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Travelling to Pattaya
By car
Pattaya can be reached in a 2.5-hour drive along
Bangna-Trat Highway via Bang Pakong, Chon Buri and
Si Racha. However, visitors can avoid Chon Buri by
opting for Highway 36, the new Chon Buri - Pattaya
- Rayong route or taking the motorway from Rama 9
Road.
By bus
Air-conditioned and regular buses depart from the
Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) and Bangkoks Northern
Bus Terminal (Mochit 2 Bus Terminal) on Kamphaengphet
Road daily. Buses (air-con) depart the Eastern Bus
Terminal every 30 minutes from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and
from Mochit II (Northern Bus Terminal) from 5.00 a.m.
to 7 p.m.
Departure times and fares may be obtained from the
Eastern Bus Terminal, tel. 0 2391 2504, 0 2391 8097
or the Northern Bus Terminal, tel. 0 2936 2852-66.
There are also minibuses that travel directly from
Bangkok Airport to Pattaya at 9.00 a.m., 12.00 p.m.
and 7.00 p.m. daily. For more information, contact
the Bangkok International Airport, tel. 0 2535 1111.
In addition, most hotels in Bangkok provide bus services
to Pattaya. Contact the tour desk at your hotel for
details.
By train
The State Railway of Thailand offers a daily train
service departing Bangkok's Hua Lamphong Station at
06.55 a.m., tel. 0 2621 8701. It takes about 5 hours
to reach a station located near the Siam Country Club.
By Air
Bangkok Airways provides daily flights connecting
Ko Samui and U-Taphao Airport. (Approximately 30 kilometers
south of Pattaya).
Travelling in Pattaya
Pattaya City is divided into four major zones: North
Pattaya, Central Pattaya, South Pattaya and Chomthian.
It should be noted that there is a small mountain
known as the Hill, located between South Pattaya and
Chomthian. For a visual illustration take a look at
the Map of Pattaya and Chomthian with the Hill.
Motorbikes are the most popular mode of transport
in Pattaya. However, transportation in the city is
facilitated through the use of special cars (song
taew), customized pickup trucks with passenger seats
in a covered overhead back cabin. These pickups, known
as Bahts-Bus, can easily carry 8-10 passengers in
the back, plus 1 or 2 passengers in front. They circle
around the city and are allowed to stop anywhere.
In addition to motorbike-taxis, the Bahts-Buses are
the only form of public transport permitted in Pattaya.
If not occupied, they also can be hired as private
taxis. In fact, they are private vehicles in most
cases belonging to the drivers. There are so many
of them that they end up looking for passengers.
This compact city consists of 3 major roads that
parallel each other. Right along the beach is Beach
Rd., which is a one-way road from the north to south
that is a few kilometers long. Second Rd. is a hundred
or so meters away and carries city transport mainly
from the south to north, although it is partly a two-way
road. The last road is Sukhumvit Rd, a continuation
of the highway leading to Bangkok. Many small streets
called Soi(s) cross the roads. And it's advisable
to walk some of the small streets, which are enumerated
from north to south, although some have names. Second
Rd. continues on to South Pattaya and turns to Chomthian
reaching Chomthian beach within 5 minutes, and continues
alongside Chomthian beach, which is approximately
20 kilometers long with some secluded escapes.
Chomthian Beach Rd., which is a two-way road, also
parallels Sukhumvit Rd and is the only road in the
Chomthian area, except for some connecting streets.
On the other side of Sukhumvit road are several country
clubs, golf courses and typical Thai rural villages,
providing charming escapes on the banks of sweet-water
lakes and small streams in the leisurely and relaxing
countryside.
Many kinds of motorbikes, convertible monster Jeeps,
sport and passenger cars are offered for rent. A driver's
license is not required for driving around Pattaya
and vicinity, so many tourists are tempted get behind
the wheel. It should be noted that in Thailand drivers
drive on the left lane, as in England and Japan.
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