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Travelling to
Pattaya
Distances from
Amphoe Muang or Chon Buri Town to other
districts :
Ban Bueng 14
km.
Phanat Nikhom 22 km.
Phan Thong 24 km.
Si Racha 24 km.
Ko Sichang 35 km.
Bang Lamung (Pattaya) 45 km.
Nong Yai 51 km.
Bo Thong 56 km.
Sattahip 86 km.
Distances
from Chon Buri to neighbouring provinces
:
Chachoengsao 43
km.
Rayong 98 km.
Samut Prakan 64 km.
Rayong 98 km.
Chanthaburi 164 km.
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. |