Pattaya Travel Guide for English Speakers
How to get around in Pattaya and travel from Bangkok
Hi Traveler, have you ever wondered how to travel from Bangkok to Pattaya and get around the city? This blog provides a Pattaya travel guide for English speakers to give you more information and help you decide on your next destination. Well, as I said, Pattaya isn’t just about the beaches and nightlife.
From our experience, we will guide you through everything you need to know about transport, costs, and the best ways to explore Pattaya.
First of all, we stayed in Jomtien, and we traveled many times between Bangkok and Pattaya, so we know all the tricks!
How to get from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya
Is there a direct bus from Bangkok Airport to Pattaya?
Yes! This is a common question from travelers. The official airport bus runs directly from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the North Pattaya Bus Terminal. The cost is around 190 THB per person.
From our experience, you need to go to Level 1 at Suvarnabhumi Airport and find the bus terminal. You can buy tickets there, and the bus runs every hour from 6 am to 9 pm The journey takes around 2 hours in good traffic.
Bangkok Airport to Pattaya transport options:
- Airport Bus: 190 THB, 2 hours, every hour from 6am-9pm
- Minivan from Mo Chit: 120 THB from Don Mueang, around 2.5 hours
- Grab/Bolt car: Around 1,500-2,000 THB (avoid taxi touts at airport!)
Also you can check our article about Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport for more details.
Getting around Pattaya: Songthaews and transport
How much does transport cost in Pattaya?
This is very important for your budget! From our experience, the blue songthaews (baht buses) are the best way to get around Pattaya. You pay only 10 THB per ride for most routes.
Pattaya transport prices from our experience:
- Songthaew (blue pickup truck): 10 THB for short rides, 20 THB for longer routes
- Grab/Bolt car: Starting from 50-80 THB for short rides
- Motorbike taxi: 30 THB for short distances
- Scooter rental: Around 250 THB per day (you need to deposit 1000 THB)
Thailand Tips : How to use songthaews in Pattaya?
Well, it’s very easy! You just stand on the side of the road and wave to the blue pickup truck. You hop in the back, and when you want to get off, you press the button. Then you pay 10 THB to the driver. The driver understands basic English like “Jomtien Beach” or “Bali Hai Pier.”
Main routes we use:
- North Pattaya to Bali Hai Pier: 10 THB
- Jomtien Beach loop: 10 THB
- Sukhumvit Road to Walking Street: 20 THB
Also you can order a Grab car if you want air conditioning and more comfort, but it costs more—around 80-200 THB depending on distance.
Pattaya Travel Guide for English Speakers : Ferry to Koh Larn from Bali Hai Pier
How much is the ferry to Koh Larn?
This is a very popular question! The public ferry from Bali Hai Pier to Koh Larn Ferry costs only 30 THB one way.
Bali Hai Pier Ferry Schedule:
To Koh Larn: The ferry runs every 30-60 minutes from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM From Koh Larn back: Last ferry is around 6:30 PM
From our experience, we recommend you take the 9:00 AM ferry to beat the crowds. The public ferry takes around 45 minutes, and the speedboat takes only 15 minutes.
Here are some articles about Koh Larn from our experience:
- Koh Larn One Day Trip From Pattaya
- Cost of Ferry to Koh Larn
Bali Hai Pier location: It is located at South Pattaya, near Walking Street. You can take a 10 THB songthaew from anywhere in Pattaya.
Also you can check our video to see how the ferry works:
Pattaya Travel Guide for English Speakers: Jomtien Beach vs Pattaya Beach
Which beach is better in Pattaya?
Well, from our experience, Jomtien Beach is much better for swimming and relaxing! The water is cleaner and the beach is more quiet compared to Pattaya Beach.
Jomtien Beach:
- Clean sand and calm water
- Good for families and long walks
- Beach umbrella rental: 100 THB per day
- Many restaurants with English menus
- Easy to reach by songthaew (10 THB from Pattaya Beach)
Pattaya Beach:
- More crowded with tourists
- Many jet skis and water sports but there are swimming spot and safe.
- Close to Walking Street
- Water can be murky in the afternoon
- Good for nightlife
From our experience, we always swim at Jomtien Beach. The beach is very nice, and you can just take your mat and sit under the plam tree for free.
Daily costs and budget for Pattaya
How much money do you need per day in Pattaya?
From our experience, you can spend around 450-500 THB per day for budget travel, or 1,200-1,500 THB for mid-range comfort.
Budget breakdown from our experience:
Budget traveler :
- Breakfast: 60 THB
- Lunch: 60 THB
- Dinner: 60 THB
- Transport: 50 THB
- Attractions: 200-250 THB
Mid-range traveler (1,250 THB per day):
- Breakfast: 100 THB
- Lunch: 200 THB
- Dinner: 250 THB
- Transport (Grab): 150 THB
- Koh Larn speedboat: 400 THB
- Drinks/entertainment: 150 THB
Pattaya Travel Guide for English Speakers : English-friendly spots in Pattaya
Do people speak English in Pattaya?
According to the experience we have amassed, Pattaya has an abundance of venues where they can assist people who cannot converse in Thai. Walking Street, Going Fishing (Bali Hai) Pier and many restaurants in Jomtien all contain staff that can speak English and guide you to various locations.
A great deal of Hotels and Resorts also offer complete assistance in English. You will be able to check in to your hotel and converse with staff each day in English. If you visit a site such as the Sanctuary of Truth, you may purchase tickets for English speaking tours, making it easy to learn about the history of the site and understand all of the details of the structure. There are also many beachfront restaurants located in Jomtien where you will find English menus that help people order their food simply and without any anxiety. Central Festival Pattaya is also a great location for shopping because it has all of the stores in Walking Street, Cheetah Beach and above named areas in English.
Lastly, if you ever find yourself at a local market or a nearby street food vendor, you may use Google Translate app to assist you in communicating if they do not speak English.
Watch the full video guide on our Thailand travel playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcXEEbyXhpBK8nmn4b2ZZGCfKgFfQe1oB
Curious how I fund my travels in Thailand? I build automated trading systems. Check out my free tools at fjuniverse.com
