Pattaya Reports

[Explorer8939]

As this island seems so close. And since this trip won't afford me any other island visit. I'm thinking of giving it a side trip.

Question is, any action on the island or better to take a lady?

Always take a lady to Koh Larn.

[CaliGuy33]

Am I the only one who feels uneasy about being in a bus on the elevated highway around Bangkok? The parapet walls on either side would be high enough to prevent a swerving car from toppling over. A bus would most likely fall down the 20-meter drop and kill everyone. A bus on those highways is as dangerous as a bus in the Chilean Andes.

Crosses my mind everytime I'm on the bus.

Overall, Thai roads are unsafe, recently ranked the second deadliest in the world. Now whether it's safer to be on a big bus or a taxi, I don't know.

I'm in Pattaya and wanting to checkout Koh Chang. It's about a four hour taxi ride from here. Given the risky nature of Thai roads I thought better of it and will fly instead at some point.

[Miss MaryHinge]

As this island seems so close. And since this trip won't afford me any other island visit. I'm thinking of giving it a side trip.

Question is, any action on the island or better to take a lady?

[Oneminuteboy]

Can Indian rupee exchanged in Pattaya?

No need to double post within 15 min.

[RedMau5]

Yea really. If you don't have 1000 Baht for a taxi ride you should stay home.

So true. I often have to remind my buddies when they first come to Thailand how cheap the taxis are especially when they insist on taking the 10 baht bus. It's better to ride in the 100-150-200 baht SUV Toyota taxis in Pattaya with air conditioning. Quit being cheap and using the 10 baht bus. I'd like to add if you don't have 100 baht to tip mamasan, or 450 baht for a ladies tequila and Coke combo, or 20 baht to tip the money exchange booth, or 50 baht to tip the cigarette magician on WS, or 180 baht for pad Thai at the mall but choose the cheap 50 baht one on the street cart, or any extra baht when you hear the words "tip for me," you should just stay home. Forget Thailand. How dare these weekend millionaires and expats come here and go cheap by renting motorbikes, using public transportation, and eating street food.

[XXL]

Am I the only one who feels uneasy about being in a bus on the elevated highway around Bangkok? The parapet walls on either side would be high enough to prevent a swerving car from toppling over. A bus would most likely fall down the 20-meter drop and kill everyone. A bus on those highways is as dangerous as a bus in the Chilean Andes.

[JasonSilva]

Wish to know can Indian rupee exchanged into Thai Baht in Pattaya?

Pre covid it was possible.

Yes, of course.

Indians are pretty much running the Pattaya economy for now. There are TT exchanges in every 500 meters where you can get INR exchanged. There are many other outlets too. Ask any Indian hotel, he may tell you the best exchange place.

[Rick Rock]

True but I usually don't carry around a suitcase if it can be avoided LOL. Better get a point-to-point taxi then, it's cheap, just 1 k to Suvarnabhumi 1200 to Bangkok.

Yea really. If you don't have 1000 Baht for a taxi ride you should stay home.

[Big Sabbal]

Can Indian rupee exchanged in Pattaya?

[Big Sabbal]

Wish to know can Indian rupee exchanged into Thai Baht in Pattaya?

Pre covid it was possible.

[BionicMan]

If only there were a topic here about hotels in Pattaya. Then you could read it.

Sometime it is not difficult, if one is not too full of himself and reads the forum in general.

http://www.internationalsexguide.nl/...Pattaya-Hotels

[Pute Nut]

You can only do that if you only have carry-on luggage, and nothing in the luggage compartment at the bottom of the bus.

True but I usually don't carry around a suitcase if it can be avoided LOL. Better get a point-to-point taxi then, it's cheap, just 1 k to Suvarnabhumi 1200 to Bangkok.

[CaliGuy33]

After a week here so far, I'll try to describe the pros and cons from previous visits.

Pros.

Bolt app for ride-sharing.

Cons.

Higher prices.

Seriously though, the price structure is complicated to say the least. An example was when I was at a bar on Soi 6 (Love Missile?) I got 3 very different prices for a barfine from the lady, mommy and the manager. It seems like it depends on the time of day if you want long time. So bottom line at this bar is the long time barfine is 2,000 Bhat before either 5 or 8 or 6 and some random price after 3 or 11. Short time? Understand?.

I'm currently here and having a good time, but indeed prices are higher for everything, but if you're a true cheap charlie you'll find deals whether it's on hotels, girls or food.

One extremely annoying thing I've noticed, any massage I get (foot, oil, Thai etc.), the masseuse spends the whole massage complaining about money and how difficult times are. It's really annoying to deal with, like I'm trying to enjoy a massage but I'm getting bombarded with negative vibes. It's a good reminder when in Pattaya, the only thing anyone wants from you in Pattaya is your money and extracting as much of it from you as possible. In response to that, always have a sa bai sa bai attitude and enjoy your vacation / mongering.

[CaliGuy33]

5 hours is very unusual. That has happened to me only once since 2005, when I first came to Pattaya.
It usually takes around 2 to 2.5 hours, maybe more on Fridays and Sundays.
Personally I don't mind taking the bus, even though it's a boring ride between BKK and Pattaya. I don't own a car, so I'm used to taking public transport (in my home country). And beside that I feel saver in a big bus than in a small taxi in the crazy Thai traffic. And the bus drivers are usually less aggressive drivers than the average taxi driver.
I only take a taxi to the airport when my plane is leaving late at night, or very early in the morning, and there's no bus or train service anymore.

I took the bus from Ekkamai to Pattaya this past Sunday and it was excellent. Absolutely no traffic in Sukhumvit getting out of Bangkok, the whole ride was less than two hours.

Overall, I don't get the bickering about taking the bus, it costs only $4! The money you save by taking the bus over a taxi equates to an ST session, that's how I look at it.

[Mogwai]

I definitely will not take a bus from Pattaya to Bangkok City or the reverse anymore. I did that once and it took 5 hours.

5 hours is very unusual. That has happened to me only once since 2005, when I first came to Pattaya.
It usually takes around 2 to 2.5 hours, maybe more on Fridays and Sundays.
Personally I don't mind taking the bus, even though it's a boring ride between BKK and Pattaya. I don't own a car, so I'm used to taking public transport (in my home country). And beside that I feel saver in a big bus than in a small taxi in the crazy Thai traffic. And the bus drivers are usually less aggressive drivers than the average taxi driver.
I only take a taxi to the airport when my plane is leaving late at night, or very early in the morning, and there's no bus or train service anymore.