either use a taxi or spend the night in the Victory Monument area. By the way, in my previous article Santiphap Park in Bangkok I just gave links to good hotels, because this park is located 5 minutes walk.

SuperJet minibus boarding point to Koh Kood Island

The rest of the transfer is very similar to the previous one: a minibus to the pier in the province of Trat, a 45-minute ferry ride to Koh Kood island and a taxi to the hotel door. All connections on the route are guaranteed and you will arrive at your hotel on the island at 13:30 (the best time to check into your room). This option has only one drawback – it is very popular and there are no empty seats for many dates. Therefore, when using the smart search for transport in Asia, you can only see an option from Boonsiri (for a trip from Koh Mak Island to Bangkok for some reason there is no such problem).

How to get from Koh Kood to Bangkok (2 options)

Getting to Bangkok with Koh Kood is also easy. For this you can use return transfers from Boonsiri and Superjet. In the first case, your path will also consist of three stages and will not cause problems. A taxi will pick you up from any hotel on the island of Koh Kood and take you to the pier of this island. Next, you will make your way to the mainland pier on a high-speed catamaran. Finally, the Boonsiri minibus takes you to the Khao San Road area in Bangkok. If you wish, you can leave the bus along the way if it passes by the area of ​​interest to you in the capital. The transfer fee of Koh Kood Bangkok is also 900 THB. At the same time, the departure time from the hotel on the island of Koh Kood is at 08:00 and 10:00, and the duration of the trip is 8-9 hours.

Cabin of SuperJet speed ferry to Koh Kood Island

The second option to get to Bangkok from the island of Koh Kood is to use a transfer from SuperJet. This option also includes a taxi from the hotel, a ferry to the mainland pier and a minibus to Bangkok. But there are differences: not a catamaran is used, but the proprietary SuperJet high-speed ferry. Despite its large size, the ferry is very modern and has a high speed. Due to this, the transfer duration is also 8 hours. This option has an advantage: in Bangkok you will be delivered to Victory Monument. Nearby there is the BTS SkyTrain underground station of the same name. About 750 meters away is Phaya Thai BTS Station, from which City Line trains leave for Suvarnabhumi Airport. The cost is the same – 900 THB, and you can check the availability of seats using the smart search for transport in Asia (link to the Koh Kood – Bangkok route).

Thus, you can use several transfers daily from Bangkok to Koh Kood and back. Alternatives include a trip from Bangkok to Koh Chang and the use of local boats to travel to Koh Kood. The option is more complex and more long in time. You can also try to get to the city of Trat, use local transport to the pier on the mainland and buy a ferry ticket at the pier. Given that a regular ferry ticket costs 500 THB one way and does not include taxi transfers to the hotel (+100 THB per person), the option is complicated and disadvantageous. Enjoy your trip and have a good rest on Koh Kood.

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Transfer Bangkok – Koh Lanta

The direct distance between the capital of Thailand and the island of Koh Lanta in the Andaman Sea is about 700 km. However, due to the lack of an airport on the island, you cannot overcome this distance with an airplane. This means that when traveling from Bangkok to Koh Lanta, you must use several types of transport and make transfers on the route. Sometimes it’s not easy to plan your movements correctly, given the fact that vehicles may be late. Therefore, in Thailand it is more convenient to use transfers, which include all stages of the route. The most important advantage of such transfers is guaranteed connections. This means that you buy one ticket and get a guarantee of delivery immediately to the end point of the route.

As I wrote above, the island of Koh Lanta is not a very popular destination, so today you can find only one transfer per day on the route Bangkok – Koh Lanta. Using the transport search service in Asia (link to the English version and the desired route), you can check the availability of seats for the date you need. You can also see that the offer includes four stages: 2 moving by big bus + moving by minibus + passenger ferry to Koh Lanta. Due to the large distance and a sufficiently large area that you must overcome by sea, the trip cannot be called too short. The total duration of a trip from Bangkok to Koh Lanta is about 18 hours. At the same time, the cost of moving is 1250 THB (or 40 USD at the current rate).

Special transfer from Bangkok to Koh Lanta (3 modes of transport)

The departure point for a large bus from Bangkok is Hua Lamphong Main Station. The landing point is located in the square in front of the station building. You can always find the map fragment and the exact coordinates of the bus boarding point in the voucher that you receive by email after paying for the transfer (see the example with Phuket in the photo). The service recommends arriving at the boarding place 30 minutes before the departure of the bus. In practice, delays sometimes occur and the bus arrives late in 10-30 minutes. This is not always pleasant, but it’s not worth worrying, because in any case, you must arrive on Koh Lanta on time. And your journey by bus will be shorter.

Departure after sunset and expect a bus on the street is not too hot. You can spend this time eating, as Near the station there are many cafes and street points with food. The large Paradive Travel bus, which takes passengers from Bangkok to Surat Thani, is not very new, but still comfortable enough for a long trip. I advise you to take a warm sweater or light jacket to the salon, as it can be cold at night due to the working air conditioner. Some experienced tourists take thick paper and scotch tape into Thai buses, which can be used to seal ducts over the seat.

Map and coordinates of the bus boarding point (example)

At the small bus station in the city of Surat Thani, you must change the bus and do the next leg to the city of Krabi with another large bus. To ensure that none of the passengers get lost and continue their journey in the right direction, bright stickers on clothes are used (from it do not leave marks after removal). By the end of the journey, you will have several such stickers on your clothes, because in Krabi you must again change the large bus to a minibus and make a short stretch of the way to the ferry pier. There you will board a ferry that takes you directly to the pier of Koh Lanta. Between several modes of transport there is free time, sometimes lasting more than an hour. As a rule, in places of transplant there is an opportunity to buy snacks and drinks.

The above method to get from Bangkok to Koh Lanta only seems complicated. In fact, logistics has been tested many times and such a transfer has been used for many years. The main thing is not to panic and try to trust the drivers and employees of the transport company, and they will already do everything to deliver you to the island on time. To get from the main pier of Koh Lanta (in the northern part of the island) to your hotel, you can use passenger pickups. You should focus on the price of 100 baht per person for delivery to the main beaches on the west coast of Koh Lanta.

From Bangkok to Koh Lanta – flight + minibus

The second way to get from Bangkok to Koh Lanta is by plane + minibus. In this case, you must separately purchase a ticket from Bangkok to Krabi, and then use a special minibus to the island. Here you can read how cheap and fast it is to get from Bangkok to Krabi. Considering that the cost of airplanes to Krabi when buying tickets early can be very low (for example, I flew on a morning flight for 620 THB), this option allows not only saving time, but also money.

Minibuses to Koh Lanta leave from the bus station in Krabi and from Krabi Airport. At the same time, there are many buses every day and if your plane arrives early and your bus leaves for Koh Lanta in a few hours, you can leave in the nearest minibus of this transport company without extra pay if there are free seats there. Travel from the bus station costs 359 THB, and from the airport – 500 THB. It is very important that the minibus not only takes you to the island of Koh Lanta, but takes you to the door of your hotel on this island.

Minibus options from Krabi Airport and Bus Station

If before you travel to Koh Lanta you want to spend a few days in Ao Nang or on the Railay Peninsula, you can use another transfer option – from any hotel in Ao Nang or Krabi to Koh Lanta. The cost of such a trip, which includes a taxi to the pier from the hotel and a ferry to Koh Lanta – 550 THB. The trip takes about 3 hours. This option does not include delivery to the hotel in Koh Lanta, so the total cost will be higher.

From Bangkok to Koh Lanta – the cheapest way

The cheapest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Lanta is to use a bus and minibus. In this case, you must purchase the cheapest ticket to night bus from Bangkok, which arrives in Krabi in the morning. The best option – buses from the southern bus station in Bangkok to Krabi, which depart at 17:30 or 19:30. These buses cost less than 750 THB and arrive in Krabi at 06:30 and 08:30 respectively. The rest of the way to the hotel on Koh Lanta, you can do on buses for 359 THB, which I wrote about above. In total, your journey will take less time than a ready transfer from Bangkok and will cost about 1100 THB. But there is a negative point: you will probably use a taxi to the South Bus Station in Bangkok (250-300 THB), which is located very far from the city center (in the southwestern part of the capital) and near which there are no BTS or MRT stations.

Thus, you have a choice of several options that allow you to get from Bangkok to Koh Lanta and further to your hotel on this island (which is easiest to find at the best price using the smart hotel search). At the same time, each has its advantages and disadvantages in terms of price, number of transfers and travel time. You can decide which method you prefer and use it for your trip to Koh Lanta and back. I wish you a pleasant trip and a good rest!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Advantages of car rental in Phuket
  

• Where you can rent a car in Phuket

• The advantages of car rental in Phuket online

• Rent a car in Phuket: practical tips

• Terms of rental car in Phuket and order of booking

Advantages of car rental in Phuket

If you are flying to Phuket as part of a group tour and you will travel for free by shuttle bus to the hotel from the airport and back. If you plan that all the time you will move around only near your hotel and in the area of nearby beach, it mean that rent a car in Phuket you definitely should not. Also, this service will not be available to you in the event that you or your companions do not know how to drive a car. But if you are an active tourist who wants to visit all the interesting places in Phuket to visit the most beautiful beaches of the island with a minimum number of tourists, or go on a fascinating trip by car to the neighboring resorts – for example, to the Krabi province – you definitely should think about renting a car Phuket. Especially that this service not only makes the vacation more complete, but also saves a lot of money.

One of the main disadvantages of Phuket – the presence of the local “mafia” of taxi drivers and tuk-tuk drivers. Local authorities, which every year promise to solve the problem of unreasonably high tariffs for travel in a taxi, in reality, nothing can change (I think they are interested in financially that nothing has changed). As a result, taxi drivers and tuk-tuks want to take from you about 8-10 USD for a ten-minute trip to the nearby beach and the same amount for the return journey. And this in a situation where the cost of renting a modern car with automatic transmission is 20-30 USD per day. Those. even for small trips to the nearby beach is more profitable to rent a car than to use local transport. And if you are going to visit the viewing platforms, lonely beaches, markets and shopping centers of the island – rent a car would be much cheaper than using a taxi for this purpose. Of course, in some cases it is convenient to use a motorbike, but there are also some nuances, which can be found on the page “What is better for rent in Phuket – car or motorbike.”

Where you can rent a car in Phuket

It is possible to rent a car in Phuket as in large international companies and small local offices for car rental. In general, car rental service is very popular in Phuket and in general in Thailand, so in the country are almost all global companies in this area: Hertz, Avis, National, Budget, Europcar, etc. Typically, most offices are located in the airport and on popular beaches also. Rent for a day is an average of 900 THB or more (depending on the vehicle class), and may be slightly reduced during long-term lease. The advantage of this option is a big fleet of modern vehicles with automatic transmission (and this is very good for the right-hand drive vehicles, especially if in the your country car steering wheel on the left side ), the availability of insurance against theft and accidents and good technical condition of vehicles.

Rent a car in Phuket – rental services in airport terminal

The second option – rent a car in small private offices, which are located on the popular beaches. The cost of renting here will be similar or even higher (possible bargain), and the technical condition of the car can be both good and bad. Among the possible problems – fraud when you return the car, when the car owner requires the  money to repair the alleged new scratches on the body or increased compensation for repair costs in case of accident. Also, some shortcoming is registration of the contract only in Thai. I do not discourage you to use a lease option in small local firms, but I advise you very carefully inspect the car before renting and fixing even minor damage on a special form (especially on the bumpers, sills, wheels and tires), carefully examine the insurance and the availability of the franchise, as well as in any case do not leave your passport as a deposit.

When renting a car on the island in large rolling offices, you can avoid most of the problems identified. It is important that rent a car in Phuket, you can immediately after arrival to the island, because the major car rental companies have offices at the airport. Think for yourself: a taxi ride to the beaches of Karon and Kata will cost you 900-1000 baht in the one direction and the same fare back. In the same amount would cost you to rent a car for a day, ie, Two days rent to some extent can be considered for free. Unlike private companies, which concerned about the maximum benefit for themselves one times, major car rental companies strive to provide the highest quality service and making you a regular customer (not just at the time of rental in Phuket, but also in other countries).

The advantages of car rental in Phuket online

The main advantage of renting a car in Phuket in large rolling offices – the possibility of online booking and big discounts for long-term lease. Also is better to book a car in Phuket Airport are not directly in a particular company, and use the services of a special broker, which has information on all available cars on your dates. That broker is an international service “Rentalcars”, through which you can in a few minutes to check the presence of vehicles on the dates you have selected at once in all rolling offices, choose your favorite model, to quickly compare prices and terms of the car rent Phuket. Using online search car rental service, you can use a number of important advantages of this service:

★ Automatically receive significant discounts on long-term lease (just check the price of rent for a day or for a week and you’ll see it);

★ An important advantage for the foreign customers – service support more than 40 popular languages and you will sign the contract for your native language. Even if you know good English, to understand some of the technical issues in their native language will be much easier and faster.

★ The ability to choose the car with full insurance with no deductible (more on this – see below);

★ Free cancellation of booking cars in Phuket (if the trip to the island fell through or otherwise);

★ The lack of limits on daily mileage;

★ The absence of a ban on travel outside of Phuket;

★ Save time – you have an opportunity for a few minutes to check the prices and conditions at once all existing rolling offices, without having to visit the office of each of them;

★ Possibility to read reviews and see ratings of car rental companies on various criteria;

★ Saving of money. Early booking allows you to select a car at the best price, while on arrival at Phuket your choice will be severely limited by the remaining cars are not the best price. In addition, lower prices than under the direct renting in a car rental company online.

★ The ability to pre-book a car with one or more children’s seats from 100 baht per day;

★ professional counseling and service in your native language.

You can trust the Rentalcars during rental car in Phuket!

Rent a car in Phuket: practical tips

As I wrote earlier, it is best to use an online service for booking Rentalcars, which has been operating for many years and is the most authoritative in the field of car rental in the world. However, you should know a few nuances, which are listed below.

The price of rent cars in Phuket is very dependent on the length of rental

Do not look for a car for one day – it’s not too rational, and you will be pleasantly surprised when you see the price of a long-term lease. For example, rent a beautiful new SUV Honda BRV with an automatic transmission for a day will be 55-60 USD, but if you rent this car for 5 days, you will pay only $ 40 per day. If the four of you, it’s only about $ 10 per day per person! If you rent this car for a month, the price will fall below 35 USD per day. The situation is similar to the low-end cars. One day rental costs about 30 USD, and when renting for at least three days, the price is reduced to 24-25 USD per day or up to 18-19 USD per day when renting for a month.

Pay attention to the presence of the franchise and its size

Almost all the cars, that you can rent in Phuket, presuppose the existence of the franchise, ie, the minimum amount that is not covered by insurance. As a rule, the amount of the franchise is from 4,000 to 10,000 Baht (or from 110 to 290 USD). This means that the insurance company reimburse all damage just over specified in the contract amount, and smaller damage of a car you must to reimburse from your wallet. Given the fact that the most frequent vehicle injuries are scratches on the body or broken lights, this is for you is not very favorable conditions. However, there is good news: if you carefully read the terms of the lease, you may notice that some car rental companies in Phuket offer insurance at “zero deductible”, ie absolutely all the damage paid by the insurance company. I recommend that you use such the lease option, even though it will cost 10-20 USD per week more.

Rent a car in Phuket – look carefully the conditions of the deductible

If the selected vehicle can not be booked without any franchise, you can choose a company with a minimum deductible. And remember that the franchise is not in order to get from you as much money as possible. Rather, it is an incentive for a more responsible and careful use of car and maintain in good condition for the next customer. Therefore, it is not a reason to avoid the rental car in Phuket (unless, of course, this is not a small private hire firm with questionable quality cars and a deductible in the amount of 10-15 thousand baht). When using the recommended service online booking of cars, the presence of a franchise can be seen in the chapter  “Ts &Cs”, which can be found next to the car rental company under the photo of the selected car. By the way, for some reason most often rental without deductible available when renting SUVs.

Use your smartphone as a road navigator

Most car rental companies will offer you rent navigator. It would seem very convenient in travel to another country thing, if it were not for one circumstance. Often (but not always) rental price of this equipment is almost half the cost of renting a car, all that defies any logic. More cheap for you to buy a navigator and take it than to rent. Therefore, if you want to save money and to use this device while resting, set the mobile road navigator  on your smartphone and upload useful maps (in this case, map of Phuket or full map of Thailand). To date, there are free maps, but you can use generally Google Maps if you wish, though it will have to use the mobile Internet in Thailand.

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Better to book a car rental at Phuket airport and advance

As has been described above, early booking increases your chances of finding the right car class with attractive price. Moreover, when you try to book a car for a few days before the flight to Phuket, you can see in the search results for you sad phrase, “We’re sorry, but the companies we work with in Phuket don’t have any cars available.” By the way, almost all rental companies offer a free cancellation of the reservation 48 hours before the commencement of the lease, so you need not worry about losing money when, for whatever reason, you can not to be on holiday in Phuket or a rental car on the island.

Specify the point of receipt and return of the vehicle when searching

Although it is possible to return the car in a different place, such a possibility is often charged extra. In the case of Phuket it is possible to rent a car at the airport and return it to another location (for example, in Patong) at no additional cost. This option is useful in cases when you rent a car in Phuket is not the whole period of leave, but only for a few days. It is not always for free, so you need compare prices and decide exactly what is more important and more convenient (car return in a different place or to save money). Please note that online car booking system, the standard error may be present in some browsers. When you do not specify the item return of the car, then on any date, even in half a year, you may see a message about the lack of cars on the selected day or period. When filling out all of the search form, the cars on the same dates miraculously appear :).

Rent a car in Phuket – do not forget to put a tick or select point of return

Use a credit card to rent cars in Phuket

International experience in the field of car rental includes the use of credit card. Please note: not debit or prepaid cards, namely credit card. Of course, just the amount for a rental car in Phuket you can pay the usual bank card over the Internet. But when you show the usual banking debit card in the process of registration of the lease at the rental desk, if even on the balance of this card will be the amount of money which would be enough to buy a car entirely, you can be denied in car rentals and even pay a fine of 1-2 days car rental.

Therefore I recommend to learn the offers of banks in your area and choose a credit card with the best terms and conditions. A rental car company usually “freezes” a certain amount in the account (for example, $ 200 or $ 500) to the end of the lease. Therefore, it is desirable that your bank is not charged for such a temporary “freeze money” commission. When you return the vehicle the deposit amount is returned to the account, but this procedure sometimes takes more than a week. In some cases, you can negotiate and make a deposit in cash. In this case, immediately after the return of the car, amount will be refunded to your wallet.

Terms of rental car in Phuket and order of booking

Since each car rental company offers its own conditions for car rental in Phuket, it makes no sense to dwell on this question in this article and waste your precious time. You can get acquainted with such conditions on the corresponding tab in the search results (see. Figure). There are painted in detail the requirements for documents, credit cards, fuel policy, rules for obtaining and return lists included and not included in the price of cars in Phuket services, etc. In general, the rules are almost identical, but you can find some differences too.

Rent a car in Phuket – detailed lease terms

Once you have chosen a car that you are satisfied with the cost and terms of the lease, you must click on the button “Book Now” and select additional options if necessary. For example, you can get additional insurance with full coverage on everything damage (including glass and wheels) and theft, but in my opinion the cost of this service is too high, especially if you already have chosen cars with zero deductible. About rent road navigator I wrote above, but at rest with children in Phuket rent a baby seat will not be superfluous. On this same page, you may notice that additional options are payable in cash when receiving the car.

Next, go to the booking page and write your contact information: name, surname, email address, etc. and click on the button “Book Now”. After payment to your email arrives your full contract with the service description (with using your native language). All documents, it is desirable to print and take with you to Phuket, but can simply be stored in electronic form on the smartphone. Then you arrive at Phuket and go with the documents (passport, driving license, credit card etc.) to the selected car rental companies. Please note that vehicle inspection and final clearance is required from 30 minutes to an hour.

During the inspection (and it happens even at zero franchise) note any damage and test the air conditioner, window washer, headlights, brake lights and other lighting devices (as is done in front of safety standards). And when you will be return the car, make sure that an manager of office wrote in a sheet inspection by the fact that you returned the car without new damage (if they were not in reality), and with a full tank. This will be an additional guarantee that your deposit amount not will be written off after no “to compensation for damage”, which was not in really. However, such cases of fraud usually occur only with small private offices for car rental.

I Hope, the information in this article will allow you to cast aside all doubts and use in practice all the advantages of car rental in Phuket, raising their vacation on the island on a completely different level. Observe the traffic regulations, do not drive drunk, and enjoy your holiday. And if you’ve rented a car in Phuket before, your feedback can be left in the comments to this article. Wish you enjoyable and safe journeys!

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Distance Pattaya – Hua Hin

Both resort cities are located in the northern part of the Gulf of Thailand, however, on different sides of Bangkok. As a result, the distance by the land between these cities is more than three times higher than the direct distance on the map. And this makes it somewhat difficult to move from Pattaya to Hua Hin, but mainly when using road transport – buses and taxis. But the use of sea transport – high-speed ferries – fully reduces both the distance and the trip time. More details about each type of transport are below on the page.

Pattaya – Hua Hin – distance and location on the map of Thailand

Bus from Pattaya to Hua Hin – schedule and prices

Traditionally for Thailand, the most budgetary way to move between cities is a regular bus. The Pattaya-Hua Hin route is no exception. Today, there is only one bus in each direction, but the bus schedule is very convenient. As always, you can see the current schedule and availability seats in a bus on your dates in advance using the transport search service in Asia. The bus leaves from Pattaya at 11:00 in the morning and arrives in Hua Hin at 17:00. This means that if you wish, you can swim in the morning in Pattaya and slowly check out of the hotel. And after arriving in Hua Hin, even before sunset, get to your hotel and, possibly, also visit the beach.

The cost of a VIP-24 class bus ride (with soft wide seats) is 510 THB (about 17 USD). The duration of the trip is indicative and, as a rule, the bus arrives in Hua Hin ahead of schedule. Please note that the bus leaves from Pattaya North Bus Station, and arrives at the New Bus Terminal in Hua Hin. This terminal is located near the city airport. To get to your hotel, you must additionally use local transport (pickup), which will cost 100-200 THB depending on the distance (bargaining is always appropriate). The return trip can be done in the same way (you can order a transfer to the bus station in almost any hotel).

VIP-24 bus from Pattaya to Hua Hin and back

Hotels in Hua Hin are quite good and there are many inexpensive options for those who want to save money. And if you want a 5-star resort on the first line, these offers are also available in Hua Hin and the resort town of Cha Am, which is located about 15 km north of the bus station. Using this direct link to Hua Hin hotels, you can find a large number of hotels costing up to 15-35 USD per day. Some of these hotels and guesthouses are located on the first line and these are really attractive offers.

How to get from Pattaya to Hua Hin by ferry

As I noted above, the duration of the trip from Pattaya to Hua Hin by bus is no more than 6 hours (usually less). However, there is a much faster and more interesting way to get to Hua Hin from Pattaya, or to make such a journey in the opposite direction. We are talking about modern ferries, which daily make sea voyages between these cities. If you had a rest in Pattaya and visited the main city pier – Bali Hai pier, you probably saw the necessary ferry there. In this case, we are not talking about old ferries with open decks that take tourists to Koh Larn and which cover a distance of 8 km in 45 minutes.

Modern closed ferries with soft seats run from Pattaya to Hua Hin and back. And these are actually high-speed ferries, because they cover a distance of about 110 km in just 2 hours. The ferry schedule from Pattaya to Hua Hin and back is as follows:

Pattaya to Hua Hin Ferry: 13:00 (01:00 p.m.)

Hua Hin to Pattaya Ferry: 15:45 (03:45 p.m.)

As you can see, the return trip is somewhat longer in duration due to the direction of rotation of our planet. And the ferry that departs at 15:45 from Hua Hin arrives at the Bali Hai pier in Pattaya at 18:00. A ferry from Pattaya arrives at the main city pier of Hua Hin city, which is located in the southern part of the city, next to a very picturesque rock. Since the arrival time is standard, you will not have problems with local transport to get to the hotel in any part of Hua Hin. The return transfer from the hotel to the pier is also not a problem.

Hua Hin to Pattaya Ferry at Hua Hin Pier

The cost of the high-speed ferry Pattaya-Hua Hin and the ferry Hua Hin-Pattaya is 1250 THB (about 41 USD), and this is about 2.5 times higher than the cost of a bus ticket. In general, a sea trip can be very attractive if you are willing to pay more for it than a trip on a VIP bus. But if speed is your priority, then there is no faster way to get from Pattaya to Hua Hin (you can order a helicopter, but this service is many times more expensive).

Taxi from Pattaya to Hua Hin – when is it profitable

You can order a taxi transfer from Pattaya to Hua Hin and back using the transport search in Asia or find a taxi directly in Pattaya. The cost of a trip to Hua Hin from Pattaya will be around 3300-3500 THB. It’s not cheap when it comes to one passenger. But if you divide the cost of the trip by 3-4 passengers, then the price for each of them will be quite adequate (from 850 THB). After all, a taxi transfer is a trip from hotel to hotel at no extra charge. While using a ferry or bus you have to pay extra for a trip to the bus station or to the pier, and then from the bus station or pier to the hotel in the second city. A taxi ride takes about 4-5 hours.

Also do not forget that you can always use various types of transport to travel from Patatya to Hua Hin and back. For example, you can go from Pattaya by high-speed ferry or taxi, and for the return trip use the VIP bus (or vice versa). Such a scheme will make your trip more original and memorable. I hope the information on this page was useful for you and now you can easily plan your vacation in Thailand with a vacation in Pattaya and Hua Hin. Have a nice trip!

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In the article How to get to Bangkok from Suvarnabhumi airport I already described the advantage of trains from Bangkok airport to the center of Bangkok. It was about buying a special token at the airport for 45 THB. That method is still relevant, but not without flaws. Today it is possible to buy a train ticket online from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok. This method is not only more convenient for passengers, but also allows you to save. You can buy a train ticket online with Klook. This service is used by all experienced tourists to save not only on transport, but also on entertainment, because entrance tickets and excursions purchased through Klook are always sold at a pleasant discount.

This is what Klook at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport looks like.

If we are talking about a train from Bangkok airport to the city, then Klook allows you to buy a ticket for only 40 THB instead of 45 THB when buying a token through a machine at the airport. This is actually the most affordable way, but saving 5 THB is not the main point. When you descend to the lower level of Suvarnabhumi Airport, you will surely come across a large line to the token vending machine. Especially if you arrived in the daytime, when every hour the airport receives several dozen aircraft.

Buying a train ticket online can save you time. Such a scheme works as follows. Initially, registration for the Klook service is required. It is very simple and you only need to provide an email address and come up with a password. The address is needed in order to receive your electronic ticket (voucher) after paid. On this page (link to the English version of website, but you can choose a different language if necessary), you select the desired date (1), the desired direction (2) and the number of passengers (3). Next, click on the “Book Now” button and choose a payment method convenient for you (see the screenshot).

Buying a Train Ticket from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok

After you pay for the ticket, you will receive a voucher with a QR code on your email. You can print the voucher, but you can just save it on your mobile phone. After arriving in Bangkok, you go down to level “B” at the airport (you should go down along the escalators and blue signs “Train to City.” By the way, this is where you can find currency exchange points with the best exchange rate, because in the arrivals area the VERY disadvantageous rate. Read more about this on the page Currency exchange in Bangkok – The best points in Bangkok. At the Klook company counter you show a voucher (printed or on the phone). A Klook representative quickly scans your unique QR code and issues a small paper ticket for a train to Bangkok. the diagram below you can in go Klook rack location at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Unlike a token that you can buy at a vending machine for 45 baht, you should not use an automatic turnstile to enter the station. You just show the ticket to the ARL (Airport Rail Link) employee and it opens the door to the station at the airport. In the same way, you give your ticket at the exit at the Phaya Thai station in Bangkok and go out into the city (or go to the BTS Phaya Thai station). If you plan to live in Bangkok near the MRT (Bangkok Subway), then you can take the blue ARL train from the airport only to Makkasan Station and go to the MRT line.

Location of Klook rack at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

In fact, this is the best way to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok cheaply and not lose time in traffic jams. I also remind you that you can use the Kiwitaxi transfer from airport for trips to Bangkok or Pattaya at a fixed price (on the highway without traffic jams). It is also possible to buy a return ticket to Suvarnabhumi Airport from Bangkok. You can exchange a ticket voucher at the Klook counter in the Siam Center at BTS Siam Station.

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• How to quickly get from the airport to Bangkok by train
  

• How to get from the airport to Bangkok by bus
  

• Taxi from Suvarnabhumi airport to Bangkok city
  

How to quickly get from the airport to Bangkok by train

As the largest and one of the most modern airports throughout Southeast Asia, Suvarnabhumi is only on the 4th year after its opening, got rid of the main disadvantage. Until then, passengers that’s had the opportunity to fly to Thailand cheap, did not have the ability to quickly and cheaply get to Bangkok city from the airport. Only in 2010 for the convenience of passengers, launched special railway lines – Airport Rail Link. Moreover, all who arrived at the airport and fly away from it were able to select from two type of trains, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages.

Externally both trains look the same, but the first train, called the City Line, painted in blue color and runs between the railway airport and the final station, which is called Phaya Thai  with all the stops along the way. This train makes a stop on every station along the route. This means that if you eat to the final station, then you need to go to the seventh stop. However, the total time on the blue train on the road is just over 20 minutes, so this form of transport from Suvarnabhumi Airport can be attributed to rapid transit. The fare from the airport to the last station is 45 THB (data 2017).

City Line and Express Line trains – best way from airport to Bangkok

Train of Express Line with red stripes on the side, comes up to the fifth station in the course of the movement called Makkasan and as it is clear already from the name, make this way in non-stop. The cost of express trains is already 150 baht. Is it worth it to pay more than three times in order to get from the airport to Bangkok just for 10-12 minutes faster – you decide. Personally I do not use the express train line, as I do not care a somewhat larger number of passengers in the train “blue” line. But it is often referred to as the main drawback of the cheaper trains: the locals often use it City Line for commuting and in other cases, and during peak hours in these trains can be crowded.

Usually my planes arrives in Thailand in the morning, and the morning trains City Line from the airport go half-empty, and there are always free seats, and back to the airport I get on other modes of transport. Here it should be noted that the endpoint of cheaper trains City Line – Phaya Thai – is also the Bangkok Skytrain station (BTS), so if your way forward involves moving in the Bangkok by BTS, the choice of City Line is even more justified. Another incentive that can tip the scales in favor of Citi Line is to save 105 baht – this amount is more than enough to quickly get from Bangkok to Pattaya. Hopefully, you have already read the article “How to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya: all options“ and you know that to get to the popular resort of this is possible directly from the airport without having to move to the thai capital, from which to Pattaya farther than from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Map of City Line and Express Line trains in Bangkok

If you plan to use the underground line of the Bangkok, you have to go to Makkasan station and it can be done by using both types of trains from the airport. By the way, there is information that in the coming years the Makkasan station will be a place, where everyone will be able to do the registration for your flight, and even deliver your luggage for subsequent loading into the aircraft. Generally, the metro in Bangkok is a big separate topic, so if you want to know how fast and for little money to move around the capital of Thailand, I advise you to read the article “BTS Skytrain in Bangkok: secrets of use” and “MRT – Bangkok’s underground metro”.

If you decide to use one of the following trains to get from the airport to Bangkok, you have to go down to the ground floor of the airport. Pre-advise to walk on the information stand in the arrivals area (2nd floor) and take at least one good map of Bangkok, which will help you in the further movement in the capital of Thailand. Speaking of the ground floor, I mean not the first, and zero, ie, located below ground level. When you will go down to the first floor, you need follow the big blue signs that say «Train to City» with train icon.

Blue sign of the way to City Line and Express Line trains in Suvarnabhumi airport

Code you go down the escalator, you will need to purchase a ticket to ride. If you come to Thailand for the first time, it is precisely at this point you have to get used to the fact that tickets need to be purchased using special terminals, which are installed near the turnstiles. No special difficulties should arise. Choose a route to the final station of the screen, the number of passengers and tuck notes in 50 or 100 baht, then get your ticket and change. A small tip: on the way to the train at the bottom of the airport you can find the exchange office with the best exchange rates (currency exchange in the arrivals hall is very unfavorable).

If you do something wrong, you can always ask for help from local residents or other, more experienced tourists. I recommend also to get used to the fact that the chips and cards on the subway in Bangkok must be maintained during the trip, because they need to be lowered into a turnstile at the entrance and at the exit of the subway (in Bangkok everywhere used differentiation fare system based on distance ). Perhaps it may not seem particularly important given the short distance, but if my article is intended to be complete lighting issue, I can say that both types of trains are well air-conditioned. In the Express Line carriages are installed the soft seats, and on top there are luggage racks. The train is City Line a low plastic seats and luggage will have to place on the floor of the railway carriage.

The main drawback Airport Rail Link – its operating time. To get from the airport to Bangkok by train and back is possible only with 06:00 am to 00:00 nights, ie if your plane arrives at Suvarnabhumi after 11:00 pm, or your plane departs from Bangkok 08:00 earlier in the morning, you will either have to wait long at the airport, or to use other modes of transport, about which you can read below. On this page you can find detailed instructions that allow you to buy an online train ticket from the airport to Bangkok for just 40 THB and without queues at the airport.

How to get from the airport to Bangkok by bus

You can get from the airport to Bangkok by bus

I want to just remind you that you can get cheaply from Suvarnabhumi Airport by minibus to the famous Khaosan Road, in the historic part of Bangkok. For information about this method can be found on page: How to get from Suvarnabhumi to Khao San Rd. To get to one of the points you are interested in Bangkok by bus or Mini Bus, you need to initially get to the Public Transportation Center, which is close to the airport. You can do this on a free airport bus (shuttle-bass), which departs from Gate №5. Next, you need select one of the routes of public transport, interpretation of which is shown below.

Bus № 549. Suvarnabhumi – Min Buri;
Bus № 550. Suvarnabhumi – Bang Kapi;
Bus № 551. Suvarnabhumi – Victory Monument;
Bus № 552. Suvarnabhumi – On Nut;
Bus № 552A. Suvarnabhumi – Sam Rong;
Bus № 553. Suvarnabhumi –Samut Prakan;
Bus № 554. Suvarnabhumi –Don Muang Airport;
Bus № 555. Suvarnabhumi – Rangsit;
Bus № 558. Suvarnabhumi – Central Rama 2;
Bus № 559. Suvarnabhumi – Future Park Rangsit.

All of the routes of buses and minibuses go in the day time from the bus terminal at intervals of about 20 minutes while reaching a final stop for 1-2 hours. The exact time when it is difficult to predict the arrival, as their speed is highly dependent on current road conditions and availability of traffic jams. Personally for me option with the buses did not seem especially attractive when there is a fast and comfortable trains. But if you are interested in a place at Bangkok, which can be direct access to the buses and Mini Bus from the airport, the option can be considered. Also recall that the bus terminal (Public Transport Center) sent and several intercity buses (in Trat, Pattaya, Nong Khai, Rayong, etc).

Taxi from Suvarnabhumi airport to Bangkok city

For those who are afraid of some difficulties ordinary taxis in Bangkok, I can recommend an excellent international service Kiwitaxi. You can order and even (if you want) to pay online (fully or partially) a taxi in advance, after coordinating the entire itinerary and price. When you arrive in Bangkok, taxi driver will meet you in the airport arrivals area as a VIP person, with holding a sign, where it will be your name. Then you just go with the driver to the car and get to the destination (not necessarily in Bangkok, by the way). As you can see, option simple and convenient, at any time of the day. But in some cases, this taxi will be slightly more expensive than ordinary taxis.

In any case, taxi from Suvarnabhumi airport will be the most expensive and in combination with one of the fastest way. The second safe way to find a taxi on arrival at the airport is the descent from the arrivals area (2nd floor) on the first floor of the airport and follow the signs for «Public Taxi» to the official taxi reception, which produces an extract of the receipt showing your destination. When at the same time with you to Bangkok arrives a few more flights, taxi at the counter may be a little queue of passengers, but it moves quickly and does not need to be afraid to get stuck in the queue for a long time.

You can get from the airport to Bangkok by taxi

During the ordering  of taxi sufficient basic knowledge of the English language, but I think if you just say the name of your hotel or the street in Bangkok, where it is located, problems with understanding will not. And the amount that you need to pay, you can see on a piece or a calculator. By the way, in the article “Money in Thailand. Exchange rates in Thailand today, “I described in detail why it is not necessary to change large amounts of money at the Bangkok airport (who wants to save – you can read). The receipt, which you will be given at the front desk, you need give to taxi  supervisor outside the airport building. He will take it from you and exchange the receipt to another, in which all the details of the upcoming trip will be listed.

Also, do not be surprised and do not be afraid that the taxi driver may ask you to pay special airport fee, amounting currently 50 Thai Baht (the amount you pay for a taxi driver from entering the airport’s arrival area). When you planting in a free taxi car, taxi driver can ask to look with one eye to your a ticket. But do not give it for him forever, because it is a guarantee that you will be able to find a taxi driver in the event of any trouble (for example, when forgotten in a taxi that one of the things). I remind you that the official taxi service must use during the counter movement (METER taxi). Usually, taxi drivers from the airport official stand is not necessary to remind you to turn on the meter, but if you notice that the meter does not work, you should remind the driver about it.

You can order a taxi from the airport of Bangkok advance

The tariff for landing at Bangkok’s taxi is 35 baht, while the amount included in the first 2 kilometers. During the taxi ride from the airport in Bangkok you will have to pay more and travel on toll roads. But there is a small amount (from 25 to 45 baht depending on the distance and time of day), and you are virtually guaranteed to avoid the traffic jams that occur on free roads. This toll will have to pay twice (two points), and the necessary amount will be shown to you on the electronic scoreboard and printed on the check after you pay the fee.

As a result, the cost of travel from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok will cost you between 300 to 500 THB given directions on the toll road, a 50-baht fee in the airport and a small tip the taxi driver (the last item is not mandatory, but if the service is like, and you can thank a taxi driver in a small amount of 10-20 baht). I advise you to change money at the airport to ask in the exchanger at least a few small denomination banknotes (20-50 baht). By the way, you can change your large bills into smaller ones at points where payment is made for travel on the toll road. You need have small banknotes, because sometimes the taxi driver can use a famous trick with the lack of change.

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Slightly more complicated way to get from the airport to Bangkok is moving on a free airport bus terminal in the aforementioned article, Public Transport Center, where you can always find a free taxi. This method saves already due to the fact that the airport did not have to pay a fee of 50 baht. I hope my work will be in vain and you will not after reading this is not a small article will clearly understand all of the ways that will allow you an easy access from the airport in Bangkok, where you plan to rest for a few days or go from the capital to other resorts of the country.

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Way from Phuket to Koh Phangan on the map

From Phuket to Phangan – flight + ferry

The easiest option is a direct flight between the islands, in this case it is impossible due to the lack of an airport on the island of Phangan. Therefore, if you want to take advantage of domestic flights in Thailand, you will have to initially choose a flight to Koh Samui (which is about 10 km from Koh Phangan), and then travel by local transport or taxi to one of Koh Samui piers, and use a ferry or catamaran to Phangan Island. The disadvantage of this option is the high cost of the flight, because the airport on Koh Samui is owned by Bangkok Airways and low cost airlines do not fly there.

As a result, the cost of the flight Phuket-Samui is about 75-100 USD (2300-3000 THB). Next, you need to take a taxi to the Samui ferry piers and pay extra for the ferry to Koh Phangan. The nearest pier is Bangrak, which is located in the northern part of the island, near the main local landmark – the statue of the Big Buddha. In the article How to get from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan – schedule and fares, I already described this route in detail, so I won’t repeat myself. I can only add that you can use the transportation in Asia search and buy a ready-made transfer, including a flight from Phuket to Koh Samui, a minibus to the pier and a ferry to Koh Phangan. All connections are guaranteed, but because of the expensive flight, this option is not budgetary and you may notice that it is unexpectedly long in time due to the long wait at the airport.

Best Price to flight from Phuket to Koh Phangan (Jetradar)

It turns out that it is easier to buy separately through Jetradar the cheapest ticket from Phuket to Koh Samui (see screenshot) and then travel on your own, without wasting time waiting. Another plus in favor of such an independent trip is the ability to choose a pier on Koh Phangan. For example, if you plan to take part in the Full Moon Party- the famous open air disco in Phangan, you can get from Samui Airport to Bangrak Pier and then use the boat directly to Haad Rin Beach on Koh Phangan. Ferries arrive in the opposite part of Phangan (Tong Sala pier) and you will need extra time and money to get to Haad Rin. That is, under the best of circumstances, your journey from Phuket to Phangan will take only about 3 hours.

Transfer Phuket – Koh Phangan – convenient and cheap

A much more interesting option from the point of view of costs – ready-made transfers between Phuket and Phangan Island. Since the island of Phuket is connected to the mainland by a road bridge, the Phuket-Phangan transfer includes a bus transfer to the ferry pier in Surat Thani province, and then a ferry or a large catamaran to Koh Phangan. Using the transport search service in Asia (link to the finished route) you can see that the transfer price starts from 550 THB, and this is 6-8 times cheaper than the flight option. All transfer options include morning departure from Phuket. This is no accident, because the ferries to Koh Phangan operate only during the day. There are also options for transfer to Phangan from Phuket Airport.

Transfer Phuket – Koh Phangan includes a bus + ferry ride

An important advantage of some options is the ability to pick you up at any hotel of the three popular beaches of Phuket – Patong, Karon and Kata. This means that you do not need to get to the bus stations in Phuket Town on your own, because this path is not entirely simple, especially in the morning hours. The cost of transfer at the same time increases by 50-200 THB. If you still want to save a little, you can try to get to the bus terminal number 2 in Phuket Town on your own for 30 baht, using my instructions. But keep in mind that you will have to leave the hotel very early and it will actually be difficult to get cheaply to Phuket Bus Terminal 2 by 08:00 in the morning.

Please note that various carriers operate on the route, including the Samui ferry companies directly: Seatran Discovery and Lomprayah. The former use older ferries in which you can be on deck during the sea route to Phangan or inside an air-conditioned room with rows of soft seats. Lomprayah uses newer high-speed catamarans, which have only one drawback: some passengers may feel motion sickness due to the speed of movement along the waves. If you are prone to motion sickness, do not forget to buy special pills. I also advise you not to forget to pick up your things from the luggage compartment of the bus before boarding a ferry or catamaran.

Cheapest transfer Phuket to Koh Phangan from Phantip

Phantip, a transport company, is also partnering with Seatran Discovery, whose ferries are more likely to make an additional stop on Koh Samui. However, the travel time for different carriers is almost the same and you should be prepared for the fact that on the road from Phuket to Phangan you will spend almost all of the daylight hours and arrive on the island at best after 17:00 in the evening. The only option that allows you to arrive on the island 1.5 hours before sunset and in daylight to get to the hotel in Phangan is the morning transfer from Phantip (at 08:00 from Bus Terminal No. 2). If you are not alone, then this is a good option, because the cost of a taxi to the bus station can be offset by the lowest transfer cost Phuket-Phangan (550 THB)

In this case, I do not consider the option of renting a car, even if you can find very good prices for car rental in Phuket. I hope the information on this page was interesting and useful for you and now you know what options are available to get from Phuket to Koh Phangan, what are their advantages and disadvantages. Also, you can always check the relevance of the schedule indicated in the article and the cost for the date you need, using the transportation in Asia search and planning all your transfers and flights during your holidays in Thailand.

The post How to get from Phuket to Koh Phangan – ways and prices first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• The distance between Bangkok and Krabi

• Flights from Bangkok to Krabi – schedule and fares
  

• Bus from Bangkok to Krabi (route bus and tourist bus)
  

• Train from Bangkok to Krabi – how to use
  

• How to get from Bangkok to Krabi by taxi or car
  

The distance between Bangkok and Krabi

As has been described above, the direct distance between the capital and the center of the Thai province of Krabi – Krabi town, 650 km (406 miles). However, we can not just cover this distance in a straight line on the map. Therefore, a more useful to know the distance that must be overcome or that transport between the two cities. Distance between Krabi Airport and Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and is 650 km (406 miles), between the airport and Krabi and Bangkok Don Muang airport – 665 km (414 miles). Given that all these airports are not located in urban areas, but only in the suburbs, the total distance that you must overcome, is increased by about 30 – 40 kilometers (18-25 miles).

The distance between the center of Bangkok and Krabi town center by road even more and is 783 kilometers (489 miles). In this case, the starting point in Bangkok is the Democracy Monument and in Krabi Town – urban municipality. The same distance will be between the Krabi Bus Station and South Bus Station in Bangkok (which is best used for travel on this route). But if you decide to use the bus, whose route begins at the North Bus Station in Bangkok – Mo Chit Bus Terminal – the distance to Krabi will be even more – 792 km (795 miles).

Distance from Bangkok to Krabi – it depends on the type of transport

If we talk about the distance between Bangkok and Krabi on the train, then you should remember that in Krabi no railroad. Therefore, choosing the train, you have to be ready to overcome part of the way from the capital to the province by bus from the town of Surat Thani or Trang (it centers adjacent to Krabi). Thus, using the trains the distance between Bangkok and Krabi will be at least 960 km or 600 miles when traveling through Trang, and not less than 795 km (497 miles) at a trip through Surat Thani. Read more about the use of trains and their value – see below.

Flights from Bangkok to Krabi – schedule and fares

Flights on the route Bangkok – Krabi are the best option for those who have a limited time of rest and does not suffer from budget constraints. Approximate flight time from Bangkok to Krabi – 1 hour and 20 minutes, ie, between takeoff and landing it takes very little time. Option is most convenient for those who arrive in Bangkok at the main  airport of the country – Suvarnabhumi –  and later use the local airline flight, flying from this airport to Krabi Airport (Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways). The disadvantage of this option for a long time there was only one – a sufficiently high price for domestic air travel tickets. But now you have the opportunity to buy air tickets from Bangkok to Krabi cheap and from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Using the search form posted above, you have the possibility to buy cheap flight tickets from Thai Smile airlines – from 30 USD for the flight in one direction. I draw your attention that tickets for aircraft of this airline is often not available when searching with using the popular world aggregators (eg Jetradar that I normally use and would recommend). Also i want recall that the cheapest flights Bangkok – Krabi flights usually morning and evening, and afternoon flights are more expensive.

Those who value every minute of their stay in travel and can not afford to waste time on a long trip by train, by bus or by car from Bangkok to Krabi, but and at the same time you do not have the possibility to buy cheap flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport, i can recommend to search flights of Thai low-cost airlines: Thai AirAsia, Lion Air and Nok Air. The cost of tickets for the route Bangkok – Krabi in this case also will be very  democratic and almost not differ from the price of the ticket on the VIP bus, which overcomes a route for a much longer time.

Using flight search form above, you can see that on the same date of the cost of the flight various airlines on the route Bangkok – Krabi vary significantly. So, while flying one way low cost airlines want fare for the air ticket of just $ 29- $ 40 (or 27-38 euro), while the more expensive – from $70 to $130. If we are talking about the flight in both directions, that Thai AirAsia and Lion Air will transport you for the amount of $ 50-80, while the price of tickets from Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways starts at $ 100 and $ 210 respectively. Depending on the day, fares can be changed, but their order remains approximately the same level. During searching for flights from Don Muang Airport in Bangkok, you can also use Jetradar. Sometimes, but not always, it saves $ 3-5. It’s not a lot of money, but for them, you can buy a 2-3 bottle of delicious Thai beer – for yourself and for your friend (or your girl).

Flights from Bangkok to Krabi – fast and inexpensive!

The apparent disadvantage here you can select only one: when you buy low cost airline ticket from Don Muang airport in Bangkok, you must spend more time in thai capital and you can not immediately transfer to another plane at the Suvarnabhumi airport after arrival in the country. But if you plan to visit the province of Krabi and its famous island not immediately after arrival in Thailand, this disadvantage not so serious, because you can get from Bangkok easily in any of the capital’s airports. And when you have arrived at Suvarnabhumi, always have easy access to Don Muang Airport using the free shuttle bass or other modes of transport, as described in the article “How to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya.”

There is also a some flights to Krabi from Bangkok with one or two changes (on the islands of Phuket and Samui), but personally I see it is not quite reasonable idea to transplant whenever possible to make a direct flight for 1 hour and 20 minutes at a good price (indirect flights are more expensive, and their total duration is almost identical (and sometimes more) than the journey by bus to Bangkok – Krabi. Upon arrival in the province of Krabi, take some time to just get to the coast, where you can stay and where you can catch a boat or ferries to the islands. Transportation from the Krabi airport and the cost of any transport are considered in the article: “Krabi airport – detailed review”, so I will not repeat here.

Bus from Bangkok to Krabi (route bus and tourist bus)

A considerable number of tourists despite the high speed and low fares (in the case of budget airlines) flight from Bangkok to Krabi prefer to use a regular bus service. Option more accessible for the money, because the cost of an ordinary bus ticket first class (not VIP) is about 680 baht. Travel time such buses is about 12 hours, ie, after leaving the Bangkok from six to eight o’clock in the evening (standard time of departure of buses), you can arrive to the bus station in Krabi at six or eight o’clock in the morning respectively.

In addition to saving on the cost of travel, bus from Bangkok to Krabi you can save on lodging at the hotel, which for some is also important. Arriving early in the morning in Krabi, there is a great opportunity to use slowly and relatively cheap local transport to Ao Nang and to the some islands of Krabi province, while still just have a lot of time to find a good variant of stay. Of course, if you’re not one of those travelers who prefer to plan ahead and find the best hotels with the best prices using the search form below.

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The drawback of options with a bus from Bangkok to Pattaya just one: not all easy to endure long bus journeys. But honestly buses in Thailand quite comfortable, even when you travel in the usual first class, not to mention the VIP areas. The spaces between the seats is enough (at least for people of average height, as I – 183 cm). During the path to Krabi, every bus make a several of sanitary stops, where you can stretch your legs and have a snack. Speaking of a snack: at long distances in the Thailand, bus company usually give for passengers a little dry rations in the form of cookies or biscuits with the package of juice or a small bottle of drinking water in Thailand.

In the all of buses 1st class in Thailand have a air-conditioned, so people who do not tolerate cool better take care of the presence of more warmer clothing than a T-shirt and shorts. However, the buses free give small plaid, which are often enough to escape cold and get some sleep. Currently buses from Bangkok to Krabi depart from the two bus terminals of capital: the North Bus Station Mochit (Mor Chit) and the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (in Thai sounds Sai Tai Mai). A detailed description of bus terminals capital of Thailand and bus schedule, and ways to easily and inexpensively reach them, see through the links in this article.

The big number of flights on the route Bangkok – Krabi goes from the southern bus station, so if you can not buy a bus ticket in advance (a few days), or when in Thailand the high season – it is better not to risk it and go immediately to the Southern Bus Terminal, since probability of availability of one of the four flights still higher. And arrive at the bus station, it is desirable at least two hours before departure of the first bus, ie, about 16:00 – 16:30, to ensure to leave on that day. Regular buses to the terminal in the Talaat Kao (Talaat Kao) which is located a few kilometers from Krabi Airport and is connected with the latest low-cost public transport.

Bus from Bangkok to Krabi – not very fast but cheap!

You can get to Krabi from Bangkok not only at route bus from the bus terminals, but also on tourist bus, which you can find on the bus station on famous Khaosan Road in Bangkok and other popular places in the capital. Tickets for these buses can be purchased at many street travel agencies, and the fare can be either lower or higher than the price of the trip bus. If you read the article “The main methods of fraud in Thailand”, then you already know that the use of such travel buses is little bit risky.  I want to remind you that at the present time to buy tickets for the buses in Thailand is very easy online. To do this, you can use the search form and choose the buses that suit your schedule and price.

Big advantage of farang.12go.asia service also in the fact that you can always see the point fit on the bus at Bangkok map and the point, where the bus will take you to Krabi. You can also read the reviews of people who have already used the bus from Bangkok to Krabi and then you can choose the bus company. that you liked more. During the sanitary stops, try do not lose your bus! As a rule, in the parking lot many similar buses, and do not always have labels in English. Therefore you need try remember the bus number and coloring of its sides.

Train from Bangkok to Krabi

In this case, you just need have an idea of what to get to Krabi from Thailand’s capital or any other city in the country will not make easy for the simple reason that in Krabi no railroad, and in the coming years it there will not. This means that in any case the route will be combined, i.e. train + bus, train + minibus or train + taxi. Additionally, in this case may be need using local transportation too, since the bus and railway stations can be located at some distance from each other.

Nearest big railway stations from Krabi, whither you can purchase a train ticket from Bangkok, a located in the main cities of neighboring provinces: Surat Thani and Trang. Buy tickets and board the train should be at the main railway station in Bangkok – Hua Lamphong Station. In order not to mislead you about the exact departure time and fares (because schedules and prices may change depending on the season and the Thai baht exchange rate against foreign currencies), I will not post on this page schedule of trains from Bangkok. Instead, I advise you to use the added below search form. You can just see the train schedules and fares, and also you can buy tickets online.

Train from Bangkok to Krabi – not fast and sometimes expensive way!

This is very important, because even on the official website of the Thai railways you can not buy train tickets online. In addition, you do not need to worry about how, after leaving the train in Trang or Surat Thani to find the right bus to Krabi. Using this search form, you can just buy the complex ticket train + bus. In this case the cost is not too high. In any case, you should know that the train in Thailand is not very cheap, and flying a plane can be even cheaper than a trip on the train from Bangkok to Krabi, even without an additional bus.

If you do not want to buy an integrated ticket and if you’ve never used the railways in Thailand and have no idea of what classes of trains and carriages used in the country (and it is necessary to know when buying a ticket), I advise you to read the article “Trains Thailand – detailed review”. To find trains to Trang and Surat Thani and then bus to Krabi, you can also use the search form on this page. As a rule, each day from Bangkok to Trang is sent 2-3 trains of different classes, and the travel time is usually longer than the bus (15-17 hours). At the same time on the road from Trang to Krabi will have to spend another 2 hours by taxi or 2.5 hours by bus. Train to Surat Thani daily sent about a dozen, and not only at night, which can be more convenient. travel time also does not very small and ranges from 10.5 to 12.5 hours depending on the class of the train. But to get from Surat Thani to Krabi longer: from 3 to 4 hours, with a bus ticket will cost 200 baht. The most convenient VIP sleeping trains are usually bought in advance, because there are not many places, and the Thais very love their night trains.

Thus, it can be concluded that the choice of train to bridge the route Bangkok – Krabi not entirely successful version: once all the long, difficult and expensive (if you take a normal sleeping place). Add to this the terrible train punctuality in Thailand (2-3 hours late for such a distance is not uncommon), and you finally realize that the options to buses and airplanes are not so bad. But if you are afraid to fly, and the night crossing on the bus you think hard labor, the train can be considered good idea, because its main advantage – relative safety and the ability to sleep (or just spend time) in the supine position. Also you can use train from Bangkok to Krabi when your travel budget quite small, and the cost of travel in third class carriage (without air conditioning) seems to be very attractive.

How to get from Bangkok to Krabi by taxi or car

Thailand is a country with a well developed domestic air traffic, therefore use of taxis for long distances is usually impractical. The situation with the route Bangkok – Krabi is no exception. So if you want to reach the Krabi province with using a taxi, you should be prepared for the fact that the cost of transport in most cases will be higher than the cost of the most expensive ticket. The exact price is difficult to call, because the taxi-meter at a distance of over 800 km is unlikely to agree to use even one metropolitan taxi driver, but the approximate price range is known.

Depending on your ability to trade, from the airports of Bangkok taxi to Krabi would cost about 9000 or 10,000 THB ($ 270-300). Taxi drivers in Bangkok can tell you little bit less crazy price, but even in this case, you can not wait an amount of less than 7500 baht  – it would be naive. Therefore, it makes sense to use taxi from Bangkok to Krabi if there is a lot of baggage with which you do not want to go by bus or plane, as well as in a situation where you have at least 3 passengers, and the fare is not too important to you.

Much more interesting and cheaper option for those who prefer car travel and those who are not very concerned about the need to drive almost 800 kilometers on thai highways – rent a car in Bangkok. By use service Rentalcars you can rent a car of any class at the best price in Bangkok and travel to Krabi on it. Car rental offices in the capital city of Thailand a lot, including directly offices rental companies at the airports. The roads in the country is very good quality, but you must  get used to left-hand traffic in Thailand (if in your country on the roads right hand traffic). And in any case, be careful.

The route by car from Bangkok to Krabi next: leave the capital on the road №4 and move toward the province of Chumphon 470 kms. Generally, you can simply go on this track №4 to Krabi, because it passes through the Krabi, and goes further to the south of the country, but from Bangkok it goes to the west and runs along the coast of the Andaman Sea in Chumphon district trail passes near the island of Phuket and only then back out to the east side near Krabi. As a result, the route is much longer – is above 1000 km.

Way from Bangkok to Krabi by taxi or by car for rent

Therefore, in the area of Chumphon is better to turn to a more optimal and shortest route: continue driving south on highway №41, passing through the province of Surat Thani. After 195 km, at the intersection with the highway number 44, turn at the roundabout to the right and drive 97 km to the district Au Luek, where there is a crossing with the familiar route number 4, in which directly to Krabi will drive about 30 km (highway passes near airport). The distance from the center of Bangkok while driving on this route will be about 780 km (from Suvarnabhumi Airport – a little over 800).

By the way, it is not necessarily the way back from Krabi prodelyvat similar way by car. If you take a car in a hire well-known international companies, it is possible to leave the car in Krabi and get back to Bangkok by bus, by train or by plane. Hopefully, after reading this article, you no longer have questions about how to most quickly and most cheaply get from Bangkok to Krabi. I wish you successful travel and Godspeed!

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In order to receive a voucher from Etihad for free accommodation in Abu Dhabi hotels, you must complete the TWO CONDITIONS:

Condition number 1. You must purchase a ticket with a 2-day stop in Abu Dhabi on the Etihad Airways official website. To receive a voucher for free accommodation in hotels, the duration of the transfer should allow you to spend two nights in the UAE. Those. This is a regular ticket with a long transfer. Given that most of the routes of this airline to Asia, Africa, Europe and America in any case suggest a stop in Abu Dhabi, with this condition should not be a problem. To select such a flight, click on the link and select the item: Multiple destinations / Stopovers.

How to book a flight with stopover (Etihad Airways) – click to enlarge

After that, on the page that opens, choose flights in such a way that the first flight is to Abu Dhabi, and the second – from Abu Dhabi to the next airport. In this case, the return flight, you can choose direct, even if tis flight also implies a mandatory stop in Abu Dhabi. (see screenshot). If you have another airport on the route – you can click on the Add Another Flight button and enter the required data. If you want to flight to one way, you don’t need add a return ticket at all, it will not affect the possibility of getting a free hotel.

Multi-city booking with stopover – Etihad Airways website (click to enlarge)

Condition number 2. You must book and pay for a flight with a 2-day stop in Abu Dhabi no later than March 1, 2020. And your journey must be completed before March 31, 2020. If the trip takes place later than 31.03.2020, you can receive a second night at the hotel from Etihad Airways, and you must pay for the first one yourself (from 44 USD per night). The exception is first class flight tickets for which this promotion is perpetual.

Five star hotels in Abu Dhabi – you can stay for free in any of them!

How to choose a free hotel in Abu Dhabi

After you have booked and paid for your ticket on the Etihad Airways website with a stop in Abu Dhabi, you can follow this link to a selection of free hotels. A total of about 60 hotels are available, of which most hotels are categories of 4 and 5 stars. After clicking on the link, you will see a standard search form at the top of the page. You must select the city of Abu Dhabi and enter the dates of your 2-day stop. By default, you get 2-person toll-free numbers, but you can choose more guests (in this case the number of available hotels may be reduced).

Date Selection Form for booking free hotels in Abu Dhabi

Next you have to click on the Search Hotels button. A new page will open and you will see that the Etihad Airways special promotional code has worked (see screenshot). Now you have to choose any of the available hotels. You can see that in the column Per Night costs 0 USD. This confirms that accommodation in all available hotels will be free for you. Do not try to choose 3 or more nights – in this case hotels will not be available. For your convenience, at the top left there is a map of the city, which shows the location of hotels You can choose both city hotels and those located on the seashore (Persian Gulf).

Promotional code from Etihad Airways for free accommodation in Abu Dhabi

How To Book Free Hotel In Abu Dhabi

After you have chosen a hotel (before that you can click on the Choose a Room button to read reviews and view a hotel photo), on the hotel’s page you should click the Book This button. Next, the Etihad Holidays page opens and you will need to fill in a few fields. You can see a sample fill in the screenshot. Be sure to enter a valid email address to which you will receive a booking confirmation. Phone is indicated for emergency communication. In this form it is not necessary to indicate the data of the person who will make the trip.

Booking a hotel in Abu Dhabi – filling in the contact details

In the right sidebar you can see the real cost of living in the hotel. In my case, this is 371 USD for 2 nights. The price may vary and usually it is lower in the evening (it was 455 USD in the morning in my case). Agree, it is not every day you can get such a gift! Remember the real cost of your booking. I will write the reason for this later in this article. After filling in all the fields, you should click on the Continue button. Now you have to fill in the data of exactly those people who will make the flight and stay at the hotel. Everything is simple there: enter the name, surname, nationality and number of your account in the Etihad Guest loyalty program. The fourth field is optional. Click Continue button.

Filling in data about each passenger and hotel’s guest

The next form to fill out is flight information. The top line – PNR No – is the 6-digit number of your e-ticket. You will receive it after booking and paying for the flight. Next, you should select the city from which you arrived, the flight number and time of arrival in Abu Dhabi (note the time in 12-digit format). The next line is the city to which you will fly further from Abu Dhabi, the number of this flight and the time of departure.

Flight booking information form

The last form you need to fill out is information about your payment card. You must write the cardholder’s name, card number, 3-digit secret code (you will find it on the back of the card, next to the owner’s signature) and select the card’s expiration date (it should not end earlier than the time you stop in Abu Dhabi) . Now it remains to put a 2 tick at the bottom of the page about accepting the terms of the promotion and click Book Now. After Etihad Airways has checked all your flight information with a 2-day stopover, you will receive a voucher for free accommodation at the selected hotel for two nights (to the specified email address).

Payment details for booking free hotels in Abu-Dhabi

Surely you have a legitimate question: why do you have to provide credit card details if the hotel stay is completely free? The answer is very simple: if for some reason you do not appear at the hotel (for example, if you refuse to travel), you will have to pay the full cost of living in the selected hotel. Remember, I advised to remember the real price of the hotel? It will really hurt and offensive if you have to pay a lot of money and not live in a hotel. Therefore, I advise you to book a free hotel a few weeks before the flight. When you are 99% sure that your journey will take place. During the selection of the hotel, you can also choose varaints with free cancellation 2-3 days before the day of travel.

Free 4 star Abu Dhabi hotels are also a good option with a good location.

Additional Information

Before booking a ticket with a two-day stop in Abu Dhabi, make sure that you have the right to visit the United Arab Emirates without a visa or in advance take care to obtain a visa of this country. I also remind you that all passengers of Etihad Airways have the opportunity to reach the city center on the free shuttle bus company. You can reserve a seat on the Etihad Airways website (you need to specify the last name and PNR number of the ticket reservation). There is a possibility of free transfer to Dubai and Al Ain and back from these cities. Also, the airport has a regular bus that takes you from the airport to the city center for only 1.5-2.5 USD.

I advise you to register with Etihad loyalty program after purchasing a ticket. This registration is free and takes only a few minutes. All members of the Etihad loyalty program receive bonus miles for each flight on Etihad Airways flights, during their stay at a number of hotels, when shopping at retail stores, etc. The advantage of being a member of the Etihad Airways loyalty program is the ability to spend your bonus miles like cash. To do this, you can order a virtual or physical VISA card on the website and exchange bonus miles for real money.

I hope after reading this detailed instruction you have no questions about how you can use the gift from Etihad and spend 2 nights in one of the luxury hotels in Abu Dhabi for free! Enjoy your vacation in Abu Dhabi and the UAE and safe flights!

The post Free 2 night stopover in best Abu-Dhabi Hotels first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Distance between Bangkok and Chiang Mai
  

• How to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok (video manual)

• Flights Bangkok-Chiang Mai – prices and buying tips
  

• In Chiang Mai from Bangkok by train – travel features
  

• Bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai – schedule and fares
  

• A trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in a rental car
  

Distance between Bangkok and Chiang Mai

The direct distance between Bangkok and the city of Chiang Mai is about 580 kilometers (for convert to miles, you must divide by 1.6). Absolute value in this case is not easy, because the capital of Thailand is one of the largest cities in Asia and occupies a very large area. Therefore, the distance between the center of Chiang Mai and the northern part of Bangkok is 570 kilometers, and if measured to the southern tip of the country’s capital, the distance will approach 600 kilometers. Given that there is no direct highway between the cities, the distance increases by more than 100 kilometers: up to 688 kilometers (when traveling on the road with paid sections) or up to 708 kilometers (by free road). As a result, traveling by bus or car will take you from 8.5 to 11 hours.

If we talk about the distance between airports, then it is much easier to measure it. For example, if you fly to Chiang Mai from Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is located to the east of Bangkok, the direct distance is 593 km. And if your departure from the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand will be from the airport of Don Mueang (which is located to the north of Bangkok) the distance will naturally be less and will be 565 km. Of course, aircraft routes also do not pass strictly along the line with a minimum distance, but in any case the distance from Don Mueang will be smaller. More details about flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and back – in the next section of this article.

The road from Bangkok to Chiang Mai goes to the north through the picturesque western provinces

How to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai from 19 USD

For those who prefer to watch a video rather than read an article. Below on the page you can watch a short video manual on how you can quickly and easily find train tickets, buses and flights (from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and not only). What films can you use during such a search and how the ticket is paid.

Flights Bangkok-Chiang Mai – prices and buying tips

Flight to Chiang Mai from Bangkok is the fastest and most comfortable way to overcome the distance between these cities. Almost an ideal way of moving between cities for those who value time on vacation and are not ready for long night trips by bus or train. And taking into account the possibility of using low-cost airlines, it is also a relatively inexpensive way. For domestic flights in Asia it is better to use the local vehicle search engine in Asia  – farang.12go.asia. The average cost of the flight from the airport of Don Mueang is 1000 – 1200 baht ($28-33), which is comparable to the price of a VIP class bus between cities. The flight duration is from 1 to 1.5 hours (usually 1 hour and 15 minutes). Just in case, you can check the price of Bangkok-Chiang Mai in my favorite search mashine – Jetradar, where sometimes you can find an option for 700-800 THB.

If you want to choose the main airport of Suvarnabhumi as a starting point in Bangkok, then you can expect a flight of almost the same duration, but the cost of air tickets to Chiang Mai will be much higher – from 1,700 THB ($ 48) and above, up to 4,500 baht . Therefore, if you want to save money, it’s easier to use the free shuttle bus from Suvarnabhumi to Don Mueang Bangkok Airport and fly cheap, especially since local low-cost airlines usually allow free baggage allowance. How easy and inexpensive to get to the former main airport of Thailand from different parts of the city you can find on the page “Don Mueang Airport of Bangkok”.

Thai Lion Air is one of the low-cost airlines that flies from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

As with most other case with local airfares, the cost of air tickets immediately in both directions does not lead to any significant benefit, and sometimes even more expensive than two separate tickets. Therefore, taking into account the large number of flights between cities (which is 30-40 flights daily) – you do not need to worry about the availability of air tickets for your dates in advance: places will almost always be. The only exception is the days of the Thai New Year and the Loi Krathong holiday in Thailand. To guarantee to fly these days and at the right time to Chiang Mai from Bangkok or vice versa, it is better to buy air tickets in advance. It also makes sense to take care of an early purchase on sale days, when air tickets for domestic flights can be purchased from 3 to 10 USD.

In Chiang Mai from Bangkok by train – travel features

A very popular way to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai is by rail. Daily from Hua Lamphong railway station in Bangkok on the route to Chiang Mai several trains are sent, each of which includes several types of wagons. As you can see with the help of the already mentioned search of transport in Asia, the option with the train practically does not allow to save, because the price of the trip starts from 780 baht, and the most popular trains can cost more than flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. And at the same time the specified price for seats in railway carriage of the 2nd class (the first class is even more expensive). In addition, you may notice that the duration of the trip is from 11 hours (day trains with seats) to 14 hours and above (night sleeping cars). And if you know about the constant late arrival of Thai trains, then you must understand that the trip can be longer for a few more hours.

Thus, the train for a trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai can be advised only for those who like to travel by train (and there are many such people) or those who do not like long bus trips (after all the train is safer and more comfortable, especially at night). Also the option with the train is perfect for those people who are not particularly in a hurry and want to sleep in the trip without spending money on a hotel the night of the trip. Finally, the train can be a good alternative for those who are afraid of air transport. For this category of travellers, by the way, I advise to get acquainted with the information on the page “How to overcome the fear of flying on airplanes”. As a rule, during the train trip you will be offered a “dry ration” included in the price of the ticket (usually rolls, cookies, juice or water), so with such a long trip it is better to buy a little food, that will not be spoiled without a refrigerator.

The cost of traveling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train and the types of wagons (picture clickable)

I want to recall that a trip in wagons that are equipped with air conditioning (marked with AC in the results table) can cause discomfort for fans of heat, because they cool the air very effectively. Perhaps it is better to buy a ticket for the Bangkok-Chiang Mai train or back to the carriage, which is cooled by conventional fans (in the English version it is marked as fan – see a screenshot). If you are a girl and do not want to fall in the same wagon with Thai men or men from other countries, you have the opportunity to choose a special wagon for women – Ladies Only or Female Wagon. Direct distance from the railway station in Chiang Mai to the central (historic) quarter of this city is about 2.5 km, so if you have not only a good travel backpack, but a suitcase, it is better to use inexpensive local transport.

Bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai – schedule and fares

A bus ride to Chiang Mai from Bangkok is also very popular, because this is the cheapest public transport between these cities. So, you can easily buy a ticket for the regular bus Bangkok-Chiang Mai at a price of 530 THB (or $15). Every day more than 10 bus routes to Chiang Mai leave from Bangkok. Therefore, you have the opportunity to choose between day and night buses, as well as between regular seats and VIP seats. Since more comfortable VIP seats are more expensive than regular ones for just $3, I recommend that you buy these places. Travel time is from 9.5 to 11 hours, so it’s better to spend them on wide comfortable seats with good leg support, with your own multimedia system and a socket for charging your mobile gadgets.

The timetable and online booking of Bangkok – Chiang Mai or Chiang Mai – Bangkok bus tickets can also be made using farang.12go.asia (English version, but you can choose a different language, too). When you view the schedule and prices, pay attention to the departure point of the bus from Bangkok. As you can see, most buses leave from the Northern bus terminal in Bangkok (Morchit Bus Terminal or Chatuchak bus terminal). However, below in the table you can find buses of the Sombat Tour company that go to Chiang Mai from a small private bus station in the northern part of the city, which is somewhat harder to reach than to the big bus station (unless you use a Bangkok taxi, which is very cheap).

Location of the Northern Bus Station Chatuchak and the Sombat Tour Station in Bangkok

In any case, I recommend choosing the options based on your personal preferences for the time of departure and arrival, the duration of the bus trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, the bus class and its cost. Since bus services to Chiang Mai from Bangkok are performed by several transport companies, I advise you to read reviews of real passengers who have made a similar trip earlier. Also you can see the rating of the bus companies directly on the page with the search results of the bus Bangkok-Chiang Mai for the date you need. The rating is also based on the feedback of passengers and allows you to save your time on reading reviews, many of which in other languages. As with the train, night buses to Chiang Mai from Bangkok allow you to save your time on vacation and money for hotel accommodation.

A trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in a rental car

Despite the long distance, many travelers travel to Chiang Mai from the country’s capital by car, which can be rented at Bangkok airport or directly in this city. For car booking in Thailand and instant comparison of prices and rental conditions in all offices, it is best to use the international broker Rentalcars. The roads in Thailand are of good quality, and the traffic is not too intense, especially when you are away from the capital. At the same time, during a trip to Chiang Mai, you can see interesting views are opened on the nature of Thailand, which you can admire at the every stop according to your desire. Using a rented car for a trip, you can get to know much more about the culture of the country and the life of small towns on the route. You do not need to move along high-speed roads, because in Thailand there are almost always quieter and picturesque roads of local importance, going in the right direction for you.

Alternatively, you can rent a car directly in Chiang Mai (at the airport or city center). In this case, you do not need to spend 8-10 hours on a long self-relocation in the country, but you can move on a rented car on the most beautiful roads in this region of Thailand. For example, to make an exciting trip to the northern city of Pai, which  connects with Chiang Mai one of the most beautiful roads in the country, which almost never goes in a straight line. In general, there you can choose between several options, but the most interesting is the western road, which is slightly longer (about 170 km), but the most picturesque. The mountains nature are simply amazing, and the road itself has more than 770 turns, while the condition of the roadway is excellent, and traffic is minimal.

Dawn on the scenic mountain road from Chiang Mai to Pai – over 750 turns!

Detailed instructions for renting a car in Thailand and practical advice on using the service Rentalcars – on the page “Car rental Phuket – fares, advices, best places”. In Chiang Mai, everything is the same, except that a rental office with a zero deductible is more difficult to find. On the other hand, in the north and the traffic is not as active as in Phuket, and drunk tourists, who manage a car or motobike, it’s difficult to meet here, and in fact they are the main potential source of problems in Phuket. In the vicinity of Chiang Mai, there are many interesting attractions, which are also convenient for getting on a rented car. For example, you can make an excursion to the majestic White Temple, which is simply amazing with its beauty and is located next to the neighboring city of Chiang Rai.

I hope, after reading this article, you have no doubt that it’s quite easy to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok and it can be done inexpensively. And the route schedule and cost of transport Bangkok-Chiang Mai will help you more competently plan your trip to the north of Thailand. Pleasant trips!

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The post From Bangkok to Chiang Mai – transport, schedule and fares! first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Buses from Airport Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok) to Pattaya
  

• Transfer from Bangkok airport to Pattaya
  

• Taxi from the airport Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok) to Pattaya
  

• How to get from Don Muang Airport (Bangkok) to Pattaya
  

How cheap to get to Pattaya from Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Due to the fact that the main airport in Thailand is between Bangkok and Pattaya, it makes sense to get to the resort right after the arrival in the country, without visit the capital (unless, of course, her visit is not included in your plans for the first few days of rest). So you’ve arrived at the main airport of the country, saving a lot of money due to the fact that you read earlier article How cheap to fly to Thailand and now you know where you can find most cheap airplane tickets. After passport control you can use two main and repeatedly proven ways: by bus or taxi from Bangkok airport to Pattaya. The plane I do not even consider because distance between Suvarnabhumi and Pattaya only 110 km.

From  Airport Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok) to Pattaya by bus

The easiest way – after the arrival and passage of all procedures you must go down to the first floor Suvarnabhumi Airport (Level 1). Between the outputs of the street №7 and №8 you can find ticket office where you can purchase tickets for a comfortable bus from airport to Pattaya. Costs of this bus – 134 thai baht. The journey time is about 2 hours, and a final stop of this bus from Suvarnabhumi – small bus station on the south Pattaya (crossing of the Thappraya Road and Thepprasit Road). Bus service on the specified route are carried out by Airport Pattaya Bus company. Landing to blue bus of company №389 and disembarkation of it, is near the exit №8, under a canopy in Bangkok airport Suvarnabhumi. Personally, I have used this bus some times in the opposite direction. I made the journey from Pattaya to the airport and I liked it.

Bangkok Airport Bus Schedule – buses from bangkok airport to Pattaya

Bus timetable Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya – from the official website of the company (picture is clickable). The site also states that the buses from the Bangkok airport to Pattaya with departure time in 21-00 and 22-00 comes to North bus station, not the South. On the website you can see also actually cost of ticket – Just 120 THB in 2019 year (sometimes prices change, so I remember 132 THB and 124 THB also in previous years). I draw your attention that the schedule may be change (during the low season not 16 flights a day, but can only be performed 10 buses from airport, ie the interval between flights in both directions is increased). The major disadvantage of this method to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya by bus is the fact that in the desired for you time this specified bus can be full (without free places) and you must buy a ticket on the next flight and wait 1-2 hours (depending on time of day).

Also you can use big bus of another company – Bell Travel Service Co. Buses of this company not less comfortable and with this option you get a one big advantages. Firstly, the price includes delivery not only to the Northern Bus Station in Pattaya (near the intersection of Sukhumvit highway and North Pattaya Road), but also on the delivery by minibus directly to the entrance of your hotel. This is very handy when you have oversized baggage and you already know where you are going to stay in Pattaya. Transplant from a large bus to minibus carried out directly on the Northern Bus Station in Pattaya and pay extra at the same time do not need anything. You should not be afraid that because of flight delays or long passport control is likely you can miss your bus. The company promises that in this situation, you can easily get to Pattaya on the first next next bus from Bangkok airport to Pattaya.

Unfortunately, the bus transfer of this company from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya in 2019 became much more expensive. If earlier the transfer cost was 240-250 baht, now you can buy a ticket online for such a bus for 400-420 THB. Maybe it’s still a good option if you are traveling alone. But if you have two or three passengers, it is more profitable to order a taxi transfer from airport and get to Pattaya faster and with great comfort. If you didn’t buy your ticket online in advance, you can try to find free places for the nearest bus to Patatya. To do this, you can contact the representative of the bus company, which is located near gate No. 8 of Level 1 of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

At present, the company said buses depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport from 8-00 am to 18-00 pm, every two hours, ie, in the 08-00, 10-00, 12-00, 14-00, 16-00 and 18:00

The landing place on the bus to Pattaya In Suvarnabhumi Airport

Another way to make way from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya – public buses departing from the bus terminal near airport. If you want use this way, you can take a free shuttle bus in airport and go 10 minutes to bus station. Bus services to Pattaya performed several companies, so the cost of one ticket ranges from 106 to 250 baht. The first flight to Pattaya goes to 06-30 in the morning and the last – at 21-00. At the same time you must know that cheaper buses with red stripes on the sides, will take you to the North Bus Station in Pattaya, and on the way will make frequent stops, picking up passengers for free. Most expensive as buses for 230-250 baht dovezut directly to the chosen hotel (with a transfer by minibus to Pattaya). I think, more easy way to use Bangkok airport to Pattaya Bus from Gate №8 in Suvarnabhumi.

Transfer from Bangkok airport to Pattaya

The easiest and fastest way to get from Suvargabhumi Airport to Pattaya is by car transfer from the airport directly to your hotel door. As a rule, this service can be ordered on the website of many large hotels in which you have booked a room. The cost of such services for hotels of different classes can vary significantly, so you need to clarify in advance. When you ordered a transfer, after all the necessary procedures at the airport, you can see your taxi driver (when leaving the arrivals hall (2nd floor of the airport), he should have a sign in your hands with your name (surname). You can also always use the best car transfer from the airport, which allows you to pre-book a transfer from Bangkok airport to Pattaya.

You will be spared from long negotiations with taxi drivers at the airport, because you will know in advance the cost of the trip between Bangkok and your hotel in Pattaya. Another advantage of this option is a full-fledged 4-seater car with a roomy trunk. This means that you can make a comfortable trip by dividing the cost by 3-4 passengers, and the price will be the same at any time of the day. Finally, using an international car transfer, you can pay in advance online (partially or fully). This will allow you to avoid exchanging your money for Thai currency at an unprofitable exchange rate at the airport (unless, of course, you have read my article on how you can exchange currency at a good exchange rate at the Suvarnabhumi airport).

Taxi from the airport Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok) to Pattaya

Due to the fact that you can use the buses from Suvarnabhumi (to overcome the distance of Bangkok – Pattaya) only 6-30 am to 22-00 pm, every arriving at night tourist must wait in airport first bus to Pattaya or use other ways.  At first, you can spend the night in the capital (the article How to get from the airport to Bangkok: all ways). But you can find a taxi to Pattaya and sometimes it most smart way. The latter option is more beneficial if you eat in Pattaya not one, but a company from 3-4 people. By the way, because of the placement in the luggage compartment the gas cylinder, some taxi drivers do not take more than 3 passengers with big baggage.

The fare from the airport to Pattaya now stands at 1000-2500 baht. If you want to get there as cheaply as possible, it is not necessary to order a taxi on the counters in the arrivals area (2nd floor), as it is the most expensive option. You can go out on the same floor and negotiate with a taxi driver on their own – a reasonable price in this case 1000-1500 baht (depending on time of day and your bargaining skills). But the most sensible option is -you have to climb to the 4th floor of the airport (departure zone) and try to catch a taxi at the entrance, which was arrival by tourists from Pattaya. Stay long time for taxi there prohibited, therefore the driver will be the most accommodating and the probability to take you by for 1000 baht is real.

Taxi in Suvarnabhumi airport for way Bangkok airport – Pattaya

Deciding to take a taxi from the airport to Pattaya, you need to agree on the amount in advance or go strictly by the meter. In the first case you need to immediately specify not only the taxi driver fee for delivery, but also to clarify whether the sum includes travel expenses for the toll road (about 100 baht). If you want to go by taxi meter, also check about the payment of toll road sections and remind to the taxi driver did not “forget” to include the counter (taxi meter). Taxi must arrive take you to the door of the selected hotel.

How to get from Don Muang Airport to Pattaya

Despite the fact that Don Muang now can not boast such passenger traffic as the main airport in Thailand, many tourists come to the country it is through this airport, because here you can buy cheap online flights from neighboring countries. Since a direct bus connection between this airport where almost all the budget airlines (loukost) and Pattaya is not have, you need or just take a taxi (the scheme is similar to that in the Suvarnabhumi Airport, only slightly higher price), or to get cheap way, but with transfers.

Firstly, it is possible to make way from Don Muang Airport on the North Bus Terminal in Bangkok, called Mo Chit. Just do not confuse it with the metro station, to which the bus station about 1.5 km. You can go to bus station from airport by bus A1, which can sit on near the Gate №6. The cost of the trip a little more than 30 baht, only you must say to conductor that you want leave bus on Nothern bus station, because bus stops only at the request and in the final he stop on metro station Mo Chit. Later you go to the ticket office and buy ticket on next bus to Pattaya (costs 134 baht.) The journey takes about 2.5 hours. Buses on this route with 5-00 am to 19-00 pm.

Shuttle bus Suvarnabhumi airport – Don Muang airport in Bangkok

Another option, which allows inexpensive to make way from Don Muang Airport to Pattaya is the following: you must initially go to the main airport (Suvarnabhumi), and then – one of the methods described above. The easiest way to travel between airports are free shuttle bass who work with 5-00 am to midnight. The journey time is 40 minutes, in the shuttle bus have good air-conditioned. Shuttle bus departure from Don Muang is from the arrival area, and Suvarnabhumi Airport shuttle bus comes into the departure zone. Another option: a bus № 554 between the airports. Interval 30 minutes – 1 hour, fare from 34 to 40 baht, the journey takes about 50 minutes (the distance between the airport 50 km).

I hope, the information contained in the article has convinced you that to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya not be a problem even for the beginner independent traveler with minimal knowledge of foreign languages. If you decide to initially see the sights of Bangkok, and only later to go to Pattaya, I advise you to read the article How to get from Bangkok to Pattaya, where I described the most convenient and inexpensive options.

The post How to get from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya – all options! first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

How to get from Pattaya to Koh Larn?

You can read my article The long vacation on Koh Larn island, where i describes in detail all the benefits of both short-term and long-term stay on the island. On the Thai-Rest.com you can get information about all the most popular options which allows to reach to the Koh Larn island,  costs, advantages and disadvantages of these some options. Information contained in the article is based on the personal experience of repeated trips to Koh Larn from Pattaya. Now more about the different modes of transport on the route Pattaya- Koh Larn – Pattaya.  You can use ferry, big boat and speedboats. Originally, I planned to write just one article. but the material turned out voluminous, so for convenience I have divided it into three parts. In this part I will tell you how to get from Pattaya to Koh Larn Island by ferry. Other ways – in others articles of this website.

Where you can find ferry to Koh Larn in Pattaya

Whichever method you choose, your path will initially be based on the Bali Hai Pier, located in the southern part of resort, near the end of the famous pedestrian street – Pattaya Walking Street. (How to get to Walking Street, from different parts of Pattaya and Jomtien, see the corresponding article). After passing the arch with the name of the said street (left to MIXX disco), you need to turn right (to the sea) at the first fork, and a minute later we are on the pier at the base of the building is built with beautiful turquoise roof (see. Photo). In this building you can find ticket office, where you can buy tickets for different modes of transport to the island of Koh Larn.

Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya. Ticket office

This ferry is the most affordable option, and costs only 30 Baht one way. Although ferry tickets can be purchased at the ticket office, I personally do not recommend, because cashier are interested to sell you tickets to a more expensive mode from transportation and get the most commission from the transport companies. So, if before the departure of the ferry there is little time, cashier can say to you that the free places for the next ferry is not. Therefore, you will be offered to buy tickets for 150 Baht at big boat, which go to the others beaches of the island. I must say. that great boat for 150 baht – not a bad way and has many advantages. But as this article is about the ferry, I’ll write here about ferry to the island of Koh Larn.

In reality, the best choice would be to ignore these ticket office, because you can purchase a ferry ticket for 30 Baht directly near ferry which takes passengers on board and ready to sail. Just go straight for Bali Hai Pier (which can be seen via a webcam Pattaya online posted on this site) and closer to the end to see the moored boat, which is landing. Near ferry you will see several transport company employees, which sell tickets (In fact just take the money and skip the passengers on board). It should be noted that the ferries to Koh Larn usually depart on strictly to the approved schedule, but a delay of 5-15 minutes still happen. Therefore, you can catch a ferry even if the schedule he had set off. But it is better to arrive a little in advance to get the best seats (in the shade or in the sun, as you like).

In addition, in the high tourist season in the morning often organized extra ferries that do not adhere to the schedule and go to the island of Koh Larn as required. Typically, the signal for the rapid departure of the ferry are drifting with his long beeps. Usually a little further there is one more steam, which will soon also begin planting, and you can manage to get the best seats (who do not not care where to sit for 40 minutes). Depending on the strength of the wind, the waves and the particular island pier, the ferry arrives at Koh Larn after 35-50 minutes (usually 40 minutes). It should be borne in mind that to get to Koh Larn on the ferry can be on one of the two piers, which are located in different parts of the island and the distance from which the beaches somewhat different. Therefore, you should remember the information placed below:

★ Ferries to Koh Larn, which go to the Naban Pier in the same village on the east coast of the island (the closest to the Pattaya) is called in Pattaya – Koh Larn. Title ferry (more precisely, its route) on the sides can be read (including the ferry schedule placed there), but also on a large board, which is typically mounted on the roof top of the deck in front of the ferry. Near the pier Naban no beaches for swimming, so you have to get to them using one of the modes of transport, as described in the article Transport on the island of Koh Larn: Practical Tips.

Ferry from Pattaya to Koh Larn island

★ Ferry from Pattaya to Koh Larn, which is approaching the Tawaen beach (northern  side of island) called Pattaya -. Tawaen. On the board of some ferries on the same way you can read Pattaya – Hard Tawaen Pier. This pier  is located near three beaches that are described in the article Detailed description of all the beaches of the Koh Larn island. If you do not afraid some of the nuances these beaches, you can stay to rest directly on them. If not – at your service motorcycle taxi, songthaew (passenger pick-up) and a lot of motorbikes for rent.

Small update: Thailand – it’s Thailand. Therefore will not be superfluous to ask the person who passes the passengers on board, which is a ferry from Pattaya, even if on the sides and in front of the clearly readable final destination. Personally, I once in 2015 reached the pier Naban on the ferry, which was called Pattaya – Tawaen beach, I began to ask this point (destination) separately from ticket sellers (or rather the persons collecting money for travel) close to the ferry. True more such “substitution” was not. Tickets to return way you can also purchased at the pier before boarding. In this case, there is no alternative in the form of ticket office, as well without tickets – just a pass to board the ferry after payment again. Be sure to grab a life vest at the entrance to the ferry. This question is not only safety but also comfort: personally, I usually use a vest as a soft backrest (benches on the ferry from wood and they a few hard for seat).

Schedule of ferry Pattaya – Koh Larn – Pattaya

Below the photograph submitted ferry schedule from Pattaya to Koh Larn and back as of January 2015. Note on the right side of the table in the schedule of the ferry pier Naba, and the left – to the pier Tawaen. The number of ferries to the first of the piers more during the day. You can also note that the last ferry from the island as it sails from the pier Naban later.

Schedule of ferry Pattaya – Koh Larn – Pattaya

The ferry schedules true for January 2015, but Thais could make some changes according to the season. As a rule, the current schedule can always be seen in offices building at the entrance to the pier in Pattaya, on the stands near the site of the ferry mooring at the pier and directly on the ferries themselves. Also you can check ferry schedules in new maps of Pattaya, which can be found on this site by clicking on the link, or take for free at the resort (which is done once again painted in detail in the article above). Just remember that the card should be fresh, otherwise a ferry information may not be completely accurate.

Previously, landing on the ferries going to the pier Naban, carried out on the right side of the pier in Pattaya, and ferries to the pier Hard Tawaen – the left side of Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya. It was very convenient, but currently (January 2015) a similar distinction for some reason is not observed (ie, ferries to the desired island pier can be sent from both sides Bali Hai pier in Pattaya).

Advantages of ferry Pattaya – Koh Larn – Pattaya:

★ The most budget option. Day trip from Pattaya to Koh Larn will cost only 30 + 30 = 60 Baht (if to move around the island on foot or swim at beaches with walking distance of the pier (first of all, it concerns the pier Tawaen).

★ Ability to meet fellow travelers (cute girls or boys) during the voyage;

★ Ability to spend more time on the island (the last ferry to the mainland leaves at 18-00 (06-00 p.m.));

★ The ability to take a walk through the village. The epicenter of life on Koh Larn is located exactly in the village next to the pier Naban, there are many cafes, shops (including is the only one on the island of Seven Eleven), massage parlors, hotels and interesting Buddhist temple. For longer stays on the island ferry is the best option due to the mainland.

Ferries to Koh Larn near bali hai Pier in Pattaya

Disadvantages of ferry Pattaya – Koh Larn – Pattaya:

★ If you have come to the pier in front of the departure, the ferry can be completely filled. As a result, it may not have enough life jackets, and you must have to sit on the sunny side (if you not have a protection cream for sun, you can get a little bit burn).

★ The last ferry from the island in 18-00 (06-00 p.m.) also often overloaded with passengers. I’m sure many have heard that it was the cause of the flooding of one of these ferries and the death of 15 tourists from Europe and Russia, in November of 2013. Tragically it ended up swimming in the first place for those who did not get the life jackets.

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★ If you wish to visit a beach, except Tawaen (and two located near the beach with him), will have to pay extra public transport or motorcycle taxi (30 to 50 Baht). As a result, the cost of travel may increase from 60 to 160 baht and the option does not seem so budget. For get more information about traveling to the island (about transport on the island and about all of beaches of the island of Koh Larn)) you must read other thematic articles (special links you can find  find in the text above).

I hopefully, after reading this article, you will no longer have a question: “How to get from Pattaya to Koh Larn on the ferry?” I advise you to also read about more convenient (and in some cases more cheap) the way the ferry to the island in the article How to get to Koh Lan from Pattaya on big boat.

The post How to get from Pattaya to Koh Larn on the ferry first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

The method, which is described in this article will allow you to get to Koh Larn from Pattaya on big boat. And this method in some cases much more convenient than using the ferry, described in the previous article. And you should be aware that the fare is only at first glance seems to be higher because a large boat has obvious advantages. I do not know why it’s way called speedy, but if you want make a way from Pattaya to Koh Larn on the big boat, you have to be ready to travel  40-50 minutes, and not 30, which typically promise in advertising leaflets. But in contrast to the ferry for 30 baht, which spend similar time on the way to the east coast of the island, the boat will have to overcome a greater distance, because the boat allows quick access to Samae- Beach  – one of the best beaches on the west coast of Koh Larn island. 

When you reached the Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya (more on this in the article How to get from Pattaya to Koh Larn on the ferry, you must likewise ignore the box office in a building with turquoise roof and moving along the pier. If your goal – big boat for 150 baht (price includes the path to the island and back), then the best option is not go through the entire pier by walking, better you  trust your body to one of shill motorcyclists who “hooks” customers at the entrance to the pier. Just stop one of them (Just stop one of them (if he self does not stop you first) and say “Samae Beach” After he says “OK”, just sit on the motorbike behind him (can be two passengers) and he quickly carries you to the landing place on a large boat. Paying such a transfer on the pier is not necessary, the price of the boat remains unchanged – 150 baht for a ticket to both sides. But this will save you time and mediator earned his commission from the shipping company.

How to get from Pattaya to Koh Larn. Sticker of transport company

Larger boats usually depart from Pattaya at intervals of 1 hour. The first boat for 150 Baht to Koh Larn from Pattaya departs at 09:30, the last – at 13:30 (data as of 2015). When you buy a ticket for the boat to the island, be sure to specify the time of return trip too. Because the price includes travel in both directions at once, and you will be given a return ticket too. The last flight from the island at 17:00 (05-00 p.m.) Prior to this, there are still two flights: at 15:00 and at 16:00 (03-00 p.m. and 04-00 p.m.). You must carefully stored your return ticket , or to return to the mainland may have problems. When you buy tickets to a large boat to Koh Larn, on your T-shirt will be pasted bright sticker (poisonous orange logo of company Koh Larn Transport Co.). Sticker is no trace on clothes, so you not need worried for her safety. At the entrance to the boat better grab a life vest, which lie directly on the deck of a large boat or near boat on the pier. Then you have to take free seat on board the boat and enjoy the sea journey.

All the big boats on which I have made his way from Pattaya to Koh Larn and return way, had two decks. The upper deck is mostly open or semi-open, but the lower deck – closed, sometimes (if you’re lucky) with tables, fans, soft seats (see photo.). As a rule, 95% of passengers choose place it on the upper deck. Whether for security reasons, or wanting to breathe the sea air. But for me more liked to get to Koh Larn from Pattaya on big boat and back is on the lower deck, where sometimes other than I did not have anyone. Perhaps it is not entirely safe, but sometimes only by boat to the island of Koh Larn and back, I was able to sleep very well during the holiday in Pattaya. A great option to sleep for 40 minutes, with his head resting on the soft seat, a life jacket or a beach bag with a towel.

How to get from Pattaya to Koh Larn – the lower deck is a large boat

However, in the very first time of my trip  from Koh Larn to Pattaya I was a little nauseated after sleep. Even now, I know not whether it was the result of the big waves, ie, I was an easy motion sickness while I was sleeping, or such an impact on my body had a certain amount of exhaust gases penetrated from the engine compartment of the boat, also located on the lower deck. The boat has a toilet (or more correctly latrine), also on the ground floor, next to the stairs, and on the way the stewards, Thais  offer chilled drinks: water, cola, beer. Price is about 2 times higher than in the store, so wishing to save can buy a cold drink at one of the 7/11 near the pier, or grab a drink out of the hotel refrigerator at or condo, wrapped them in a towel (so your drink will be cold long time). Currently, when you will use big boats to Koh Larn from Pattaya, you will get  free soft drink (of course, it will be small bottles or cans). A year ago, this was not, apparently, competition from ferries for 30 baht forced to resort to such innovation.

During a trip on a boat You will pass by picturesque cliffs and several beaches that are described in the article Detailed description of all the beaches of the Koh Larn island. A 40-50 minutes later (depending on the sea waves and wind power), the boat arrives to the Samae Beach (on the hill behind the beach will be seen a lot of wind generators (most of which are not rotating), and to the left of the beach (when viewed from the side sea) you will notice a building of unusual shape with lots of solar panels on the roof) and a viewing platform a little higher. However, this is not the end of your journey. The last 50 meters from the boat to the pier from plastic blocks, you must  overcome in the longtail boat. On the stern of this longtail boat you can see on a rotating platform old motor that transmits torque to the smallest screw, mounted on a long shaft (see posted the video below)

Longtail boats  moor to big boat at least filling and everything happens quickly, so do not climb over the heads of other tourists in the hope of winning the extra five minutes of felting on the beach. After a colorful boat with no less colorful boaters will moored to the pier, you can go with the boat leaving at the pier life vest (can be left on the boat) and go to the beach. Since the beach is one of the best on the island, you not need need get to other beach yet, but if you wish you are always can to use local motorbike taxi. More information can be found in the article Transport on the island of Koh Larn: Practical Tips. To ensure that you have time on your return flight, it is better to come to the pier for 20-30 minutes before return departure.

Return to the pier can only be for make a return trip to Pattaya. At the beginning of the pier, you must show a return ticket on the big boat. When you give a ticket,  you can not to go back to the beach, therefore you must go to the pier only before your return  to Pattaya. Then the familiar steps, but in reverse. Move to the end of the pier, put on a life vest swims on a longtail boat to the big boat, and after 40-50 minutes after departure on leave Bali Hai pier in Pattaya. Back at Bali Hai Pier (which you can see in real-time using one of the webcams Pattaya online) will have to walk or just hire a motorcycle taxi that will take you to the hotel. Since my hotel is always within walking distance of Pattaya Walking Street, i prefer to stretch your legs and go on foot, admiring the rapid end of the day, when at dusk lights up a lot of neon signs.

Floating restaurants at Bali Hai Pier – a favorite vacation spot of Chinese tourists

Advantages of big boats Pattaya – Ko Larn – Pattaya for 150 Baht:

★ Less travel time (meaning that for 40-50 minutes will take you directly to a great beach with crystal clear water and not too many tourists).
★ Ability to sleep on the lower deck;
★ Ability to purchase a some popular cold drinks;
★ Free soft drink on board included in the ticket price;
★ Ability to ride on colorful longtail boat;
★ Beautiful views of the cliffs of the island during the trip.

Disadvantages of big boats Pattaya – Ko Larn – Pattaya for 150 Baht:

★ The last boat in 17-00 generally overloaded with passengers. Once we swam for about 10 minutes boat ride around it, while we still have not taken on board. Vest is not enough at all, so slept with difficulty :);
★ Due to the slightly higher rate on the upper deck with a strong wind and waves are not too comfortable to sit (fly water spray and wind in your face). But this many people even like it, so the disadvantage is not obvious;
★ If you wish to visit other beach, the cost of travel increases from 150 to 250 baht (due to additional payment motorcycle taxi services).
★ Bright sticker on his chest is visible in the photographs. We must not forget or temporarily peel it before photographing process, or delete after in Photoshop :).
★ Lower frequency flights compared with the ferries. Arriving late on just who quit from the boat pier, the next will have to wait an hour (although in this situation easier to take the ferry for 30 baht).
★ When near Samae beach sea with big waves, landing on/from a big boat is carried out on the nearby beach – Thien beach on Koh Larn island.

In the next article “How to get to Koh Lan from Pattaya as soon as possible,” I’ll tell you more about a few other ways to get from Pattaya to Koh Lan, their advantages and disadvantages. And I wish you pleasant trips in the event that you decide to make way to Koh Larn from Pattaya on big boat!

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The post How to get to Koh Larn from Pattaya on big boat first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok – advantages and disadvantages
  

• Transfer Pattaya-Bangkok – easy, quickly and comfortably
  

• Bus from Pattaya to Bangkok – cheap and comfortable!
  

• The most budget option: Pattaya-Bangkok by minibus
  

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Taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok – advantages and disadvantages

I just want to clarify, just in case that this article describes ways to get from Pattaya to Bangkok-city, not to one of the airports of thai capital. For more information about how to get to the Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang, using taxis and other modes of transport, you need read another detailed article How to get from Pattaya to Bangkok airports. One of the easiest ways, allowing all independent travelers to get from Pattaya to Bangkok is a classic taxi in Pattaya. The disadvantage in this method, only one – the higher price, especially if you are traveling alone and are not able to find fellow travelers with whom it would be possible to share travel expenses. Find a taxi in Pattaya is easy, even if you did not know English and, especially, the Thai language.

Firstly, you can order a taxi car in most hotels and guesthouses of resort. Even if you do not live in a luxury hotel, which have is near the parking with a lot of free taxi cars, just tell at the reception about your  need.  You can say three little words, “Taxi to Bangkok” and in 99%  cases you will be offered this service. As a rule, the cost of travel from Pattaya to Bangkok airport, from Pattaya to the BTS SkyTrain line or from Pattaya to one of the bus stations (mostly Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai) – will be 1,000-1,500 baht. If from you require more – you can bargain, or look for a taxi elsewhere.

Classic Taxi on the Jomtien Beach Road in Pattaya

Also you can find free taxi car in a typical places for this. I mean parking near one of the shopping centers of Pattaya, for example, Royal Garden Plaza or Central Festival, where passengers usually expect a number of taxis or you can order taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok in one of the numerous street points, offering taxi service. In the first case also need to specify in advance the cost of travel and who will pay for toll roads, and the second most often used for trips to the airport and has a fixed cost (but sometimes you can bargain too).

Of the advantages of taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok may be noted his speed (although not much faster than a normal bus), a slightly higher level of comfort and the ability to make way from Pattaya to Bangkok at any time of the day, because you can not use the minibuses and buses from Pattaya to Bangkok at night, when your flight can be early in the morning or in the middle of the night. Keep in mind that taxis in Thailand are usually running on liquefied gas, and gas bottle takes a lot of space in the trunk. Therefore, more than three passengers, especially with luggage, taxi drivers do not want to take.

Transfer Pattaya-Bangkok – easy, quickly and comfortably

Transfer Pattaya-Bangkok may be one of the most convenient options in the event that you are accustomed to plan in advance for all of your expenses and when you are not traveling alone, but with family or a group of several persons. Wanting to use the shuttle Pattaya-Bangkok, you can know in advance the cost of way and cost of additional services. Unlike a taxi in Pattaya, all the cars of the best international Service Kiwitaxi have at least four seats and have full size luggage department for your suitcases or for your backpacks for travel. It is important that when you are traveling in a big company or a family of 5-6 people, you can pre-order the minivan. And it will cost you much cheaper than if you ordered two taxi cars in Pattaya to bangkok or to other place in Thailand.

Transfer Pattaya – Bangkok by Kiwitaxi. You can select any class of taxi car

If we talk about the additional services that you can order via the website of the company Kiwi-taxi, it is, primarily, children’s car seats – the key to a safe trip for your child. It is also possible to order a car for transportation of oversized baggage (eg bicycle or surfboard). You have the opportunity to order is not a simple budget car, and the car business class or even a limousine. An important advantage is the fact that pay for the service on a transfer Pattaya-Bangkok can be made online – using your debit or credit card. This fact will allow you to avoid extra costs to exchange your currency for money in Thailand.

Benefits of Kiwitaxi does not end described above. You can add the ability to cancel the booking without any loss of money, the ability to change the date or trip time and so on. I sure, one of most important benefits of transfer Pattaya-Bangkok – it is possible to specify your destination. As a result, the driver in advance can to prepare for the trip and he will choose the fastest and most convenient route. Because drivers of classic taxi in Pattaya often people from the Thai provinces and they do not know the streets of Bangkok very good. Therefore you can lose a very long time in the metropolitan traffic jams.

Of course, the use of the best international Service Kiwitaxi is just one of the options that allow you to easily organize shuttle Pattaya-Bangkok. Often, you can order a transfer by this route directly in your hotel. Service fee in this case often depends on the respectability of the hotel, your bargaining skills and the tourist season.

Bus from Pattaya to Bangkok – cheap and comfortable!

One of the most affordable, fast and practical way to get from Pattaya to Bangkok without intermediaries – conventional buses, which from early morning until evening run between the capital and the resort bus stations. In the article “Pattaya bus stations – detailed review” I have already given a description of the objects and methods to quickly and cheaply get to them from different areas of the resort. Therefore, below, in order not to be repeated, i just will give you some advice about  which of bus stations is better to use in a particular situation and the cost of travel from Pattaya to various destinations in Bangkok.

North Pattaya bus station (Bus Terminal to Bangkok)

If you are going to get to one of the Bangkok bus terminals from Pattaya by bus, your unconditional choice – North Pattaya bus station, where buses depart at once to all of bus stations in Bangkok. You just have to explore any Bangkok map with hotels and attractions, and understand how the area you are interested in most of all, ie, from which of the bus station in the capital, you will be faster and more convenient access to the booked hotel, shopping centers or other object. If not much difference and would still need to use the local transport – the easiest way to get to the Ekkamai Bus Station (Eastern bus terminal in Bangkok), because next to it is the same name BTS Skytrain Station. Some distance by taxi or motorcycle taxi would have to do to get to the BTS Skytrain or subway from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit bus station).

Ticket offices on North Pattaya bus station (buses to Bangkok and to Koh Samui)

Also, this way can be done on foot, having a little along the motorway and going through a rather big Chatuchak park in Bangkok. Southern metropolitan bus station is located in the western part of the city, very far from all subway lines, but the bus station is the best choice when you want to go out from Bangkok to one of the southern resorts in Thailand – Krabi province, on the island of Phuket or coconut island – Koh Samui.

Arriving at the bus station in North Pattaya, you should buy a ticket to one of the three window under a canopy (see. Photo above). Each ticket office sells tickets only to one of bus station in Bangkok, but sometimes one of the banks does not work, then you can buy tickets in the next. As a rule, near the window you can see fare of  bus, as well as the departure time of the next bus, on which by default, and sells tickets. So if you’re ready to go – just give money and specify the number of tickets. If you want to buy a ticket at a later time or on another day – tell about it to the cashier.

The waiting room at the north bus station in Pattaya and buses from Pattaya to Bangkok

The fare on the bus to the Ekkamai bus station and to the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok –  is 124 baht, while the price of the ticket for the bus to Mo Chit bus station – 133 baht. More higher price in the latter case due not only to the large distance of Pattaya, but also travel on toll road (by the way, is now part of the road close to Pattaya reconstructed and expanded, so the movement speed drops significantly). Most of all I like to travel to the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai bus station)- the fastest way and metro nearby, great saves time on vacation.

You can remember that the last bus to Ekkamai Bus Station in Bangkok go in 23-00, bus to the Mo Chit bus station – already at 21-00, and last bus to the Bangkok southern bus terminal – altogether in 19-30 (in latter case i not sure, see table next to the cash register ). By the way, on the same bus station, in the 4th window, which  called Mukdahan (name of the bus company), you can purchase a ticket for the yellow bus to Samui (in the article “How to get from Pattaya to Koh Samui: all options” –  you can read about this bus, about his fare and about his schedule for more details.

One of the ticket office of north bus station in Pattaya + 2 tickets to Bangkok

When you have a bus ticket Pattaya to Bangkok, you can wait for a bus in the waiting room, which is located a little further to the right and under the same roof. There you can buy drinks and snacks for the road, and also you can eat some food as a snack on site (there are a few tables and chairs). Given the fact that the buses run very often, the wait will not be long. Planting is carried out with the platforms to exit gate opens to buses as the latest arrival. In the hall you can see a large electronic scoreboard, which shows information about the departure time of buses, their final destination in Bangkok and side number (the latter is usually imprinted in the ticket).

Electronic display at the bus station. You can see time of next bus to Bangkok from Pattaya

The buses have a luggage compartment, but the distance between rows of seats is large enough for the free placement of the feet and medium-sized backpacks. To avoid confusion (and in my experience they happen almost every time), remember one rule: in Thai bus the seat numbers indicated on the backside. Many foreigners are not aware of this and take someone else’s place, then the confusion begins. For example, in the photo below, you can think that I’m with my girl takes the place №5 and №6. In reality, we are sitting on the seats №9 and №10, (numbers written on the backside of the back of our seats).

The distance between the rows of seats and the numbering of seats in buses Pattaya – Bangkok

The most budget option: Pattaya-Bangkok by minibus

The most budget way to get from Pattaya to Bangkok alone (not including walking and hitchhiking)  – minibus with price 98 Baht. This type of transport is actively used by local residents, so go to such route minibuses very frequently – every 20-30 minutes. At the same time begin to walk the white Toyota minibus with yellow license plate in the 06-00 am and ends at 20:00 PM. Landing on a minibus Pattaya-Bangkok carried out at the beginning of Walking Street in Pattaya, in the area of South street between Pattaya Walking Street and Second Rd (second street), as well as on the very second the street near a jewelry store Tharuthong Gold Shop. On the map below points of landing respectively marked in red, blue and green.

Map of landing places of minibus Pattaya-Bangkok

Unfortunately, I can not say which of these points is final point, because i used this minibus just in the opposite direction and go out on the Second Road. Logically, it is the ultimate Walking Street, but because the latter is blocked to traffic at 18.00, better to look for minibus to Bangkok in the evening on the other points. Minibus arrives at a small bus station in Bangkok, near the metro station Victory Monument. The location of the bus station, I have already described in detail in the article “How to get from Bangkok to Pattaya: all ways.” Ibid describes the main disadvantages of this transport, because of which I am now prefer to use regular buses, although they are slightly more expensive.

Minibus Pattaya-Bangkok on the Second road in Pattaya

I hope that you read this whole long, but informative article and now you know exactly all the options of how to get from Pattaya to Bangkok, the price of these options, their main advantages and disadvantages. Enjoy your travels!

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Railway station Hua Lamphong in Bangkok

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Directions from the railway station Hua Lamphong

Bangkok and its main railway station are the link railroads in the country with a total length of over 4,000 km. Therefore, with the Hua Lampong you can get almost anywhere in Thailand, where the paved railroad. In the northern direction is the ancient capital of Siam Ayutthaya, Lorburi city, Chiang Mai and Sukhothai. Trains in the north-east direction (towards Laos) follow in the city of Khon Kaen, Buriram, Surin, Nong Khai, Udontani, Ubon Ratchatay and other cities Isan province.

If you choose the eastern branch of the railway, you can reach the border with Cambodia (Aranyaprathet). Also, the eastern branch is used by those who choose this rather exotic way to get from Bangkok to Pattaya – by train. South is a branch of the railway, which also begins at the railway station in Bangkok Hua Lamphong, is very extensive in the country and passes through such an important city like Hua Hin, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani and ends in the south of the country, on the border with Malaysia (railroad goes on, so from Bangkok you can get to Kuala Lumpur by train).

Map of railways in Thailand in high resolution

On the map of railways of Thailand, which posted above this text (click to enlarge) you can see a lot of cities, which can be reached by rail. Also, for convenience, all areas are marked with different colors. Separately, you can mention the historical line of the Thai railway. Tourist trains plying on the “Road of Death”, are one of the most important attractions in the province of Kanchanaburi, where the famous Bridge on the River Kwai (much of tourists from Bangkok and Pattaya depart daily to see this bridge). By the way, the railway platform and the bridge can be seen with using one of the online Web camera of Kanchanaburi.

Getting to and from Hua Lamphong Train Station in Bangkok

Hua Lamphong Train Station is located in the central part of the city, near Pathum Wan (Rama IV street). The distance to the downtown area – Silom district – about 1 km. A similar distance to the Chao Phraya River. In walking distance from the train station is located in Bangkok’s Chinatown, a little further – Indian quarter. Those who are not afraid of walking a few kilometers long, can without any problems to reach the main shopping centers of Bangkok – MBK, Siam Paragon, etc. Also nearby is a picturesque Lumphini Park in Bangkok, where I personally like to walk during each visit to the Thai capital .

Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok – top view

This arrangement allows the train station to get to him almost equally convenient from many areas of Bangkok. However, it is necessary to use different modes of transport. The most convenient way – underground subway MRT Bangkok, because one of MRT station is located directly at the train station and even the name is similar – Hua Lamphong MRT. Due to the fact that the underground metro line intersects with the subway lines BTS SkyTrain, we can choose the fastest route from any area of the city, where there is such a transport.

So when you need to get from the airport Suvarnabhumi to Hua Lamphong Train Station, you must use the Airport Rail Link (station on the lowest floor of the airport). More information about this transport can be found on the page Getting to and from airport in Bangkok: all ways. At the same time you do not need to go to the terminal station (Phaya Thai), and you have to leave the train at Makkasan Station where there is a transition to a line underground metro (MRT Bangkok), and which will take you directly to the train station Hua Lamphong. The process is the quick and convenient, but it also has disadvantages associated with limited time working Aeroportovskaya trains and metro lines (trains do not go at night). In such cases, as well as when you do not travel alone, it is advantageous to use a taxi in Bangkok with a counter.

Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok – the main hall

Getting from Don Muang airport Bangkok to Hua Lamphong Station, also not difficult, because there is a direct part of the railway, on which a plurality of northbound trains runs between them. Trains depart from the airport station practically every half hour. There is also a special train between this station and the airport. You can also use a taxi with the meter (fare is around 200 baht). Finally, you can use the bus №29, which will take you from the airport to the train station inexpensive. By the way, one of the stops of the bus is located at the Victory Monument, where many inexpensive Mini Bus goes to various cities in Thailand.

Get to Hua Lamphong from famous Khao San Road in Bangkok  also not difficult. Firstly, there are buses №25 and №507. But due to the fact that Bangkok often suffers from traffic congestion, better use of water transport in Bangkok. To do this, you need to walk from the Khao San Road and get to the nearest pier and catch a boat to the southern direction. You need to go to the pier Marine Dept. From the pier to the train station is less than 1 km away, so you can either walk or a short ride on a motorcycle taxi for 20 baht. Finally, you can stay in one of the nice hotel, which is located near the railway station Hua Lamphong (cm. Card with a lower price) and easily reached on foot if necessary.

Hotels near Hua Lamphong in Bangkok

In the central part of the map you can see Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok and nearby – a lot of green markers. Each marker – it a hotel, which located near the train station in Bangkok. If you click on the marker, you can immediately see the value of staying at this hotel, and its average rating based on feedback from visitors. You can also see the number of stars in the hotel (if this parameter is important for you). For more information about the hotel, you must click on the button “Show price” and select the desired date. In Bangkok, a lot of hotels, and you can always find a good hotel at a low price, especially when using my favorite Hotellook service, which has provided this map hotels close to Hua Lamphong train station.

Review of Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok

Train station  Hua Lamphong is a real architectural monument, because it was built in 1916 and in 2016 already marks the 100-year anniversary. Over Hua Lamphong project worked by Italian architects Annibale Rigotti and Mario Tamagno, so its appearance is somewhat different from other buildings of the city. The railway station building built in Neo-Renaissance and is decorated with stained glass. If only the building was not decorated with the Thai national flags and a large portrait of the King of Thailand on the outside, as well as Buddha statues inside the station it could be mistaken for a beautiful european building.

Passing through the main entrance, you find yourself in a large hall under the arched roof, where 26 ticket offices are located. All ticket offices are divided into two categories. In the first type you can buy tickets “today for today” and this  ticket offices works around the clock. While the latter are intended for pre-sale tickets, and during their work with 08-00 to 16-00. Cashiers understands English, therefore problems with the purchase of tickets should not be. At the opposite side of the main entrance hall are located on the sides of large electronic scoreboard with a schedule of trains flights, and almost all the inscriptions on the station are made in Thai, and duplicated in English.

Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok – view from the second floor to the lobby

On both sides of the hall there is a large number of plastic chairs for passengers, where you can wait for your train. At peak availability and can not be, so many Thais whole families are placed directly on the floor in the central part of the hall. Sometimes, there are exhibitions of sale, such as books. Among the other infrastructure that may be helpful to travelers, it may be noted ATMs in Thailand, paid showers and toilets. There is also a storage chamber as low as 30 to 100 Bath (depending on the size of the baggage and its weight). Storage chamber works for some reason not around the clock, and only with 04-00 am to 11-00 pm.

Thais love to frequent snacking, so at the railway station of course there are special places for this. Cafes and restaurants, including fast food, mainly located on the second floor of the station, there is a food court and shops with snacks and drinks for the road. After passing through the hall, you reach the next part of the station Hua Lamphong,  where come and go the trains. In main building of Bangkok train station, under arched roof you can find 6 of 14 platforms, the rest are located to the left of the station building on the street, under a small roof.

Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok – view to the platform

Buying tickets at the Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok

As already described above, there are two types of ticket offices. Given the great popularity of the trains for the local people, it is better to buy your tickets in advance on night trains with sleeping facilities, because sometimes when buying a “today for today”  the free seats on the train may be missing. In this situation you can use to travel to the destination station wagons 3rd class. Seats in these wagons are cheap, but the comfort level is very low. Especially if the trip is long. Under current rules, the preliminary tickets for trains in Thailand can be purchased already for 60 days prior to travel.

Online schedule of Hua lamphong Train Station

It is possible to buy tickets for trains in Thailand and see the schedule on the official website of the Thai railways. For the convenience of foreigners English version (toggle the checkbox in the upper part of the site on the right). To find the train you are interested enough to enter the date, the departure station and destination station (see. Screenshot above). Next on the page that opens, select a specific train with a convenient timetable for you and see the details (available seats in wagons of various classes and their cost).

Despite the fact that the train in Thailand is so popular with the locals use them for tourism purposes is not very convenient. This is due primarily to the fact that up to the most popular resorts trains are not running (I mean Samui, Phuket, Krabi, Koh Chang) due to lack of railroad there. By train you can get to Pattaya, but trains are rare, and much faster time to get on the bus directly from the airport, rather than spend time and money to travel to the train station. A night trains with seats for sleep  more expensive than bus, so this option is also not suitable for budget travelers. Perhaps that is why the most tourists visiting Thailand and its capital even is not the first time until now have not been to Hua Lampong railway station in Bangkok or visited it for informational purposes only.

Shops and thai cafe near Hua Lamphong Train Station

In the journey it is important to eat regularly. It is also very good when food costs are not too high. Therefore, below you can find information about where you can buy food for the journey, or where you can enjoy a dinner before starting your trip, near the railway station in Bangkok. 7-Eleven store: When you go out of the main entrance of the Hua Lamphong station and go left, there is a one of 7-Eleven store. Purchases in this shop is a lot cheaper than the supermarket inside the train station. I think, you must remember if you want to buy alcoholic drinks for your journey, you need make it before you go to landing to your train (alcoholic drinks are no longer sold on Thai trains). Also you can remember one of important thai law: the alcohol can only be sold by shops only between noon and 14-00 and then from 17-00 to midnight.

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The second way to buy products on a journey by train – Chicken and Rice Shops: For purchase a cheap and tasty meal, and somewhere to sit down and have a thai beer (whatever the times of day) you need go out the main entrance, turn left and cross the main road. There are few ‘chicken and rice’ shops located opposite the station with tables and chairs outside, as well as inside. You can see the menus are in Thai but usually there are three basic options: ‘Khao Man Gai’ (Hainanese chicken and rice), Khao Ka Moo (pork leg in a light gravy with rice and a stewed cabbage like vegetable), and Khao Moo Dang (pork in a sweet red sauce with rice). Approximate cost of meals – 40THB to 50 THB (per one dish) and around 100 THB for a large beer. Have a nice travel by train from Hua Lamphong train station in Bangkok!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Northern Pattaya bus station
  

• Pattaya Bus Station on the Thappraya street
  

• Na Korn Chai Air bus station in Pattaya
  

Northern Pattaya bus station

The main bus station of the resort, located on North Street, 300 meters from the intersection of the latter with the track Sukhumvit. Here you can catch buses to the  three major bus terminals in Bangkok (Southern bus terminal, Northern (Mo Chit bus station) and Eastern (Ekamai bus terminal). Also you can find here buses to the Cambodian border, Yellow Bus (passing buses on the island of Koh Samui) and other flights. Daily you can get to Suvarnabhumi airport from the Northern Bus Terminal on a lot of buses. But due to certain distance of the bus terminal to the main places of tourist accommodation, I recommend to use this Pattaya bus station only in case, if you live in an area of Pattaya Naklua or, in extreme cases, in central Pattaya. Northern Bus Terminal is very compact, but everything you need is available for you on territory of station: ticket offices with friendly cashiers, clean toilets, information boards, even the waiting hall on open air. There is also a mini-market where you can replenish stocks of food and drink before the trip.

Getting to Pattaya Northern Bus Terminal

The exact location of the bus station in the northern city of Pattaya can be viewed on new Pattaya maps, where the object is marked with a special character or sometimes marked on the map as “Bus station to Bangkok.” The easiest way to get to this Pattaya bus station is a taxi, which can be called up directly from the hotel (free to catch a taxi on the street in Pattaya, I personally do not never could). Another option – a trip to songthaew taxi. This is the same ordinary passenger pickup with a driver that you can rent, for a fee agreement that he will take you to express directly to the North Pattaya bus station.

Pattaya – Bangkok Bus Terminal on the Google Maps

As a rule, taxi driver initially require  two hundred or even three hundred baht for a car, but if it is good bargain, it is possible to agree on the amount of 150 or even 120 baht. Option, in principle, not bad, if you are not traveling alone, and if you have heavy suitcases, and you do not want to mess with them, overloading from songthaew to songthaew when traveling to the North Station with transfers. Another option – to arrange a trip with multiple motorbike-taxi, which you can find on the streets of Pattaya sometimes easier than buy your favorite Thai fruit. In this case, the price will be even lower, 50-100 baht (depending on the distance and your ability to bargain), but such an option not suitable in the presence of oversized baggage. On the other hand, personally I saw to the motorcycle taxi drove young couple farang-tourists, while the boy sitting with one hand holding on to the waist of a girl and the second kept voluminous suitcase behind him :). Read more about the motorbike-taxi and taxi in Pattaya can be found in a separate article.

Pattaya Northern Bus Terminal (Pattaya – Bangkok Bus Terminal)

The most low-cost way to get to the bus station in the North Pattaya is a trip on the route songthaew fixed fee. To do this, you must either be reached on the second street (Second Rd.) For 10 baht to the sculpture “Dolphins” (the intersection of the specified streets with North Pattaya Rd). And then you need go on a going in the right direction songthaew: North Street in the direction of Sukhumvit (i mean the right side from the dolphins, paying another 10 baht). Here we must consider two things: first, for some reason songthaew go on North Street is not regular in comparison with other major streets of the city (I’m almost halfway walked until managed to “catch” this transport. Secondly, be careful near statue of “Dolphin”. The first time, when i did make similar way for get to Nothern pattaya bus station, I got out of songthaew already on the roundabout, slightly distracted, and the result was about 500 meters is not on North street, but on Naklua Rd (Naklua street) which is a continuation of the Second Rd for “dolphin”, but turn little to the right, and knocked me from the right path.

The second method is more expensive (plus 10 Baht), but the time may be faster. You must first get to the highway Sukhumvit (by 10-baht songthaew that go towards the highway on South Street (Pattaya South (Tai) Rd.) or Central Street (Pattaya Central (Klang) Rd.). Next, you need to change your songthaew and walking on the highway in the direction of Bangkok (on the left, if you stand back to the coast of sea). On Sukhumvit road you can use white songthaew (pickup), and the fare is 20 baht. Get off at the intersection of North street and going along it for about 3 minutes, until you see on your right the building with a large metal roof with an inscription in white letters on a blue background: AIR CONDITIONED BUS TERMINAL PATTAYA-BANGKOK (see photo in this article) or read a more information about this Pattaya bus station in article: How to get from Pattaya to Bangkok – all options (section about buses to Bangkok).

Pattaya Bus Station on the Thappraya street

The path from the North Bus Station to the main Pattaya accommodation areas are usually much easier: at the North Pattaya bus station you can find express songthaew that will take you to Jomtien beach (for 30 baht), or for 20 baht before the Walking Street and Central Pattaya. But as I mentioned earlier, it is often more convenient to use not the main Pattaya bus station, but the small bus station located close to the traditional places of residence in Pattaya – in south part of the resort.

Pattaya Bus Station on the Thappraya street (Thap Praya Rd.)

A small bus station located at the intersection of Thep Prasit Rd. and street Thap Praya Rd. Opposite the famous tower at Pattaya Park. Frankly, if you not see bus near this bus station of Pattaya, it is not so simple understand, that you near Southern bus station, because you can see the usual small square between the buildings. A good reference point for you in this case – a supermarket FoodMart, located across from the bus station area. By the way, the store prices are slightly higher than 7/11 and hypermarkets, however, in this store you can find many familiar to Europeans Products: wheat bread, pickled vegetables, cheese from Holland, salami from Germany and other products which you never not find in usual thai shops. Here you can stock up exotic fruits to be transported in the plane home, if you could not do it sooner. Prices are not the lowest, but in fact still at the airport in 2-3 times more expensive …

Bus Station for Bus №389 on the Google Maps

Inside the station you can find ticket office, where you can buy tickets to Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport. It was on this bus station arrive and depart from here buses to Airport Suvarnabhumi (buses of company Airport Pattaya Bus, about which I wrote in the article “How to get from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya – all options!”. Inside the compact waiting room of a few rows of seats, as well as a few benches for passengers outside, along the walls and next to the exit. Inside the bus station are free scales, with which you can know the exact weight of your luggage and not have to worry about exceeding the allowable weight of baggage at check-in. hanks to the successful location of the bus station on the Tapprayya street, you can easily and cheaply get to it from anywhere in the city. On this street, right next to the bus station, the route passes the passenger pickups (songthaew) for 10 baht, which go from the area of Jomtien Pattaya in Central Pattaya.

Pattaya Bus Station near FoodMart supermarket

Nakhonchai Air bus station in Pattaya

Located in Pattaya, this bus station (although it is rather small bus station of one of the thai bus companies) close to Sukhumvit Road, 100 meters south of the junction with Central Pattaya Rd. When you walking on the Central street and went out on the highway, turn right and walk little bit. Facade of a small building of the bus station with a canopy over the platforms goes on Sukhumvit, between Sukhumvit 57 and Sukhumvit Pattaya 59 Pattaya (these streets are already behind Sukhumvit Highway, ie in the area of East Pattaya, ie, you need to cross the road.

Na Korn Chai bus station in Pattaya

Knowledge of location Nakhonchai bus station in Pattaya (Nakhon Chai Air Bus Station) will come in handy in case if you decide to getting from Pattaya to the major tourist centers of Northern Thailand: Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, Rayong, Mai Sai, Ubon, as well as to the islands of Koh Samet and Koh Chang. Find the bus station is simple: you can use the previously described in the article scheme and get to his by songthaew for 10 baht (or 10 + 20 baht if you have to drive on the white pickup on Sukhumvit).

Nakhonchai Bus Station in Pattaya on the Google Maps

There are in Pattaya and the some usual stops, where starting or intermediate points for buses and Mini Bus, going to other towns and resorts in Thailand. But this article and so turned the long (i not sure that someone finish reading it to the end :)), so I will write about such stops in a separate article. Thank you for reading, if someone has any questions – ask in the comments, I will help any way I can.

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Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal: location and how to get
  

• Southern bus terminal of Bangkok: big review
  

• Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal: routes, schedule, fares
  

Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal: location  and how to get

Unlike other bus terminals in Bangkok, Southern Bus Terminal, which have a the full name “Bangkok Sai Tai Taling Chan Southern Bus Terminal”, located somewhat uncomfortable due to lack of nearby BTS SkyTrain stations or stations of MRT Bangkok. You should just remember that the word “South” in the official name of the bus terminal does not mean that it is located in the southern part of the capital. In reality, this is probably a bus terminal in the western part of the city, on a major street Borommaratchachonnani Road, the name of which is quite difficult to pronounce correctly the first time.

New Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok was opened in late 2007 and moved further away from the city center. On the one hand, it made the road to bus terminal it is even more complicated for tourists, but on the other – such an arrangement thus avoiding downtime buses in long hours of traffic jams Thai capital. However, you can get into a traffic jam on the way from the city center by the bus station, especially when you plan get to terminal in the evening of working day. Keep this in mind and always plan on it a 1.5-2 of extra hours. Really, is better to spend this time in a cafe or shop at the bus station, than be late for your bus.

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The easiest way to get to the Southern Bus Terminal Sai Tai is a taxi in Bangkok with a counter, which will deliver you to desired point from the city center for about 120 baht and half an hour (without traffic jams and in contact with the green wave of traffic lights. It is best to plan to travel by taxi at least 1.5 or 2 hours. Often taxi drivers in Bangkok trying to earn on unsuspecting tourists and offer to use a quicker way, which, according to them, to avoid traffic jams, however, is nothing more than a divorce: time will be spent not less, and pay you even longer.

If you are very limited in time, and at the same time you do not have heavy luggage (for example, only a backpack for traveling), you can use the motorcycle taxi services, which compares favorably to the classic car taxi ability to quickly travel through the traffic jams on the streets. The cost of motorcycle taxi services usually more expensive than normal taxi with the meter, but it is better to overpay a 100 baht, than being late for a bus with ticket price 700 or 1100 baht, on which you are want get from Bangkok to Koh Samui or Phuket.

Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok – the main entrance

The second method, which allows to get to the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok  – are buses on which to station can be reached from different parts of the city and Suvarnabhumi Airport.  If you need to get to the bus terminal from the Suvarnabhumi airport, you can use the bus number 556. Just remember that ride on this bus should be long enough: about 2.5 hours. There are other options, but they take up even more time and require two to three change bus, that for foreigners may be more complicated: I personally would not have risked and better save time and money.

The second popular bus route for travelers: get to the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok from the Victory Monument, which located in the eponymous square next to the eponymous BTS SkyTrain Station. For these purposes, it is best to take a direct bus number 515, which costs only 17 baht. Travel time with favorable traffic conditions around an hour, and during that time you pass 32 stops. True it is better not to count them, and to warn the conductor to remind you of the arrival at their destination.

The bus stop of 515 bus to the southern bus terminal in Bangkok

Find the right bus stop is not difficult: get off at Victory Monument BTS Station and move along the movement toward to large circular area, keeping to the left side of Phaya Thai street. In the picture above marked bus stop, which is necessary to carry out landing on the orange bus # 515. With the same stop a bus number 539 ร, but about him I do not have the data: this bus with air-conditioned or not. Travel time of the bus is also less than an hour, along the route 34 stop.

At the end of the route you need walk directly to the Southern bus terminal of Bangkok about 300 meters. Four-storey building with a green gabled roof over the entrance noticeably from afar, and near you can see large yellow sign with blue letters. By the way, for more reliable orientation in Bangkok, you can use the program Virtual tour of Bangkok, which is placed on a separate page and allows you to use high-quality panoramic photographs explore all your places in the Thai capital and its environs.

Southern bus terminal of Bangkok: big review

As the bus station building was put into operation less than 7 years ago, it is very comfortable and modern: the room is well air-conditioned, and everywhere there are electronic boards with the time of departure of buses (data displayed in English). Also in Thai and English, there are informational signs at cash registers, allowing you to quickly and easily find exactly the one in which you can buy a bus ticket for you interesting direction.

The landing platforms at the southern bus terminal in Bangkok

As I mentioned, is a four-story building, each floor has its own symbol. To move between floors of bus terminal you can use comfortable escalators. The ground floor of the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok marked with the letter G (Ground). Big parking for cars and motorbikes takes a significant portion of ground floor. On the ground floor you also can order a taxi, find the city bus, including the bus to the Mo Chit Bus Terminal (Northern Bus Station in Bangkok). Immediately there is a certain amount of minibus, serving long-distance destinations.

Directly in the building on G floor you can find several bank branches, where it is possible to change the currency to the money of Thailand, the exchange rate of which is usually not too different from the national average. Also on the G-floor there is a network store 7-Eleven, the Amazing cafe, a few shops with shoes, clothes and souvenirs from Thailand, the point of “All 20 Baht” and output to the buses that depart from platforms from №1 to №24.

Sale of clothes at the southern bus terminal in Bangkok

Second floor of  Sai Tai bus terminal marked with the letter M, and represents something more like a market or shopping mall. There are a large number of shops and catering establishments. The range, of course, is more modest than in the full-fledged shopping malls of Bangkok, but you can find the necessary things in the journey for good price, which often lower than in Pattaya, and especially on the southern resorts of the country.

On the M-floor is a fairly good range of Thai medical cosmetics, female contemporary cosmetics (Thai and not only), clothing, shoes, hats, bags, cameras and mobile phones, memory cards, Thai newspapers, magazines and souvenirs. Prices even in two similar points can vary significantly, so if there is free time is better to buy after your inspection of the goods and their prices. Also do not forget about the useful tips placed in the article “Shopping in Thailand: the rules of successful shopping” for the purchase of goods at the best price.

Ticket office at the southern bus terminal in Bangkok

The third floor of the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok is the most important and marked #1 (instead of #3, as one might expect). It is on the third floor are all the bus station ticket offices situated there. When you want to go to any city, you have to find the name of the city (in English) directly above the ticket office and ask the cashier to buy a bus ticket. If you encounter any problems you can always contact to information service, which is among the ticket offices. Information service workers understand spoken English and speak it good.

Like on other Bangkok bus stations, bus routes serve several transport companies, the largest of which is “Limited company”. By purchasing a ticket, always bear in mind the existence of classes in buses in Thailand: most expensive fare will be on the VIP class bus, which is usually located only 24 seats. Often a few number of VIP seats available in conventional buses 1st class, so if you want to get maximum comfort during long journeys, for example, when you are planning to make a move on the route Bangkok – Krabi, verify the existence of such places on your route.

The waiting room at the southern bus terminal in Bangkok

Not far from the ticket offices on the same floor there are massage chairs where you can relax in waiting time before boarding a your bus. Access to the landing platform is only possible if there is a ticket on the bus, and no earlier than half an hour before departure. To do this, you must show your bus ticket to the guard in charge of the control at the exit to the landing station platform.  In the center of the platform, you can use the toilet (free of charge) and shower (25 baht) before a long trip. Also, before leaving, there is always the opportunity to buy some food for the road, acquiring it on the trays at the edges of the platform.

The top floor of the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok is the fourth floor, which marked #2. On this floor there are all conditions for relaxation and fun before the trip, and the entertainment will find for themselves as adults and children alike. Here there is an internet café, a big number of slot machines, photo studio, massage parlors and massage chairs. There is a good food court and several restaurants with Thai cuisine. Since tourists in Thailand have to constantly spend money, there are also shops with inexpensive clothes for men, women and children as well as children’s toys shops different price categories.

Massage chairs on the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok

Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal: routes, schedule, fares

The main directions of bus transportation from the southern bus terminal in Bangkok Sai Tai are the routes of the Southern Thailand, including Koh Samui, Phuket, Krabi and Koh Phangan, Hat Yai, Surat Thani, and some of the city west from the Bangkok. Despite the fact that the popular resort of Pattaya is located in the eastern part of the country, you also can get from Bangkok to Pattaya from the Southern Bus Terminal. Buses depart every hour from 5.00 am to 19.00 pm.

Information on the fares of the buses, distance and travel time is available in the table below this text.

Schedule of bus routes from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal

(Click on image to enlarge)

Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal – a timetable of bus routes

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As in all other countries and cities, in the schedule of Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok can be made periodically adjustments: added and canceled flights, corrected  time of departure some buses, changing the price of travel in buses to a particular city. So I want remind you that the table on this page with the bus schedule – rather a guideline for you when planning a journey, not the ultimate truth. On the other hand, bus routes to many popular destinations with travelers remain almost unchanged over the past few years, so the bus schedule of the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (Sai Tai) – source of important and useful information for every traveler. I wish you pleasant trips to Thailand!

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[ad#trans] In order to get to Pattaya from Koh Samui you can use multiple modes of transportation, but in any case you can not use only surface transport, because Samui – is the island in the Gulf of Thailand. Therefore, you have to use, or aircraft, or ground transportation + the ferry. The most popular way to tourists which allows for a reasonable price to overcome the distance between the resorts – is a big bus. The direct distance between Pattaya and Koh Samui is about 400 km, but due to the fact that these resorts are located a bit from different sides of the Gulf of Thailand, overland distance between them increases slightly, which correspondingly increases the time spent in transit. Since the ways to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui are described in a separate article here describes the options that allow you to get to this tropical island directly from Pattaya.

How to get to Samui from the Pattaya by bus

Yellow bus from Pattaya to Koh Samui

The easiest and most affordable way to get from Pattaya to Koh Samui – Yellow Bus  from the company Mukdahan. Every day bright yellow buses depart from Pattaya on the tropical island of Koh Samui. Bus company has several bus services per day in both directions. Note that Pattaya is not the first starting point, therefore you need   bus route called Rayong – Koh Samui (Rayong – Koh Samui) – just such an inscription you can  see on the sides of the windshield on modern yellow buses, plying on this route.

Since the bus schedule from Pattaya to Koh Samui may change by the time, when you decide to use them, I recommend you see the actual schedule on the official website of the bus company, where you can immediately see the date and at the moment the price. For the general understanding of where and what to look at, below is a screenshot of the article from the routes schedule from Pattaya to Koh Samui (yellow frame allotted departure time from Pattaya, route number and cost of travel.

At the moment (same as several years) routes performed three times a day. According to the current schedule, the departure of public bus from Pattaya to Koh Samui carried out at 16:30, at 18:30 and 20:30 local time. The cost of travel by July 2016 is from 751 to 1188 THB + cost of the ferry to the island.  Why such a desynchronization in the cost? It’s simple: one bus, and place in it are divided into classes as in airplanes. In the bus 20 standard seats (at a price) and 6 VIP seats that are almost 1.5 times more expensive.

VIP seats are located in the front of the bus interior and offer a higher level of comfort: wider and more comfortable seats with electronic adjustment, the availability of multimedia systems with the ability to view videos, listen to music and playing computer games. Must you pay for it all – only you have to decide, just keep in mind that the duration of the trip from Pattaya to Koh Samui is more than 12 hours and can be somewhat tedious for those who can not sleep in a normal bus seat.

Yellow bus from Pattaya to Koh Samui – schedule and price

The fare Pattaya – Samui include dinner during a stop on the route (a bottle of water or juice and biscuits). Also, all the passengers are provided blankets, with which you can protect yourself from the cold air conditioner. Choosing the first flight, which departs from Pattaya to Koh Samui at 16:30, you should be prepared that the bus takes you not to the ferry pier, but only to Donsak town. Next you will need to use local transport that will take you to the ferry pier. This means that you will need to spend a little extra money. Ferry pier has in the same town(Donsak), but at a certain distance.

Bus routes departing from Pattaya at 18:30 and 20:30 will bring you directly to the ferry terminal, where you will have to pay 150 baht for the very ferry to the island of Koh Samui. As a result, directly on the island you will find yourself around 9:00 and 11:00, respectively. The ferry arrives at the port of Nathon, which is located in the northwestern part of the island, not far from the administrative center of the resort (or “capital of the island,” as it is called) of the same name Nathon.

I advise you to buy tickets on selected yellow bus in advance, at least 1-2 days, because this direction very popular and in the day of departure all the seats are occupied in the bus very often. The desired bus leaves from the Northern Pattaya bus station, which located in the district of Pattaya North street. How to get to it can be found in the corresponding article on the site. You can also just take a taxi and say to  taxi driver the destination as “Koh Samui Bus Station”. Tickets for the yellow bus to Samui you can buy in ticket office №4 “Mukdahan”. In the article “How to get from Pattaya to Bangkok – all options!” you can see photos of the North Pattaya bus station and ticket office for bus to the island of Koh Samui.

How to get from Pattaya to Koh Samui by plane

The second option that allows you to overcome distance between Pattaya and Koh Samui –  in much less time and significantly a lot of money – flight Pattaya – Samui. Flights on the specified route makes Bangkok Airways airline and the flight time is only 70 minutes, ie, 1 hour 10 minutes. When you want to flight to Samui from Pattaya, you need go to Utapao airport near Pattaya. Planes not very big and scheduled flights are made only once a day, at 17:15 or 17:20 (depending on the season).

Just a reminder that this information relates to the direct flight Pattaya – Samui. There are several flights with a transfer on Phuket island, but these flights are not very comfortable because of the increase in travel time (of 4 hours or more) and, as a rule, much greater ticket price. If we talk about the price of a direct flight, it is on average from $ 110 and up for a one way ticket. Accordingly tickets per person in both directions will cost not less than 7,800 baht, that is more than three times more expensive compared to the price even VIP tickets for the bus.

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Actual  information about the flight schedule Pattaya – Samui can always be found by using the search form located above. By the way, my little personal observation may allow you to save some money on the way from Pattaya to Koh Samui. Everyone knows that the cost of round-trip tickets are usually much cheaper than the cost of purchasing separate flights: one way + one way. In the case of flight from Pattaya to Koh Samui, is sometimes not the case, and buying return tickets alone can save sometimes up to $ 20. Someone will laugh with this economy, but I personally believe that at any level of income to save money is not superfluous, especially in Thailand.

And since we are talking about the economy, I think it is worth mentioning that if you choose a flight to get to Koh Samui from Pattaya, you must plan and travel expenses to Utapao airport (U-Tapao airport). When you try to take a taxi in Pattaya, you will require a 700 baht, and even with a very good trading, this amount not will be much lower, although the journey time is less than 50 minutes from the center of Pattaya. If we add to this the amount that would be required to move from Samui airport to the city, you will find that even without the airfare of Pattaya – Samui path already will be more expensive than a standard bus ticket.

I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from air travel, as someone probably thought. Just I specify all the nuances to some additional costs, because those costs sometimes become an unpleasant surprise for those who have limited vacation budget in Pattaya and Koh Samui. Here you can still recall that when you use the night bus from Pattaya to Koh Samui, you can save on accommodation at the hotel. Because you sleep in the bus. And this economy just enough for a bus ticket. At that time, such as when using air travel you should have to spend the night on the island (to be occupied at the hotel on the same day).

How to get from Pattaya to Koh Samui by plane – Utapao airport

Return flight from Samui island to Pattaya (or rather to Utapao airport) is performed in the morning at 11:10 or so and arrives in Pattaya at 12:30 (return flight longer on 10 minutes). Check their schedule again, you can use form searching flights, placed higher on the page or in the right-side column of the site, where you can also find hotels with best prices in Pattaya, Koh Samui, and elsewhere in the world, comparing the prices of one and the same number in the best booking systems.

Another point: despite the fact that Utapao is a domestic airport in Thailand, it is better to come to him in advance. Because in addition to the airline Bangkok Airways, which makes flights to Koh Samui and Phuket, this airport has a military purpose. On the territory you will notice fighter Thai Air Force, at a checkpoint run by the military, etc. Because of this fact when planning the arrival in Utapao better to order a taxi from the airport in advance, as there is little passenger traffic, and a closed area, so finding a taxi on arrival can be difficult.

More cheap flights from other airlines to Koh Samui route can be found from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. However, this is again a topic for another article, the reference to which is given in the beginning of this article. There are in addition to buses and airplanes will be considered an interesting option for many – a trip to the island of Koh Samui on the train. I hope the above methods that allow access to Samui from Pattaya, will help you overcome this path with the comfort and the best method for the selected price! There is also information that the Thai authorities are planning to organize a ferry directly from Pattaya to Koh Samui. But if this ferry will be – I will write about it in the pages Thai-Rest.com later.

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How to get from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan and back

Currently, on the island of Phangan has no airport. And in the coming years on this island airport will not be exact, because the construction of its own private airport suspended in 2015 due to gross violations of environmental legislation. In addition, there is not much sense in launching flights between the islands with a minimum distance from each other (you can easily see  Koh Phangan  with the help of one of Koh Samui webcams). Therefore, all wishing to get from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan and back, should be ready to do that this route will have on water transport, ie passenger ferries, catamarans and speedboats.

From Koh Samui to Koh Phangan – Lomprayah Catamaran

In a separate article on the website: “Piers of Koh Samui: description and location” you can find an overview of the main ferry piers of island, and their detailed location on the map of Samui. Therefore, in order not to duplicate the information here I will point out only the piers, which are used to overcome the route “Koh Samui  – Koh   Phangan” and “Koh Phangan – Koh Samui”. It a piers in the northern part of the island: Bangrak and Maenam (Bang Rak pier and Maenam pier). Also you can use and the main pier of the island under the name of Nathon (Nathon pier) – on the west coast of Koh Samui. If we talk about Koh Phangan, the ferries and boats usually  arrive to the two piers.

The first of them – Thong Sala Pier, which located in the southwestern part of the island, in close proximity to the main settlement of Koh Phangan. It a place, where you can find the main infrastructure of  island. The second ferry pier called Haad Rin and located almost in the very southern part of Koh Phangan (detailed arrangement of the piers can be seen on maps Koh Phangan). It is in this area of the island, near the pier, are regularly held the world famous Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan. As the name implies, they are held on a monthly basis just as the full moon, and on Phangan attracts thousands of fans of crazy fun on the beach disco, with the sea of alcohol and with deafening music.

From Koh Samui to Koh Phangan by ferry

Transfer from koh Samui to Koh Phangan (from hotels and Samui airport )

If you do not want to get from your hotel on Samui or from the airport to the ferry piers of Samui, where ferries and high-speed boats go to Koh Phangan, you can use the popular service of transport in Asia (link to the english version with the Samui-Pangan route). Among the options offered, you should choose the option from Raja Ferry with the departure point of Koh Samui (any hotel) to the pier of Thong Sala in Pangan at a price of 370 baht when you want to be taken directly from your hotel to the desired ferry pier.

If you plan to fly to Koh Samui and immediately go to Pangan island, the easiest way is to use joint ticket from Seatran Discovery directly from the airport for 450 baht. In this case, a special 10-seater minibus will take you to the desired pier, and the further way to be done on a high-speed ferry to the pier of Thong Sala on Pangan.Please note that such a transfer is usually only three times a day – in the morning, at noon and in the evening, so if your plane arrives at an unsuccessful time – you can use other options, which are described below.

Transfer from any hotel in Koh Samui to Koh Phangan

Koh Samui – Koh Phangan: how to get on ferries and boats

Since the ferry service between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan performed several companies would be more correct to talk about transport between the islands, and its fares is in the context of specific companies, rather than in the context of concrete piers.

From Koh Samui to Koh Phangan by Lomprayah Hispeed catamaran

Modern high-speed catamarans of the company Lomprayah  depart  from Maenam  pier on Koh Samui and arrive at Thong Sala pier on Koh Phangan. The journey time is only 20-25 minutes (depending on the waves in the sea). Ticket fare for the boat Samui – Phangan in one direction is 300 baht or less than $10. When you purchase a round-trip ticket (available with an open date), you can get a discount, ie total price round trip is 500 baht. If you know exactly where you are going to dwell on Phangan (if not the specific hotel, then it may be a particular beach) it makes sense to book tickets on a boat through the official site of Lomprayah. In this case, in addition you get a free shuttle to the point of destination on the island of Thong Sala Pier.

Table 1. From Koh Samui to Koh Phangan – Lomprayah Catamaran Shedule

From Koh Samui to Koh Phangan – Lomprayah Catamaran Shedule

High-speed ferries of Seatran Discovery company

An alternative to the first option, which also allows you to quickly and with a high quality service, get from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan and back. Unlike high-speed Lomprayah catamaran, Seatran Discovery ferry depart from the Bangrak pier on Koh Samui (also known as Big Buddha pier). The journey takes about 30 minutes (in reality even slightly less), and the cost of one-way ticket – 280 baht. Taking into account the cost of public transport of Koh Samui does not make sense to go to the pier Bangrak with using songthaew, if you live closer to Maenam in order to save 20 baht, because public transport on Koh Samui can be more expensive. Arrive  Sitran Discovery ferry –  on the same place on Koh Phangan – at Thong Sala pier. Schedule boats can be seen in the table located below.

Table 2. From Koh Samui to Koh Phangan – Seatran Discovery Ferry Shedule

From Koh Samui to Koh Phangan – Seatran Discovery Ferry Shedule

From Koh Samui to Koh Phangan – Haad Rin Queen ferries

This option is more convenient when you want to immediately get from Koh Samui  directly on the Haad Rin beach on Koh Phangan. For example, when you are only interested in Full Moon Party, which is held nearby. Also,  this option will be appear to someone interesting because of the potential to save 100 baht, because the fare of  Haad Rin Queen ferry – is 200 baht one way from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan or from Koh Phangan to Koh Samui. As a small disadvantage compared to the methods described above may be noted a greater travel time, which is around 50 minutes. It  mean that speed of Haad Rin Queen ferry almost twice as slow. Haad Rin Queen ferry depart from Bangrak pier on Koh Samui and arrive to Haad Rin pier on Koh Phangan. Below you can find Haad Rin Queen ferry company timetable and fare.

Table 3. From Koh Samui to Koh Phangan – Haad Rin Queen Ferry Shedule

From Koh Samui to Koh Phangan – Haad Rin Queen Ferry Shedule

Koh Samui – Koh Phangan: how to get on the big ferries and boats

There are other ways to get to Koh Phangan from Koh Samui. First of all, we are talking about large ferries known ocean carriers in the region, which are in transit through the island of Koh Phangan and Tao Island from the mainland of Thailand (for example, from the pier Donsak). The cost of these ferries is similar to the cost of high-speed boats, and the travel time is much longer (up to several hours) and comfort while driving worse. So I do not even know in which situation you want to use this option. Schedule of these ferries can be found on the official websites of the ferry companies, links to which are provided in the article “Ferry to Koh Samui: schedule and cost.”

Also, there is always the option to negotiate with the owner or the captain of a small high-speed boats, which are moored close to one of the piers of the island of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. This option i can advise for large companies, because alone like traveling with Samui – Phangan or vice versa will be quite expensive. Also, this option may be considered in cases when you miss the last ferry and want in any case to get  on the Koh Phangan (Thailand) from Koh Samui. And of course, during the monthly Full Moon Party, transfer between the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan offers almost every hotel of those islands, but the cost of the boats in those days will be significantly higher, especially at night.

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I hope, after reading this article, you will no longer have a question, how to get from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan, or vice versa. Just remember that in the schedule of ocean carriers in the region sometimes there are changes that are not always possible to track and correct tables. I wish you fun and safe traveling!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Flights from Pattaya to Phuket

• Bus from Pattaya to Phuket – more cheap way!

• How to get from Pattaya to Phuket and back by car and taxi

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Flights from Pattaya to Phuket

Probably the quickest way to overcome the considerable distance between the resorts – the use of a direct flight. You must know that direct flight from Utapao Airport Pattaya Phuket International Airport takes about 1 hour 40 minutes, and the return flight lasts about five minutes shorter. Since direct flights offered by only one airline – Bangkok Air, rely on low prices is not necessary.

The average cost in any direction from the flight is about 2,800 baht ($ 80). In this case (as in the case of flights from Pattaya to Koh Samui, which are explained in the article “How to get from Pattaya to Koh Samui: transport and fares”) you not get saving by purchasing a ticket immediately to both parties. Those this mean that flight cost to one side is approximately half the price of a round-trip ticket. But if you prepare for the trip in advance, you have the opportunity to buy tickets at a discount. Then the fare will cost you about half the size. Those. the flight price to both parties is almost equal to the cost of travel between the resorts on the VIP bus.

By the way, for those who do not want to go back to Pattaya to Phuket later to fly home from the capital airport, it makes sense to return flight from the island to do directly to Bangkok. Especially considering the fact that Bangkok Airways flies to the main airport of the Thai capital – Suvarnabhumi,  from where also flights committing virtually all reputable airlines (not regional low cost airlines, but airlines flying over long distances).

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If you want  find the cheapest flights from Pattaya to Phuket or the reverse route, I suggest you use the search form posted above, where you can find agents price which coincides with the valuable official airline (+/- $ 3). I advise you to check both options and buy where it is cheaper. There are also flights with transfers, but their use can not be considered reasonable and convenient: the price is often higher than that of direct flights and the travel time can be up to 12 hours (although there are flights with transfers for 2.5 hours).

Bus from Pattaya to Phuket – more cheap way!

Not everyone knows that Pattaya and Phuket have long time direct bus links. Those to get from Pattaya to Phuket or make the return journey, it is not necessary to transplant in Bangkok. The latter option also has the right to life, and many of them are active travelers, but mostly because of the lack of information on the direct flight, or because of lack of availability of such a direct bus, which allows access from Phuket to Pattaya, or vice versa.

The fact that the buses connecting Phuket and Pattaya with Bangkok bus stations, walk daily and punctually, so buy a ticket on one of these buses can be directly at the departure day without any problems. But  the bus, which goes directly from Pattaya to Phuket and the reverse route from Phuket to Pattaya – makes only one flight per day in each direction. So buy the tickets for this bus you need in advance, especially during the high tourist season.

The desired bus route under the number 777 provides Sawasdee All Thai Co bus company. Route length (distance from Pattaya to Phuket) – not much is not enough 1009 km, so the duration of the trip is 14 hours. Buses from Pattaya and bus from Phuket Bus Terminal leaves every evening at 06:00 pm, and arrives at the final destination only in 08-00 am. The trip takes a lot of time, but on the other hand, the night bus allows you to save money, because when you ride the bus, you do not have to pay for the hotel in this night.

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By the way, if you are really interested in a good saving, you can always find the hotels at the best prices with the help of the widget, which placed above. Smart search from all the hotels reservation system (booking.com, agoda.com, hotel.info, ozon.travel and many others) and automatic price comparisons of numbers will always give you the chance to choose the best option at the best price, which is always finite.

Now, about the price of a direct bus service between the resorts. I will write about two ways that allow you to buy tickets. Price is a little different, so read carefully and choose a more convenient option for you. First option – order tickets directly at the bus company. In this case you need to call to office to order tickets for the bus. You can call: 082-398-1777 (Pattaya) and 082-398-0777 (Phuket). In this case, the cost will be as follows: 920 THB for a place in the 1st class (in the bus 36 such places).  If you want more comfort, I advise you to choose the place of the VIP (wider seats, which is more convenient to sleep during long trips).

Bus from Pattaya to Phuket – official fares and a detailed bus route

Every bus have only 6 VIP seats. Tickets for the VIP – places that differ from the usual broad and well-reclining seats with more legroom, and often the presence of an individual entertainment system) cost 1226 THB (if you order  in bus company). Despite the higher price, namely VIP seats are bought in the first place, because the overpayment of $ 9, for many people, especially tall people is negligible. The rest is all the same bus, and whatever option the passenger has chosen not to, at the destination, he will arrive at the same time.

The second option – the purchase of tickets for the bus from Pattaya to Phuket online. This option is simpler and deschevle. You need to use the search form located below, enter a starting and destination station (Pattaya and Phuket or vice versa), and select the desired date. Then you just have to click on the big button “Find tickets” and choose the most convenient option for you. On the search results page usually offers first flights and below – bus from Pattaya to Phuket. There you can also select seats in the 1st class, priced at 867 THB or VIP seats for the price of 1141 THB. Then everything is standard: fill in personal information and pay using a credit card or PayPal. By the way, this search service often helps find the best prices for transport, not only in Thailand but also in all of Asia.

By the way, this search service often helps find the best prices for transport, not only in Thailand but also in all of Asia. Important Note: If a bus on the Phuket-Pattaya route goes from the new bus station in Phuket island, ie all in general, predictably, that in the administration of Pattaya is necessary to remember that the place of departure of the bus is not one of Pattaya bus station. You need find bus stop in front of the Northern Bus Station in Pattaya, on North Pattaya Road, close to the bus company office. A good guideline is a logo crimson color on the building with a distinctive number 777 (number of route Pattaya-Phuket).

How to get from Pattaya to Phuket and back by car

In car trip from Pattaya to Phuket or in the reverse direction will likely be interested travelers, who prefer to move around the country on their own and not depend on the schedules of public transportation. The best route for the movement runs through a number of Thai cities, which, if desired, can also be visited on a short visit. For example, a young resort Cha-am near the town of Hua Hin, which is distinguished by the color of the sea is always beautiful (can be seen on web cameras online in Cha Am (Thailand)).

The best route to travel for you easily pave Google Maps, and rent a car at the best price service from Rentalcars, which compares the value of similar vehicles in the best rolling offices, thus allowing to save on travel. Also large selection of rolling offices is convenient because the rental car is not necessary to pass at the same point where the rent was made. This allows you to optionally pass the car in Phuket, Pattaya rent it, or vice versa, and to get back on public transport.

I recall that the article does not consider ways to get from Pattaya to Phuket or back through Bangkok, because detailed information about this can be obtained from the individual articles “How to get from Pattaya to Bangkok – all options!” and “How to get from Bangkok to Phuket». Also I remind you that to get to Phuket from Pattaya on the train, even with a change in Bangkok, will not work, since there is currently no railway on this route.

Finally, from Pattaya to Phuket taxi will cost so expensive because of the large distances that this option only makes sense if you are afraid of flying. In this case, I advise you to use Kiwitaxi service where you can learn in advance the cost of travel by taxi from Pattaya to Phuket and choose a car class you want and numbers of passengers, as well to order additional amenities that you may require during the trip from Pattaya to Phuket.

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Things could have been much easier if in the airport Surat Thani or in the immediate vicinity were located hotels, in which one could spend the night and in the morning to take advantage of the many buses from the airport, which are sent directly to the island of Koh Samui or to the ferry pier Donsak . But even best search engines can find hotels nearby the airport at least 9 km from the airport. Thus, better and more easy for you to get to the city, and from there to make a morning transfer to coconut island of Koh Samui.

Updated: in 2016, there were opened several inexpensive hotels near the airport, to which, if desired, can be reached in 10-15 minutes even on foot or in 4-5 min on transport. Estimates vary greatly, and if a couple of hotels they are not the highest (about 6 points out of 10), that is, two hotels at a similar price and with very good reviews. Probably, it is better to choose them, because even if you consider such a hotel as a place for a short stay, better to spend this time in relatively comfortable conditions. The best hotels are Surattani Airport Hostel ($ 20 for double room with breakfast, average score 7.4 out of 10) and slightly more expensive ($ 22 for double room with breakfast) but with even higher guest rating – 8.5 points out of 10) – Amaretto Hostel & Amaretto De Coffee Home.

In the morning of the next day, you can take the transport to the ferry pier Donsak and buy tickets for the pores to Samui or order combined tickets for the bus + ferry. The second option is convenient for the possibility of pre-booking and buying online with the most popular service of transport in Asia (link to the route Surattani Airport – Ko Samui in the english-language version of the service, only change the date and number of passengers). As you can see, the cost of such a trip depends on the time and from the transport company and this cost varies significantly and ranges from 300 to 600 baht. In this case, the most expensive option will not always be the fastest on the way (see screenshot below), so you can safely choose cheaper options (for 350-450 baht).

How to get from Surat Thani Airport to Koh Samui – timetable and fares

Since almost all the passengers of the evening flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani (or from other cities) are not able to catch the last ferry to Koh Samui, they need to get to Surat Thani on local transport. To do this, you can use a taxi or ask the locals about how inexpensive public transportation available from the airport to the center of Surat Thani. Probably, it will be minibus or any bus or, even more likely, songthaew – passenger pick-up (with a roof and two benches along the sides).

The second important issue, which is sure to occur in your case, when you spend the night in the city with the aim to reach the center of Surat Thani to Koh Samui – a choice of hotel for the night. Generally, hotels in the city are not too expensive, because Surattani not a tourist city and most foreigners are limited to a short-term transit or even their familiarity with the city ends airport. Therefore, you can choose a hotel based on proximity to the bus station, where buses on Samui. You must know that the main bus station Surat Thani is located 12 km from the city, so I would suggest a small bus station in the center of the city, which a owns Pantip bus company and called Surat Thani city center Bus terminal.

And the easiest way to choose a hotel from which you can walk to the bus stop by for a few minutes, even with suitcases, backpacks and small children. One of these hotels is Iroom Hotel, which offers good comfort for a reasonable price. Judging by reviews of tourists, the hotel may not quite live up to the claimed 4 stars, but given the price and the fact that you not needs to stay there for a long time (to spend the night and in the morning to go to Samui) variant is quite normal.

You can check current prices for accommodation using the widget above. As a rule, the price of rooms in this hotel is less than $ 20 even if you stay with the child. For two same room costs $ 16 and less. There in the city you can see and other hotels, but they are located not so convenient (not on the main street, so in a strange city with numerous signs and similar buildings are harder to find), and usually there are 2 stars at a slightly lower price.

Now about the bus station and buses from Surat Thani to Koh Samui. Small bus terminal is located practically on the main street – Talad Mai Road. Bus Terminal The full address is: 293 / 6-8 Taladmai Road, Amphur Muang, Suratthani, Thailand, 84000. The map below marked its location, and the location of this hotel (iRoom Hotel, alley №31 same main street Talad Mai (31 . Alley Talai Mad Road). The distance between the objects – just 250 meters away.

How to get from Surat Thani center to Koh Samui – good hotel nearby bus station

The first morning bus leaves from center of Surat Thani to Koh Samui in 09-30 in the morning. Those. you have time to properly enjoy breakfast and to purchase the products in the way (eg, in a shop Family Mart, which is located near the bus station). Your way to the Samui bus terminal in Nathon takes about 3.5 hours (distance between Suratthani and ferry pier Donsak about 70 km and the journey time by ferry is about 1.5 hours). It mean that if you will use the first bus to the island, you will arrive to Koh Samui only in 13-00.

Accordingly, using the next bus – 10-30 am, on Koh Samui you’ll be in the 14-00, and so on (buses leave every hour from 9-30 to 16-30). By the way, bus tickets can be purchased in advance. They cost 250 baht and include the ferry ride (which alone is worth 150 baht for adults). Order and pay for integrated tickets (bus + ferry) can be placed using the following search form, selecting the desired date (usually the day after the arrival of the aircraft in Surat Thani) and choosing a convenient time for you to the bus from the center of Surat Thani to Koh Samui.

Necessary route called Suratthani Town – Na Thon (Koh Samui) and executed by the Pantip bus company (office and ticket offices of the carrier located at the bus terminal). I hope that information, placed in the article, will help you plan your trip to coconut Island and now you know, how easily accessible from the center of Surat Thani to Koh Samui by bus and ferry. I wish you a pleasant journey!

The post How to get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Bus from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi airport
  

• Taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok airport
  

• Transport from Pattaya to Don Muang airport
  

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Bus from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi airport

Definitely, the easiest and most affordable option to get from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi – take the shuttle bus, which goes along with the approved schedule from Pattaya bus station, located in the southern part of the city. You can read article “Pattaya Bus Stations – review of all bus terminals” for details about how to get to this bus terminal (actually a small bus station). The fare is 134 baht, as bus follows the toll road. Fee for pre-sale is not provided, and clicking on the link, you can view the schedule of the bus. You need find a first picture on this page and see a second column with bus schedule (labeled “From Pattaya”).

The ticket can be purchased for a few days before the departure of the bus to the airport (at least I do so), but I think that even on the day of departure is not a problem as the bus runs frequently and there generally remain free seats. Please note that the ticket is non-refundable (No Refund), so carefully think over the time of departure to the airport in advance and not be late for your flight. And you can easily miss if not accurately calculate the time required to travel to songthaew (tuk-tuk) during rush hour, when traffic on certain routes of songthaew in Pattaya almost stopped because of traffic jams.

Bus ticket from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi for 134 baht

The duration of the trip is about 1.5-2 hours (the last option – if it enters the plug in Pattaya), and the bus drives up the passengers to exit №7 in the departure  zone (4th floor Suvarnabhumi Airport). Baggage Allowance on the bus – free of charge (although correct to say is included in the ticket price), and before boarding you will get from the driver special luggage receipt indicating the number of pieces of luggage. Later, upon arrival at the airport, upon presentation of receipts, employees of the bus company (the driver and the representative) will give you your luggage. Next to the bus, you can just take a trolley Airport, by which is very convenient and easy to move around the airport even with heavy suitcases or with your backpacks for travel.

Slightly more expensive version with a bus from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi – transfer to Bell Travel Service Company, of which I wrote in the article “How to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya.” You can book a transfer directly from your hotel door on the official website of the company. The cost will be 250 THB when ordering and paying online. At the same time the doors of the hotel to the bus station in Pattaya you will be taken to the minivan, and already at the airport will be taken on the big  bus. Earlier also it was possible to book a ticket in Don Muang for 245 baht, but some time ago this service was suspended.

Bus to Suvarnabhumi Airport from the South Pattaya bus station

The advantage of this method appreciated by those who find it difficult to get to the bus station south of Pattaya with their suitcases, while making several changes when moving to the tuk-tuk. Buses of this company depart from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi 06-00, 09-00, 11-00, 13-00, 15-00, 17-00 and 19-00. Of course, the check-out will be used for at least half an hour. Other options to get from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi (eg, via Bangkok) on the bus is also available, but in my opinion they do not make sense, because more difficult and expensive. They have meaning only in the case where you definitely need to visit Bangkok before returning home.

Taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok airport

Option with a taxi is a good choice when you have large suitcases when you do not like to use buses and,especially, by trip tuk-tuk in Pattaya, with the help of which you need to get to the bus station. Another option, in which the taxi car is justified – the night or very early morning flight from Suvarnabhumi when you can not use buses, because they do not drive at this time. A taxi from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi will cost you between $ 900 to 1,500 baht (depending on the place of car order, your bargaining skills and attitudes taxi driver). I think it makes no sense to pay more because you can find a lot taxi in Pattaya and a lot of drivers, which want to get your 1000-1500 THB in any time of day and night in situation, when amounts of taxi drivers is always greater than the potential passengers.

Street point for order taxi from Pattaya to Bangkok airport

Order a taxi to Bangkok airport, you can at the reception of most hotels, at special points of street «Taxi to airport» (see. photo) and on some parking for taxi, agreeing with the driver. You can also use the services of a proven global Taxi transfers company that is famous for its high quality services, the ability to place an order a taxi online, full-fledged four-seater or more spacious car and take advantage of additional facilities (eg, child seats, which under normal taxi you will not find) . More information about global taxi service you can read in article “Transfer Services in Thailand”.

By the way, do not forget to specify to taxi driver that it final price, and if taxi driver will be use any toll road, he will pays already itself (if I am not mistaken, fare is about 120 baht). Thus, the advantage of the method is possible to note the speed (but not much faster than a normal bus), a slightly higher level of comfort and the ability to go from Pattaya to Bangkok at any time of the day. And remember that because of the gas cylinder in the trunk of a ordinary taxi in Pattaya is not usually taken into the cabin more than three passengers, if those with luggage.

Transport from Pattaya to Don Muang airport in Bangkok

Since in preset time you can not to use direct bus route from Pattaya bus station to Don Muang airport, you need to use the combined scheme. The simplest of them – bus + taxi. In the article “How to get from Pattaya to Bangkok – all options”, me described in detail how to get to the bus station the capital of Thailand on buses for 124-133 baht. Wanting to get to the airport in Don Muang, best to buy a bus ticket from Pattaya to Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Nothern bus terminal Mochit), since it is the closest to the desired airport.

Next to the specified bus station always plenty of taxis that will take you over the counter to the relegation zone at Don Muang for about 120 baht (or 150-200 THB without the counter, but the last option – it is a lot of Bangkok for considering that you need spend in way by taxi only around 10-15 minutes). It is also next to the bus station north of Bangkok, you can catch one of the buses, but to find the right bus to be problematic without the knowledge of the Thai language, because inscriptions in the Latin alphabet is not provided. Cost of bus about 20 baht.

Bus from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi Airport (on the South Bus station in Pattaya)

Second choice: bus ride to Suvarnabhumi Airport, as described in the first section of the paper, and then to use transfer to the free shuttle-bass to Don Muang Airport, which can be found near the exit №7 from the airport in the arrivals area (second floor). You may be asked to show ticket tickets from Don Muang while landing on a free shuttle bus. Travel time from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Depending on traffic. This bus to Don Muang airport in Bangkok works from 5 am until midnight. From 05-00 am to 10-00 and from 22-00 to 00-00 buses departure from Suvarnabhumi interval of 1 hour. The rest of the time interval is reduced to 20-40 minutes.

Schedule of free shuttle bus to Don Muang can be found near the site of the landing on them. You can see that here are buses almost half empty, so no need to worry about availability free seats. Travel time between the airport 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on road conditions. There are also city buses that go between airports, but they come with a variety of stops. Therefore, spend 30-35 baht for a long trip does not make sense. Especially since the free shuttle bass are air-conditioned, unlike some city public bus.

Taxi in Bangkok – the only way to travel between airports by night

Taxi to the Don Muang airport from Pattaya will cost more than taxi to Suvarnabhumi, because it is located far away from the resort. Those, you should be calculated on the amount of 1500-2000 baht and up. So sometimes much cheaper access to the Suvarnabhumi Airport by taxi from Pattaya, and later find taxi in Bangkok for a trip to Don Muang. It is better to do it in the relegation zone, where taxi drivers usually leave empty and more compliant in the bargaining. Well, if the taxi driver agrees to take you on the counter, would be an option at all for the best price, because you can not use other variant to get from Pattaya to Don Muang at night. If the prospect of dialogue with the Thai taxi drivers do not attract, you can order a Taxi transfers in advance –  to get high level service, and easy get to Don Muang straight from Pattaya.

Finally, in the daytime you can use the easiest and cheapest way to get from Pattaya to Don Muang Airport. To do this, you need to use minibuses and costs 180 baht, which from morning to evening go to Don Muang from Pattaya with about half an hour interval. I did not use this transport, but this method has been tested several times with my friends and they all were satisfied. Very interested, but about minibuses from Pattaya to Don Muang with fare 180 THB, many of the local residents of Pattaya not even know, so they were surprised when I told them about it. Minibuses is sent to a small station outside Central Pattaya. Excellent reference point – a large supermarket Foodland, located on this street (Pattaya Klang, or Central Pattaya Rd).

A place where you can find cheap minibuses from Pattaya to Don Muang Airport

You have to walk about 100 meters from the said store to the side of Sukhumvit Road (ie, away from the sea) and buy a ticket for the Minibus in a company engaged in the carriage. Inscriptions on the canopy at the company’s office in the Thai language, with very advertising signboard and billboard on the sidewalk – on a yellow background. Next – a small gas-cylinders station. If you walk from store Foodland, it will be on the left side. You can also find this office when you walk from Sukhumvit Road, while the company’s office is approximately 280 meters from the said track on the right side.

You can book a place in the van Pattaya – Don Muang, if you will call 0831121915 in Pattaya. I draw your attention that it can not be done in advance. You must call on the same day, when you want to go from Pattaya Airport. Perhaps an easier option – to come immediately before departure minibus with luggage. Minibuses run frequently from 5-30 am to 19-30 pm. Range of motion – every 30-40 minutes. The route called Pattaya – Major Rangsit (minivan on the way stops at Suvarnabhumi airport, too).

In this description of ways to get from Pattaya to Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi airports completed. I wish you an easy and comfortable road on the route from Pattaya to any Bangkok airport! Good luck!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Flight Koh Samui – Krabi: advantages and disadvantages
  

• From Koh Samui to Krabi and back by intercity bus

• Transfer from Koh Samui  to Krabi (or Krabi – Koh Samui) – the best option!
  

• Taxi transfer Krabi – Koh Samui and back – good variant!
  

Flight Koh Samui – Krabi: advantages and disadvantages

At first glance, a ticket on the flight Koh Samui – Krabi or Krabi – Koh Samui is the simplest and most logical option, as in Krabi and Koh Samui, you can find a small, but quite modern own airport with good transport accessibility. Also this option is the most simple due to the fact that in contrast to the Krabi Province, most of resorts of which is still located on the mainland (including the city Krabi town and some of the popular resorts of Krabi province), Koh Samui is still an island, so logical to assume that only allows you to make the necessary flight distance using only one kind of transportation – airplane.

However in real practice, air travel between Koh Samui and Krabi do not enjoy high popularity tourists, no locals. If you will use placed below the search form flight at the best price, you can see for themselves that the cost of airfare Koh Samui – Krabi unreasonably high for such a small distance and is, at best, about $ 100 one way. It should be borne in mind that only one flight is accomplished in a day, and not throughout the year, but only during the high tourist season.

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Therefore, it is possible to encounter a situation where you will be offered a flight with a long transfer in Bangkok (sometimes more than 12 hours), which makes a way to get from Krabi to Koh Samui or back at all meaningless, even if you have budget more big  than average traveler’s budget (option with a change in Bangkok is worth  more than the direct flight is about three times and even more).

In the article “Koh Samui Airport: a detailed review” I wrote that the main reason for the high cost of tickets  – is Bangkok Airways airline a monopoly on flights to Samui airport, which is a privately owned airline. Perhaps the ongoing construction of a new state airport on Samui, sooner or later the situation will improve in this matter, and fly from Krabi to Koh Samui and Koh Samui to Krabi Airport, one day we will not only quickly (less than an hour), but also inexpensive.

Aircraft Bangkok Air – a quick but expensive way to get from Koh Samui to Krabi

From Koh Samui to Krabi and back by intercity bus

Since Koh Samui – is an island in the Gulf of Thailand, the way to get to Krabi necessarily involves the use of big (passenger and cargo) ferry to Koh Samui one of the local ferry companies. This variant of overcoming the distance between Krabi and Koh Samui today is not the most affordable (ticket price 500 baht) and, moreover, can not boast of a record speed. Bus travel between these resorts a little – once or twice a day depending on the time of year.

The advantages for some can be attributed only to the fact that most of the way it will be possible to overcome the big tour bus, where you can recline your seat and take a nap a few hours, and your oversized baggage will be placed not on the lap or in the legs, as it is sometimes necessary to do for travel on thai minibus, but in bulk luggage compartment. A major shortcoming of buses is not too good of their schedule. For example, riding a bus from Krabi Bus Station at 11.30 am on the island of Koh Samui you’ll get only after six hours.

Intercity bus from Koh Samui to Krabi and back

This means that, firstly, almost the entire day of rest will be spent on the road (although if you try it in the morning for a quick swim, you can succeed in Ao Nang), and secondly, to the island of Koh Samui your bus arrives almost to the beginning of twilight. But at this time, all route songthaew on Koh Samui – is no longer a relatively cheap way to travel between the island’s beaches and its administrative center.  After sunset this already not cheap transport, but transport with a contractual price (same expensive taxi). You can find more information in the article “Public transport in Samui: routes and prices”.

Search for a hotel on the island in the dark is also not a pleasant occupation, of course, if you do not take care about it in advance and did not find himself a cool hotel at minimal cost by using below the search form and hotel price comparisons in the same room in different systems booking. The second bus from Krabi to Koh Samui generally uses a night ferry to the island, therefore in the way  to Koh Samui you need to be more than 12 hours. With the latter option, you can save on one night in a hotel, but personally I’d rather sleep on the beach of Koh Samui, than in a chair of night ferry.

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There is also the option of using no direct buses, but bus routes with a transfer, for example, in Surat Thani. In this case, the total price of the route Koh Samui – Krabi will be calculated as the cost of the ferry between Koh Samui and the mainland (150 baht), the cost of transfer from mainland pier to the bus station Surat Thani (70 km, or from 150 to 200 baht), as well as a bus or Mini Bus from Suratthani to Krabi (150-170 baht respectively). Total obtain at least 450 baht, but it is better to calculate the amount of not less than 500 baht. Make this way (or reverse route Krabi – Koh Samui) in general, not too hard, but in a situation where there is a more convenient, described below is an option, I would not :).

Transfer from Koh Samui  to Krabi (or Krabi – Koh Samui) – the best option!

To date, one of the most convenient options that allow fast and high quality service, is accessible from Koh Samui to Krabi in the opposite direction – the use of an organized transfer, which is a trip on a comfortable Mini Bus by land and overcome the offshore section of the way by speedboat or ferry.

When you are on Koh Samui, it is easier and cheaper to contact the office of one of the ferry companies. This is due to the fact that this companies do not only carry out passenger transportation between the mainland, the island of Koh Samui and the other islands in the region, but also organize full transfers from Koh Samui to other resorts, including Phuket, Krabi, on the of Phi Phi  islands and Ko Lanta . The cost of a transfer from ferry companies is often the lowest, but it is not their most important advantage over other companies, which also offers a shuttle service between Koh Samui and Krabi.

Modern transfer bus of Lomprayah company

Option to transfer the ferry companies, such as Lomprayah, allows you to quickly get to your destination with a minimum of transport changes. Often it is not just the way to Koh Samui pier to the bus station, but the full path from the door of the hotel in Koh Samui to the door of the hotel in Krabi or Ao Nang. Those. ultimately this is a very convenient and efficient for the money option. The cost of such a full transfer in 2015 is 400-450 thai baht for use on the offshore section of the way conventional ferry and between 550 baht to 600 when using high-speed boats.

In the case of transfer in the reverse direction, i.e. when you need to get from Krabi to Koh Samui, often have to resort to intermediaries and to pay, though quite a bit ($ 2-3). To avoid such overpayment is also possible, but for this you should at least not be afraid to speak English (thai english) on the phone with the ferry companies on Samui, which will need to explain what day you want to make a way, at what time and from which the hotel you will need to pick up.

If you do not want to talk on the phone, you can simply go to any tourist information office in Ao Nang or to the seller excursions on the street. Overpayments will be, as I have already said a little, but it is desirable to specify initially all the conditions and choose the options that transfer will provide again the company Lomprayah or transport company in the region with a good reputation under the name Joint Ticket (transfer of 450 Baht per Mini Bus + ferry or 600 THB + Mini Bus speed boat).

Comfortable speedy catamaran of Lomprayah company

When choosing a trip to Koh Samui or Krabi, always remember that to be ready for the trip you will need about an hour before mentioned in the brochure departure time. This is due to the fact that the local Mini Bus takes some time for a detour hotels and collect all the passengers. As a rule, this will remind you of the time of purchase the transfer. For example, paying shuttle Ao Nang – Koh Samui with departure at 11 am, for you zaedut by 10:30 to take a small private bus station in the area of Krabi Town.

Sometimes on the streets of resorts (as in Koh Samui and Krabi) you can find more attractive offers in terms of cost of transfers between these resorts. You not must think that it is fraudsters. But there are some unpleasant nuances that may be encountered: a long crossing, repeated change of transport in transit and the possibility of landing in the wrong place on arrival, where have to go on an expensive taxi to the hotel. If you are not too scary, you can save money and take the risk, but it is advisable to look for a pre least some information about the carrier in internet.

I personally have had the experience. when I wanted to get from Koh Samui to Krabi and used the services of local companies the transfer. As a result, I was taken to the bus station Krabi only late in the evening. After 8 hours on the road. In a way it was a lot of transplants, about an hour I spent at the bus station in Surat Thani and about 5 kilometers, I was forced to go to an open pick-up truck on the floor, along with backpacks and other travelers. The bus was old and broke down several times on the road. On the other hand, it was fun and unusual!

Taxi transfer Krabi – Koh Samui and back

Another option, which allows you to quickly get from Krabi to Koh Samui or to make the return journey – the use of a taxi transfer from the Kiwitaxi. Of course, this option is not the cheapest, but in some situations it is ideal for travelers. The fare on the modern car taxi between the resorts can be found at the link above. It is important to understand that unlike the flight ticket, several people (four or more) can be accommodated in the vehicle. This means that the price for each transfer of the passengers will be very attractive.

And if you add the travel speed, comfort, the ability to choose the car class, install child seats, card payment, etc., the option at all remarkable. If you want to get from Krabi to Koh Samui, I advise you to book a taxi transfer from Krabi only to the Donsak pier. Because makes no sense to overpay for the car will go to the island with you, and then will come back (at your expense).I wish you a quick and comfortable travel from Koh Samui to Krabi, and no less pleasant transfers, allowing quick and inexpensive to get from Krabi to Koh Samui!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Location of the Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai in Bangkok
  

• Getting to the Eastern Bus Station from Bangkok airports
  

• Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai -review and facilities
  

• Ekkamai Bus Terminal – bus routes
  

• Bus schedule from Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) in Bangkok
  

Location of the Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai in Bangkok

Unlike other big bus terminals Thai capital, Bus Terminal Ekkamai is located in very  convenient place – in the south-eastern part of Bangkok near the country’s largest highway Sukhumvit, which concurrently serves as a significant urban streets in the settlements through that passes. Comfort lies in the fact that just 100 meters from the Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai you can find one of station of BTS SkyTrain with same name –  Ekkamai. The bus terminal is located on the left side of the road if you are driving into the center of the metropolis.

Since Bangkok’s subway is the fastest way to move around the city, which does not depend on the road conditions, you can be 99% sure that access to the Eastern Bus Terminal will be on time, without any loss of time and nerves. Neither the North Bus Terminal of Bangkok (Mo Chit), nor, especially, the Southern Bus Terminal Sai Tai in Bangkok can not compete with Ekkamai in this matter. Because you can not to use subway or BTS Skytrain for directly way to them (only with public transportation of Bangkok, taxi or walking (from the subway to the North Bus terminal through the Chatuckak park in Bangkok). I want to note that in different sources in internet and on various maps of Bangkok, this Bus Terminal you can see two name: Ekkamai and Ekamai (or just Eastern Bus Terminal). In any case it is the same Bus Terminal.

Ekkamai Bus Station on the Google map

If, for some reason, you do not want to use BTS SkyTrain and you are not afraid to lose time in one of Bangkok’s traffic jams, it is possible to get to the Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai on buses from various parts of the Thai capital. For example, using buses №25 and №507 can be reached from the main railway station of Bangkok – Hua Lamphong. Between the Eastern Bus Terminal, Ekkamai bus station and the Mo Chit bus Terminal (Nothern Bus Terminal) there is a bus №159. And from Banglamphu district, where the most famous streets of Bangkok – Khao San road – can be reached by bus № 507, №511 and №2 (bus stop on Ratchadamnoen Avenue).

Getting to the Eastern Bus Station from Bangkok airports 

When traveling to Thailand often there is a need to getting from Bangkok Airport (Suvarnabhumi or Don Muang international airports) to Ekkamai bus terminal. For example, to make the trip from Bangkok to Koh Chang from this bus station. So below I will briefly tell you about a few ways to get to the bus station with an indication of the approximate duration and cost of the trip.

How to get to the Ekkamai Bus Station from Suvarnabhumi Airport

If you arrived to the main Bangkok airport – Suvarnabhumi, the cheapest and fastest option to get to the Ekkamai Bus Terminal – the use of skytrain lines. Firstly, you need to get from the airport to the city. Make it easier just using the Airport Rail Link. Such a trip to the city (to Phaya Thai station) will cost 45 THB (less than US $ 1.3). You can find more information about this train in a separate article – “How to get from the airport to Bangkok – all ways.”

Next to the station Phaya Thai (who is also the one of Skytrain Station), you need to make a simple transfer (direct) to the station BTS Ekkamai. The trip will last 16-17 minutes, and the fare when purchasing a single ticket – 42 baht. You can, of course, to get from the airport by express train to Makkasan station, then to the underground subway MRT Bangkok, followed by a transfer to the Asok station and then to the Ekkamai BTS. But I do not see the point, as the option is more complicated and more expensive, and time-saving is not.

If you prefer to travel by taxi (especially in Bangkok, where taxi service very cheap), you can get from the airport Suvarnabhumi to Ekkamai Bus Station in around 350 THB per car. Ie If you have three passangers, it will cost about 120 baht per person. If we talk about time, then, at best, a trip takes at least half an hour, and if you get into one of the city’s traffic congestion (which happens regularly, especially at rush hour), the way from the airport takes you  from about 50 minutes till 1.5 hours (at worst).

How to get to the Ekkamai Bus Station from Don Mueang Airport

As in the previous case, you can either use a taxi in Bangkok, or use public transportation. The cost of a taxi service from Don Muang Airport to Ekkamai Bus Station is about 200-220 Baht and travel time – about 45 minutes. Named the amount should include an extra fee for the car to enter the territory of the airport taxi. A more affordable option, especially when you are traveling alone or together – public transport.

You need a special bus from the Don Muang airport to station of BTS SkyTrain with name Mo Chit. The fare in a bus – 30 THB. Later the road continues by Skytrain (Sukhumvit Line). Trip direct to BTS Ekkamai station takes 26-28 minutes and its cost – THB 42 when buying a single ticket. All the way in this case takes about 50 minutes (which is comparable with the time travel by taxi), and the cost – 72 THB.

Eastern Bus Terminal Ekkamai – review and facilities

As I wrote, as compared with big buildings of other bus stations in Bangkok, Ekkamai is relatively small for objects of this type strict building with thin square columns along the facade. Above the main entrance to the building of the Eastern Bus Terminal in Bangkok you can see many Thai flags. As well as a portrait of the reigning King of Thailand – Rama IX and the royal yellow flags. (After the recent death of the King, his portrait can be replaced by a portrait of the new king of the country.) Above the facade on the roof you can see the large letters that make up the inscription «Bangkok Bus terminal (Eastern)».

Frontage of Ekkamai bus station in Bangkok

Inside this half-open bus station can be found the typical objects for this type of building  – ticket offices, on each of which is written the bus routes (destination, to which in this ticket office you can buy tickets on the bus. Of course, all of inscriptions in Thai language are duplicated in English for the convenience of tourists. There are a number of seats for passengers waiting for their route inside the building and next to the bus platforms, which are also numbered and have inscriptions indicating bus routes departing from the platform. Samih platforms, by the way, a few dozen.

As the bus station is small enough, on its territory you will not find big food court or the many shops, famous restaurants or fast food. However, to die of hunger will not allow a few small shops, where you can buy cookies, peanuts, potato chips, candy bars, soft drinks, popular thai beer and other some simple foods that can be eaten both on-site and also during your bus trip to the desired cities. From popular supplementary services for bus passengers, we can note in the back of the station a toilet  (on the right side). Toilet is clean and its use costs only 3 THB. Entrance to the toilet is made after the payment, through the turnstiles. From left in the back of the bus terminal, you can find luggage storage. The service is available from 06-00 am to 18-00 pm. Keeping of one luggage unit costs 30 baht.

Buses at the platforms of Ekkamai Bus Station

If you love (or at least not afraid) to use traditional Thai food you can buy at a good price rice with chicken at the point of the sale of such food at the bus station or several kinds of kebabs and fruit in mobile kitchens that are easy to find on the way from the station Ekkamai subway to the bus station. If you want to eat more familiar, but the harmful fast food or buy food in the usual way, you can visit located within walking distance on the Sukhumvit, the country’s largest supermarket chains Big C and Tesco Lotus.

Ekkamai Bus Terminal – routes

In general, the Eastern Bus Terminal in Bangkok caters to only one direction: bus routes from the capital to the eastern regions of the country. And not all of eastern Thailand, and only a province located between Cambodia and the Gulf of Siam. Those. So in a such large distinctive region of the country as Isan, buses from Ekkamai bus station do not go. At first of all Eastern bus terminal can be used by tourists and locals who want to get from Bangkok to Pattaya, to Koh Chang and Koh Samet, to Trat, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, etc.

Ekkamai bus terminal – ticket offices

Of course, tourists are primarily interested in Buses to Pattaya and the islands in the Gulf of Thailand – Koh Chang and Koh Samet. You can use buses to Pattaya every day from early morning until late at night at intervals from half an hour to 40 minutes (depending on time of day and place of arrival in Pattaya). A similar situation with the island of Samet (just do not look in posted on the page below schedule Bangkok bus – Samet, because the bus takes you to a only to ferry pier in the municipality Banphe to which route are performed once every hour from 03.30 am to 20.30 pm.

Remember that ferries are not used at night, so it’s best not to go at the last bus. For more information about how to get to the island of Samet from Bangkok and Pattaya can be found in a separate article. Wanting to get the bus to the Koh Chang Island should be checked at the ticket office if the bus go to the island directly (ie whether the price of the ticket ferry included), or a bus will take you only to the ferry pier, or even to the bus station in Trat. In the article “How to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang: all the ways” is written about this in more detail.

Inside of Ekkamai Bus Terminal in Bangkok

 

Bus schedule from Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) in Bangkok

 

(Click on a schedule for comfortable viewing)

Ekkamai Bus Terminal – bus schedule with fares

* In the above schedule may be change of departure time and the fares, which may vary slightly depending on the class of buses. I recommend using air-conditioned buses of the 1st class ticket which costs a little more expensive, but the more comfortable. However, the length of the longest route from Bangkok’s Eastern Bus Terminal, Ekkamai is usually not more than six hours, so if you want to save, you can use the night bus of second class or a bus departing early in the morning, when on the street and in the bus is not very hot.

I also want to remind you that there is an excellent service of search and ticketing on buses, ferries, trains and planes in Thailand and other Asian countries. You can see the schedule and fares online on your dates on the website farang.12go.asia. Very important that you can to reserve tickets and pay for them online. Also you you can see on the map where the point of landing to bus and point of destination on the map. Enjoy your trips in Thailand from Ekkamai bus station in Bangkok!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• 1. Nathon pier (Koh Samui)

• 2. Bangrak pier (Big Buddha pier)

• 3. Lipa Noi pier (Raja Pier)

• 4. Maenam pier (nothern part of Koh Samui)

Koh Samui piers map

Map of Koh Samui ferry piers

However, the high workload Nathon Pier is not mean that there are observed some queues and you need lose your time. On the contrary, all procedures take place very quickly on the approved standard schemes, and without loss of time. Ferries arrive according to the schedule and quickly unloaded. Then ferries again filled with cars, buses, motorbikes and ordinary passengers and and swim away in the right direction in order to quickly make room for mooring of next ferry.

If you read the article “Transport on Samui  – routes and prices”, you already aware of the fact that Nathon is the starting point of the majority of routes songthaew (passenger pick-ups, or as they are often called by tourists, tuk-tuk), and that this area has the most transport connections to Ko Samui, which allows access to almost all the beaches of the island. From waterfront Nathon you can see great views to the small islands of the Gulf of Thailand.

Nathon ferry pier (Koh Samui)

If we talk about specific ferry companies of Koh Samui, Nathon pier is used mainly by  Seatran Ferry company (more details about this company, including the schedule of ferries, can be obtained in the article “Koh Samui ferry: schedule and prices”). As a result, when locals talk about Nathon pier, sometimes they be called Seatran pier (by the way, on some maps of the island you can see this name too). Keep in mind that this is all the same the main pier of the island of Koh Samui (Nathon ferry pier).

2. Bangrak pier (or Big Buddha Pier) 

This ferry terminal is located in the northern part of the island (near the north-east) on the same name beach. By the way, on some maps and road signs you can find this beach called Big Buddha, because of its location near the temple with a statue of the Golden Buddha, which has a height of 12 meters. Accordingly, and located on the beach of Koh Samui ferry pier is often called the Big Buddha pier and mark it on the maps as the Big Buddha Pier.

Bangrak ferry pier (Big Buddha pier)

Because this Koh Samui pier (Bangrak) located in the northern part of the island,  it not very convenient for the ferry to the mainland, so it is more often used to transport passengers to the popular tourist destination – Koh Phangan and Koh Tao islands, the first of which is known as a venue for monthly beach party – Full Moon Party in Thailand, and the second is famous not only beautiful beaches, but also excellent conditions for snorkeling and diving (including training).

3. Lipa Noi pier (Raja Pier)

This ferry pier located on Koh Samui and practically in the middle of eastern coast –  in the southern part of Lipa Noi Beach, which is pretty good beach, but is not particularly popular with tourists. Since this ferry terminal is used mainly only ferry companies Raja Ferry, that on some maps of Koh Samui and it is indicated: Raja Ferry Pier, or just Raja Pier. For more information about this beach (as well as all others on the island) can be found in a separate article entitled “Koh Samui beaches: detailed description”.

Lipa Noi ferry pier (Raja Pier)

Immediately, I note only that the Samui pier is not very convenient to use for the reason that it is located at some distance from the main ring road of the island – Main Road, where runs routes of inexpensive songthaew (local transport). As a result, often tourists are faced with the fact that they need to get to the popular beaches of the island, using a taxi on Samui (in the form of a motorbike, classic car taxi or simply  local drivers, which want earn some money. Needless to say, such transport will be much more expensive than the standard fare of songthaew (maximum of 60 baht in day time).

4. Maenam pier (nothern part of Koh Samui)

Maenam pier (nothern part of Koh Samui)

Located on the same name beach, which is located in the central part of the northern seaside of Koh Samui. This ferry pier small, but equipped with everything you need to take daily, and ferries to the mainland (to the pier Chumpon), as well as on the island of Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao (to which the pier is located closest to the Koh Samui, however the majority of ferry boats go on Koh Tao only after stop on Koh Phangan). In addition to the small ferry, pier is actively used by Lomprayah company for passenger flights between these islands on high-speed catamarans.

Due to the much smaller workload, this Koh Samui Pier is more scenic, aided and measured environment on the same beach. Also on the beach next to the pier, you can find a very calm environment and clean water for swiming. You must know, that  on the island of Koh Samui have other piers, but they are more used by local residents, fishermen and mooring private speedboats. Hopefully, the information in the article about Koh Samui ferry piers, was useful to you and now you will be much easier to plan the program of his visit to the island.

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Motorbike-taxi in Pattaya
  

• Songthaew-taxi in Pattaya
  

• Classic taxi service in Pattaya
  

Motorbike-taxi in Pattaya

I’ll start with the most accessible, widespread and, in the opinion of many tourists, a dangerous kind of city taxi – mototaxi (or motorbike-taxi). Walking around Pattaya (and other cities of the country), you will surely notice a lot of motobikes run by locals in colored vests (green, red, yellow, etc.). These Thai people are moto-taxi drivers, operatively carrying their passengers to their destination or returning to their permanent parking spot, trying to find passengers at the same time. I not accidentally write passengers, because in Pattaya and in general in Thailand, three or more people on a motorbike is a common thing.

Moreover, more than once I saw how a whole Thai family of 4 and even 5 people moved on motobike. At the same time, the policemen did not care about this. Imagine how happy will be our road police, if they will met such a “gift” on the road :). But I’m a bit distracted. Finding motorbike-taxi in Pattaya is not a problem even in places that are not tourist. As a rule, they are on duty at intersections, near major stores, just on the street under special canopies from the sun. In addition, motorbike taxi drivers often attract the attention of tourists with a sound signal if they see the latter as going. By the way, you can see the classic parking of motorbike taxi almost near the every of big crossroads  in pattaya and other thai cities and resorts.

Motorbike taxi in Pattaya – fast transport for 1-2 passengers

This is due primarily to the very common opinion that the walking foreigner (farang) is one who has not yet found a taxi in Pattaya, and not at all someone who just wants to walk. In most cases, this is really so, because in the hot sun even the Thais themselves prefer not to walk and actively use the services of mototaxists. I was sometimes a little strained by such increased attention to my person from the mototaxists, when I just walked to various places in Pattaya, which are not quite in tourist places and which can not be quickly considered when traveling by transport.

The cost of mototaxi services depends on a number of factors: distance, time of day, number of passengers (1 or 2), destination and availability of luggage. The cheapest way is a short trip up to 2 km, for example, to the nearest grocery store (although in Pattaya it will be difficult for you to find such a store more than 500 meters, ie not within walking distance). Usually the cost of a short trip is 30 baht. If on the  motorbike-taxi will be ride two passengers, then it is quite realistic to bargain for 50 or even 40 baht for the same section of the road. On average, the cost of a motorcycle taxi ride in Pattaya is 50-60 baht per person or 100 -150 baht when you need to travel a long distance, for example, from Pattaya Naklua to Bali Hai Pier or from Pratamnak Cape to Pattaya Northern Bus Station with a suitcase (yes, do not be surprised, the suitcase for mototaxi is not at all an obstacle).

But this is after bargaining, because every self-respecting motorbike-taxi driver never immediately calls the minimum price, for which he agrees to take you to the right place. By the way, useful advice from personal experience. During the bargaining, do not rely too much on the fact that all Thais know the English numerals well. So, one day I came back from the souvenir store Lukdod and agreed that the mototaxist would take me for 60 baht (the original price to Walking Street was 100 baht). When we arrived at the place, the taxi driver, having received the promised 60 THB, began to resent and show on the phone a figure of 80, repeating “sixty baht.”

It’s good that there were other mototaxists near by with which I managed to convince my that the “sixty” are just 60, not 80. Therefore, I advise always in the bidding process to use the same phone and draw on the screen figures, and not rely on hearing ( If you do not have a phone with you, he will definitely be with a Thai). Also, some motobike taxi drivers like at the end of the journey, when you pay with them, to demand an amount that is more than the original agreement. As I understand, they do it “just in case”, but you can just smile and say that the arrangement was such and such. Usually they also smile after that and say OK.

About the fact that many consider motorbike-taxi a dangerous mode of transport. The truth is there, but in my opinion the danger comes solely from the presence of farangs on the road, many of whom like to ride “under the degree” during the rest. In the ability of the mototaxists themselves to manage with their iron friend, I have never had any doubts, so I do not think that one should be afraid of falling or that one can fly into a pillar or a truck. What should be feared when riding a mototax is that the front wind will spoil the hairstyle. Therefore, the ladies who are very concerned about this, I advise you to use other types of taxi in Pattaya.

Songthaew-taxi in Pattaya – not the most comfortable, but inexpensive transport

Songthaew-taxi in Pattaya 

It is an ordinary songthaew ( passenger pickup truck with two benches and a roof), which I described in detail in the article “Transport in Pattaya – public transport routes on the map”. The only difference is that this transport goes not on a certain route, and where you need it. Due to the fact that a large number of people can accommodate in the passenger compartment of songthaew, this method is especially beneficial for large families or companies. Even if you are traveling with three other person, the total cost of 120-200 baht per trip per passenger is no more than 50 baht, which is already cheaper than the motorbike taxi. Plus the security of the mode of transport still higher, and luggage can be placed on a bench or on the floor, rather than keep the hand while driving, as it has to do when riding a motorcycle.

Taxi fare in Pattaya also depends on time of day and distance. Of course, in the daytime this type of transport is much cheaper than at night. In this case, it is necessary to bargain during the day: everything is the same as in the case of motorbike taxi. If you want to drive from Walking Street in the middle of the night to a hotel located in the north of the resort (Pattaya Naklua) or in the Jomtien area, you need to be ready for the declared price of 400 and even 500 baht. By the way, a few years ago it was quite possible to travel the indicated distance and for 300 baht, but rich foreign tourists finally spoiled the Thais and they practically do not want to bargain, especially if there are no competitors nearby.

Finding a songthaew-taxi in Pattaya is the easiest next to popular tourist sites: bus terminal and bus stations, markets, supermarkets, hypermarkets and shopping centers, at the Bali Hai Pier, from where many resort guests travel to the beaches of Koh Lan. By the way, it is not at all necessary to look for a special songthaew-taxi, because at the resort it is easy to “take off” any empty passenger pickup, which previously was considered a public transport and was waiting for its 10-baht passengers. After tuk-tuk (songthaew) turns into a taxi, it completely passes to your disposal and does not pick up the other passengers.

Classic taxi service in Pattaya – the most comfortable, but not cheap transport

Classic taxi service in Pattaya

The most common for tourists is the kind of taxi in Pattaya, which is a classic car with air conditioning. Externally, such a taxi in Pattaya is easy to distinguish by a bright yellow-blue and yellow-green color. This type of taxi is just beginning to spread in the resort but number of cars are not so much, as in other cities, so it’s not always possible to simply stop even an empty car on a city street. The easiest way is to find a free car near shopping centers, markets or bus stations, however sometimes the best way is to book a car by phone of taxi service in Pattaya. Although in 2017 the classic taxi in Pattaya is already about twice as large as it was in 2014.

The most convenient time for using classic taxi cars in Pattaya is in the evening. In a day time cars away from shopping centers can be really small amount, and many cars parked at the pavement without a driver. Once I saw that the taxi driver slept so sweetly at the wheel that I was ashamed to wake him. But with the onset of darkness, the classic taxi becomes noticeably larger, especially near the shopping centers of Pattaya. By the way, if you still decide to use an taxi service in Pattaya without a preliminary order, I recommend that you pay attention to the windshield: if the taxi is available, a luminous sign indicates this. Those. If the lamps do not burn, the taxi rides on the call and there is no sense in trying to stop it on the city street.

Since yellow-green taxis work for organized companies, they are required to carry passengers using meters. Therefore, if the taxi driver initially tries to name the price and does not include the counter, hint to him that you will only go with taxi-meter.  Usually after that the counter will be includes, and your trip is cheaper than it would be in case of a pre-agreed price. I remind you that due to the fact that there is a gas cylinder in the luggage compartment of many taxis, you should not expect that you can get to the right place with five passengers and with luggage on one car. In the latter case, it is better to hire a taxi minivan, having informed about it in the taxi service during the order.

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By the way, the easiest way to order a taxi in Pattaya, provided that your Thai is far from perfect, you can always be at your hotel, asking the employee about this at the front desk (it is advisable to leave a little tip for it). You can order a taxi and on special racks in the street, but there prefer passengers who need to go not to the terrain, but to the airport. Also, a taxi to Pattaya can be ordered even before arrival in the country, so that the driver met you right at the airport and drove to the resort to the hotel doors. But this is the case if you do not want to save much and get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya cheaply, as I told in the relevant article.

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Phuket – Koh Samui

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Flights from Phuket to Koh Samui
  

• Travel from Phuket to Koh Samui by bus and ferry
  

• Minibus and taxi from Phuket to Koh Samui
  

• Where to buy tickets for the bus from Phuket to Koh Samui online
  

• Getting From Phuket to Koh Samui by car
  

The islands of Phuket and Koh Samui are different from each other in many ways, because these islands are located in the waters of the various oceans. This means that to get from one island to the other only by sea impossible (unless, of course, you do not own a big yacht, which can overcome the route Phuket Samui, around Thailand and mainland Malaysia and Singapore). More than a simple and affordable way for the average tourist – flights by plane or a combination of land and sea transport, which will be discussed in the article. Immediately warn that during of planning this route you should be serious, otherwise the road may take a whole day.

Flights from Phuket to Koh Samui

By long tradition, air travel  “Koh Samui – Phuket” and “Phuket – Koh Samui” are the fastest and most expensive way to get from one tropical island to another. Thanks to direct flights, an established airline Bangkok Airways, flight between the islands takes only 55 minutes. With the help of  located below the search form you can fast find and compare cost of airline tickets in all of airline companies and travel agencies and always possible to know how much this will cost airfare on your dates.  For example, in December 2016 the most affordable tickets can be purchased for $88 one way and from $184 per flight in both directions (in Thai currency – 3000 and 6450 THB respectively)

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As I wrote in the article “Koh Samui Airport – detailed review”, high flight costs is primarily due to the policy of the airline Bangkok Airways, which owns Samui airport and which  does not allow to use this airport for flights to low-cost airlines. As long as the island is not to build a new airport, which will be municipal, we can hardly count on the fact that the tickets will be much cheaper. Also, does not make much sense and fly from Phuket to Surat Thani, and from there to get to Samui by ferry, because there is no direct flight, and flights with transfers, not only occupy more than half a day, but are often more expensive than a direct air flight. Therefore, my personal opinion is that the use of or direct flights from Phuket to Koh Samui, or you have to choose a different way to overcome this distance.

Travel from Phuket to Koh Samui by bus and ferry

The direct distance between the islands of Phuket and Koh Samui, just 255 km away, but due to the geographical location of this two islands, for land transport route will be longer up to 80 km. However, even 335 kilometers is quite a short distance to travel on the bus and overcoming the last stretch of the way to the ferry. In comparison with air travel, this option is more than six times cheaper, so enjoys great demand. For 500-700 baht you can immediately buy an integrated ticket for bus, which also includes the ferry to the island of Koh Samui. The price depends from what the transport company you choose and from the class of bus. If you buy tickets for the  bus in day time, do not forget about the thai hot weather and better to use buses of 1st class air-conditioned.

Bus from Koh Samui to Phuket – cheapest way

The trip from the new bus terminal in Phuket to the Nathon pier on Koh Samui takes about 7 hours, 4.5 hours of which falls on the bus transfer, 1.5 hours – the time on the ferry. Rest of the time is necessary to wait for the ferry, loading-unloading and sanitary stopover (you can eat, go to the toilet and stretch your legs a bit). As a result, even after leaving the island of Phuket in the morning, you can get to Samui, about half of the fourth day. You will have enough time to find a suitable hotel before dark and take a dip at one of the beaches of Koh Samui. By the way, to find the best hotel at the lowest price, you can use search form from Hotellook. I myself always use this service that helps you fast find the best price on hotels once all hotel reservation systems.

Overcome reverse route from Koh Samui to Phuket also is not difficult. To do this it is best to purchase an integrated ticket for the ferry + bus to Phuket. These tickets can be purchased not only at the ferry pier of Samui in the offices of ferry companies, but also in street travel agencies of the island. In the latter case, the transfer includes delivery to the pier from your hotel, but the price is a little higher – around 600 baht. On the other hand, public transport of Koh Samui and taxis on the island is not very cheap, so the overpayment will be not big or it does not exist at all.

Minibus and taxi from Phuket to Koh Samui

Since the distance between Phuket and Koh Samui by the standards of a taxi rather big, the fee for a trip on this route is around 3,500 Baht, which is comparable to the cost of a direct air flight. The benefit in this case is only noticeable when you move two or three passengers. The truth should take into account the fact that the most likely route of taxi to Koh Samui from Phuket usually will be finished on the Donsak pier. Usually taxi drivers do not want to waste time on the ferry. They can be understood, because it is in general not necessary. In a similar way you will probably need to get from Koh Samui to Phuket by taxi. First you need to get by the ferry to the  mainland. And near Donsak pier or even in Surat Thani look for a taxi.

You need to use big ferry during the way from Phuket to Koh Samui

Using a taxi between the islands of Phuket and Samui will reduce the travel time in the best case for 1-1.5 hours in comparison with the regular buses. The similar time is required to travel on the route Phuket – Koh Samui (or back) on a comfortable minibus, which can go from a bus terminal in Phuket on a schedule, and to carry out a transfer from popular Phuket beaches, organized by one of the local tour companies. In the latter case, In the latter case, I advise immediately clarify the planned change transport on a route: small offices often have “sin” that make your trip very “fun”  and a long as a result of necessary several changes transport in the way from one island to the other.

Where to buy tickets for the bus from Phuket to Koh Samui online

Of course, the most famous way to purchase tickets between cities in Thailand – ticket offices at bus terminals. But if you want a guaranteed buy one or more tickets on big bus or minibus on the desired route and the right time, you should buy tickets in advance. This means that you have to visit the bus terminal twice: to buy the ticket and to board the bus for a day trip. It’s not very convenient, because Phuket is very expensive transport, especially taxis. Therefore, the purchase of tickets for the bus from Phuket to Koh Samui – a good opportunity to save money and do not spend your time on unnecessary trips to the Phuket Bus Terminal. To date, the best and trusted service for the purchase of tickets for transport in Thailand and other Asian countries is farang.12go.asia.

Using the search form, located above, it easy to find and book your transport between Phuket and Koh Samui. If you choose as the point of departure of Phuket airport, the cost can be high because of the additional transfert at the bus terminal of the island. Therefore, it is better to look for a bus ticket to Koh Samui, departing from the bus station in Phuket. In the search form is already listed the points of departure and destination, so you can just enter the date and find out the cost and availability of buses on your dates. If you are interested in this service, you can also read reviews of the transport companies. I am sure that for many will be an advantage the fact that the service works on many languages. By the way, with the help of the search form can be found not only tickets for the bus, but a taxi to Koh Samui from Phuket Town or from the airport of the island.

Getting From Phuket to Koh Samui by car  

Many travelers to Southeast Asia have long appreciated the charm of the use of movement throughout the country with using the leased vehicle. The method is not always the cheapest,  but the sense of freedom that gives rental motorbike in Thailand or rent a car in this country, sometimes can not be measured by money. Roads throughout the path of good quality, but do not forget that traffic in Thailand has its own characteristics, so on the all the way you need be careful not to distract the person who is currently sitting behind the wheel.

Getting From Phuket to Koh Samui by car

The optimal route between Phuket and Samui is able today to offer any GPS navigator and a simple service Google Maps, so it does not make sense to describe it in detail. It should be noted is that for the transport of motorbike or car on the ferry will be charged the appropriate fee. You can read more about it in the article “Ferries to Koh Samui – schedule and fares.” Also you must consider the fact during using of the rental vehicle that some small car rental offices on Koh Samui are allow to use their vehicles only on the island. Therefore it is better to use a reputable international company with a wide choice of cars and with reliable insurance. Especially now that you can easily find a car rental at the best price online using a service RentalCars, which cooperates only with the best companies.

Also keep in mind that not all ferries to Koh Samui is cargo-passenger, ie can take on board the vehicle. Maybe someone from the readers, after reading the article, thought about why the article says nothing about how to get to the mainland from the island of Phuket and where to find the timetable on Phuket ferries. However, the situation is simpler than it may seem: Phuket is located close to the mainland and already long been connected with it with the help of a reliable road bridge, so the ferry on this section of the route from Phuket to Koh Samui you not need to use. I hope that the information on this page has been able to convince you that to get from Phuket to Koh Samui is not difficult and now you can easily visit both islands in Thailand. Enjoy your Thai vacation!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Distance from Bangkok to Koh Samui
  

• Flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui
  

• Flight and Ferry from Bangkok to Koh Samui
  

• Bus from Bangkok to Koh Samui
  

• Train from Bangkok to Koh Samui
  

Distance from Bangkok to Koh Samui

Official distance between Bangkok and Koh Samui, 765 km away, but you should understand that this distance may be larger or smaller depending on what kind of transport you choose to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui. The direct distance between the center of the capital of Thailand and this coconut Island is 470 km (or 294 miles). Such a short and direct path can be done only on your own or a rented helicopter that will cost a lot of money and few tourists can afford to pay for such transport. Bangkok is located on the banks of the big river, which flows into the Gulf of Thailand. So in theory it is possible to get to Samui from Bangkok on the water, but this is again an exclusive and very expensive way. And the distance between Koh Samui and Bangkok with using water transport to measure it would be very difficult.

However, the direct distance between the airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and Ko Samui is almost the same and is 465 km (290 miles). Distance between Don Muang Airport in Bangkok and Koh Samui airport is 890 km (556 miles), but the direct flights between the two airports is not, so that distance does not matter much. When using ground transport distance between Bangkok and Koh Samui is divided into two sections. The first of them – the roads on which you need to drive about 730 km. A second section – the ferry to the island of Koh Samui, the distance between the ferry piers on the mainland and on the island – about 35 km.

Flights from Bangkok to Koh Samui

The first and most obvious for many tourists way to get to the island of Samui from Bangkok – use the local airlines. This method is the fastest and most comfortable, however, according to tradition, and the most expensive. Here it should be noted immediately that the direct flights to Koh Samui is currently performed only from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. If you arrive in Thailand at the airport, you can make a connecting flight to Samui and be on the island after only 1 to 1.5 hour flight. It should be remembered that you may need spend some time on the passport control, baggage claim and registration on the flight to Koh Samui, which can be carried out from a nearby terminal.

Using the search form belowбнщг can find a tickets at the best prices. You can find flight options from your nearest airport to Bangkok, and then second ticket for an additional flight to Koh Samui. Also, you can directly search for integrated tickets to all segments of the path to the island. Pick the options that are cheaper in price or more convenient for you. But you have to remember that when you buy individual tickets, you may encounter a situation where due to the delay of the first flight to Bangkok for a few hours you can be late for the flight Bangkok – Koh Samui, and in this case you not receive the compensation.

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If you will buy an integrated ticket to Koh Samui directly with a change in Bangkok, the first flight delay will result in a waste of time for you, but not the money, because you are all the same to deliver on Samui has a ticket on the next flight without having to pay extra. Also, when planning airfare to Koh Samui with transfer in Bangkok, if you fly from another country, you should consider the time it takes for customs and border control at the Bangkok airport (because domestic flights are operated from a different terminal).

Slightly more complex version airfare Bangkok – Koh Samui in when you arrive in Bangkok at  Don Muang airport, but later fly you need from Suvarnabhumi to the island. However, between two airports in Bangkok you can use good transport links, so you only need a little more time between air flights. Details about how to move, including the free, between the airports of the Thai capital can be found in the article “How to get from Bangkok airport to Pattaya.”

If we talk about the price of airfare to Bangkok – Koh Samui, it is from 3500 baht (about $ 100) and up depending on the time of year, the airline and the time remaining until the day of departure. What good is the variant, it’s the fact that almost do not need to waste precious vacation time, because flights are carried out very often, at least once per hour. In the evening and the morning time and at all times there are options for flights to Bangkok – Koh Samui, the difference between the time of departure which is only 10-15 minutes.

Thai Airways ticket office at the Koh Samui airport

If you are sure you want getting from Bangkok to Koh Samui on the plane, but did not dare to buy tickets in advance, you have the opportunity to contact the offices of the main airlines that operate flights along the direction you want. These offices are located at the airport Suvarnabhumi:

★ Bangkok Airways – the office is located on the 4th floor of the passenger terminal in the «F» sector. Tel. +66 (2) 134 38 88 and +66 (2) 134 39 60

★ Thai Airways – also on the 4th floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport, but in «B» sector. Tel. +66 (2) 288 70 00

Flight and Ferry from Bangkok to Koh Samui

Previous option is very convenient because of its speed and comfort, because you depart from Bangkok and arrive directly at the small private airport on the Koh Samui, which is located just a few kilometers from the popular beaches. The only drawback for many – a relatively high price, especially if you do not buy tickets in advance. However, there is an option that allows you to get from Bangkok to Samui a little slower, but much cheaper. We are talking about air travel from Bangkok to Surat Thani – the closest to the island of Koh Samui largest city and overcoming the remaining part of the journey by land and ferry transport.

Flights on the route Bangkok – Surat Thani are quite common during the day, and the cost is usually much more democratic. For example, if you use the search form, which is located above on this page in order to find the flights for the best prices from Bangkok to Surat Thani and to search for flights to Bangkok – Surat Thani, in the search results you will see a nice looking figures of $25 – $35 per flight in one side (depending on the airline and departure airport). You must remember that you can not use the ferries to Koh Samui at night. So if you arrive in Surat Thani in the evening – you have to spend the night in this city. On the page “How to get from Surat Thani to Koh Samui” you can read more about this situation.

Low-cost airlines – the most affordable way to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui by plane

Minimum prices for flights on the route Bangkok – Surat Thani for a long time kept the famous Asian low-cost airlines Air Asia, which fly planes from the Thai capital (Don Muang Airport) to your destination just 1 hour 5 minutes. However, it is now easy to find even more cheap, because the new low-cost airlines active in Thailand in this area – Nok Air and Lion Air. Use the search form you can easily find flights as low as 700 baht ($ 20). To understand a lot or a little is enough to know that the cost of public bus is often the same or even higher at a disproportionately greater duration of the way.

Of course, $20 or even $40 is not the whole cost of the road from Bangkok to Samui, because you need later to get to the ferry pier Donsak by bus or minibus (for about 200 baht), as well as to pay the ferry costs to the Koh Samui, which is 150 baht today. Those, airfare to Bangkok – Surat Thani should add approximately $ 11- $ 12. However, this amount is still at least two times lower than the direct flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui. More information about the ferry to the island of Koh Samui and other nearby islands are available in the article “The ferries to Koh Samui: schedule and cost.”

Bus from Bangkok to Koh Samui

Despite the opportunity to buy online cheap flights, many tourists from all over the world prefer to travel from Bangkok to Koh Samui on the bus, breaking the last part of the way on the ferry. Most often, this option is preferred by those who still do not know how to overcome the fear of flying in an airplane, or those travelers who are not able to pre-plan your vacation and buy cheap air tickets online. However, the option with the bus, there are some other benefits that will appreciate all the fans of budget travels.

Bus 1-st class on the way from Bangkok to Koh Samui

If the convenience of bus seats in the way –  it’s not so important parameter for you, you can buy a bus ticket to Koh Samui for less than 500 baht. If convenience is important for you, it is better to buy a ticket on the VIP bus, which costs about 950 baht, because the travel time to the island up to 10 hours +/- 5 minutes, depending on the bus company and the selected bus terminal in Bangkok, from which you are starting your way.  I recommend using the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, because every day from this station depart several buses to Koh Samui.  But if you choose the North Bus Terminal in Bangkok and arrive at the terminal shortly before the departure of the bus, you can have problem with vacant seats in the bus because there is only one bus daily from Bangkok to Ko Samiui from this bus terminal.

As I have already told in the article “How to get from Pattaya to Koh Samui: transport and fares”, advantage of VIP seats in the broader and comfortable chairs that are arranged, almost to the state of the bed, which is very important at night trip. By the way, the use of night buses in Thailand allows all travelers with a small budget to be able to get some savings. Because when you spend the night in the bus, you do not have to pay for accommodation at the hotel that night. I myself often use such a possibility, which can save both money and valuable vacation time in Thailand and other countries. In the night buses are usually cool, but most reputable bus companies give all passengers traveling rugs.

VIP-bus – the best way to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui

As a rule, when you travel by bus you arrive to the one of the ferry piers: Chumpon or Donsak. The first pier uses Lomprayah ferry company, and the second – the companies Seatran Ferry and Raja Ferry. I draw your attention that the ferries of named companies arrive on Samui island is not in the same place (to the various piers). Thus, the ferries of Lomprayah company arriving to the island pier in Maenam. Ferry of Seatran ferry company arrive at the main pier on Koh Samui – Nathon. And the ferries of  the Raja company will take you to the pier Lipa Noi in Koh Samui. On the page “Koh Samui piers – location and review” you will find more information about the ferry piers Koh Samui and will be able to see location of these piers on a map of the island.

If you want to plan your entire trip in advance, you can order tickets for the integrated bus + ferry  online on the page farang.12go.asia. Also (when you stay in Bangkok) you can use alternative option: to apply to one of the street travel agencies that offer options for sometimes more affordable price with buses, which departing directly from Bangkok’s famous Khao San Road. However, many of these buses for a long time do not have a very good reputation because of the theft of items during the journey. So be careful. In the photo below – integrated tickets from Bangkok to Samui. They include directly VIP tickets for the night bus (paper) and plastic cards to pay for the ferry to the island (such card must be inserted into the turnstile at the ferry pier in Donsak).

Two tickets to the VIP bus Bangkok – Samui and tickets for the Seatran ferry

Train from Bangkok to Koh Samui

The last option, which will be discussed in this article, it’s a train in Thailand, with which you can get from Bangkok to Samui. By choosing the variant, you need get to the main train station Hua Lampong in Thai capital, which is located near the eponymous station subway MRT Bangkok. Also, due to the relatively low cost compared to the metro of Bangkok, you can use a taxi, especially if there are no major traffic jams on the streets.

When you arrive at the railway station, you need to purchase a train ticket on the route Bangkok – Surat Thani (Surat Thani) The original name of the same station – Phun Pin Railway Station. I have not traveled on the Thai trains, but familiar advised to buy a ticket with air conditioning on the bottom shelf (there are cheaper tickets with the fan). Trains go to the desired station, about 11 hours, which is better to spend lying down and without suffering from the heat, especially at night.

Not a very popular way to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui – the use of the train

Generally a day from Bangkok to Surat Thani go about 11 trains (data 2016), while their cost ranges from $ 20 (600 baht) and to nearly $ 60, depending on the type of train and carriage class. Those. the most expensive option – a compartment in the fast train, and the cheapest – in the usual train wagon with seating. There is something like the trains with even lower cost, but do not think that is the best option to get from Bangkok to Samui, because in the travel better have fun and not feel uncomfortable. By the way, for more information about the classes and types of Thai train you can read the article “Train in Thailand: a detailed overview” (article in preparation).

After arriving by train to Surat Thani, and you all have to get to one of the ferry terminals in local songthaew or buses, or use the more convenient option in my mind: to buy an integrated ticket to Koh Samui. This can be done directly at the exit from the railway station in Surat Thani, where after the train arrival you can find several bus, ready to take you to the island of Koh Samui for 250-300 baht. This price including the cost of the ferry from the pier Donsak (150 baht), so it is a good option. Travel time from the train station to the Koh Samui island will be about 2.5 hours, and later get to your hotel or the selected beach on the island, will help you transport of Samui.

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Hopefully, after reading this article until the end, you will be able to decide for themselves how to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui: fast and expensive or cheap and with less comfort. Bon voyage and enjoy your holidays on Koh Samui!

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In order not to waste your time in vain, at first will be described the simplest and most convenient way to get from Suvarnabhumi to Khao San Road, and just below – other types of transport, information on which can be useful in cases where the use of the first method for you is not possible or when for various reasons, these methods are more advantageous or convenient for you. At the end of this article you can also find a map of the area Khao San Road in Bangkok, on which are marked for cheap hotels and the cost of living in them (prices in USD).

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Transfer from airport to Khao San Road for 120 baht
  

• A taxi from the airport to Khao San Road
  

• From Suvarnabhumi to Khao San by Skytrain + taxi
  

• Cheap hotels on the Khaosan Road in Bangkok
  

Transfer from airport to Khao San Road for 120 baht

In 2016, an opportunity to get from Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok to Khao San Road, with using vans of Suvarnbhumi Travel company. The method is suitable for everyone, but especially for those tourists who are still poorly oriented in Bangkok and its transport system. Agree, very convenient to make landing in Minibus at Suvarnabhumi Airport and get out of it directly at Khaosan Road, without having to change vehicles during a route somewhere in the city. Minibuses depart on schedule from 07-00 am to 23-00 pm with an interval of one hour. The end point of the trip is the intersection of Khao San Rd and Chakrabongse Rd.

Transport company stipulated that the tourists arriving in Bangkok, as a rule, have a minimum of a backpack or suitcase, so only 10 passenger seats provided in every minibus. To be sure to get from the airport to Khao San Road at the right time, you can book a place in advance by using the service of cheap transport in Asia (direct link to the route to the Khao San Road). You only need to enter a travel date, and select the right time (right at the top of the list will be cars business class, and just below – Minibus with cheap fare). As you can see, the cost of this way on the minibus in all cases will be the same, and is 120 baht (or slightly less than $ 3.5 at current exchange rates). Payment is possible by credit card or through PayPal. You must know, that use this service is convenient and profitable for other journeys in Thailand also.

Minibus Suvarnabhumi Travel – the best way to get to Khao San Rd From Airport

Travel time to the Khao San Road is just one hour. Minibuses are equipped with air conditioning, so even in the hottest weather Bangkok heat will not bother you. By the way, using an online booking trips from Suvarnabhumi on Khao San Road, you have the opportunity to avoid a currency exchange at the airport, where traditionally unfavorable exchange rate for tourists. Among the disadvantages of this method of travel is only possible to allocate the inability to use it at night, but the same lack of inherent and other options using the urban public transport.

I can also advise not to book passage on the route immediately after your arrival in Bangkok, because passport control and baggage may be slightly delayed. Even if all the procedures at Suvarnabhumi passed quickly and you are left with free time to your minibus, you can always go to a cafe or food court at the airport and pass the time with a few portions of Thai dishes, buy a sim card in one of the offices of mobile operators in the arrival zone or buy anything from food and non-alcoholic beverages in Thailand  – in the 7Eleven or Family Mart stores.

A taxi from the airport to Khao San Road

Despite the fact that the option of a taxi from Suvarnabhumi airport to Khaosan street for obvious reasons, is more expensive than the transfer by minibus, this option also has the right to life. As I wrote in the previous section, you can use minibus only from 07-00 till 23-00, but taxis operate around the clock. For more information about using a taxi from Suvarnabhumi Airport can be found in a separate article entitled “How to get from the airport in Bangkok – all ways.” Immediately, I note that the trip to the Khao San Road will cost about 350-400 baht (about US $ 11.5), subject to a small bargain with the driver. If you pay for a taxi at the airport counter, you will have to pay 450 baht without bargain (50 baht – airport fees).

Of course, it is more than three times more expensive than a trip from Suvarnabhumi to Khaosan Road by Minibus. But only if you are traveling alone. And if you have two or three friends, the cost of the trip becomes almost comparable. However, when using a taxi you will have to change at the airport some amount currency in the Thai baht, because you can not  to pay currency to the taxi driver. But in this case there is a good alternative: you can use KiwiTaxi from Bangkok airport. In this case, you can count on the fact that right in the arrivals hall you will be greeted (as a VIP person) driver holding a sign with your surname and after meet you he will drive you at a pre-agreed address.

Sometimes a taxi – the easiest way to get from Suvarnabhumi to Khao San Road

In this case, you can also count on the possibility of paying by your bank card Visa or Mastercard and other advantages, which you can read in the separate article. Of course, in this case not be able to bargain with the driver, but i know that for many travelers more important comfort in the way, not a small economy. As in the case of transfers, you can use KiwiTaxi not only for trips from the airport, but in the opposite direction, as well as for longer journeys to Thailand.

From Suvarnabhumi to Khao San by Skytrain + taxi

This option is a kind of alternative to the two methods, and involves the use of two modes of transport in Bangkok described above. Initially, you need to go down to the lowest floor of the airport and take advantage of the railway line Airport Rail Link, connecting Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport. I recommend using the blue train City Line, which cost three times cheaper than the red train Express Line. Read more about the use of these trains and the difference you can find on page “How to get from the airport in Bangkok.”

The second step in this case there is a trip by taxi or motorcycle taxi directly from Phaya Thai Metro station to Khao San Road. As a rule, near the descent from the aerial platform place you can find a motorcycle taxi (you can recognize them by special bright vests). On the same street of the city, you can see a lot of taxis and you can find a free car. The cost of a trip to Khao San Road is approximately 100-120 Baht (in the case of a motorcycle taxi – this fare per person). Taxi drivers in this area of ​​the city is not always willing to negotiate and use the meter, but taxi in Bangkok a lot and there is a chance to find compliant. Among the disadvantages of this method can be noted while the trains from the airport – from 6 am to midnight. And, of course, motorcycle taxi is better not to use when you are traveling with a suitcase or with big  backpack for travel.

Cheap hotels on the Khaosan Road in Bangkok

When planning to stay for a few days at Khao San Road in Bangkok, you can book your cheap hotel in the area of ​​the city. Of course, you can find a hotel on the spot, but if you are traveling with a heavy backpack or suitcase, the search of the hotel is not very convenient, especially when in the midst of the fun, and Khao San Road, this street together with its surrounding alleys filled with tourists. In this case, it’s much easier to book a hotel for themselves at Khao San Road in advance and not lose a lot of time in Bangkok. Especially because with the help of the map of hotels (located below) you can find options that will suit you as the level of comfort and price for the hotel.

Map of hotels on Khao San Road with prices

In general, the article does not consider all the options that allow you to get from the airport to Suvarnabhumi Khaosan Road. There are still inexpensive buses on which you can get cheaply from the bus terminal near the airport (there from Suvarnabhumi can be reached by free shuttle-bass) and city buses passing by Phaya Thai station. But all these cheap buses without air conditioning and with a large number of passengers – not the best conditions for a comfortable travel. Therefore it is better to use more convenient and affordable ways to comfortably get to Khao San Road from Suvarnabhumi Airport, which are described in this article. I wish you pleasant journeys!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• How to get to Koh Tao from Bangkok. Bus + ferry
  

• How to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao by train and ferry
  

• From Bangkok to Koh Tao – flights
  

How to get to Koh Tao from Bangkok. Bus + ferry

One of the cheapest ways to enable easy access from Bangkok to Koh Tao, is a combined bus + ferry route. The advantage of this variant is not only the lowest price, but also the ability to use night transport. Of course, night trip by bus can be a bit tedious, but I personally often use night buses to move in Thailand. Firstly, it is very time-saving in my thai travels, and secondly – allows you to save money for living, because everyone can sleep for a few hours on the bus (without hotel in this night).

Speaking directly about route Bangkok – Koh Tao, at first you can find joint routes, which sells Lomprayah company – one of the most famous sea ferry companies in Thailand. The company’s office is located near Khao San Road in Bangkok, however, book and buy joint tickets bus + ferry, you can advance on the Internet. I usually use the service transportation booking in Asia (direct link to all the options of transport from Bangkok to Koh Tao). This international service offers many options for combined routes with different costs and different modes of transport. On the left side of result page you can see icon to determine which vehicles will be used on a particular route, and after – to read the description and the name of the transport companies.

At the time of this writing, the cost of the joint bus + ferry route from Bangkok to Koh Tao by Lomprayah company is 1150 THB (or 30 euros). Bus from Bangkok goes to 21-00 from the area of ​​the street Khao San Road, but you must come to the Lomprayah office no later than the 20-00 (on the bus line registration begins at 19:00). If all of the passengers already in place, the bus can start departure before 21-00, such as 20-30! The office of the company Lomprayah you get a special sticker on luggage, bus tickets with the numbers of seats and tickets for the ferry (be sure to save before the end of the trip). If possible, ask the seats in the first half of the bus salon, away from the toilet! If you arrived to Thailand in Suvarnabhumi Airport and you just want to go to Koh Tao, you can take advantage of special Minibus from the Suvarnabhumi Airport on Khaosan Road for 120 THB, and a little further to walk to the office of the company Lomprayah or stay in one of the cheap local hotels.

How to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao – Lomprayah office on the map

It is a night trip, therefore is better to buy water and snacks still in Bangkok, because stops on the route is not provided (only sanitary stop with the possibility to eat in the small cafe (after midnight). The bus can be cool from the air conditioning, but there are blankets. In the opinion of some tourists, some bus on this route are not entirely new, but the bus takes you to the pier in Chumphon region, and the last part of the route to the island of Ko Tao takes place on the high-speed catamaran of Lomprayah. If you suffer from seasickness, better to take a special pill for motion sickness. Speed ferry arrival to the island of Koh Tao in 08-45 If the night buses – not your option, you can use the morning bus from Bangkok in 06-00. Despite the less travel time (about 9 hours), on the island of Koh Tao you’ll only in 15-00 (03-00 p.m.). Koh Tao island is located about 70 km from the mainland.

Just I want to note that this is the most convenient way to get to Koh Tao from Bangkok by bus and ferry, but not the cheapest. If you want to try to save money or you do not like the schedule, you can overcome all the way alone. First you need to get to the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, find buses to the city of Chumphon (there are the nearest to the island of Koh Tao ferry piers). Bus price in this case – 300-400 baht per person. After this you need get to one of the ferry piers in Chumphon (50-100 baht), and then – just to pay the ferry to Koh Tao (from 500 to 700 baht, depending on the ferry company and time of departure). Given the fact that before the Southern Bus Terminal it’s best to get a taxi in Bangkok to save a lot of money does not work, and often a separate trip not only more difficult, but turns even more expensive than buying an joint ticket.

How to get from Bangkok to Koh Tao by train and ferry

If you prefer not to use the buses for long trips in Thailand, you can use the night train to Chumphon + ferry to the island. Depending on the carriage class, the cost of a trip from Bangkok to Koh Tao is from 1200 baht to 2200 baht. In the first case – a trip in the second-class carriages with conventional chairs and fans. The most expensive option – a trip in sleeper carriage of first class. However, the best option if you want a good night’s sleep and save money – the second-class carriages with a fan or air conditioning. By the way, because of the very low temperature in air-conditioned carriages, many prefer the cheaper option – sleeping car 2nd class with fans. Joint ticket Bangkok – Koh Tao in the latest version will cost 1570 THB.

Given the constant delays of thai trains, you should not be afraid of the transplant in 1-2 hours

How to get to Hua Lampong railway station in Bangkok (including how to get from Suvarnabhumi Airport) you can find on the link in this sentence on a separate page. If you buy an integrated ticket train + ferry to Koh Tao, you will be taken free of charge from the railway station in Chumphon to the ferry pier. If you buy a ticket on the train from Bangkok to Chumphon, you can find the company Lomprayah office directly at the train station in Chumphon and buy a ticket on the ferry directly there. Given the fact that the train in Thailand is often delayed, I recommend ordering tickets online combined to select options, where between the train and the ferry has a small margin of time (1.5-2 hours).

You can buy tickets for the integrated train + ferry in advance, using the famous search service in Asia. Next to each option you can read reviews from travelers as well as to see the place of embarkation and disembarkation (Map opens when you click on the name of the start or end point of the route in the search results). For example, when choosing a company Chumphon Fame Tours, you may notice that the office of this company is not located at the railway station (as is the case with Lomprayah), and a little further and you will need to pass a couple of minutes on a city (400 m., see picture below).

Path from the railway station to office of Chumphon Fame Tours (400 meters)

From Bangkok to Koh Tao – flights

Since Koh Tao not have international or domestic airport, you have to be prepared for the fact that part of the road you will in any case have to do on land and water. Using a flight from Bangkok to Koh Tao is possible, if you want to overcome all the way as quickly as possible, and not low on money. This is the fastest, but also the most expensive option. The closest airport to the island of Koh Tao is the airports in Chumphon and Koh Samui. You can fly to Chumphon from Don Muang Airport in Bangkok for 1 hour. The cost of a ticket from 65 to 70 euros per ticket in the two sides, or about 35 euros for a one-way ticket. Schedule is not very convenient – early morning or evening. Most likely, it will be a low-cost airline Nok Air, and the best prices for airline tickets you can find through a search form below. From the airport in Chumphon you need to use local transport for getting to one of the ferry piers and buy a ticket for the ferry to Koh Tao.

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If you want to get to Koh Samui from Bangkok, the flight would cost considerably expensive – about $ 100 one way. Read more about this – the article here. Every day is done many flights between Koh Samui and the capital’s airport, Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok Air airline). From Samui Airport, you need to get local transport to the pier to go to Koh Samui and Koh Tao (usually the first stop of ferry to Koh Phangan). Ferries between the islands of schedule you can see at this link (you need change date). Note: the last ferry Koh Samui ko Tao goes to 17-00 with Nathon pier, so you should use the morning planes from Bangkok, or you will be forced to spend the night on the island of Koh Samui and to go to Koh Tao on next day. The cost of the ferry Koh Samui – Koh Tao is from 600 to 700 baht, depending on the ferry company and, accordingly, depending a specific ferry pier of Koh Samui. Enjoy your travels!

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Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok: the location and review
  

• Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok: main directions
  

• Location of Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (how to get)
  

• Schedule of Northern Bus Terminal and purchase bus tickets online
  

Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok: the location and review

Northern Bus Terminal of Bangkok, also known under the name of the bus terminal Morchit (Mo Chit) or Chatuchak Bus Terminal, is located in the northern part of the capital on the street Kanpaengphetch 2 Rd, walking distance from the market Chatuchak and Chatuchak Park in Bangkok (from which, apparently, and gained its name). Building Bus Terminal Chatuchak (namely Chatuchak Bus Terminal you can see inscription) emblazoned on the front of the bus terminal in Bangkok, has three floors, large lounges, shops and food outlets are located both inside and near on the street.

If you have spare time, you can have a meal before a long journey by visiting for this one of two food courts, located on the several floors of this bus station (look for labeled pointer “Food Center”), or a few fast-food (Dunkin Donats, KFC), as well as the ubiquitous shops SevenEleven network. In this small shop you can buy not only products and some small things, which needed for rest and in your trip, but also non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks in Thailand, including local energy drinks, which can help cope with fatigue on long journeys.

Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok – pointers to the food court and to a toilet

Of course, on the territory of Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok you can find a toilet. Entrance fee – 3 baht. In this case it is useful to know that the toilet paper in the cabins are usually not, but it is possible to buy separately when entering (inexpensive). Also at the bus station Chatuchak there are several luggage deposit services. The cost of storage one luggage space – 50 baht. Do not leave valuables in the storage: often your luggage does not fit in the individual cells, but simply kept on shelves or even on the floor. Perhaps somewhere in the bus station you will find, and automatic luggage storage, but personally I have not seen.

When you are going to use the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, you have to remember that it is the largest bus terminal in the country. Almost every minute of the regular bus route starts from this bus station. Therefore, I advise you to come to the bus station in advance for buy a ticket in the right direction and later you can find the bus platform without haste. For your better visualize the scale of the bus station, you should knowing that for the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers is used more than a hundred bus platforms.

Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok – Waiting Room (almost always a lot of free seats)

In general, the queue at the ticket offices are usually absent or very small, so for a long time to stand in line, you almost never will. This is due to the fact that on the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (Morchit) a lot of ticket offices. Each of ticket office usually serving only one or two directions. Also at the bus station many branded offices that sell tickets for buses only certain bus company. Ticket office you can find inside the bus station as well as outside, close to the bus platforms. It is also possible to buy tickets for the bus at a location across the street from the bus terminal building. But I think it is better to use the normal ticket office inside the bus terminal or buy bus tickets through the Internet (about this is a little below).

Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok: main directions

 

North bus station serves primarily bus routes from the capital to the north of the country and a major northeast region of Thailand – Isan. However, the routes in the eastern and southern directions are also present, therefore to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui, Phuket, Krabi, Trat and other resorts is possible also, though the number of flights compared to other bus stations that serve the southern and eastern Thailand province, there will be several smaller. With regard to so popular resort in Thailand, as Pattaya, you can visit Northern Bus Terminal from the morning until late evening and find  buses, which depart to Pattaya every 40 minutes.

For the convenience of passengers, the ticket office of Northern bus station located separately: for example, the box office on the third floor serve passengers who need to get to the cities of the province of Isan or to Laos. That is why most Thai girls with distinctive appearance can be found there. On the first floor of the North Bus Station, you can buy tickets for buses to the north, such as Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, etc. Also on the first floor you can buy tickets for the areas that mostly caters to Eastern Bus Station Bangkok – Ekkamai. Above all, this Pattaya, Trat, Chantaburi, Chonburi, Rayong.

Ticket offices of North Bus Station in Bangkok – an inscription in Thai and English

To purchase a ticket on the bus should contact the appropriate ticket offices, on which you can read the direction, which you need (the top label in the Thai language, and little bit below and smaller font – in English). If you choose the bus route, it is better to purchase tickets for buses class 1 (blue or with a blue stripe on the board), because buses of 2nd class (red) can be without air conditioning and with many stops in the way.

If in the process of acquisition of having any difficulties, you can refer to the Help window, located on the ground floor, or take the help of bus employees (they are easily identified by a uniform – white shirt with gold buttons). Landing on the buses produced on the respective platforms. If you do not see where the platform number is indicated on the ticket, ask at the ticket office.

Location of Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (how to get)

Because the bus station is not directly next to subway stations (see. Figure below), you need to walk or about 1,200 meters, or use a taxi or motorbike taxi in Bangkok. The first option is useful when you walk without heavy luggage and there is an adequate supply of spare time – at the same time you can stroll through the beautiful landscaped Chatuchak park, through which runs the shortest route from Mo Chit Station of BTS Skytrain in Bangkok and Chatuchak Park MRT subway Bangkok. After  you cross the park, you need to pass under the high motorway, after which at ground level and is the street where the Northern bus station was built in Bangkok.

Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok on the map and the nearest BTS and MRT stations

If the free time you have a little, if you have a heavy backpack on your back, if you are traveling with a large suitcase or with small children, it is better to take a taxi or motorcycle taxi. The first option would cost about 45-50 THB (over the counter), and the second – 30 THB per person (motorbike taxi driver initially may declare a higher price, but below 30 THB no sense to bargain). Another inexpensive way to get to the North Bus Station in Bangkok – bus №77, stop of which you can find near the Victory Monument. Getting to that of memorial to you easily on the BTS Skytrain. The cost of the bus – 13 THB, but while taking into account traffic jams better to have a reserve of time, because the bus makes many stops and route of this bus to Northern bus terminal is not very short. Taxis use safer, faster and, if you have three passengers, even cheaper.

Schedule of Northern Bus Terminal and purchase bus tickets online!

Below is a schedule of the North Bus Terminal in Bangkok as of 2016 year. I draw your attention to that, that as well as any schedule, there may be some changes: in the time of departure and the cost of travel by bus on certain routes. Therefore it is better to arrive at the bus station to buy a ticket in advance and a couple of hours prior to departure (unless of course it’s not a bus to Pattaya, which runs very often).

From my own experience, I recommend not to use the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok to travel to the southern resorts of the country (Koh Samui, Krabi, Phuket) in case you want to buy a bus ticket in a day of your trip, and in Thailand at this period time of high tourist season. Twice I was faced with the fact that on the day of the trip there was no place in the evening buses nor to Krabi, nor to the Koh Samui. And I had to take a taxi for 300 baht to the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok, where a greater number of buses to the southern resorts.

If the buses from the Northern bus station in Bangkok on interesting you route goes only once a day (according to the schedule), it makes sense to buy a ticket for one or two days prior to departure. Of course, it is not convenient – go to the bus station second times for pre-purchase tickets. So often much easier to buy bus tickets online – using the popular service of booking transport in Asia. Especially since that this website is multilingual and there is a versions on the main languages of the world (link directly to the English version).

Use this service is very easy – simply fill in the search form your destination and your desired date and click “Find Tickets”. Then you will see actual schedule and cost of travel from Bangkok to town or thai resort, which you are interested. Currently, the table with the schedule of bus routes from the Northern Bus Terminal in Bangkok (2017) is in preparation and it will be added to this page later. I hope, the information about this bus station has been useful for you and you can easily use the Bus Terminal Chatuchak (Morchit) for travel in Thailand. Have a good trip!

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The post Northern Bus Terminal (Bangkok) – review, routes, fares first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

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Krabi International Airport

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Krabi airport – general information
  

• Scheme of Krabi airport (Thailand)
  

• Carriers and flights in Krabi airport
  

• Rent a car at Krabi Airport – benefits
  

• How to get from Krabi Airport to the popular resorts

• How to get to Krabi Airport from the popular resorts
  

Krabi airport – general information

The airport in Krabi, officially called Krabi International Airport, is located 7 km east of Krabi town, which is the center of the province with the same name. International codes of Krabi airport: KBV (IATA classification) and VTSG (ICAO classification). Coordinates of the airport: latitude (8.1); Longitude (98.99). The airport in Krabi province is the main air gateway to such popular resorts of Thailand on the Andaman Sea as Ao Nang, Railay (or Ralley) and Had Yao. In addition, those flying to Krabi airport can get to the Phi Phi islands , Koh Lanta and the largest in the country island of Phuket (although it also has its own airport).

Inside a not very big, but modern Krabi airport

In 2006, a new modern terminal was opened in Krabi airport, which has four floors, and in the plan it resembles an airplane with slightly “cut off wings” (noticeably in the below-shown diagrams of Krabi airport). The new terminal is divided into two zones: for domestic flights and international flights. Simultaneously, the new terminal can accommodate up to 1200 passengers (600 arriving and 600 departing from Krabi). Simultaneously with the construction of the new terminal building, out at Krabi airport was carried the reconstruction of the runway, the length of which was increased and now slightly exceeds 3 km (if be accurate, it 3002 meters). The cost of reconstruction of the airport cost more than 740 million Thai baht ($ 23 million).

Scheme of Krabi airport (Thailand) 

On the ground floor of Krabi airport you can find a luggage transporters, a customs clearance area and a common hall where you can make currency exchange for Thai money, buy souvenirs and products in small shops, take cards or get the information you need in the information desk, book a hotel, book a taxi Or buy tickets for a bus. There is also a medical center, several cafes, offices of car rental companies and the main exit to the street.

The second and third floors of Krabi Airport are occupied by arrival and departure halls respectively. On the second floor in the arrivals area is the office of the Immigration Service of Thailand and passport control (when leaving the arrivals hall of international flights). There is no exit to the street on the second floor, therefore, to leave the airport after the arrival, you need to go down the escalator to the first floor and, having received the luggage (if any), through the customs control to go out into the street.

Scheme of Krabi Airport with a legend

On the third floor there are check-in desks for departure flights, a tourist information office, a customs clearance area and two waiting rooms: for domestic flights (on the left) and for international flights (on the right). To get to the last, it is necessary to pass through the passport control posts. On the fourth floor of Krabi airport there are only technical rooms, airline representative offices, VIP lounge for passengers and catering establishments. To exit the airport from the fourth floor, you need to go down the escalator to the third.

Carriers and flights in Krabi airport

Until recently, the geography of flights from Krabi International Airport was limited to several domestic flights (to Bangkok, Samui and Chiang Mai), as well as to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Singapore. Therefore, airlines that had the opportunity to fly to this airport were few. However, to date, their number has increased significantly, although in the lead in the number of flights, like many years in a row, Thai airline Bangkok Airways and several local low-cost airlines (for example, AirAsia (along with its subsidiary Thai Air Asia).

Krabi Airport Live Flight Status ( Departures and Arrivals)

Relatively modest against the background of the two above-mentioned airlines look Thai airlines Thai Airways (together with a subsidiary airline – Thai Smile) and Nok Air, which perform only a few flights a day. In connection with the opening of new destinations in China (the need to somehow deliver to the resort of numerous Chinese tourists), Chinese airlines Shanghai Airlines (flights to Zhengzhou) and Sichuan Airlines (flights to Chengdu) are allowed to fly to Krabi airport. Flights to Singapore by the local airline Tiger Air.

I will not describe in detail all flights from Krabi airport (KBV), because the schedule varies periodically, and the flights themselves can be added or excluded depending on the specific day and tourist season. From the Krabi Airport Live Flight Status (posted above) you can see what flights and where are performed on the current day. The shortest flights from Krabi to Bangkok or the capital of Malaysia are Kuala Lumpur. Only in the situation with Bangkok should remember that some airlines fly to Suvarnabhumi airport, and others – to Don Muang Airport in Bangkok.

Aircraft of low cost airlines at the Krabi Airport (Thailand)

Also you can see in the table a lot of flights to/from Krab, which make the world famous airlines from Asia, Australia, the Gulf countries, and Europe. In reality, almost 100% of such flights between Krabi and Bangkok are performed by the Thai airline Bangkok Airlines. I draw your attention: at the top of the table you can switch between arriving flights and departing flights. Number of flights on the route of interest to you and the best prices for flights from or to Krabi airport can always be seen by using the best service to find air tickets and compare prices for them in various agencies, the form of which is placed in the sidebar of this site.

Rent a car at Krabi Airport – benefits

In the province of Krabi, wide roads with good coverage, and there are no problems with car traffic jams, which is why many tourists prefer to rent a car and not to experience any transport problems during the rest. Moreover, a taxi at Krabi airport and in general at the resorts of this province is not cheap. Rent a car is best right at the airport, where there are several international companies that provide rent cars. You can find them in the arrivals area of ​​Krabi Airport (both international and domestic terminals). To get acquainted with the terms of rent, cost, fleet and book a car you like in advance online is the easiest way with the help of an international broker Rentalcars (link to the English version).

To book a car through a broker is cheaper than directly on the branded sites of the companies represented at the airport – Avis, Budget and National. In just one minute you have the opportunity to check the availability of cars of different classes at all rental locations. You can immediately compare the cost of the same car in different rental offices and rental conditions (insurance, franchise, document requirements, discount for the duration of the lease, etc.). Finally, a very important advantage of renting a car through this broker is the possibility of signing a contract in English (or, if desired, in other popular languages ​​of the world). More information on the benefits and procedure for renting cars through the Internet you can read on the page “Car rental Phuket – fares, advices, best places.” As in Phuket, renting a car right at the airport in Krabi allows you to save on a taxi.

I also note that Krabi airport is located near the highway number 4 of state importance, to which roads of local importance adjoin. Those. Leaving from the parking lot of the airport, you have all the opportunities for a full study of the attractions of Krabi Province in Thailand. By the way, the roads in Krabi are very picturesque, because they are surrounded by high cliffs with green vegetation. Therefore, many travelers who rent a car at the airport of Krabi, stop periodically on the highway just to enjoy the magnificent view that has opened. Of course, when using public transport, this would be impossible. At the resorts of Krabi province you can find a great beaches, where it’s not at all disgraceful to spend a few days, as well as a lot of interesting sea excursions. Therefore, you can rent a car not for the entire rest period, but for a few days and use them for trips to hot springs, a blue lake, to the Tigris Cave temple, etc.

How to get from Krabi Airport to the popular resorts

★ Taxi from Krabi airport. The easiest, but most costly way to get to the city of Krabi or the resort town of Ao Nang (where there are ferry piers and piers for departing boats to the islands) is a taxi. When ordering a taxi at Krabi Airport you need to be prepared for the fact that the prices will be fixed, and the trip to the destination you need will have to be paid in advance. Taxis are paid inside the airport, in the booth on the first floor. After payment, you should pick up something like a travel ticket and, going out into the street, present it to the taxi driver who works on the basis of the Krabi airport license. The cost of the whole car to the city of Krabi is 350 THB, to the beaches of Ao Nang – 600 THB. The price is for the whole car, i.е. can be divided into all passengers.

If you travel together with a big company, you can pay not for a car, but for a minivan that costs more, but in terms of the number of passengers it can be cheaper. (You can see the price on the photo below). Many tourists complain, that in the Krabi airport they can not find ordinary independent taxis with a meter (taxi meter), which would have been much cheaper, because the distance in fact to Krabi Town and the beaches of Ao Nang are small. If you want to rent a taxi from Krabi Airport in advance (via the Internet), I recommend the international service KiwiTaxi. Especially if you want to get from Krabi Airport to other resorts of the country (for example, to Phuket or Koh Samui). In this case, you will know in advance the cost of the trip and the driver will meet you (with a sign with your name) in the arrivals area of ​​Krabi Airport, as VIP.

Fares for a trip from Krabi airport (by taxi and minibus)

★ Bus from Krabi airport. If you do not want to spend money on a taxi, especially if you are traveling alone, you can use the public bus from Krabi Airport. This option is best for those travelers who are not in a hurry to get to their hotel (for example, if they arrived early in the morning and before settling into the room for several more hours) or for those who are ready to lose some time, but at the same time save money. White shuttle buses – the most budgetary option to get from Krabi airport to Krabi Town, as well as to the main resort on the coast of the province – Ao Nang. The fare on the official bus from Krabi Airport to Krabi Town is 90 THB (less than 3 USD), and to Ao Nang – for 150 THB (less than 5 USD).

The shortcomings of the bus service can be attributed only to the need for sometimes a long wait for their filling before departure, and also the fact that it is impossible to get by bus from the airport to all beaches on the coast. For example, before Tab Kayek and Klong Muang beaches can be reached from the airport only by taxi. On the other hand, you can get to Krabi or Ao Nang by bus, and there already take a taxi or mototaxi and this option will save a little. Another important shortcoming of buses is limited working hours. Therefore, if your plane arrives in Krabi late at night or early in the morning, you will have to use a taxi or wait a long time for the first morning bus. You can buy a bus ticket near the exit from the airport on the first floor, and usually you will be presented with a map of Krabi province containing useful information for recreation.

Public transport from Krabi Airport to the resorts of the province (fares)

★ Hotel’s transfer from Krabi Airport. Many big hotels offer this service in the process of booking rooms. In this case, already at the exit from the airport you will be greeted by a driver with a sign and will drive directly to the door of the hotel. The cost will usually be higher than the usual taxi, but in some cases, the option may be justified. If the hotel is located in the Railay peninsula area, then such a transfer will include not only the delivery to the beach in Ao Nang, but also a trip by long-tailed boat to Relley (there is no overland route there). The cost of the last option will be about 1200 baht, and at a later time or early in the morning – about 1500 baht. As you can see, this is not the most budgetary option, but, nevertheless, it is worthy of mention.

How to get to Krabi Airport from the popular resorts

In order to get to Krabi airport from the place of your rest, you can use the transfer from the hotel (the cost depends on its location), as well as take a taxi and local public transport. The average journey time from the center of Krabi to the airport by car is about 20 minutes, from Ao Nang – about half an hour, from Klong Muang – 45-50 minutes. Almost every hotel in the province can order a transfer to the airport on a minibus, which will cost significantly less, but may require additional time to visit into other hotels and collect all those who ordered the service.

There is also an opportunity to get to the airport on official buses described in the previous section, having reached preliminary to their main stops in the city center or on the beaches of Ao Nang. Since Krabi Airport is relatively small, and the number of daily flights is not too high, there is no particular need to arrive at the airport in advance. It is enough a couple of hours before the departure of the international flight and one hour for boarding a plane flying inside Thailand. But, of course, it’s better to be slightly cautious and spend an extra half an hour-hour at the airport than late for a flight due to a broken bus somewhere halfway.

White shuttle-bus from Krabi airport to Ao Nang resort

A good alternative to Krabi airport is the international airport of Phuket, which is located on the island of the same name, but about two hours drive by car from Krabi. The airport in question is considered for the reason that it currently accepts far more international regular flights and charters, including regular flights from Europe, Australia and America. Therefore, in some cases it is more profitable to fly to the island of Phuket, even if you want to relax in Krabi or Ao Nang, because cheaper air tickets can easily compensate for the cost of travel by transport to Krabi. And the KiwiTaxi service will take you quickly from Phuket airport to Krabi or Koh Samui at any time of the day. Have a nice trip and holiday in Thailand!

The post Krabi Airport Guide – Review, Transfer, Flight Status first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link)

• How to get from Phuket to Krabi by bus
  

• From Phuket to Krabi by ferry – features of moving and prices
  

• How to get to Krabi from Phuket by taxi or rental car
  

How to get from Phuket to Krabi by bus

I did not accidentally put this option in the first place in the article, because using the bus on the route Phuket – Krabi in my opinion is the best option for moving between resorts in terms of price, speed and comfort, especially if you are traveling alone. To take a bus on this route from Phuket, you need to arrive at a new bus terminal in Phuket Town and purchase a ticket for between 120 and 150 baht (about $ 4-5). Buses are equipped with air conditioning, and the journey time is about 2.5 – 3 hours. Buses run from morning till night with a convenient interval for tourists in one hour.

If the budget of your trip is significantly limited, but you have more free time, if you do not like air-conditioners or you just want to get acquainted with the places of residence and, in some way, with the life of local residents, you can use second-class buses without air conditioning, which follow On the route Phuket – Krabi with numerous stops in small villages along the road. As a rule, passengers nearby you on such buses will be exchange several times during the trip. Before you can get to Krabi, you will be in way in about 7-8 hours, and at a price the trip will cost only $ 2 (65 baht).

It should be noted that there are buses Phuket – Krabi to the bus terminal Krabi, from which you still need to travel directly to Krabi Town or to other resorts in Krabi Province, for example, in Ao Nang or on the Peninsula of the Railey. It is best to use local songthaew (passenger pick-up) for this, since the taxi in Krabi is not a very budget option. In addition, it is better not to choose the most recent flights for this trip: you will be able to reach your hotel in any case, but making it at night will be somewhat more complicated and more expensive than during the day.

You can get from Phuket to Krabi by bus – cheapest variant

In the category of buses, you can include a transfer on the route Phuket – Krabi on the minibus, which are sent from both bus terminals of both cities, and ordered at the local tour desk. The fare on the minibus is almost no different from the cost of the bus, but the speed of traffic is greater. However, there is one nuance: often the minibus are filled to the maximum and in conditions of limited space and lack of luggage compartment will have to keep a bag or backpack on your lap. With large suitcases, the option is completely unsuccessful: it is better to use a large intercity bus (a trip from the bus station) with a spacious luggage compartment.

From Phuket to Krabi by ferry – features of moving and prices

To get to Krabi by ferry from Phuket is easy enough, but such a move has some features associated with the duration and cost. There are several options that are very different from each other. Choosing the first option, you should be prepared for the fact that such a trip will take you almost the entire light day. Those. ferry sails away from the pier in Phuket in the morning and arrives in Krabi – evening. Why is such a low speed? It’s simple: after a two-hour ferry voyage makes a long stop on the island of Phi Phi Don, where passengers have 4-5 hours to explore the island. After the specified time, you must again go to the ferry that will take you directly to Krabi.

Ferry tickets can be purchased either directly at the quay of the island of Phuket (or in Krabi, if it is a question of a reverse move), as well as numerous sightseeing bureaus. Keep in mind that the latter option sometimes can be cheaper, because Ferry companies make good discounts to wholesale buyers, in whose role organizers of transfers act. In addition, often such an acquired transfer includes transportation from the hotel to the pier, which in Phuket with its slightly “oborzevshimi” taxi drivers is important. Like almost everywhere in Thailand, there is an opportunity to purchase tickets for the ferry on the website of ferries company.

From Phuket to Krabi by ferry – interesting sea way

The cost of the ferry Phuket – Krabi is about $ 25, while the time spent on the road is a lot. Therefore, this method can be recommended again for those who adore sea voyages or do not tolerate shaking in buses, as well as those who necessarily want to spend at least a few hours on the famous island. Alternatively, the ferry can be used when there is a desire to relax a few days on the island of Phi Phi Don and continue the journey to Krabi. In the latter case, in the process of purchasing tickets for the ferry, please specify that you want a ticket from Phi Phi to Krabi with an open date (for Phuket-Krabi ferry in any case, two tickets are issued – Phuket – Phi Phi and Phi Phi – Krabi).

The second option, which allows you to get to Krabi from Phuket, is to purchase a direct ferry ticket online – on the website of transport in Asia. When you click on this link (the English version of the booking service), you can see that there are not many variants. Typically, this is just one ferry a day that departs from the Phuket (Rassada pier) at 11-00 and arrives in Krabi (pier Klong Jilard) at 15-00. It means, that time in a way at a choice of a direct ferry between resorts – 4 hours. The cost of the ferry is almost the same, but sometimes it can save you time and you will arrive in Krabi and have time to get to your hotel during the light time.

How to get to Krabi from Phuket by taxi or rental car

Probably the fastest option, but requiring maximum monetary costs. Everyone knows the appetites of Phuket taxi drivers, so even if you know how to bargain in Thailand correctly, you do not have to count on an adequate amount. If you still want to go by taxi, it’s better to count on the amount of 4000 baht and above. Somewhat better is the situation with a taxi on the return route from Krabi to Phuket, because in the latter case the taxi fare will be around 3000 baht (there are options for 2500 baht that can be ordered online). Often during a high season, taxi drivers call even greater price and do not want to reduce the price during bargaining.

I suspect, it’s also because taxi drivers do not really want to make long journeys, because after making short trips to their resort and carrying a lot of passengers for short distances, they can earn even more and without much “straining”. By the way, there is another option to get from Phuket to Krabi, not only on a classic taxi, but also on a “sea taxi”. Wishing to take advantage of this option, you should contact the local tour desk or try to negotiate directly with the captain of the boat on one of the piers. The cost will be negotiated depending on the number of people, and the travel time on the speedboat will be about 3 hours.

Amazing views on the way to Krabi from Phuket by road

Those who doubt their bargaining skills and are afraid that the boat is not for him, it is worth paying attention to the taxi transfer. If you do not want to get nervous again and bargain with local drivers, we advise you to book a taxi in advance at the international transfer company Kiwitaxi. This method will be cheaper (from the airport about 3000 baht) than a taxi on the street with a good bargaining, and in this method you do not have to communicate with local taxi drivers. The taxi driver can meet you in the airport arrival hall and take you to the necessary place in Krabi or Ao Nang. This option is especially useful when you are traveling with children or in a large company of friends.

Also you can simply rent a car in Phuket and independently reach it in Krabi, especially if you do not rest alone, but a company of 3-4 people. The distance is small, very high quality roads. In addition, a rented car will be very handy and when resting in the province of Krabi, where there is a large number of scattered around the area of ​​natural and cultural attractions, which are not accessible by public transport, and renting a car with a thai driver is 1.5 – 2 times more expensive. Given that renting a car in Phuket costs about 1000 baht per day, renting a car for 3-4 days will be cheaper than paying a taxi for one way.

When you use rent a car in Phuket,  you can rent car navigator for an additional fee. But today, when almost everyone is resting with modern smartphones, the usual Google maps maps perfectly with the role of a navigator even without the presence of the Internet. By the way, depending on the place of return departure, you can either return to the island of Phuket in a rented car, or hand it over to one of the company’s branches in the province, for example, at Krabi Airport. Of course, this option is possible only when using the services of well-known companies that have branches throughout the country.

There is also the possibility to get from Phuket to Krabi by plane, but the relatively short distance between the resorts, together with the amount of time that is additionally expended for moving to the airport, waiting for the flight, and the need to get from Krabi airport to the city or resorts on the coast makes this option, To put it mildly, is not entirely justified both in terms of price and in terms of time. I hope that after reading this article you will not have any difficulties if you want to get from Phuket to Krabi or from Krabi to Phuket. 

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The post How to get to Krabi from Phuket (by sea, by road) first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Classical taxi service in Bangkok

• Taxi fare in Bangkok (classical taxi cars)

• Taxi order in Bangkok by phone

• Motorbike taxi in Bangkok – fares and features

• Tuk-tuk taxi in Bangkok

• General tips for using a taxi in Bangkok

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Classical taxi service in Bangkok

Almost every fourth car in Bangkok is an official taxi with a fixed meter (taxi meter). Cheapness of Bangkok taxi is largely explained by the use of gas as a fuel. Currently, in the capital of Thailand, registered more than 100 thousand of cars-taxis, of which daily on the streets of the Thai capitals, about 80 thousand taxis leave. All these cars are easily distinguished in the car stream due to the corresponding inscription “Taxi meter” on the roof and its super bright coloring, which not only attracts customers, but also gives some idea of ​​the owner of the car.

All taxi cars in Bangkok, which are brown-green and yellow-green, belong to private individuals, usually taxi drivers themselves, who work on the basis of individual licenses for the transportation of passengers. Cars that are painted in two other bright colors, as well as in plain yellow, red, orange, pink or blue, belong to taxi companies and taxi cooperatives, and their drivers work on the basis of day-to-day rental of vehicles. The largest number are pink taxis, of which Bangkok has more than 15 thousand.

Unlike mos

You can find out the owner of a taxi in Bangkok by the color of the car

t European countries, taxis in Thailand stop at the request of passengers almost anywhere, so in order to find and use this transport does not necessarily look for specialized parking of this transport: you can simple to stand at the edge of the roadway and with an appeal to look at passing past the cars. If the taxi is available (and this can be seen on the luminous plate behind the glass), the car will necessarily stop, and the driver will offer his services. Almost all taxis in Bangkok are equipped with air conditioners, which work quite well, so you do not have to suffer from the heat when you move to a taxi.

Taxi fare in Bangkok (classical taxi cars)

Since all officially operating classic taxis in the capital of Thailand are equipped with meters, you should immediately tell the taxi driver that you will pay for the journey on the basis of the indications shown by the device. You need to be prepared for the fact that not all taxi drivers will want to use the taxi meter, and some of taxi drivers will immediately offer a specific amount for the journey. However, if you want to save money, it is better to refuse such an offer, because even in the most tourist areas, for example, on Khao San Rd in Bangkok, there is always a taxi driver who agrees to take you to the meter.

Do not be afraid and do not suspect fraud, when you boarding in taxi and you see a digit 35 on the taxi meter. It is this price in THB (thai baht) that is charged for landing in a taxi and the first two kilometers of the way. Then the figure begins to increase gradually for each additional kilometer. At the same time, as the travel distance increases, the cost of traveling each kilometer increases. For example, if you travel up to 12 km for each of them, 5.5 baht will be credited. If the distance is from 40 to 60 km, then for each kilometer  you need pay 6.5 baht is charged, and if the distance of your ride in  taxi exceeds 80 km, then fare for each will be counted 9 THB.

Taxi in Bangkok – better to pay a trip with using taxi meter fare

The above amounts are approximate and depend on the particular carrier, but the order of the figures is approximately the same. Also, do not blame the taxi driver for cheating when you notice an increase in the number on the meter when standing in place, for example, in a traffic jam, which, due to traffic in Thailand, happens in large cities often. During the downtime time of the car is also calculated a small amount, usually not exceeding 20 baht for half an hour without traffic. Thus, the cost of a taxi in Bangkok while traveling around the city will be from 50 to 250 baht. In the first case it is a short trip up to a distance of 5 km and without downtime in traffic jams. The second amount is quite feasible to meet when moving from one end of the city to another with a small downtime in traffic.

Taxi order in Bangkok by phone

To order a taxi to the address you need, you can use the taxi order service by phone. Currently, you can use the following services:

★ General taxi operator of Bangkok: + (66 2) 15-45

★ The operator of the company Bangkok Taxi + (66 2) 424-30-62

★ Operators of Thai Taxi + (66 2) 437-88-67

★ Operators of Nakornchai Taxi + (66 2) 878-90-00

Motorbike taxi in Bangkok – fares and features

As in other cities in Thailand, a mototaxis or taxi-motorbike in Bangkok can be found literally at every step. Most often they expect customers under special canopies from the sun, located at the crossroads of the main streets with soi (alleys). To learn the motorbike taxi drivers and distinguish them from ordinary motorcyclists (number of which are also huge in Bangkok) is very easy on their vivid and noticeable vests of blue, yellow, orange, red, green and other colors from a distance (see photo).

It should be remembered that motorbike usually do not stop at any place for take of passengers. As a result, in order to use this transport, you need to independently find the taxi motorbike parking lot, the blessing of the latter in the city is very much regardless of the specific district of the capital. As in the case of other taxi types in Bangkok, the use of motorcycles should take into account a number of nuances, which are described below in the text in the relevant section of this article.

Due to the fact that a motorbike taxi in Bangkok for tourists can cost even more than a classic taxi, it is convenient to use this transport only in a few situations: for trips to short distances (for example, to the nearest Bangkok BTS Skytrain station) or in cases, when drive in the city traffic on cars is difficult due to traffic jams. Of course, motorcycles are not equipped with counters, so it is necessary to agree on the cost of the trip in advance.

Motorbike taxi drivers in Bangkok are waiting for passengers in the parking

As a rule, the cost of motorbike taxi in Bangkok with a short move within one or two lanes is about 20-30 baht. In the case, if you are trip on the motorbike threefold, i.e. Himself a taxi driver and two passengers, the specified amount is not divided equally between the latter, but paid by each of the passengers separately. Apparently, therefore, motorcycles are so fond of carrying two passengers: fuel costs increase insignificantly, and income doubles. If we talk about longer trips, then for an hour’s trip around the city the cost of a motorbike taxi in Bangkok will be about 100-150 baht (of course, after a successful pre-bargain).

I can also add that to use motorbike taxi in Bangkok you need to have some boldness, because it is not only a fast form of transport, but also to some extent an attraction: speed maneuvering between cars in dense city traffic sometimes causes an additional influx of adrenaline In the blood. I advise you when riding a taxi-motorbike in Bangkok wearing a helmet (in reality, it’s very few people do) and hold tightly to the handrails.

Tuk-tuk taxi in Bangkok

It is in Bangkok that you can find classic tuk-tuki, which were named so for the corresponding sound of a two-stroke engine. Unlike the passenger pick-ups of Songthaew, which many tourists also call tuk-tuks (more about them in the article “Transport in Pattaya – songthaew routes on the map”), this mode of transportation in Bangkok is represented by original three-wheeled mopeds with a body for carrying two and More passengers. In recent years, Bangkok tuk-tuki increasingly become not transport, but entertainment for tourists who, through their inability to bargain completely corrupted the owners of this original transport of the city.

Therefore, if your goal is just to get from one point to another, I do not recommend using tuk-tuki, because the classic taxi car and taxi motorbike in Bangkok in 99% of cases will be cheaper. On the other hand, tuk-tuk has long been one of the real symbols of Bangkok, so at least once you can ride (at least personally, I could not resist it). With a lucky coincidence of circumstances and the availability of free time to roll on the tuk-tuka it is possible and completely free.

Tuk-tuk – the most exotic kind of taxi in Bangkok

To do this, ask the driver to go shopping, which give him fuel coupons for bringing customers. You do not have to buy anything in these stores, but you can play the role of an interested buyer and stay at least 10 minutes in the store. Also I remind you that among the tuk-tuk drivers in Bangkok there may be not quite honest people who can not resist the temptation to make money on naive tourists. I recommend that you read the information in the article “The most popular scams in Thailand”, which tells more about this.

The most bad reputation is enjoyed by tuk-tuk drivers, whose parking lots are located near popular tourist sites: near the Kaosan street, in the Royal Palace area, near other famous temples. According to acquaintances who have been living in Bangkok for a long time, to use tuk-tuk in the capital of Thailand makes sense when visiting one of the major markets. It is in this situation that the tuk-tuk allows you to quickly and easily leave with all the purchases with which it would be inconvenient to navigate with mototaxis.

General tips for using a taxi in Bangkok

If you use a classic taxi to move around the city, I advise you to take a photograph of the sign posted on the windshield with the driver’s data (just make sure that the same person is in the photo and behind the wheel). This somewhat increases the overall level of security, and also allows you to find and return the things forgotten in the taxi (but it’s better to leave nothing in the car after your ride).

When using any kind of taxi in Bangkok, it is not enough to name the destination and safely get there wherever you need. Being afraid to lose the client, the taxi driver will not refuse you, however it can absolutely incorrectly or not absolutely precisely understand, where it is necessary for you. Therefore, you should ask the taxi driver to repeat the destination in which he takes you. The reason for such errors is usually not the desire of the taxi driver to deceive you (although taxi drivers in any country in the world are somewhat fraudsters to some extent) – simply the taxi driver found a client and does not want to miss the opportunity to earn some money.

Many of the taxi drivers are not native inhabitants of the megalopolis, they do not know the city very well and sometimes do not know the English language at all. Moreover, even the Thai names in the pronunciation of the farangs often sound quite differently than they need in reality. To avoid such problems (and related trips in the wrong direction), I advise you to ask someone from the familiar Thai people or just plain English-speaking local residents, for example, hotel workers, so that they write on the sheet the addresses of the places you need in Thai.

You always find a taxi in the streets of Bangkok (very bright color of the cars)

It is practically useless to show taxi drivers even the best map of Bangkok, because for Thai people the real terrain and its designation on the map are two parallel universes that do not intersect in their heads. In this case, it’s better to upload photos of the places of interest to you in the memory of the phone or tablet, and show these photos to the taxi driver. If the places are popular enough, for example, the famous temples of Bangkok, the city’s stations, markets, etc., and the taxi driver works in the capital not for the first week, big chances are that you will be understood correctly.

Sometimes taxi drivers in Bangkok offer to use paid roads to speed up the trip. You make the decision yourself, just remember that when you travel by the meter, the paid roads are paid by the client, and when traveling by taxi at a contractual price, such additional amounts should be included in the agreed amount. By the way, that’s why all negotiations about the form of payment (on the meter or at a fixed price) should be made before the trip and landing in the car, if it is a classic taxi in Bangkok. Bargain when traveling without a taxi meter can and should be.

Well, always remember that you are in the Country of Smiles, where it is customary to observe certain rules of conduct in Thailand. Therefore, if there are some misunderstandings when using a taxi in Bangkok, do not lose face, scandal and on high tones proving your rightness. Better smile and just say that you do not understand what they want from you. Thus, the situation will be resolved much more quickly and in a more pleasant way for all parties to the conflict.

If you want to use a classic taxi, remember that many drivers working on cars cooperatives and taxi companies from 15:30 to 16:00 are changing, so not every taxi driver at this time will want to take you and drive to the opposite side from the taxi park. Because of the large number of streets with one-way traffic in Bangkok, make sure that you are try stop taxi car in the direction you need, otherwise you will have to pay sometimes up to 2-3 km of excess road before the turn back.

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Before using a taxi in the Thai capital, as with the use of mototaxis and taxis in Pattaya, I recommend have not too large banknotes, because sometimes taxi drivers “can not find” the right amount of coins for return change. Tipping a taxi in Bangkok is not particularly accepted, but if a small amount (for example, 10 baht) does not hit your budget too much, the taxi driver will never give it up and will be very grateful. I wish you successful and comfortable taxi trips in Bangkok!

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How to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Transfer from Bangkok to Koh Chang (minibus + ferry)
  

• Bus from Bangkok to Koh Chang – features and fares
  

• Bangkok to Koh Chang flight (schedule and fares)
  

• How to get from Bangkok airport to Koh Chang

• Other ways to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang

Transfer from Bangkok to Koh Chang (minibus + ferry)

In 2016, there was an opportunity to purchase a ready transfer from Bangkok to Koh Chang, which includes moving from the North Bus Station of Bangkok or the capital bus terminal Ekkamai both directly to Koh Chang Island in the Gulf of Thailand and to the ferry pier. Such transfers are provided by Triple T (TTT) transportation company, carrying out a total of about 15 flights a day. Given that the road to the pier in the province of Trat, where ferries depart for Koh Chang, takes about 5-6 hours (depending on the point of departure (specific bus station) in Bangkok), all transfers are carried out in the morning. As a rule, the latest flight from the capital is sent to the island of Ko Chang at 12-00, so that all passengers have time for the last ferry (at 19-00 or 7 p.m.).

To view the current schedule on your dates, you can use the service of transport in Asia (a reference to the english-language version of the service on a route (Bangkok -. Koh Chang) As you can see, the search results will be as joint tickets minibus + ferry so and tickets to the minibus only before the pier. The first option is worth 430 THB, and the second – 350 TBH. Given the fact that the ferry to the island of Koh Chang will cost you just 80 baht, you can immediately buy an integrated ticket to the island, because the minivan in either. case of bud t the same. There’s also on results page you may notice an expensive taxi to Koh Chang from Bangkok and flights to Trat and ticket to this island by a big bus (which is 10 hours in way!!!).

Also in those situations when you do not want to waste a lot of time on buses, you can use minibuses to Koh Chang from Khaosan Road in Bangkok. You can order a similar service in almost any street travel agency, as well as at the reception desk of most local hotels. By the way, to get to Khaosan Road in Bangkok from Suvarnabhumi airport now it is possible for only 120 THB. And the prices there because of high competition are fairly democratic. Such minibuses usually departures to Koh Chang all with the same Khaosan street, so you do not need to spend money on city transport (only if you live in a completely different area).

Minibus – inexpensive and fast transport from Bangkok to Koh Chang

The transfer from Bangkok to Koh Chang, also called the Bangkok-Koh Chang tour, costs a little more than a trip bus: prices start at $ 12 (400 baht) and up, up to $ 30. At the same time, the most budgetary options include only delivery to the ferry pier, and the most expensive offers usually involve a trip to the VIP minibuses, ferry transfer and delivery to a particular hotel in Koh Chang (or to a specific beach if you decide to look for a hotel on site or do not know, how to book a hotel yourself at the best price).

If the price does not suit you, you can spend half an hour to bypass several offices and it is possible that you will find a few cheaper. But in general, prices are approximately the same for similar services, i.e. Find a full transfer from Bangkok to the hotel on the island of Koh Chang less than for 500 baht does not work out how many not to look.  But what will save you money, so this is a transfer round trip (you can open an inverse date). In this case, the total savings can be 200-300 baht (depending on the firm and transfer conditions).

True, this option is suitable only for those who plan to return from Koh Chang to Bangkok and not continue to rest in Thailand at other resorts (for example, in Pattaya) or to leave Koh Chang and travel to Cambodia. Services reverse transfer (from the island to the capital) can also be used by ordering a service at the hotel or at a local travel agency. It is better to take care of this for a couple of days before the end of the holiday in Koh Chang and you need to be prepared for the fact that the service can be a little more expensive than when you book it in Bangkok. But all the same, transfers from TTT transport company from the bus stations of Bangkok to Koh Chang will be cheaper.

Fragment of the schedule of minibus to Koh Chang (to the island and to the ferry pier)

Travel time from Bangkok to the ferry pier (on the mainland, not on Koh Chang) is 5-6 hours (depending on the traffic situation on the road and on the outskirts of Bangkok). The truth when choosing a minibus from Khaosan Rd, you must be ready that minibus need spend for some time to collect tourists from several hotels, and sometimes this is an extra hour in the city. In addition to the transfer minibus, you can leave Bangkok and Koh Chang on the minibuses that depart from the Victory Monument area.

A lot of minibuses are sent from this area to various destinations, and the route on the bus body is often indicated only in Thai, so additional difficulties may arise with the search for the desired minibus. At the price of a minibus from the Victory Monument is not much different from Khaosan buses , i.e. The fare will be about 400 THB to the ferry pier, which again is more expensive than the transfer of the company TTT from one of the bus stations in Bangkok. Also you can book a transfer to Koh Chang from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Bus from Bangkok to Koh Chang – features and fares

The bus is the transport, allowing with the least material costs to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang. True, the savings compared to the transfers are quite small, and the path turns out to be more complicated. This is due to the fact that there are no direct flights that depart from the bus station of Bangkok and arrive directly to the island. As a result, the route becomes somewhat more complicated due to the fact that most buses arrive to the city of Trat, which is the center of the province in which Koh Chang is located, and then it is necessary to additionally use local modes of transport. However, everything is not as difficult as you already may have imagined and, after reading the section to the end, you will see for yourself.

Ticket office at Ekkamai Bus Terminal – buses to Trat and to Koh Chang

The shuttle buses from Bangkok to Koh Chang leave from two metropolitan bus stations: northern (it’s Northern Bus Terminal or Morchit (Mo Chit) Bus Terminal, it’s the bus station Chatuchak) and East (it’s Eastern Bus Terminal or Ekkamai ). Detailed information about these and other bus stations of the Thai capital (location, how to get there, schedule, etc.) you can find in some Individual reviews on this site, so here I will not dwell on this issue.

Buses along the Bangkok-Trat route run daily from 05:30 am to 11:00 pm or 23:30 pm (depending on the bus station chosen). The total number of flights from both bus stations is more than 25, and buses depart almost every hour and even more often (in the case of Ekamai). From the Northern Bus Terminal platforms, there are fewer such buses – only 7 flights a day, but getting to this bus station is easier when you flew to Don Muang Airport in Bangkok. Therefore, you do not need to purchase tickets in advance (unless you want to get on a particular flight, for example, the very first or the last one).

Depending on the season, there may be some changes in the schedule of scheduled buses, so always check it on site, for example, through official bus terminal websites or bus company websites that work in the direction of interest. The fare from Bangkok to Trat is $ 7-10 depending on the chosen bus company and the bus class in Thailand. Travel time is from 6 to 7 hours, and buses arrive at the bus station in Trat Bus Terminal, from where it is easy to get to one of the two ferry piers in the coastal village of Laem Ngop by local transport (passenger pickups Songthaew) for 50-70 baht (slightly less than $ 2). The trip to the pier on Songthaew takes about 30 minutes.

Bus from Bangkok to Koh Chang (Laem Ngop pier)

It should be borne in mind that some bus companies do not deliver passengers to the Trat bus station, but directly to one of the ferry piers. On such buses it is usually written “Bangkok Laemngop”. Sometimes for this, closer to the end of the path, you need to make a transfer to the minibus, which will take you to the pier, while the big bus will go further to Trat. In this case, you will not have to pay extra for the delivery to the pier, and saving time is also important on vacation, so if possible I recommend choosing exactly such variants of Bangkok-Ko Chang buses that allow you to get to the pier immediately.

Just keep in mind that most of the flights to the piers leave from Bangkok or in the morning – from 05:30 to 10:00, or already closer to 23:00. This is due to the fact that ferries to the island of Koh Chang only work from 06: 00am to 7pm. Those. In any case, I advise you to choose buses from Bangkok to Koh Chang, which will take you to Trat at least an hour (and preferably two) before the time of departure of the last ferry. And it makes no sense to go to the island from the Thai capital by bus in the afternoon, because after being late for the last ferry you will have to look for a hotel in Trat and wait for the morning to move to Koh Chang.

In my opinion, it is much more interesting to spend the whole day in Bangkok, and huddle out of it on one of the last buses to Trat, then on the first morning ferry to cross to the island. By the way, this option is ideal for travelers with a limited budget, because it allows you to save on living in a hotel (because of a night move). For very budget travelers there is also a reverse possibility: the transfer from Trat to Bangkok on a similar night bus. Not for all travelers this option is suitable for health reasons, but it has a right to life.

Whichever way you get by bus to one of the ferry piers, the ticket for the ferry will have to be purchased separately. In 2016, the cost of one-way ticket was 80 baht, and round-trip ticket – 120 baht. Considering the fact that you are unlikely to live on an island, it is wiser and cheaper to immediately get a round-trip ticket. To do this, specify in the ticket office that you need a return ticket with an open date (Open Ticket). Time of the ferry on the way is from 30 minutes to an hour, the frequency depending on the chosen pier is the same. I advise you to read detailed information about ferries to Koh Chang in a separate article (under the link).

Bangkok to Koh Chang flight (schedule and fares)

The flight from Bangkok to Koh Chang is the most expensive, but the fastest way to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang. The truth with the flight between the capital and the island is also not very simple: flights are not made to the island of Koh Chang. On this island there is no big airport that can take such flights, so you need to fly to the city of Trat. At the same time from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) now only Bangkok Airways planes fly to Trat, which perform three flights a day, usually in the first half of the day (for example, at 04-45, at 08:20 and at 11:20). Depending on the season, the departure time can vary slightly (+/- 25 minutes), the current schedule and the best prices you can always see when you use the search form in the sidebar of the site (the price for the same airplane can sometimes differ by 2 times) .

Flight from Bangkok to Trat – fastest way to Koh Chang

Travel time is exactly one hour, so taking advantage of the evening flight (sometimes there is a flight at 17-10) you can late for the last ferry to Koh Chang, because the plane arrives at 18-10, and some time you need to get out of the plane , Baggage collection, etc. In addition, you will still have to get to the ferry pier from the airport on the songthaew (100 baht). The minimum cost of air tickets is not at all budget for domestic flights across Thailand and is currently about $ 160 round trip (or $ 80-90 one way). This is explained by the same reasons that are described in the article “How to get from Bangkok to Koh Samui” – the airport in Trat is the property of the airline and its competitors are simply not allowed.

If you monitor the site of the specified airline, it is quite possible to catch a cheaper air ticket to Bangkok – Trat, for a special promotion, for example, for $ 60 one way. On some sites about Thailand, you can find information that the budget airline Air Asia flies from Bangkok to Trat. I specifically checked – there are currently no such flights, and there are no direct flights to Trat from the island of Phuket and Koh Samui. At one time such trends were true, but now the information about them has become outdated and does not correspond to reality.

How to get from Bangkok airport to Koh Chang

If the option with a flight from Bangkok to Trat does not fit into the budget of your holiday in Thailand (in my case it is so), but you want to quickly go on vacation to Koh Chang, without wasting time to get from the Suvarnabhumi airport to Bangkok, and after on moving to one of the bus stations of the capital, I hasten to please you: Thais are happy to offer you several not bad options. ou can again use the popular service of transfer in Asia and buy joint tickets from Suvarnabhumi to Koh Chang Island in the Gulf of Thailand. These tickets cost about 600 THB and include a road trip to the ferry pier and directly big sea ferry to the island. A minibus ride from Bangkok airport to Koh Chang will last from 6.5 to 7 hours, including the time by ferry to the island.

Bus and minibus schedule from Suvarnabhumi to Koh Chang (picture clickable)

You can also use a large bus to travel to the island, which leaves for Koh Chang from the bus station nearby Suvarnabhumi Airport  area in Bangkok. This bus leaves only once a day – at 8:20 am and is on the road for 5 hours and 40 minutes. This means that you will arrive at the ferry pier (on the mainland) at about 14:00. Next, you yourself have to buy a ticket for the ferry for 80 THB and get directly to Koh Chang Island. The bus costs less than $ 10, and the entire trip to the island (with the account of the ferry) will be about 12-13 USD.

Using the service of transport in Asia, you can always see the exact place of landing and disembarkation from the bus. For this you just need to click on the destination or arrival point in the search results of the transport on the route you need on the desired date. After that, you can see a Google map and take a screenshot to make it easier to find the right place at the airport or elsewhere. Also the detailed information obout it you will receive after online booking of tickets. Since there are only 10 seats in the minibuses from the airport to Koh Chang, it makes sense to purchase tickets in advance, especially when traveling on Fridays, weekends and holidays, when not only tourists but also Thais want to get to Koh Chang quickly and inexpensively.

Big bus from Bangkok airport to Koh Chang near ferry pier

Other ways to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang

The first way is a classic taxi, which can be taken as at the airport upon arrival to Bangkok, or simply in the city. As you probably already guessed, this method is not at all budgetary, because the trip will cost from 3000 to 4,500 baht (depending on your ability to bargain). However, it is better to initially expect an average price of about 3,500 baht. It’s not profitable to go by taxi alone, because it’s cheaper to fly by plane. However, if you travel with family or 2-3 friends, then the fare already amounts less1000 baht per person and you can think about the option, especially if there are no other transport options in the near future (for example, at night).

Another convenient and popular  way is to order a car-transfer KiwiTaxi. As a rule, the specified service will cost about 120 USD. At the same time you can count on the fact that the driver will meet you with a sign in the airport arrival hall. It will be a full-fledged 4-seater car with a boot, and not a Thai taxi, where the trunk is occupied by a gas cylinder and you can only go with two passengers and luggage. Kivitaxi is the best way if you travel with children, or a group of friends, because the cost per three or four will not be too high given the distance. In addition, the option is convenient in cases where you prefer to book a transport at a fixed price in advance or when you want to order additional options (child seats, bike carrier, etc.).

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Another convenient, but not too affordable way – order a transfer at your chosen hotel. As a rule, this service will cost about 5000 baht. Another slightly more expensive (about 6,000 baht) way to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang will be the order of the driver in one of the limousine services of the capital. In this case, at the airport or in the city you will be met not just by the driver of a classic taxi or minivan, but by a business class driver (Toyota Camry, Mercedes Benz, etc.). Finally, another way to get to Koh Chang with a high level of comfort and privacy will allow renting a car in Thailand online at the best price, renting a car at the airport or at many other places in Bangkok.

I hope the information on this page was useful to you and now you know exactly what to get from Bangkok to Koh Chang quickly and inexpensively is not at all difficult. And if you prefer the maximum level of comfort and are willing to pay for it more, you will also find convenient ways for you to move from the capital of Thailand to Koh Chang Island. Enjoy your trip!

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Samet Island in the Gulf of Thailand is located less than a hundred kilometers from Pattaya, so its visit is possible as a one-day excursion, and as a full-fledged independent rest with accommodation in a comfortable hotel. Relatively close location allows you to get to the island of Samet from Pattaya quickly, inexpensively and comfortably. And the choice of transport depends on your personal preferences and recreation budget, and also – in some cases – on the number of your satellites. Detailed information on the types of transport along the Pattaya-Samet route, the timetable and the fare between the popular resort and the island is below on the page. Note: you should know that Samet island is often referred to as Samed Island, but in reality it same island.

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Features of the trip to Koh Samet from Pattaya

• Taxi from Pattaya to Koh Samet – cost and features

• Transfer by minibus from Pattaya to Samet

• Day trips to Samet from Pattaya
  

• Public transport from Pattaya to Koh Samet

• A trip from Pattaya to Samet on a rented car or motorbike

• Ferries and boats on Koh Samet from Ban Phe (schedule and prices)

Features of the trip to Koh Samet from Pattaya

Since Koh Samet is a small island without an airport, your journey from Pattaya always consists of two stages: a trip along the roads of Thailand to Ban Phe (a small village on the coast in Rayong province, from where ferries and boats go to the island) and directly from the mainland to the Koh Samet (the island is only 6.5 km away from the mainland). In most cases, these stages of the journey are paid for separately (with the exception of organized transfers and one-day excursions), so different types of land and water transport can be used in any combination of your choice.

Information on the cost of water transport and the schedule of ferries between Ban Phe and Samet Island can be found at the end of this article. And the cost of the selected water transport simply add to the cost of land transport, to get the final price of transport between Pattaya and Samet Island. And of course, in the recreation budget, the resulting amount should be multiplied by two, if you plan to return to Pattaya with the same types of transport.

A feature of Samet Island in the Gulf of Thailand is that it is a natural reserve of Khao Laem Ya – Mu Ko Samet. The island has a territory of just over 13 square kilometers, and a special fee is charged for the visit – 200 Thai Baht per person, regardless of the length of stay at Samet. Here you need to remember that the cost of some hotels on the island (when booking accommodation in them online) is exempt from the fee fee of 200 baht (more precisely, it is already included in the cost of living). Therefore, please clarify this question when booking. There are also some tricks to avoid paying the fee when arriving at Nadan Pier (for more details, see the article “Useful advice when visiting Samet Island”). Finally, starting in 2016, you need pay 20 baht per person for the maintenance of the Nadan pier, when you arrives to this main pier.

Koh Samet (Koh Samed) – main ferry pier

Taxi from Pattaya to Koh Samet – cost and features

The relatively small distance between the city of Pattaya and the resort island of Samet (less than 100 km) allows very quickly and with maximum comfort to reach the destination by taxi. At the same time, you can use the services of street racks by taxi order, negotiate with a taxi driver in the parking lot yourself or order a car taxi transfer in advance using the international services Kiwitaxi and having negotiated all the details of the trip in your native language. In all these cases, the cost of the trip will be from the doors of your hotel in Pattaya to the ferry pier in Ban Phe. The advantage of a taxi is that you will be taken to the right pier immediately, and you will not be lost another hour to drive around the other hotels in Pattaya and collect fellow passengers, as it often happens with transfers and excursions.

Here it should be noted that the cost of a taxi will be higher than the cost of other modes of transport, but only if you travel alone. If you two, three or four, then the trip is not only the most comfortable, but also inexpensive. So, the cost of a taxi when ordering online is approximately 1400-1600 THB (or 41-46 USD), depending on the class of the car, the number of passengers and full baggage seats. Those. The cost per passenger when traveling three together will be about 450-500 THB, i.е. it’s not much more than offered in most Pattaya street travel agencies and at hotel counters for a transfer on a minibus. And if you are travel with friends or family, then a taxi ride will generally be the fastest, most comfortable and inexpensive.

Transfer by minibus from Pattaya to Samet

The second most popular way to travel to Samet Island from Pattaya is using an organized transfer. This option usually includes a trip on a comfortable minibus directly from the door of your hotel to the Ban Phe pier on the mainland, the Nuan Type pier directly on Samet Island or to other piers. At the same time, the most affordable option will be the first transfer option – from the hotel in Pattaya to one of the piers in Ban Phe. The minimum price that can be expected in this case is 250-300 THB per person to one side (for example, at 35 Group Pattaya, which I already recommended for trips on the page How to get from Pattaya to Koh Chang).

It should be borne in mind that some transport companies charge an additional charge of about 100 THB per person in cases where the hotel in Pattaya is located in the southern part of the resort, ie. in the far part of Jomtien (area of ​​the Ambassador City hotel). Options, which including payment for the ferry to the island, differ slightly higher price (70-100 baht more expensive). Given that the standard price of this ferry to Na Dan pier on the island of Samet is 50 baht (when you buying in both directions, i.e. 50+50), we can conclude that there is no reason to overpay, because you will be sold a ticket for the same ferry, but at a higher price (because the price of a ferry to one side often starts from 70 baht), and a minibus will often follow further to the island of Koh Chang.

Transfer to Koh Samet from Pattaya is made on comfortable minibus Toyota

Of course, there are exceptions: some transport companies have their own small speedboats, that deliver minibas passengers to the island and back from the island at the time of arrival of the minibus to the mainland pier. But all these questions should be clarified in advance. Personally, I like the option with an ordinary ferry for 50 baht, because on it less swaying. If you look at the maps of Samet and see that the hotel or beach you have chosen is not located in the area of ​​the main village on the island (Na Dan) and in the area of ​​another pier, you can immediately go to this pier, but the cost will usually be higher (information about ferries in corresponding section of the article below).

It may be more advantageous to order the transfer immediately in both directions – route Pattaya – Samet – Pattaya. In this case it is necessary to focus on 700 baht per person and in this cost should be included not only the transfer to the minibus, but also the sea transport to the island and back. You can find and variant with a transfer to the best (according to many) beach on the island – Ao Phai beach. In this case, the trip to both sides to the specified white sand beach will be about 950-1000 baht per person, and in one direction – approximately 850-900 baht. In one direction in this case, ordering a transfer does not make sense at all.

Choosing an organized transfer from Pattaya to Samet, you should take into account the popularity of this route, ie. in the high season to find tickets “today for tomorrow” may not work because of the limited supply from the companies inspected. Therefore, it is better to take care of buying such a transfer a few days before the proposed trip. Finally, be careful when ordering a transfer in unverified street agencies. Sometimes for delivery customers, some transport companys can be used old minibuses, and along the way there will be too many stops, as a result you will seat with minimal comfort, and the trip will take much longer.

Day trips to Samet from Pattaya

For tourists who want to change the situation for a short while and visit Samet with a short-term visit, ie. to spend on this island only one day, and in the evening to return to your hotel in Pattaya – there is a variant with a special excursion. This method allows you to get an idea of ​​the island and spend on its beaches most of the day’s time, not too caring about the way to move to Samet and back. You can order the excursion in numerous street agencies in Pattaya. And if you want the excursion to take place in your native language, you can find special offers from local guides with using Internet.

Such an excursion, which includes not only the journey to the island, a beach lounger and a full dinner, will cost around 1500 baht per person. Of course, the cost of an organized tour is slightly higher than an independent trip, but for someone, comfort is more important than saving money. Order of a one-day excursion to Samet from Pattaya can be preferably done in advance, although some companies allow you to make an order today for tomorrow. Departure from Pattaya usually in the morning at 07-00, return to Pattaya from Koh Samet – after sunset.

Public transport from Pattaya to Koh Samet

The most affordable, but somewhat more complicated, because of the transplant option is to get to Samet from Pattaya – using public transport. In this case, your way to the island will consist not of two, but of three stages: the transfer from Pattaya to Rayong, transfer to Ban Phe and directly to the island by water transport. As with passing buses from Bangkok, you need to catch them on the Sukhumvit highway, and this is the main difficulty, because there is no exact timetable, the bus signs are often in Thai, and even the bus may just not stop. Therefore, it may be necessary to help from the local residents, who will help stop the bus for a small fee. Stopping is better to search near the intersection of the Sukhumvit highway and Pattaya Central Rd.

Public bus to Rayong – budget way to get to Koh Samet

In general, the middle cost of a trip to Rayong from Pattaya is about 70 baht. And another 30 baht will cost the road to the Ban Phe pier on songthaew (passenger pickup). With the second part of the way, there will be no problems – the route is well known and popular not only among tourists, but also among local residents. Further on one of the three piers (they are all within 500-600 meters from each other) you bye standard ticket for a ferry or speedboat to the island of Samet is purchased. It is a pity that the route from Pattaya to Samet we can not buy a bus ticket on the popular service of transport in Asia, which I usually recommend for inexpensive trips to other destinations in Thailand.

As you can see, the total cost of the trip from Pattaya to Samet by public transport is 150 baht, i.е. twice cheaper than the cheapest transfer. But possible problems with finding and stopping the right bus make this way a little more complicated and make this option not so popular as a taxi, transfer or excursion. The return trip is easier, but remember that there are two bus stations in Rayong, and buses to Pattaya are sent only with one of them.

A trip from Pattaya to Samet on a rented car or motorbike

Since transport rent in Thailand is very common and allows in some cases to get full freedom of movement at a reasonable price, many tourists often have a desire to make an independent trip to the island of Samet from Pattaya. The idea at first glance is very tempting, but there are a number of nuances that can reduce your desire to use such an option to naught. Firstly, large ferries do not go to Samet, how on Koh Samui or Ko Chang. Those. You can get to the rental car only to the Ban Phe Pier. Of course, there is a large guarded parking lot, but what’s the point of paying for car rental and parking (which is 400 baht per day for a car or 30 baht for a motobike), and to walk on the island by yourself?

Map of the beaches of Samet

This can also happen on the way back, if you return not the same day. As a result, even when traveling alone, to achieve any savings is almost impossible. But this method can deliver a lot of problems. Therefore, it is much easier to use ready-made variants of the trip, during which you do not need to think about solving transport problems, you can drink delicious Thai beer and take a nap, leaving the forces directly for rest on the island of Samet.

Ferries and boats on Koh Samet from Ban Phe (schedule and prices)

And on the coast in the village of Ban Phe, and directly on the island of Samet, there are several piers, so when you first travel from Pattaya to Samet, you may have some confusion with the many names of piers and beaches. If you use an organized transfer for a trip from Pattaya or Bangkok, you probably will not be able to choose the destination: transport companies usually deliver to a certain pier and from there they take tourists on the way from Samet Island back to Pattaya. For example, the popular company 35 Group Pattaya delivers to Nuanthip Pier, although as always in Thailand, many maps have alternative names, for example, Nuan Thip Pier. From there, cheap ferries to the Nadan pier on the island go and there if you want you can find a speedboat that will deliver to any beach in Koh Samet in 10-15 minutes.

Nearby there are also piers Seree and Jadet, and the largest in Ban Phe village pier with name Sri Ban Phe Pier. This is the pier I recommend to specify as the destination when traveling from Pattaya to Samet by taxi, because from here the maximum number of ferries leaves and from here the easiest way to reach not only the main island settlement on Samet – Nadan (Na Dan, Nadarn, Nadan), but also to other beaches on the island. Also from here you can use easiest wayfrom getting on songthaew (passenger pickup trucks) to the bus station in Rayong and make the return journey. The piers in Ban Phe are located within walking distance from each other (no more than 500-600 meters), so you can easily reach the desired one, even if you were brought to another. Detailed information on the location of piers and the schedule of ferries and boats from them you can find on the page “Piers in Ban Phe and Koh Samet, the schedule of ferries.”

A small passenger ferry to Koh Samet from Ban Phe

If we talk about the time of the ferry service between Ban Phe and Koh Samet, the first ferry to the island leaves at 06:00 am, and the last ferry usually at 17:00 local time, ie. arrives on the island about an hour before dark. Ferries leave every hour, and if you are late just a little – next to the pier there is a lot of small Thai cafes, where you can eat and drink (cheaper than in Koh Samet). Travel time to the island, when it comes to the Nadan pier in the north-eastern part of Samet, is 25-30 minutes (depending on the direction of the wind and the height of the waves).

The fare for one person is from 50 baht. Despite the term “ferry”, here it is not at all about the usual huge marine vessels with a compartment for motor transport. Rather, it is about large boats that resemble ferries to Koh Lan near Pattaya, but designed for even fewer passengers, because unlike Pattaya “brethren”, ferries from Ban Phe to Koh Samet do not have a second passenger deck and in general much smaller in size. Usually on top of such a boat there is a special ground where you can take sunbathing and enjoy the sea.

Na Dan Pier (Nadan pier) is the best choice if you plan to stay on the beaches of Sai Kaew, Ao Phai or Ao Thubtim in the eastern part of the island. If you plan to stay (or have already booked the hotel at the best price with the help of Hotellook (a map of hotels with prices located below) on other beaches of Samet Island, you can immediately poison yourself to the pier, which located not far from your hotel. For example, Ao Wong Duen Pier is suitable in a situation, when you are interested in the beaches of Ao Saengthian or Ao Nuan, a ticket from Ban Phe to the ferry costs 60 baht per person, and ferries depart four times a day: 8:30, 12:00, 13:30 and 16:00.

Map of Koh Samet with hotels at the best prices

(in the lower right corner you can choose the price range)

When you need to get to the Ao Wai pier in the south-eastern part of Samet Island, you can use the appropriate ferry costing 100 baht, which departing from the main pier of Ban Phe at 11:30 and 14:00. The return flight from this island pier is at 14:00, and the journey time is from 40 minutes. Finally, to get to the southernmost pier of Samet Island – Ao Kui – you can use a ferry from Ban Phe, which leaves at 10:00 am and costs 120 baht per person.

A faster way to the island is passenger speed boats. Right on the piers you will find many offers for delivery to the island from 200 baht per person in just 10-15 minutes. When buying tickets in both directions, you can save a little, because round-trip tickets are sold for 350 baht per person. Delivery to other beaches of the island will cost or at a similar price, or 50 baht more. At the same time, there is a possibility not to wait for the full filling of the speed boat, but for paying the whole boat at once. For the price it will cost 2000-2500 baht. If you travel with large company, then the option is not the worst. Especially since you are easily delivered to any beach and you will additionally save 200 baht per person.

Separately, it should be noted that public transport on the island – green passenger pick-ups singteo (songthaew) is very democratic at a price (from 10 to 60 baht per person for the passage to the nearest / most remote beach). Therefore, if you do not expect a direct ferry to the distant piers from Ban Phe in the near future, you can safely sail to Nadan pier, and then use local transport. The indicated prices are actual for full filling of the pick-up (8-10 passengers). If you do not want to wait – you can pay more, but go immediately, without waiting for the full load of passengers.

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The post Getting from Pattaya to Koh Samet easy and fast! first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• How much to rent a motorbike in Phuket

• Rent a motobike in Phuket online

• Better places for rent a motorbike in Phuket

• Fuel for rented motorbike in Phuket – kind and where to buy
  

• When is it better not to rent a motorbike in Phuket

• Actual sizes of fines in Thailand when you drive motorbike (2018)

How much to rent a motorbike in Phuket

The average rental price for motobike in Phuket is 200-300 THB per day ($7-9) and depends mainly on several factors: model of motorbike, the physical condition and the rental term. But renting a particular model in a particular place can depend on the location of the rental office (in a busy place the price may be slightly higher than in the neighborhood in the lane where there are fewer tourists). If you have little experience of driving motobike in Thailand (but you have firmly decided that you can not do without it), I recommend choosing popular models of motorbikes with automatic transmission and not too original coloring. More details about the procedure for renting motorbikes and the preparation of the contract can be found on the page Thailand motorbike rental – rules and tips!

The most popular in all Thailand (and in Phuket including) model Honda Click will cost you 200-250 THB per day. For this money you can find a motorbike in very good condition with a small run (up to 10 000 km or so). In this case, it is better to choose a variant with engine capacity of 125 cc (there are 100 cc). And it’s not about the maximum speed and acceleration, as some might have thought, but in the best power traction of a motorbike when climbing mountain serpentines, which are found everywhere in Phuket. Especially if you plan to ride not alone on the motorbike, and its mileage is over 25,000 km. A popular model for a trip alone is a Honda Scoopy motobike with a 110-125 cc engine, but personally I do not like his retro design and a small trunk, so I prefer Honda Click. If a motorbike for rent in Phuket looks “tired” and its mileage is over 25,000 km, it is better not to rent it more than 150 THB per day or even to look for the option in the best condition.

Motorbike, which I rented in Phuket – 250 THB per day

Among motobikes with more power, the leadership is held by the Honda PCX with a 150 cc engine. This motorbike is more comfortable for long trips (more comfortable seats, wider wheels), while it looks very solid. But the cost of such a bike when renting in Phuket is from 300 to 500 THB per day for short term rent (for 300 THB it will be difficult to find a high season). Also, Yamaha bikes are often found with engines of comparable capacity and at comparable prices. For example, Yamaha Fino, Yamaha Nouvo and Yamaha Aerox (analogues of Honda Scoopy, Click and PCX respectively). I have nothing against Yamaha, but i like Honda more, so I prefer them. There are also more powerful motobikes, for example Honda Forza 300 or Yamaha T-Max, but renting such a motorbike will be more expensive than a Car rental in Phuket with all the advantages of the latter option.

With long-term rental of a motorbike in Phuket, the cost of this service is significantly reduced. For example, rental of motobike in Phuket can be 200 THB per day, but for a month (30 days) it is quite possible to rent the same motorbike for 3000 THB (or 100 THB per day). Of course, not every rental office will agree to such a discount (in a popular place it is simply more profitable for them to rent motorbikes for days). But if you visit a few places and are not afraid to bargain about the price, then everything is real.

Rent a motobike in Phuket online

From the end of 2017, it possible to rent a motorbike in Phuket online, using the services of the international company BikesBooking. As far as I know, it is currently the only company in the world specializing in the rental of motobikes, scooters, quads, motorcycles and bicycles around the world. At the beginning of 2018, about 950 rental offices are connected to the system at popular resorts. Note: in the search results, the rental price of some motorbikes seems to be overestimated if you are looking for a motobike for a day. This is due to the fact that some rental offices charge a minimum of three days. And the cost of rent for three days will be the same as for a day!

Rent a motorbike in Phuket online – Honda PCX 150 for 3 days

Speaking directly about Phuket, I want to mention the most important advantages of this service.

– Motobike delivery to the hotel. Having reserved motobike online, your motorbike will be delivered to the hotel after your arrival to the island, and after the end of the lease term you can leave motorbike in another chosen place. All this contributes to saving time on your vacation. Unfortunately, in 2018 I noticed that some rental companies started to charge money for shipping – 10 euros. But you can always choose an office where this service will be free same before.

– There is no need to leave a passport as a deposit. At the end of 2017, when I was on vacation in Phuket for the last time, I went around a few dozen rental offices around Patong beach and everywhere with me they demanded an original passport as a deposit and did not agree to a cash deposit (for more details, see “My experience of renting a motorbike in Phuket “). For BikesBooking usually enough cash deposit, while its size can be much lower than the standard – only from 1000 THB.

– The basic cost of rent is paid on a place when you will receive a motorbike. As a rule, only a small amount is prepaid online (about 1 USD per day).

– Ability to manage online booking (for example, when changing the rental date).

– All motorbikes have insurance against damage caused by third parties, and in the process of booking you can order a full insurance.

Better places for rent a motorbike in Phuket

Motorbike rental in Phuket is a very popular service that is provided both by specialized rental companies with several dozen motorbikes and small private companies that you can find literally every 50-100 meters on the popular beaches of the island. Motorbike rental is also often offered by expensive and budget hotels, guesthouses and cafes, for which this service is an additional source of income. Personally, I prefer to choose motobike for rent at a price, vehicle condition and the terms of the rent, regardless of who specifically offers this service.

As it was already written above, motorbike rental is presented in Phuket everywhere. But, unlike car rental in Phuket, such an option is not available at the island’s international airport. In most cases this is justified, because many tourists fly to the island with suitcases, and driving a motorbike and simultaneously carrying a heavy and large suitcase is not only uncomfortable, but also dangerous. On the other hand, if you flew to Phuket with a not very large backpack and do not want to take a minibus or a popular taxi transfer from Phuket Airport to Patong Beach or another island beach, you can rent a motorbike in the nearest village. However, for this you will have to make a walk of 15-25 minutes. Leaving the terminal, you need to move south to the village of Nai Yang (see map).

Village, nearest to the Phuket airoprt, where you can rent a motorbike

The distance to the village is about 1.5 km, but walking in the heat with a backpack is not very pleasant, especially since you will spend extra time searching for a place with a rental of motobikes and, most likely, you will visit several rental offices before making your choice. You also need to remember that before the return flight from the island you will also have to leave a motorbike in the village and walk to the airport with things that are have much more weight because of souvenirs, fruits, Thai alcohol and new clothes, than on the day of arrival to Phuket. Of course, you can take motorbike taxi from the village to airport, but then there will be practically no savings from renting a motorbike.

The second option is to take a motorbike for rent in Phuket after you got to Phuket Town from the International airport. The advantage of this option is that in the main island settlement there is practically no seasonal price, i. Rent a motobike will cost about 200-250 THB per day at any time of the year (for a daily rent for a motobike with a mileage of up to 10,000 km). Among the shortcomings of the option can be noted only that you in most cases will have to immediately participate in busy urban traffic. If you have experience riding a bike in Thailand, there should not be any problems. But if you for the first time decided to use a rented motobike for traveling around the island and there is no experience in driving a motorbike – a similar situation is fraught with a little stress and can be dangerous. Again, the option does not fit, if you just arrived in Phuket and you have a suitcase with you.

Motorbike rental in Phuket – the choice is huge, the cost varies!

Finally, there is the option of renting a bike in Phuket directly at the resorts. This option is convenient because you can rent a motobike after you have left things in your room and generally do not do it right after you arrive in Phuket. For example, the next day or even on any of the days of your holiday, when there will be a need to drive motobike. Among the shortcomings of the option can be noted a slightly higher price of renting a bike in Phuket during the high season. However, for today the high competition among tenants of motorbikes does not allow them to overestimate the prices. So you can rent an motorbike online or choose a motorbike rental location in Phuket based on your personal preferences and capabilities.

Fuel for rented motorbike in Phuket – kind and where to buy

Modern motobikes are very economical. For example, Honda Click with a 125 cc engine. on average consumes about 2.5 liters of fuel per 100 km of run. A Honda PCX with a motor 150 cc. for the same distance should not use more than 3 liters. Of course, if you weigh 120 kg and together with you a passenger with the same weight, and if you will travel a lot along serpentines, fuel consumption will be great. I specifically used the word “fuel” in the article and not gasoline, because in Thailand it is customary to call fuel “gasoline”. In reality, gasoline is a real fuel without impurities. And what is poured into motobikes now is a Gasohol – a mixture of gasoline (90%) and ethanol (10%). But the Thais still call this fuel gasoline and this is the name you most often see along roads where such bottled fuel is sold.

Stand with gasoline from bottles along the road in Phuket

A small nuance: the fuel can be both green and red-orange, depending on the gasoline underlying it. The first option – Gazohol 91, and the second – Gazohol 95. In reality, you can fill in the rental motobike both kinds and do not be afraid to mix them in any combination. At the same time, it is difficult to notice any difference in dynamics. But if you want do absolutely right already, then if you are able to choose it is better to use the fuel recommended by the motorbike manufacturer or the employee of the rental office. Often, right next to the fuel tank cap, the fuel grade to be used is indicated. But if you noticed on the dashboard that the fuel is already at zero, I recommend not to hesitate and buy any fuel at the nearest roadside point, even let it be more expensive per liter.

It should be remembered that the cost of fuel in bottles can be 2 times higher than at gas stations. For example, in Phuket, the minimum price I met was 30 THB, but more often 35-40 THB per bottle is found on the island roads, in which about 0.6 liters of fuel or even a little less is poured. For comparison, at large gas stations the price of 1 liter of gashead is slightly less than 30 THB. Large refuelings, where employee in uniform will fill your motorbike (you only pay money) when you traveling between the beaches of Phuket are really rare. But sometimes you can see on the sidelines small automatic gasoline station selling, where there is a choice of several brands of fuel or only one kind and you can pay with both Thai coins and banknotes. Just remember that the such machines can not give change for you.

A small automatic gasoline station selling near Patong Beach in Phuket

Thus, if you plan to travel a lot around Phuket on a rented motobike, you must plan in your recreation budget for fuel costs of 150 baht per 100 km when refueling “from bottles” or about 75 baht when you visit official filling stations.

When is it better not to rent a motorbike in Phuket

Motorbike rental in Phuket provides a lot of opportunities and gives an unforgettable experience. Independence from an unnecessarily expensive taxi, the ability to quickly reach neighboring and remote beaches, the pleasure of driving on the beautiful roads of the island and from self-visit several attractions – all this is possible with the help of a motorbike rented. However, there is a “fly in the ointment” in this barrel of honey. Despite the availability of rental motorbike in Phuket, you should clearly realize that the final cost of rent can be much higher for a number of reasons. In this article, I will not focus on the consequences for health and life in inaccurate driving, only on monetary issues.

First, currently in Thailand, the traffic police has become much more actively monitor the observance of traffic rules by tourists and the availability of their driver’s license. Earlier on such “pranks” as driving without a helmet or without a driver’s license, in many cases, eyes were closed (except for special events on the roads). Now it’s hard for me to remember the day when I did not see mobile patrols that stop motorbikes literally dozens to check documents. Also often in the city traffic there are police officers on powerful motobikes, and i saw that several times they stopped the violators of traffic rules.

Police stop and penalize even Thai girls without helmets

As a rule, 95% of tourists who rent a motobike in Phuket or other resorts of the country do not have international or Thai driving licenses to drive motorbike, and riding without a helmet is still a common phenomenon, so fines are a good addition to local budgets. Given that most traffic police officers use action cameras (fixed on the helmet) during such raids, it will not be possible to “negotiate” by giving a small bribe – only the official payment of a fine in the police department, and this is precious time spent on vacation and a spoiled mood.

Actual sizes of fines in Thailand (2018)

– Driving a motorbike without driving license – 500 THB;
– Penalty for driving without a helmet in Phuket for driver/passenger 600/400 THB;
– Penalty for traveling to the oncoming lane 450 THB;
– Penalty for speeding 500 THB;
– Penalty for crossing the intersection to a red traffic signal 1000 THB;
– Penalty for a turn on the road in a prohibited place 400 THB.
– Penalty for parking in a prohibited place 400-600 THB.

As you can see, the amount of fines is several times higher than the cost of renting motorbike per day. In view of the fact that police patrols, which massively stop motorbike drivers, are often installed in the most popular directions (for example, on the route between the beaches of Patong and Karon), there is a possibility that you can stop on motobike even several times a day. In a situation where you did not violate any rules (the speed regime was observed, you were wearing a helmet, your passenger was also wearing a helmet, you were not intoxicated) and you “just” have no Thai or international driving license to drive motobike, you you will have to pay a fine of 500 THB.

Parking motorbike in Phuket in the forbidden place (red and white markings)

It is necessary to keep the receipt and you will not be fined this day again. But with the cost of renting a motorbike in Phuket 200-300 THB, all the pleasure of riding two wheels will cost 700-800 THB per day, which is comparable to the cost of renting a car in Phuket. In the article “My experience of renting a motorbike in Phuket” I shared some secrets that allow me to avoid a fine, but they are not a panacea and can not work in every situation. You should be careful while parking a bike in Phuket along the roads: places where parking is prohibited are marked with a red and white curb. Leaving the motorbike in such a place, do not be surprised when you find chains on wheels and a receipt with a fine. Chains will be withdrawn only after paying a fine in the police station, to which you will have to get yourself. Also you can not park motorbike along have yellow and white curbs – these are special areas for taxi parking.

It is also necessary to remember that riding a motobike in Thailand without the necessary experience can result in a fall. If you do not take into account the health consequences (at least bruises, scratches, bruises and abrasions), you will need to pay for repair of the motorbike. Motobike on average weighs about 100 kg, so when falling on the asphalt while driving, even with a slight speed on the plastic parts are deep scratches and scuffs. And in the event of a collision even with a small obstacle, the glass that cover the front light fixtures are very easily broken. Unlike car rental, rental motobikes usually do not have insurance. This means that you will have to pay for repairs from your own pocket.

Parking motorbike in Phuket in the permitted place (curbs are not painted)

Even if you do not apply to the office, where you rented motorbike, but to a third-party service (this is usually cheaper, although this is a violation of the lease agreement), the amount can be not very small. In a third-party workshop, small scratches on the plastic can be removed approximately 70-100 THB (multiply by their number), and the replacement of the glass will cost about 200-300 THB (when renting a popular motorbike model in Phuket). If the damage is more serious and the plastic parts of the motorbike body are cracked or crumbled into pieces, a complete replacement with color selection may be required, which will cost several thousand baht. Finally, even the most neat ride is not a guarantee that you will avoid puncturing the wheel. In most cases, repair or replacement of the camera will cost 150-250 THB, and replacement of the torn tire will cost an additional 700-800 THB.

I do not in any way want to dissuade anyone from rent a motorbike in Phuket, because these are really cool feelings and freedom. I just want to remind you that when driving a motorbike you need to be extremely careful and attentive, because not everything on the road depends solely on you. But if you are not confident in your abilities, do not have any experience managing the bike or you do not have a cash reserve to cover possible damage – Phuket is not the best place to study and it’s better to rent a car. Car rental in Phuket is the availability of full insurance, protection from the sun and rain, a large trunk and a lack of interest to you from the police. In any case, the choice is yours. I wish you pleasant trips and safe roads!

The post Motorbike rental in Phuket – prices and secrets! first appeared on Thai-Rest.com - Your Best Holidays to Thailand!.

Thailand motorbike rental

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Thailand motorbike rental – features and prices

• How to choose a motorbike for rent in Thailand

• The process of renting motorbike in Thailand

• Documents for rent motobike in Thailand

• What to do if you damaged motorbike for rent

• Useful tips for renting a motorbike in Thailand

Thailand motorbike rental – features and prices

In a number of articles from the section “Transport in Thailand” at specific resorts, I already wrote that it is rather expensive to move around cities and islands even on public transport, especially after dusk, which occurs in Thailand soon after six o’clock in the evening. And this is in view of the fact that the movement is carried out on standard routes. If you want to slightly correct the traffic route, public transport will automatically turn into a taxi with very high rates. Therefore renting a motorbike in Thailand is a great way to save on transport and feel a greater degree of freedom.

Thailand motorcycle rental means renting is not classic in the view of many sports motorcycle, but a vehicle that is a cross between a small motorcycle and a scooter. In contrast to the classic scooters in Europe with engines up to 50 cc in size, motorbikes in Thailand have much more powerful engines (usually from 110 to 250 cc), which is due to the presence in many places of the country of mountain serpentines with long lifts and the need transportation of several passengers on one motorbike. In addition, Thai motorbikes are equipped with wheels with a larger diameter.

Appearance and way of landing on most motorbikes corresponds to the classic scooter: fully manual control, automatic gearbox and landing like a “stool” (the driver’s legs are located not on the sides of the bike, but on the ground in front of the seat). Of course, classic sportbikes with 400 cc or more engines are also available in Thailand in a good assortment, but this article is very firstly written for those tourists who have a modest experience of driving a bike or do not have such experience in the past. In such cases, it is better to choose motorbike models with a fully automatic gearbox and pay more attention to the road situation itself. Although if you are confident in your abilities, you can find in Thailand and models of motobikes with semi-automatic transmission (by the way, renting such motorbikes costs a little less).

However, I’m a little distracted from the direct Thailand motorcycle rental and the distinctive features of this process in the resorts. The sign “Motorbike for rent” can be found, probably, in any city of Thailand, and in the popular tourist centers, which include the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Chang, Phuket, Pattaya, Krabi, etc. such signs are found practically at every step. As a rule, in the immediate vicinity of this sign are parked the bikes themselves, which are leased, and there is a price list on which the cost of renting a motorbike is written depending on the volume of its engine or the brand of motorcycles. Sometimes the inscription is shortened to “For rent”, and sometimes it’s just a series of similar motorbikes, next to which in the shadow is a rental employee.

Motorbikes store – do not confuse with rental office!

Just do not mix it with the store for the sale of new motobikes, there are also a lot of them (see the photo above). It must be remembered that the price is indicated for the 24 hours, so if you want to rent a motorbike for a longer period, you can and should bargain. Under a longer period, I mean at least a week, because when renting for a few days usually do not want to bargain and the possible discount will be quite small. Another thing when it comes to renting a motorbike for a month. The average cost of renting a normal motorbike, for example, Honda Click, is 150 -200 baht per day. However, when renting the same motorbike for a week or a month, the amount will be approximately 1000 baht and 3000 baht respectively. Agree, the benefits are obvious!

How to choose a motorbike for rent in Thailand

Since the cost of Thailand motorcycle rental is approximately the same in most rental offices (150-250 baht per day), it makes sense to choose the rental location for the following parameters: the lease terms and technical condition of the motorbikes themselves. Personally, I always started with a survey of vehicles in the parking lot, and found out the terms of the lease only in the case when there were motorbikes in good condition. One of the most important parameters, which everyone is advised to pay attention to, is the motobike run. It is desirable that it was as small as possible, especially if you are planning a long-term lease. Speaking of figures, it is less than 20 thousand kilometers, and if possible – it is better to choose models with a range of up to 10 thousand kilometers. In general, modern models of Japanese motobikes (in Thailand you will most likely drive to Honda or Yamaha) can serve much longer, but you should understand that motobikes from hire are often operated by people with no corresponding experience, so by 25-30 thousand kilometers of mileage, ethor already very “tired” model.

If you do not have the experience of riding a motorbike in Thailand, I also do not advise you to hire completely new vehicles with a minimum mileage (up to 3-5 thousand kilometers). This is due to the fact that even with minor damages (for example, scratches on the plastic case when falling), you will have to pay very high for repairs. Therefore, choose motobikes in good condition and average mileage. This is really worthwhile advice, and the number of enough “fresh” motorbikes in the rental offices allows him to follow. The truth is increasingly common motorbikes with an electronic scoreboard on the panel, where the mileage can be seen only by inserting the ignition key. The second parameter is the external state of the bike. It is advisable to choose without strong visible damage, indicating that motobike has been in serious trouble. The presence of small scratches is not critical, but all of them must be fixed in the lease.

Typical rental office for motorbikes in Thailand

The third important aspect is the terms of the lease: the need to leave a passport or cash deposit as security. Preferably, of course, the second option. Moreover, I advise in no case to leave the original passport at the box office, because it is fraught with serious problems even with minor damage to the motorbike rented. There is a big risk that by keeping your passport in bail, the owner of the bike will show unreasonable and obviously overstated claims for repairs, reaching up to 20,000 or even 30,000 Thai baht. And to return your passport and fly home you will have to fork out! Therefore, only a photocopy of the passport and a cash deposit, which is not more than a few thousand baht (usually this amount (3000-5000 THB) is more than enough for repairs).

Perhaps, this item should be put even in the first place, i.e. you should not waste time inspecting the motobike, and immediately ask: is it necessary to have a passport or will it be enough to leave a sane deposit and if you can not do without a passport, you can simply pass by. Unfortunately, at the present time (2018) ever less rental offices agree to provide motorbike for rent without a pledge of the original passport. Especially in this regard, the unfavorable situation in Phuket. In December 2017, I visited more than 20 rental offices, but none agreed to a copy of the passport and cash deposit. In this situation, you can use the rental of motobikes in Thailand online, where most offices agree only on a cash deposit, without the original passport. Just remember that the online booking of motobike is only possible 2-3 days before the start of the lease.

The process of renting motorbike in Thailand

If you are satisfied with the terms of the lease, and motorbikes themselves are “fresh” and not “killed” externally, you can proceed with the formalization of the lease. But first we must conduct, so to speak, drive trials, i.e. to conduct a small test. To do this, you can leave your passport and make a small circle, passing through a nearby street. First of all, you need to make sure that the motorbike does not not go to the side when you hold the steering wheel straight, and also the fact that the brakes are working properly. I do not even know if it’s worth to conduct a test with a complete lack of riding skills – decide for yourself. Personally, I did not do the test for the first time (and next travels also) but every time before drive to the street with big traffic, I prefere spend some time to littlr bit study in a quiet street or yard near the rental office.

Yamaha and Honda – the main motorbikes for rent in Thailand

If there are no obvious shortcomings during the inspection, you can proceed with the formalization of the lease agreement. Do not sign it, if it is completely in Thai, which you probably do not know. There should be either a fully English version or a version where the fields are signed in two languages. In the last couple of years in tourist places you can find rentals of motobikes, which belong to expats. As a rule, the rent in them is slightly higher, but in the contract there may even be a your native language. Also, when renting, you can contact the your language-speaking intermediaries, which are easy to find on the Internet and which, for a fee, will help you sort out the rent.

In the process of renting motobike in Thailand, it is necessary to photograph all external damages (or even better – shoot everything on video). Of course, the pictures or video should be in high resolution, so that all the scratches and cracks on the plastic are clearly visible. If you are shooting on video, try to see in the same video file the employee of hire who gave out to you motobike was visible. And all the scratches and cracks on the plastic is better not just to comment, but also to point the finger of a free hand. In general, I talked with people living in Thailand for a long time, and many of them stated that in reality it is not so easy to prove something with the help of pictures and video. I think this is more necessary in order to show the employee of the hire that you are not quite a idiot whom he will later be able to “throw for money.” By the way, I already wrote about this in the article “The main ways of fraud in Thailand.”

Only the marks on the state of transport made in the lease agreement have legal effect, therefore it is better to write in the special column the noticed shortcomings of the leased transport. If the rental employee does not know English well, you can use a regular electronic translator Google Translate. In the latter case, try to avoid long and complex phrases, because translators are not perfect and the meaning of phrases can have a double or completely opposite meaning. Just write “crack on the headlight,” “incision on the seat,” “scratch on the right mirror,” “dent on the muffler,” etc. In some rentals there are printed images of a motorbike, on which damage can be indicated schematically by a handle, which is very convenient. Having filled and signed all documents, it is possible to make payment and, using the helmet given out in hire, start driving of motorbike.

Motorbikes for rent in Thailand – better to choose with automatic transmission

Some tourists carefully choose rental motorbikes in Thailand, make out a lease, and after they receive the keysб they just stay near rented motorbike and just look at it, because they do not know how to handle this transport. In order not to get into this unpleasant situation, it is necessary to memorize a few fairly elementary rules and repeat them on the eve of the first trip, so as not to forget anything. In order not to overload this already long article with information, a short theoretical course with photographs is described in a separate article on the site: “Motorbike riding in Thailand: how to quickly learn to drive.”

Documents for rent motobike in Thailand

As I already wrote, usually in the process of registration only your passport is required, a copy of which will have to be left in the rental office. It often happens that way, that the search for rental offices without mandatory pledge of the original passport did not bring any result. If your country has in addition to a foreign passport a national passport, you can try to leave it at the rental company. In case of damage to the motorbike and extortion of an unreasonably high amount for repairs with such a passport, you can simply part, easily recovering it after returning to your country. But if in your country there is no division into a national and a foreign passport, this option is not suitable.

What is striking, some rental offices, for example, on Koh Samui, may be asked to leave as a deposit directly the driver’s license. The driver’s experience and driver’s license with the presence of the appropriate category “A” in them is usually not checked by anyone, but it is implied that you have such a license, i.e. rental ofice does not bear any responsibility for the fact that you rent a motobike without a driver’s license and driving experience. Agree, a very convenient scheme for everyone. Otherwise, customers in the rental offices would be many times less, and the traffic police could not receive fines for driving motobike without a driver’s license. But still the ideal option – when you really have the international driver licence for motorcycle or Thai driving license.

In the article “Road traffic in Thailand” I wrote that the country signed the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and undertakes to recognize the driver’s license not only of the international standard, but also of the old national one. However, in practice it is difficult to prove this fact to the Thai road police and they demand to show only Thai or international drive licence (by the way, you can get it even with a tourist visa), so you have to pay a fine of 500 baht. Earlier you could save your time and just give the traffic police officer a bribe (a similar amount). But now rules is much stricter, and road policemen use in their work special action cameras, which are attached to them on a helmet. Therefore, the fine must be paid at the police station, which you will have to travel by foot or by taxi (the keys to the motobike are taken by the police until you show the receipt for payment of the fine).

The same must be done in a situation where there is no driver’s license at all, or when you drive a motorbike without a helmet. When you renting a motorbike in Thailand on the islands of Koh Chang or KohSamui, the risk that you will be stopped by police on the road is small, but in Pattaya and especially on the island of Phuket everything is much more difficult: foreigners often stop and check not only documents but also the condition (alcoholic intoxication). On the roads of the island of Phuket, mass checks of farang documents are carried out at all, and even search of things for the presence of narcotic drugs (often when you leave the beach of Phuket Island Patong in the direction of Karon Beach).

What to do if you damaged motorbike for rent

Situations in which foreigners become guilty and just participants in large and minor accidents with damage to the motorbike are not uncommon. Since this article is about renting a motorbike in Thailand, I will not write about the consequences that arise as a result of an accident involving other vehicles and citizens of Thailand, since I am not very competent in this matter and only know that such incidents should be avoided and be very careful on the road. As for the damage of the motorbike for rent, in this situation there are two main options: to tell all situation to owner of the motorbike or try to repair it yourself (in a third-party service).

On the one hand, the first option is more correct and honest: you confess in your error and accept the amount of compensation for repairs. By the way, this behavior is usually indicated in the lease agreement. But there is one big disadvantage: often owners of a rental motobike, especially if the original passport is left as a deposit, can begin a natural extortion, demanding for not too complicated repairs an amount that is almost equal to the cost of a new motorbike. Therefore, experienced travelers to Thailand and those foreigners who live there for a long time, are advised to contact a third-party service, where the cost of repairs will be several times lower.

The fall on motorbike – the main way to damage a rented motorbike in Thailand

Most often, as a result of minor accidents, which include falling bike (when the driver failed to control), plastic parts of the motorbike body, mirrors, lighting equipment suffer. In reality, all these details stand even on the official service a little, and in many cases it is easy to pick up even the right color of the part being replaced. paintwork is not needed. By the way,that’s why it’s better to choose those motobikes that have standard colors, without complicated unique drawings, during the rental of motobike in Thailand. Service centers and repair shops in Thai cities are many, so it is not difficult to find them (you can ask local residents or mototaxists). Even on small islands like Ko Chang there are Honda and Yamaha service centers.

Due to the fact that many rental companies stick stickers on their motorbikes with their logo and phones, there is a certain probability that the car repair worker will call the specified number and inform the motorbike owner about your visit. But the probability of this is small, and the sticker, if it is glued to the part being replaced, can be gently peeled off with an industrial hair dryer and re-glued to a new part. As a result, such repairs will rarely cost more than 3000 – 7000 baht, while at the rental office they can demand from 15,000 to 25,000 baht. The difference in money is palpable, but you will not worsen your karma, because the bike will be restored no worse than what the owner would have done on a similar service. For more information on the cost of repairing motorbike (prices for plastic parts and tires), please visit page Motorbike rental in Phuket – prices and secrets!

Useful tips for renting a motorbike in Thailand

Not to frighten you, but for warning, I remind you that the traffic in Thailand is quite intense, while a considerable number of foreigners per year die on the roads of the country (only about 300 per year in Phuket). In order to understand how serious everything is, writer into Google search the phrase “Crash motorbike in Thailand” and see the photo. Only immediately I warn – the spectacle is not for the faint-hearted, but it’s sobering and it makes me think about my safety. Following some simple tips often neglected by tourists will save you not only from unnecessary expenses, but also help to save your life and your health when renting a motorbike in Thailand.

★ Be cautious and do not ride during alcohol or narcotic intoxication. Not because of fear of the police and fine, but because of fear of parting with their own lives and health.

★ Be sure to use helmets. These head protection products are provided at the rental office for free for the driver of a motorbike and a passenger if you are going to ride together.

★ If you disdain to use the helmet after many other tourists and take a motorbike not for a couple of days, you can buy an inexpensive new one, and after use sell it to one of the rental offices for half the cost.

★ If you buy a helmet – choose a model with a visor (can be removable) that will protect the eyes from possible insects from driving at night and pebbles that can fly out from under the wheels of moving ahead in the course of traffic.

★ Do not race on a bike in Thailand, even if you feel confident that you have acquired the skills to manage this transport. Remember about safe speed limit!

★ In the early days try not to drive faster than 40 km / h. And spit on what other participants in the movement will think about you: life and health are more expensive.

★ When renting a motorbike for a long time, you need to drive it once a month to the rental office, where you have to change the oil in the engine and thoroughly wash the bike. It is must be free for you!

★ Use the fuel type that is recommended for your motorbike model.

★ Before you go to Thailand, you must buy insurance for active recreation

★ Record the registration number of the bike so that it can be easier to find it in the parking lot. Believe me, there will be a lot of similar motorbikes, so sometimes tourists simply can not find their motorbike in a big parking lot and they tell the police that their motorbike was kidnapped.

★ Attentively cross the intersections and do not forget that the movement in Thailand is left-sided.

★ Do not leave the motorbike in the wrong places, from where it can be taken to the parking lot (at bus stops, pedestrian crossings, in the places that prohibit parking signs). The main sign that parking is prohibited is red and white curbs along the road.

In any situation, keep a sober head and do not panic. Then Thailand motorbike rental will not cause a headache, but a great way to qualitatively diversify your vacation, feel real freedom of movement and get a lot of new positive impressions. And remember that if you are not sure of yourself and are afraid to ride a motorbike, you always have an alternative in the form of a car for rent in Thailand. Good luck on the roads and have a good rest!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( you can click on the link for quick transition)

• Features of the road between Chiang Mai and Pai

• From Chiang Mai to Pai and back by minibus

• Location of the bus terminal in Chiang Mai

• Location of bus station in Pai

• How to get to Pai from Chiang Mai in rented transport

Features of the road between Chiang Mai and Pai

The direct distance between Pai and Chiang Mai is about 85 kilometers, but the distance along the shortest road between the city centers is about 150 km. This is due to the fact that the highway number 1095 is one of the most winding roads in the world. For example, between the cities of Chiang Mai and Pai, you must overcome 762 turns (on the road, even the corresponding pointer is there). At the same time mountain serpentines make up only half of the route, and in the remaining part it is an ordinary Thai route, along which it is possible to move at a speed of up to 100 km / h. Therefore, all those who want to quickly get to Pai from Chiang Mai, should understand that the road in any case will take about three hours, and sometimes more.

A large number of turns on the road from Chiang Mai to Pai is accompanied by frequent ascent and descent. All this not only slows down the movement, but also makes such a trip not very comfortable for people with weak vestibular apparatuses. If you can be are shaken in a car, on a bus or boat, it is better to take a special pill beforehand from motion sickness in advance. Then the road will bring you only positive emotions, because in many places there are special observation platforms, from which an unforgettable view of the green mountains opens. And even a simple bus ride will allow you from the window to admire the bright nature of northern Thailand and the picturesque mountains.

A typical landscape when traveling from Chiang Mai to Pye along serpentine

One of the features of traveling to Pai is the lack of direct transport to this city from the popular resort areas of the country, with the exception of the city of Chiang Mai. And even if you found an excursion from Bangkok or Pattaya to Pai, you have to make a transfer to Chiang Mai. The route that connects Pai and Chiang Mai is often called Chiang Mai-Mahongshon (a city on the border of Thailand and Myanmar). At the same time, the town of Pai is located approximately in the middle of the route, so that regular buses can be passing, and it is often impossible to buy tickets for them in a few days. But there are routes directly from Chiang Mai to Pai and back, because this small town enjoys increasing popularity with foreign tourists. By the way, on the page From Bangkok to Chiang Mai – transport, schedule and fares! you can find out how you can get to Chiang Mai from the capital of Thailand and back.

From Chiang Mai to Pai and back by minibus

The easiest way to purchase tickets for minibuses between Chiang Mai and Pai is to use the service of transport in Asia. The link will open the English version of the service and the Chiang Mai-Pai route. To see the timetable of the minibus company Prem Prach and the cost of the trip for your date, change it in the search bar (at the top of the page). There you can choose the number of passengers you need. During the high season (autumn-winter), 10-12 minibuses are sent daily between cities. In this case, the first minibus departs from Chiang Mai at dawn, and the last – before sunset (most of the way will be done in the dark). Also you may notice that the timetable shows the time on the road for more than 4 hours (usually 4 hours and 20 minutes). In reality, a minibus overcomes the distance between cities faster, in about 3.5 hours (with a sanitary stop in the middle of the route lasting 10-15 minutes).

But the travel time can really be more than 4 hours during the rainy season, when due to a large number of turns, descents and ascents, the speed of the minibus drops, because it is unsafe to drive quickly in the mountains on a wet road. Although even on bright sunny days on the road 1095 there are many sections where minibus moves at a speed of 20-30 km / h and can not accelerate faster. If you are looking for a minibus schedule from Pai City to Chiang Mai, you can see them on this direct link to the route. There you can buy a ticket online, which can be relevant during the high season. The cost of minivans at the beginning of 2018 is 195 THB or 6 USD per person. Because of the fact that on the way back, slopes prevail, i. The minibus is moving downward rather than climbing the mountains, the return trip from Pai to Chiang Mai usually takes less time.

Location of the bus terminal in Chiang Mai

The minibuses of Prem Pracha company between Chiang Mai and Pai depart and arrive in places convenient for tourists – in the area of ​​the central bus stations (although in the case of the city of Pai this definition may not be entirely appropriate). If you purchased an online ticket and want to quickly find a landing to the desired minibus, you need a new bus station in Chiangmai – Chiangmai Arcade Bus Station. It is located across the street from the Chiangmai Bus Terminal 3 to Soi Kaeo Nawarat 5. You can see the location of the bus station on the city map by clicking on the departure point on the search page (in the figure below is marked with a yellow marker). Get here from anywhere in Chiang Mai will not be difficult on local transport.

Clicking on the point of departure (in the figure marked in yellow) you can see it on the map

The bus terminal is large, so to save time on finding the point of landing in a minibus, follow the far part of the bus terminal. The entrance to the transport company’s office is located outside the building, in the area between the bus platforms No. 12 and No. 13. As a rule, there are always branded red-white minibuses nearby, and the office itself is marked by a large signboard Prempracha Transport (red logo and black letters on a white background). Landing on the minibus Chiang Mai – Pai is carried out from the platform number 13. If you purchased a ticket for a minibus online, you need to show the printout in the office. At the same time in ofice you can get give a ticket of the usual type, which must be presented during the landing in a minibus.

Ticket office of Prempracha in Chiang Mai Bus Terminal

Since the direction is popular, you can find other local bus companies that also deliver passengers from Chiang Mai to Pai. The prices for the trip will be almost similar, and if you do not want to purchase a ticket for a minibus or a large bus in advance, you can, if you have free time, to research prices and choose the option you like. Travel time will also be comparable due to a difficult route, and a trip on a large bus can take even more time. Currently, you can purchase tickets for the Chiang Mai-Pai bus and for back way online only in the manner described above. In any case, during the trip from Chiang Mai to Pai and back, use seat belts in a minibus and hold tight on the corners of the road.

Location of bus station in Pai

Since the population of the city of Pai is about 2500 people, and the number of bus routes is limited, there can not be a classical large bus terminal in the city. Therefore, most transport companies bring passengers to their corporate offices. The company Prempracha Transport, whose office is located in the central part of Pai city, is also an exception. It is located at Rural Road Mae Hong Son 4024, Wiang Tai, Mae Hong Son 58130. In fact, this is a small square near which the company’s ticket office is located. Find this small bus station is not difficult, because it is located on the local Walking Street. Nearby there are a large number of bars, cafes, a night market, inexpensive guesthouses and a 7Eleven store.

Ticket office of Prempracha Transport Co in Pai

A good landmark is the company’s indexes of the transport company, made in red and white. On the same information boards, located on both sides of the site with buses, it says “Pai Bus Station”, so finding a place is not difficult. Opposite the ticket office there is a small kiosk of Kasikorn Bank with an ATM. To hide from the sun or rain on this mini bus station is almost nowhere, so it’s better to spend time before landing in a minibus to Chiang Mai in one of the local bars or inexpensive cafes with Thai food.

How to get to Pai from Chiang Mai in rented transport

Despite the low cost of traveling by minibus from Chiang Mai to Pai, many travelers prefer to use a rented car or motorbike for a trip between cities. Connectedly this is with their desire to get the maximum degree of freedom in the journey and visit all the main attractions in the vicinity of Pai (waterfalls, hot springs, mountain viewpoints, strawberry farms, etc.). After all, even during a trip on a winding road to Pai there are very beautiful places where many would like to stay for a while (make a beautiful photo or video).

You can find small bus station in Pai in Walking Street area

Since renting a car in Pai is not very good, it’s better to rent a car in Chiang Mai, using the Rentalcars service to find the best price, where you can find all rental offices in the city and you can rent a car at the best price (you conclude a rental agreement on your native language). As a rule, the widest offer of cars for rent is presented at the airport of Chiang Mai. There and the lowest prices, sometimes 1.5 times lower than renting a similar car in the city center. Therefore, if you want to rent a car online in Chiang Mai cheap, it is better to do it at the airport, even if you came to Chiang Mai by train or bus. The trip to the airport will not be too tiring and expensive, because the international airport of Chiang Mai is located within the city – just three kilometers from the center.

While driving on the road №1095, observe the speed limit and try to drive on the left side of the road, without leaving on the oncoming lane (especially at corners). And to more easily cope with long lifts and descents, it is better to rent a car with an automatic transmission. Also, it will not be superfluous to fill the fuel tank with as much fuel as you need for a trip to Pai and back, as well as trips to natural attractions in the vicinity of Pai. Well, of course, it is better, with other things being equal, to choose rental offices with a minimum level of deductibles (for more details, see the “Car rental Phuket – fares, advices, best places” page).

As for renting a motorbike in Chiang Mai, then this also has no problems. Like everywhere in Thailand, there are a lot of motorbike rental offices in the city. The cost is about 150 baht (5 USD) per day and above. As I repeatedly advised, try to find an office in which you do not need use your passport like a deposit. Especially if you want to go on motorbike from Chiang Mai to Pai (without a passport, settling in a hotel may be impossible). There is a possibility to rent motobike in Chiang Mai online. The cost also starts from 5 USD per day, and the original passport is not required. In addition, you can often cancel your reservation without penalty for 48 hours before the date of rental (for example, if a trip to Pai or even to Chiang Mai for any reason was canceled).

If for you the most important thing in the trip is comfort and safety, you can order a taxi transfer from Chiang Mai to Pai. The option is not the most budgetary, but if you travel not alone and with a lot of things, you can comfortably get directly from Chiang Mai airport to your hotel in Pai city or order a similar transfer in the opposite direction and get from Pai to the airport doors in Chiang Mai . I wish you pleasant and safe trips!

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How to get cheap from Phuket Town to the beaches of the island

Due to the fact that local authorities have not been able to defeat the “taxi mafia” of Phuket for many years, even after the military has come to power in the country, there is still no cheap public transport available for passengers on the island. Cheap to get to the beaches of Phuket from the city center can only be on the songthaew – large and very old buses of blue color. In general, by buses such transportation can be called with a stretch: in fact it is a truck with a separate cabin and a separate passenger compartment, in which along the sides there are two benches (often in the center there is one additional). There are no windows and doors in the passenger compartment, so there is no air conditioner.

During the trip, you can breathe fresh air (especially when the exhaust from the ancient motor of this transport blows the wind not in the direction of passengers). It’s good that there is a roof in the transport that protects against rain and sun. By the way, on the roof there is a special platform where large-sized luggage can be fixed. Appearance of such transport you can see in the photo below. Blue-colored buses travel along the routes between Phuket Town and the beaches of the island, and similar pink buses – between bus terminals No. 1 (old Phuket bus station) and No. 2 (Phuket’s new bus station).

Salon of a large blue bus from Phuket Town to Patong Beach

The real problem for budget travelers is that there is no cheap bus route between the beaches of Phuket. This means that it is cheap to get from Patong Beach to Karon or Kata Beach, only with a transfer to Phuket Town. Given the fact that the passenger buses in Phuket are not moving very fast (in order to collect more passengers), they make many stops on the route and depart from the final stops not exactly according to the schedule (every half hour), and when the minimum number of passengers is typed, the trip between the indicated ones beaches can take 2.5-3 hours. With the fact that by taxi or when renting a car in Phuket it can be done in 15-20 minutes, and even on foot you can walk faster than on such buses with a transfer in the city.

Big passenger songthaew from Phuket Town to the beaches of the island do not depart from any bus station, but from Ranong Road, which is located next to the Phuket Old City. Those, blue “buses” simply park along Ranong Street and wait for passengers. The main landmarks of the place from where cheap buses go to the beaches are Phuket Town Central Market and the Suriyadej Traffic Circled round area. It is this object or directly Ranong Street that I recommend to use in the navigator on the smartphone while searching for the bus departure point. As a rule, buses for each of the directions are parked in approximately the same places all thr time, so that they are easier to find for local residents and for tourists.

Place in Phuket Town for boarding to cheap buses to beaches

For example, the closest thing to the circular movement you will find is big blue bus to Kamala beach. And if you walk about 150 meters along this street, you will see a blue bus to Patong Beach. A little further will have to pass in order to find an inexpensive bus to the beaches of Karon and Kata. By the way, a good reference point for bus parking to Patong, Karon and Kata beaches is the 7Eleven store on Ranong Road. If you go from the side of the ring traffic, the store will be about 180 meters to the right (the store sign is placed high above the street level). On the left, there will be a sign of the Thai military bank (TMB), as shown in the screenshot.

If you have any problems finding the right bus – just ask the locals or the drivers of the other blue buses. Just do not ask taxi drivers who in their own interests can convince you that there are no cheap buses to the beaches. By the way, routes on most blue buses are written in Thai and are duplicated in English. The easiest way to see the name of the route is from the side in the roof area and on the windshield, but sometimes there is a sign at the back. Since the Blue Route Songthaew from Phuket Town is slow moving, the trip to the beaches rarely lasts less than an hour. Therefore, you can go to 7Eleven before the trip and buy some food and drinks for yourself.

Large blue bus to Patong Beach from Phuket Town (front view)

The fare on buses is often indicated on the sides of the vehicle and in the front of the passenger compartment, on the cab. The cost is fixed and does not depend on what distance you are going to drive. For example, a trip from Phuket Town to Patong Beach always costs 30 Thai Baht (THB), which is slightly less than 1 USD as of 2018. Payment can be made in several ways. Sometimes there is a conductor, who take the money immediately at the entrance. Sometimes the conductor collects the board during the stop already during the trip (for example, when bus left outside Phuket Town). Also, there are cases when the fare is collected directly by the driver during a stop in the middle of the route. If you need go out from transport, you need push to the special call in any part of the route. Only it is better not to do it during a steep climb on the serpentine.

How to get to the beaches of Phuket from bus stations # 1 and # 2

Almost all intercity buses in Thailand arrive at the new bus station of Phuket (Bus Terminal 2), which is located outside the city limits. Therefore, all those tourists who first arrive on the island by land transport are very surprised when they do not find direct cheap buses to the beaches. Of course, the easiest way is to take a taxi to the right beach right on the new bus station. But this is very expensive option. Therefore, there is a more complicated way, but it is much more budgetary. It consists in a trip to the beaches on those oldest blue bus-trucks. But the problem is that you still need to get to big buses, and do it on foot because of the long distance is very difficult, especially when the sun shines brightly or it rains, and you have a heavy backpack or suitcase.

Therefore, in cases where you want to save money or just like to travel colorful local life, I recommend the following option: get to the old bus station in Phuket (Bus Station 1 or Bus Terminal 1), and from there get to Ranong Road, where the parking of inexpensive buses to the beaches of Phuket. Perhaps you already searched on the Internet information about cheap transport between the bus stations of Phuket and you were recommended to use city blue passenger pickups, that drive along a wide street directly next to Bus Terminal 2 in Phuket. The fare on this transport is 20 THB. The option has the right to life, but there are some problems.

The road next to Bus Terminal 2, where you can wait for the city tuk-tuk for 20 baht

First, you most likely do not know the Thai language to read the name of the route or ask about the destination of the driver or other passengers. Secondly, such city pickups do not travel very often and you can get a sunstroke, until you wait for this transport. Personally, I at one time waited a very long time for a pickup truck on the road nearby new bus station and generally began to doubt that there are such. And when in 20 minutes I finally saw the right combination (and I need one that goes from right to left, if I stand with my back to Bus Terminal 2 in Phuket), there were no empty seats and I had to stay on the outer step. With one hand I held on to the rail, and the second tried to track the route in smartphone.

As a result, I had to leave the transport somewhere in the middle of the route to the old bus station, because I was not sure that I would get there at all until the parking of cheap buses to the beaches, and on the phone navigator saw that my pick-up turned to the side. Further I had to get to the destination through the Phuket Old town and vegetable markets. Maybe you are more lucky and you can immediately stop the necessary urban passenger pickup that will take you straight to Ranong Road or the old bus station, but just in case I described my adventures so that you had an idea of ​​the possible difficulties and chose a simpler option that I used during the trip in the opposite direction.

Pink city bus between bus terminals in Phuket Town

In order not to waste time waiting for the right passenger pickup on the road, I recommend using a pink bus directly to Bus Terminal 2. There are many buses and platforms at the new Phuket bus station, so do not waste time searching immediately and go to the platform number 12. Typically, there are waiting for the departure of 1-2 small pink buses that carry passengers between the old and new bus terminals. The appearance of buses you can see in the photo. As a rule, the fare is 15 THB and is paid to the conductor when boarding. The journey takes about 20-25 minutes, depending on the time of day and the traffic situation.

After reaching the bus terminal number 1, it remains to get to Ranong Road and make a landing in a large blue bus to the beach you want. The following is a fragment of the map of Phuket Town with the route between Bus Terminal 1 (the final point on the right) and the bus stop to the beaches of Phuket. As you can see, the distance is about 1300 meters, which you will pass in 15-20 minutes, depending on the weight of your things and traffic signals. The easiest way is to move most of the route along Phangnga Road (a long horizontal section on the map). This is not a very wide street, but with sidewalks and pedestrian crossings.

The route from the Phuket bus station 1 to the buses to the beaches of the island

If you plan leave Phuket by bus, you will also have to get to the new bus terminal (Bus Terminal 2) with a transfer in Phuket Town (if, of course, you want to save money). When traveling to Phuket Town from the beaches of the island, you will be disembarked from a large blue bus next to the Suriyadej Traffic Circled – a small square with a circular traffic, about which I wrote above. Next, you need to get to Bus Station 1 (Bus Terminal 1) and from there cheaply get to the new bus station number 2 and take a bus to Bangkok or another city in Thailand. By the way, in order to purchase a bus ticket in advance without visiting the bus station, I recommend using the international transportation service in Asia (I bought a ticket from Phuket to Bangkok).

Also I remind you that if you decide to get from Phuket airport to Phuket Town by bus, you will also be taken to Bus Station 1 (old bus station) for 90-100 THB (depending on the type of bus). Next, you will either need to use the variant described on this page with large blue buses to make cheap trips to popular beaches or use minibuses. Perhaps the second option will even be preferable in terms of comfort and speed, and the price is quite adequate – 50 THB per person in one direction. In this case, you do not need to waste time searching for bus parking, because air-conditioned minibuses are sent directly from the Bus Terminal 1 platform in Phuket.

Minibus between Phuket’s old bus station and Patong Beach

Minibuses depart every hour both ways. The first such bus leaves from the bus station at 07:00 in the morning, and the last – at 18:00. At the same time, the first minibus from Patong Beach leaves at 06:00 in the morning, and the last bus to Phuket Town at 17:00. Unfortunately, if you need not a Patong but another beach in Phuket, you will have to use a big blue bus. If you do not want to use such not very simple at first glance ways to get to the beaches of Phuket from Phuket Town, you can rent a car in Phuket or book a cpecial car transfer. The latter option is especially relevant when you arrive in Phuket in the evening or at night, when there is no cheap transport to the beaches at all.

I hope that the information on this page was useful for you and now you know how to get from Phuket Town to the beaches of the island and do it as quickly and cheaply as possible. A separate article will provide information on how to quickly get from Patong Beach to Phuket Town. I wish you pleasant and safe trips and rest in Phuket!

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CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( links for quick navigation)

• Flights from Bangkok to Chiang Rai (from 580 THB)

• How to get to Chiang Rai from Bangkok by train

• Buses from Bangkok to Chiang Rai

• How to get from Bangkok to Chiang Rai by car

Flights from Bangkok to Chiang Rai  (from 580 THB or 18 USD)

Unlike some other destinations for traveling in Thailand, in the case of Chiang Rai, an airplane is an excellent choice for covering a distance of almost 700 km. This is due to the fact that low-cost airlines have access to the Chiang Rai international airport, offering one-way flights from Bangkok Don Muang Airport for only 18 USD or 584 THB. You can check the actual tariffs for the dates you need by yourself using this direct link to the Bangkok – Chiang Rai direction.

You should also know that this is one of the rare cases when searching for airline tickets on the official websites of Thai airlines may be preferable. For example, I found a flight ticket for Thai Lion Air for 525 THB, while the cost of a ticket for the same flight in a Transportation in Asia service was 584 THB. But this rule does not always apply, so check both options. Also, Thai Air Asia and NOK Air airlines operate flights from Bangkok to Chiang Rai.

Airfare is sometimes lower on the airline’s website.

When you purchase tickets in advance, you can get from Bangkok to Chiang Rai not only quickly – the flight takes about 1 hour 15 minutes – but also cheap: 500-600 THB for a one-way flight. Sometimes it’s cheaper than using a VIP bus, especially if you don’t have bulky luggage. Still, most low-cost airlines have a drawback: transporting a big suitcase by plane can lead to additional costs, which may be higher than the cost of the ticket.

If there are no cheap flight tickets left for the dates you choose to visit Chiang Rai, you can check the option of flying from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, where there are usually even more low-cost flights, for example, from Lion Air, which has established itself only with the best price flights, and the novelty and cleanliness of their aircraft. Read more about this in the article “How to get to Chiang Mai from Bangkok: methods and prices.”

You can find very cheap flight to Chian Rai with farang.12go.asia

I’ll note right away that it’s easy to get from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by buses running between these cities, which run regularly once per hour or an hour and a half (depending on the time of day). For the price of such a 180-km trip, it will cost about $ 6 (185 baht) on an air-conditioned bus of the 1st class. Airplanes between the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai do not fly. You can, of course, find flights at an unreasonable price with a change in Bangkok, but what’s the point :). International airport of Chiang Rai is located about 8 km from the city, and information about transport can be obtained in the article “Chiang Rai Airport: a detailed overview”.

How to get to Chiang Rai from Bangkok by train

There are no direct trains from the Thai capital to Chiang Rai due to the lack of railway lines laid there. Therefore, train lovers will be forced to choose one of two combined options of the “train + bus” type. The first option is to get from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, and from there already take the above mentioned buses to Chiang Mai. The train journey from Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes about 11 hours. It will take another 3-3.5 hours to find the right bus and get to Chiang Rai on it.

The second option takes a little less time: a train ride from Bangkok to Lampang (about 9 hours on the way), and then a bus transfer to Chiang Rai (about 2 hours on the way). As you can see, the options are not the fastest, but perhaps the cheapest of all, especially when choosing budget places in a train. It also makes sense to consider this option for those who do not want to make local flights and do not tolerate long bus trips: for many, spending the night in a lying position in a train compartment is much more pleasant. The return transfer from Chiang Rai to Bangkok using the train and bus is also possible – everything is similar, but in the opposite order.

Bus from Bangkok to Chiang Rai – good option for save money in night time

Buses from Bangkok to Chiang Rai

If you want to get to Chiang Rai from Bangkok by bus, you should remember that all the northern direction in the country is served by bus companies that operate flights from the North Bus Station in Bangkok (the overview and schedule can be found here). There are both morning and evening (night) buses, which are in transit from about 11 to 13 hours. The number of night buses is greater, but this is understandable: it not only saves tourists time (and working time for locals), but also saves on hotel accommodation, because you can also get some sleep in a bus chair, especially if you choose VIP bus.

Despite the availability of cheap second-class buses with fans instead of air conditioners in the cabin, this is not the most convenient option. It can be hot in such buses even at night, they make more stops, and there are few places for legs, especially if you are taller than average. Better to pay a little more and choose a first class bus with air conditioning at a price from 645 THB. And even better – a VIP bus with comfortable wide seats, rugs and included in the fare water and snacks. The cost of VIP buses is approximately 900-1100 THB, depending on the chosen bus company.

Bus from Bangkok to Chiang Rai (all night in a way)

You must remember that there are several bus terminals in Chiang Rai, and buses from Bangkok can arrive not only in the center, but also on the outskirts of the city. However, getting from one bus station to the second is not difficult and not expensive: there are regular songthaews (pickups, tuk-tuks) between the terminals, which cost 20 baht per person. In the article “Bus Stations in Chiang Rai: Overview and Bus Schedules” you can get more specific information, including about buses that allow you to get from Chiang Rai to Bangkok.

How to get from Bangkok to Chiang Rai by car

Due to the sufficiently large distance between cities, using a taxi is neither economically nor temporally rational: the costs are much higher than using buses and even airplanes, and it takes a lot of time to travel. Therefore, the use of a car in order to get to Chiang Rai from Bangkok, rather means renting this type of transport to visit not only Chiang Rai and the surrounding area, but also other cities of Northern Thailand and settlements and interesting places located along the way from Bangkok to it.

Night VIP bus to Chian Rai from Bangkok – yoг can sleep well in your way

The optimal route for such an independent trip will help to lay a navigator that today is in almost every smartphone, or the Google Maps service. And to rent a car at the best price, EconomyBookings will always help, which compares the cost of similar cars in the best rental offices, thereby allowing you to save a lot on travel, especially if the car is taken for several days.

Also, the choice of large rental offices that are presented in the EconomyBookings service is convenient because you do not have to return the rented car at the same city, where the rental was made. This allows, if there is such a desire, to return the car in Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai, even if you started a rental in Bangkok. In the same way, you can rent a car in northern Thailand and return it to your car rental office in Bangkok after your trip.

I remind you that the article was discuss the ways to get to Chiang Rai from Bangkok and back. Information about the ways to get to Chiang Rai from other cities in Thailand will be posted a little later on a separate page.

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First of all, the article deals with transfers by minibuses. Despite the fact that the transfer of Pattaya – Koh Chang is not the most budgetary way to get to the island, it is recommended by all experienced travelers who once convinced of its advantages. A very small overpayment for the specified transfer compared to other methods described at the end of this article and also allowing you to get to Koh Chang from Pattaya and back, is completely compensated by the convenience and simplicity.

Today in Pattaya it is easy to find many tourist offices that are happy to sell you a shuttle service to Koh Chang Island, but not everywhere the prices are the same and you can pay 400 THB or 1200 THB for the same way. This is due to the fact that not all sellers and transport companies themselves deliver passengers along the Pattaya – Koh Chang route: many are only intermediaries. As a result, the transfer cost for customers of such companies will often be higher than for tourists who turned directly to the transfer organizers.

CONTENTS OF ARTICLE ( links for quick navigation)

• Transfer Pattaya – Koh Chang by Mango Travel
  

• Transfer Pattaya – Koh Chang by 35 Group Pattaya

• Minibus transfer Koh Chang – Pattaya from 35 Group Pattaya
  

• Why transfer Pattaya – Koh Chang is more convenient than a big bus
  

Transfer Pattaya – Koh Chang by Mango Travel

This way to get from Pattaya to Koh Chang appeared in July 2018 and is popular with tourists who prefer to get to Koh Chang Island from Pattaya quickly and without additional transfers. The essence of this proposal is delivery from hotel to hotel. At the same time, your move to Koh Chang consists of three stages:

one). A minibus picks you up at Pattaya Hotel and takes you to the pier in Trat Province.

2). You overcome the water section of the route by big ferry to Koh Chang.

3). You again take your place in the minibus, and it takes you to the hotel on the island of Koh Chang.

You can order a transfer from Manga Travel on the Transportation in Asia website. In this case, you do not need to visit the company office in Pattaya and spend your time and money on it. Payment is possible using Paypal and bank cards. The transfer price includes a ferry ticket. However, there are some restrictions regarding the location of hotels in Pattaya and Koh Chang. In Pattaya, a free shuttle service includes the entire southern part of the city (Jomtien and Na Jomtien areas), all of central Pattaya and the Cholchan area in North Pattaya.

Salon of minibus Mango Travel – transfer Pattaya – Koh Chang

At the same time, the company does not take tourists whose hotels are located on Sukhumvit Road. Free shipping to Koh Chang is available for hotels located on the beaches of White Sand beach, Klong Prao beach, Kai Bae beach, Lonely beach and Bailan beach. Those, this is almost the entire western coast of Koh Chang, where 90% of all hotels are located. The price also includes the carriage of one baggage per passenger. Before the trip, you must print a voucher that was sent by e-mail after paying for the transfer.

The trip from Pattaya to Koh Chang takes about 6 hours, but in reality, the trip to the island may take longer. The collection of tourists in Pattaya hotels begins at 7:00 in the morning, and the departure from the city is usually around 07:40. During the trip, there are 1-2 stops at the gas station, where tourists can visit the free toilets and buy something in shops and cafes. The minibus includes 14 passenger seats and is equipped with air conditioning (it is better to use a light jacket if you do not tolerate chilled air.

The cost of a Pattaya – Koh Chang transfer from Mango Travel at the time of this writing is 990 THB. At first glance, this is not very cheap, especially if you are not traveling alone. For example, you can order an individual transfer by car for 3500-4000 THB for 4 people. The cost for each passenger will be approximately the same. And comfort and speed are higher. But if you compare with other offers of transfers by minibuses, then the option can be considered.

Minibus of Mango Travel at Koh Chang island pier

You can easily find transfers for 500-600 THB from Pattaya to the pier in the province of Trat, but then you must additionally pay a ferry ticket (+80 THB) and a pick-up taxi to the desired beach (from 50 to 150 THB in day time, but maybe more expensive in the evening time). It turns out that instead of 500-600 THB, the cost of your trip increases to 700-900 THB, which is not much cheaper than the transfer price. Plus, you may have to go some way on foot to the hotel from the main road on the your beach.

In other words, I recommend choosing a transfer from Mango Travel in cases when you want to receive a full transfer from hotel to hotel without additional transfers and communication with local taxi drivers. If you want to save money, especially when you are not traveling alone, I recommend using the following option, which I always use myself.

Transfer Pattaya – Koh Chang by 35 Group Pattaya

The company with the best prices today and an excellent reputation is 35 Group Pattaya, whose office is located on the third street in Pattaya, near the intersection with South Street. If you go from the beginning of Walking Street along South Street, you need to go through several small intersections, i.e. Third Street is not the next intersection after Second Street, as many people think, but much further, but I always walked without problems. Your landmark – a traffic light at a more big intersection than the previous ones and a small repair of motorbikes in front of it, located in the building on the right in the direction of travel (although it is useless to describe establishments and signs in Pattaya, as everything is changing rapidly).

At this intersection, turn left and go through several buildings until you see a 4-storey pink building with balconies, again on the left side of the corresponding sign (see photo) and a glass door. By the way, on road signs the street is designated as Pattaya Tai (Latin alphabet). In order not to look for an office for a long time in reality in the conditions of the hot Thai sun, I recommend that you first look at your path using Google Street View. Before entering the office you should take off your shoes (you will see a lot of shoes in front of the door and remember this).

35 Group Pattaya office under a yellow corporate sign

At the office of the transport company you will be asked which island you want to order the transfer to (Pattaya – Koh Chang), the date and time of departure you need. You must also provide the name of your hotel and its address in Pattaya. If your hotel is small and little-known, take a business card with the address at the reception so that the driver will definitely find you before driving to Koh Chang). Also it will not be a problem if you prefer to live in private apartments in Pattaya, as I do with Airbnb (here you can get a gift of 43 USD for registration in this service). You will also need to leave a phone number for communication in Thailand. You are probably using mobile communications in Thailand and this will not be a problem either.

35 Group Pattaya operates three flights on the Pattaya – Koh Chang route per day: at 07:00 and 09:00 in the morning and at 13:00. The transfer price from Pattaya to Koh Chang from 2013 to the present is only 400 baht, while the indicated price includes a ticket for the ferry Trat – Koh Chang (which costs 80 baht when buying separately). If you plan to return from Koh Chang to Pattaya (and not to Bangkok, for example), I advise you to immediately book a ticket in the opposite direction, i.e. transfer from Koh Chang to Pattaya. Previously, this way you could save another 100 baht, because a round-trip transfer until the end of 2017 cost 700 THB). Since 2018, the cost of a round-trip transfer has been 800 THB. The return ticket can be taken with an open date (tell the girl in the office that you need an “open ticket”). With the return transfer, there are some nuances that are described in the next section.

This is what the 35 Group Pattaya VIP minibus looks like inside and out

After paying for tickets, you will not need to take any action in order to get from Pattaya to Koh Chang. Just expect a minibus at the right time in the right place (the girl in the office will write to you in advance on paper what time the minibus will pick you up at the hotel or condo). At the appointed time, you will be picked up and taken by Toyota’s comfortable VIP minibus to the pier in the area of ​​Trat, where ferries depart for Koh Chang. Near the pier there is a small office of 35 Group Pattaya, whose employee will give you ferry tickets to Koh Chang. Ferry ticket to Koh Chang – red. If you paid a return transfer to Pattaya, make sure that you received a return ferry ticket from Koh Chang Island (green).

Next you must go to a small waiting room and wait for the nearest ferry to the island. In fine weather, you can see the island from the mainland. A ferry takes you to Koh Chang in about 30 minutes. There is a cafe on the passenger deck and you can take a free Ko Chang card. The Koh Chang ferry pier is located on the east side of the island, and most hotels and beaches are on the west. Therefore, you may have to use a songthaew (passenger taxi pickup). To the nearest Koh Chang beach, the description of which is given in a separate article – White Sand Beach – the trip will cost 50-60 baht, to Kai Bae Beach and Lonely beach – 100-150 baht (depending on the time of day and the total number of passengers in a pickup truck).

When ordering a transfer from Pattaya to Koh Chang, you can pay for shipping directly to a specific hotel on the island. Of course, it will cost more, about 600 THB one way or about 1200 THB for a trip in both directions. but for some, the option will seem convenient, especially if you managed to save a lot by using the hotel search and price comparison form in various reservation systems, which is located a little lower. Please note: the reputation of 35 Group Pattaya is really very good, therefore it is increasingly necessary to book a Pattaya – Koh Chang transfer in advance. I myself was faced with a situation where I had to postpone the trip to Koh Chang for one day due to the lack of free seats in the minibus. Therefore, if you want to guaranteedly leave for Koh Chang Island from Pattaya cheaply – book a transfer in advance.

Minibus transfer Koh Chang – Pattaya from 35 Group Pattaya

If you ordered a return transfer, be sure to ask the employee of the 35 Group Pattaya company, which will meet you upon arrival at the pier, for a return ticket for the ferry. For some reason, she immediately refused to give such a receipt to me and I had to demand more insistently, indicating that there was a ticket with an open date back. If the return transfer was originally ordered for a specific date, you just arrive a few hours before leaving for Pattaya to the island pier, exchange the ticket receipt and go to the ferry.

But if the return transfer is Koh Chang – Pattaya with an open date, you should definitely call the company office two days before the planned departure from the island and reserve a place in the minibus. If this is not done, there may be no free seats on the bus and you will have to look for other options for returning to Pattaya and overpay for it. A small clarification: by phone, employees only speak Thai and English (as in the company’s offices). You will need to indicate the number of the transfer agreement, date and departure time from ferry pier on mainland to Pattaya.

Ferry tickets (round trip) and 35 Group Pattaya voucher

An exchange of a ticket receipt is made in the window at the entrance to the pier on the island (before departure to the mainland). You can get to the pier in the same way as when arriving on the island – using songthaew. By the way, it is better to arrive at the pier in advance so as not to be late for your return transfer. Having arrived by ferry to Trat (Natural Bay Pier), you must again contact the office of the 35 Group Pattaya company, next whose doors buses leave and show your ticket. Often, at the same time, a bright sticker with the name of the company will be glued to your T-shirt so that you do not get lost.

If the minibus of the company arrived at your chosen time, and there was no place for you in it, you should not panic and curse, “losing face.” Another minibus will arrive soon and you will definitely be taken to the hotel in Pattaya from where you were originally taken. On the way there and back, the minibus must make stops at the gas station, where you must leave the bus for a few minutes. You can just stretch your legs, or you can have a bite to eat with local food, eat fruit or go to the 7/11 store (not at all gas stations) and buy Thai soft drinks or thai beer there. Just don’t mix up minibuses, there are usually a lot of them and all white. Therefore, pay attention to the name of the company (in the photo highlighted with a yellow marker) and remember fellow travelers.

White VIP minibuses and drivers 35 Group Pattaya

Why transfer Pattaya – Koh Chang is more convenient than a big bus

More accessible at first glance ways are regular buses passing through Pattaya to Trat. Their cost is about 200-250 THB. It would seem that the amount is almost two times less than the cost of an organized transfer to the island of Koh Chang in the Gulf of Thailand. However, if you add 80 THB per ferry ticket to this amount, you already get about 300 THB. Plus, you need to get from the hotel to the North Bus Station in Pattaya or Sukhumvit Highway (10-20 THB for a songthaew or much more by taxi), find a suitable bus (and this is also not easy if you use the Sukhumvit highway passing through Sukhkumvit through Pattaya, which you need to stop yourself or ask the locals to do this, also for a small fee).

In addition, from Trat city itself it will be necessary to independently get to one of the ferry berths, using for this local songthaew, which will again cost you about 50 baht. In other words, the amount is similar, plus or minus 30 baht, while there are much more difficulties, especially if there are problems with English or Thai. If you book a transfer in both directions, then this method is not only the fastest, but also the cheapest and the method with regular buses cannot compete at all.

Also remember that a trip of about 270 km in length on a VIP minibus with comfortable leather seats will in any case be faster in time and more convenient than on a regular intercity bus that goes to Trat for about six hours with many stops. Decide which way to get from Pattaya to Koh Chang is more convenient, anyway. I wish you a successful and comfortable trip!

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