Hotel Reviews
Transportation
Transportation can be tricky in any country. During our first trip to Thailand, we learned a lot about how transportation works in specific cities. We realized that more common "public transportation" was really good, simple, and fairly cheap to use in most places. This does not include taxi's, private hire cars and most specifically tuk tuk's.
Bangkok
Coming Soon....
Pattaya
Baht Bus
In some cities like Pattaya, baht buses are basically a make-shift pickup truck that has been renovated to allow passengers to sit in the back and ride around town (see picture below). The charge is about 30 cents per ride, or 10 baht. These are excellent sources of transportation to make your way around the primary "tourist" parts of the city. When using a baht bus, you simply hold out our hand to wave the bus down as it is passing. If the first does not bass, don't fret, the second or third will stop. When the bus stops, you simply climb into the back, sit down on the row of seats, and wait until you near your destination. Most baht buses have a route which generally makes a circle around several blocks. As you are nearing your destination, be prepared to push the small button on the canopy above your head. This button is basically a door bell of sorts and will alert the driver that he/she needs to stop. When departing, simply hand the driver your 10 baht and walk away. If you are going for a very long distance, say from one end of the route to the other, you may want to give the driver an extra 10 baht. In most cases however, 10 baht will be sufficient. We recommend having exact change as often drivers do not want to make conversation or change as it delays their work. You could also run into a situation where the driver states they do not have change. Keep in mind that if there are 2 people traveling in the baht bus, you will need to bay 10 baht per person for a total of 20 baht.
Transportation can be tricky in any country. During our first trip to Thailand, we learned a lot about how transportation works in specific cities. We realized that more common "public transportation" was really good, simple, and fairly cheap to use in most places. This does not include taxi's, private hire cars and most specifically tuk tuk's.
Bangkok
Coming Soon....
Pattaya
Baht Bus
In some cities like Pattaya, baht buses are basically a make-shift pickup truck that has been renovated to allow passengers to sit in the back and ride around town (see picture below). The charge is about 30 cents per ride, or 10 baht. These are excellent sources of transportation to make your way around the primary "tourist" parts of the city. When using a baht bus, you simply hold out our hand to wave the bus down as it is passing. If the first does not bass, don't fret, the second or third will stop. When the bus stops, you simply climb into the back, sit down on the row of seats, and wait until you near your destination. Most baht buses have a route which generally makes a circle around several blocks. As you are nearing your destination, be prepared to push the small button on the canopy above your head. This button is basically a door bell of sorts and will alert the driver that he/she needs to stop. When departing, simply hand the driver your 10 baht and walk away. If you are going for a very long distance, say from one end of the route to the other, you may want to give the driver an extra 10 baht. In most cases however, 10 baht will be sufficient. We recommend having exact change as often drivers do not want to make conversation or change as it delays their work. You could also run into a situation where the driver states they do not have change. Keep in mind that if there are 2 people traveling in the baht bus, you will need to bay 10 baht per person for a total of 20 baht.
Motorbike Taxi
Motorbike taxis are another method of cheap transportation in Pattaya. These are basically men or in some cases women who have marked orange vests. They generally use a medium sized moped to transport passengers (yes we said passengers) from one location to another. We have personally traveled on motorbike taxis with 3 people in total. It seems quite strange, but the drivers are very accustomed to having 2 people on the back. We don't recommend this however for long distances, only short rides as this type of arrangement can be a bit uncomfortable and at times your life may flash before your eyes.. In terms of pricing, motorbike taxis have negotiable rates. When negotiating, with the driver, have a good understanding of distance and how much you should pay. Remember, there are other drivers and if the first one does not present a good price, most likely the second will. This type of transportation is in general less expensive than a standard taxi, but some of the same business practices apply depending on the driver. Pricing generally ranges from $4 - $5 US dollars per trip depending on distance.
Motorbike taxis are another method of cheap transportation in Pattaya. These are basically men or in some cases women who have marked orange vests. They generally use a medium sized moped to transport passengers (yes we said passengers) from one location to another. We have personally traveled on motorbike taxis with 3 people in total. It seems quite strange, but the drivers are very accustomed to having 2 people on the back. We don't recommend this however for long distances, only short rides as this type of arrangement can be a bit uncomfortable and at times your life may flash before your eyes.. In terms of pricing, motorbike taxis have negotiable rates. When negotiating, with the driver, have a good understanding of distance and how much you should pay. Remember, there are other drivers and if the first one does not present a good price, most likely the second will. This type of transportation is in general less expensive than a standard taxi, but some of the same business practices apply depending on the driver. Pricing generally ranges from $4 - $5 US dollars per trip depending on distance.