Get Around In Pattaya

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Motorbike Rental

Renting a motorbike is the most convenient way of getting around in Pattaya for those who have faith in their driving skills and enjoy being independent. The official requirement is either a Thai or international driving licence, although most motorbike rental shops won't ask you for one (neither will police in most cases).
Motorbike rental shops are located all over Pattaya and Jomtien, with hundreds of "motorbike for rent" signs on Pattaya Beach Road only. Many bars and guesthouses also rent out motorbikes to customers.
Most models are half automatic "moped"-style bikes or fully automatic scooters with 80-125 ccm and electric starters. They can drive as fast as 100 km/h or more. Only a few are equipped with a clutch.
The most common models are Honda Wave, Honda Click and Yamaha Mio. Their average rental fee is around 150-200 Baht per day with usually a discount available when rented on a weekly or monthly basis.
Bigger and more powerful bikes with up to more than 1000 cc and even original 'Harley Davidson' models are available for rent as well. Most big bikes can be found on Pattaya Beach Road with a "For Rent" sign around their steering wheel.
Note: Riding bigger bikes on Pattaya's busy streets can only be recommended to drivers holding an appropriate driving licence, and with sufficient driving experience to handle heavy motorcycles in potentially chaotic traffic situations. Otherwise, you better stick to mopeds and scooters; they are fast enough and as custom-made for Pattaya's congested city streets.)

In order to rent a motorbike, you will usually have to submit a copy of your passport. Do not give away your original passport. Usually no further documents or driving licences are required.
You may enquire into insurance options, however, do not expect too much. In general, expect to pay for any damage you cause to the bike.
Therefore, always lock your rented scooter as secure as possible as you would have to pay when the bike gets stolen. In addition, in case of an accident or damage, most motorbike rental shops will not allow you to take the bike to a garage yourself and get the damage repaired. Why this?? Because when they take it to the garage, they can charge you on top of the price they have paid themselves. Good extra business for them.

Last but not least: Riding a motorcycle in Pattaya - with its congested streets, and the careless driving habits of Baht-bus drivers - can sometimes be pretty hazardous, particularly when you are not used to driving on the left. Even as an experienced motorcyclict, you should always be aware of the careless driving behaviour of other motorists, whose reactions might be unpredictable.
Of course, traffic rules exist in Thailand, however, their interpretation in specific situations usually depends on the motorists involved. A STOP sign in Thailand has the same meaning as anywhere else in the world, however, do not rely on everyone to get the message!
Please note that not only the driver but the pillion passenger as well is required to wear a helmet. While this law has existed for a long time already but was commonly ignored by traffic police, it's now increasingly being enforced within city limits.
Needless to say that the same applies to drunk driving.

Car Rental

All major international car rental companies, as well as many local companies, provide car rental services in Pattaya.
Most rental cars are limousines including Honda, Toyota, Nissan or other Japanese auto models. Pseudo-Jeeps are also available for rent and can be found mainly along Pattaya Beach Road and Second Road, where they block public parking space.
The basic requirement to rent a car in Thailand is either an international or a Thai driving licence, although most local car rental companies might be satisfied with a national driving licence.
Note, however, that driving in Thailand, and especially within Pattaya City limits can sometimes be very hazardous, particularly when you are not used to driving on the left. Same rules apply as when renting a motorbike (read above).

Argus Car Hire
Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa, Pattaya Second Road
www.argusrentals.com
AVIS Thailand
Pattaya Beach Road, Tel. 038-361 627/8
www.avisthailand.com
Budget Thailand
Thip Plaza, Central Pattaya
Tel. 038-710 717/8, 038-710720
www.budget.co.th, Email bracpty@budget.co.th
CCR Car Rent
124/113 M.10 Pattaya Third Road (Sai Saam)
Email info@ccrproperty.com
Chalee Car & Motorcycle Rental
312/13-14 M.9 Pattaya Third Road (Sai Saam)
Tel. 038-720 413
www.pattayacarrental.com
DV Rent-A-Car
Tel. 038-371 482
www.dvcarrentalpattaya.com
Expat Motors Co. Ltd. Sales & Monthly Rental
www.expatmotors.co.th, Email andy@expatmotors.co.th
Hertz Pattaya
- 6/28 Moo 9 Sukhumvit Road, Tel. 038-716 693
- Windmill Resort, Naklua Road, Tel. 038-317 456
- Marriott Resort & Spa, Pattaya Second Road
www.hertz.com
Holiday Rent-A-Car
- Pattaya Second Road (opposite Marriott Hotel), Tel. 038-723 814
- Pattaya Third Road (Sai Saam), Tel. 038-426 203, 426 303
www.pattayacar-rent.com, Email hcrental@cscoms.com
Inter Car Rental & Sales
View Talay Condominium 1, Building A, Thappraya Road, Jomtien
Tel. 038-250 698
www.inter-car.net, Email info@inter-car.net
Pattaya Car Rentals
Quality and reliable car hire in Pattaya City, Thailand.
Tel. 08-10031598, 08-5279 1002
www.pattayacarrentals.com
Q Cars
Jomtien Beach Condominium, Jomtien Beach Road
Tel. 038-231 694
www.qcars.net, Email qcars@loxinfo.co.th
SIXT Pattaya
Aisawan Resort & Spa, Amari Orchid Resort
Thai Car Rental
Hotline 08-6336 0080, 08-9802 0220
www.pattaya-carrent.com
UNITY Car Rental & Service
South Pattaya Road (opposite Soi Korphai), Tel. 038-373 254
www.unity.co.th, Email info@unity.co.th
VR Car Rent
www.vrcarrent.com, Email vrcarrent@hotmail.com

Get Around In Pattaya

"Baht Bus" Motorbike Taxi Taxi Meters "Pattaya Beach Bus" Motorbike Rental Car Rental
Map Of Pattaya & Jomtien Beach

Pattaya's Infamous "Baht-Bus" Taxis

Traditional Thai-style "Tuk-tuk" taxis can be found all over the country, and namely Bangkok has become famous for these customized three-wheel motorbikes with attached passenger cabins in the back. Surprisingly, though, Pattaya makes an exception to this national rule ...
In fact, there aren't any Tuk-tuks in Pattaya. Instead, Pattaya has developed its own, and equally controversial, means of transport: the infamous so-called "Baht-Buses".
These are the easiest and most convenient way of getting around in Pattaya and have served the community for decades now. "Baht-buses" are modified dark blue pick-up trucks with two rows of passenger seats in a covered overhead back cabin. They can carry up to ten or more passengers and usually drive around Pattaya in designated circuits.
The smaller circuit goes all the way around South Pattaya (Pattaya Beach Road, South Pattaya Road, Second Road, Central Pattaya Road), whereas the larger circuit includes the northern part of Pattaya 2nd Road and Beach Road, and goes all the way up to the Dolphin Roundabout.
Alternative routes include Pattaya-Naklua Road, North Pattaya Road, Central Pattaya Road and South Pattaya Road, while other Baht-Buses link South Pattaya with Jomtien Beach.
According to official statistics, more than 700 of these constantly honking dark blue tin monsters cruise the streets of Pattaya, and play a major role in regular traffic congestions especially along South Pattaya Beach Road near the Walking Street junction.
Baht-Bus drivers usually charge a flat rate of 10 Baht for a short-distance ride, and 20 to 30 Baht for longer distances - provided you use the Baht-Bus as a bus service, and use their services on regular routes, and do not hire it as a taxi.
Unless your destination is not along one of the main Baht-Bus routes, and you actually require a "special taxi tour", you should never ask the driver where he is going, or ask him to take you to a certain destination that may be on his designated route anyway; he would then interpret this as a "special route" (being hired as taxi) and charge you more than the usual fare. Be aware of empty Baht-Buses and such parked along the roadside, too.
In order to avoid getting ripped off by Pattaya's Baht-bus drivers, arguably among the least polite people you can meet in Thailand, you should just jump on the back of the Baht-bus and, in case you're not sure which route he is going, wait and see where he's taking you.
If you should finally be near your desired destination, or find out that the Baht-bus is moving in a wrong direction, and wish to disembark, just press one of the buttons attached to the roof. Once the Baht-bus stops, get off and pay the driver his regular 10 Baht (or 20 or 30, depending on how far you have travelled.)
Do not ask the driver "How much?" He would then take advantage of your lack of experience and charge you a price well above the regular fare. Needless to say that having a 10-Baht coin on you (or the appropriate banknote) minimizes your chances of getting ripped-off by receiving the wrong change!
Note: if your destination is not along the designated Baht-bus routes, but requires a special tour (in which case the Baht-bus operates as a taxi service) you will always have to agree on a price before. For example, a chartered Baht-bus ride from Central Pattaya to Jomtien should not cost you more than 200 Baht. Fares are always negotiable, so the price you'll eventually have to pay, always depends on your bargaining skills.

There have been frequent discussions about two-tier pricing in the 'Land of Smiles' in general, but particularly inflated Baht-bus rates for foreigners. The archives of the Reader's Letters sections in the local English language newspapers must be packed with people complaining about Pattaya's Baht-buses, and the two-tier pricing most of their drivers find appropriate.
The truth is that: Thais pay only (the regular) 10 Baht for short-distance rides, when Farangs may be expected to pay 20 Baht or more for the same service. Big problem?
Another truth is that the average Baht-bus driver is more impolite than his fellow countrymen and, by default, tries to overcharge, i.e. rip-off as many unaware tourists as possible.
Despite all that, another funny truth is that Pattaya's ill-reputed Baht-bus taxis are still the most popular, convenient and cheapest way of getting around in Pattaya and, in spite of the moaners and groaners, they're as popular as they were 20 years ago.

Baht-buses to Jomtien regularly depart from the South Pattaya Road/ Second Road intersection. They charge a flat rate of just 10 Baht; however, you'll have to wait until enough passengers have boarded (usually at least 10).
White Baht-buses on Sukhumvit Road charge a flat rate of 10 Baht, too, no matter how far they take you. (From Naklua to South Jomtien it's still just 10 Baht per person.)
Map Of Pattaya

Motorbike Taxis

If you are courageous enough to ride as a pillion passenger on a motorcycle in Pattaya's chaotic traffic, motorbike taxis may be a good, fast and cheap alternative to Baht-buses, especially when you're on your own or heading for special destinations not located along regular taxi routes.
Motorcycle taxi stands can be found at virtually every street corner - with many drivers shouting "mor-sai" (Thai slang for English "motorcycle") and clapping their hands in order to draw attention to their services. Vice versa, you can do the same when approaching them: Clap your hands and shout "mor-sai"; they would then drive up to where you are standing to save you from walking the last twenty meters (Thai style).
The drivers, in comparison with their Baht-bus colleagues, are mostly friendly and helpful young guys, who can be recognized by their typical vests with usually the name of their location printed on the back. Most of them are reliable drivers with decent knowledge of the town, and often know shortcuts that Baht-buses would not take.
Motorbike taxi prices for short-distance rides start at about 20 Baht. However, there is no general flat rate, so you should always agree on a price before.

Pattaya Taxi Meters

Since 2008, Pattaya also has a number of Bangkok-style 'taxi meters'. They can be chartered at several locations all over Pattaya, e.g. outside The Avenue Mall (Pattaya Second Road), near the Royal Garden Plaza shopping mall (Pattaya 2nd Road), near the Dolphin Roundabout etc.
As the metres are never turned on, though, you'll have to negotiate a fare before chartering a taxi to a certain destination. Prices start at 150 Baht; for example, a taxi ride from Central Pattaya to Jomtien should cost around 200 Baht.

"Pattaya Beach Bus"?

In 2005, Pattaya City finally launched an air-conditioned bus service with scheduled stops along designated bus routes, which covered the areas of Pattaya, Naklua and Jomtien beach, and was introduced as a kind of quality alternative to the rather uncomfortable Baht-buses.
The so-called "Pattaya Beach Bus" service initially consisted of three lines, serviced by coaches in three different colours - Red, Green and Yellow - to make it easy for passengers to identify the lines. (Bus stops along the routes were also colour-coded and numbered, so that the passengers knew where to board and disembark.)
These modern microbuses used to charge a flat rate of 30 Baht for a one-way ticket - regardless of how far you would go, and could seat up to 30 people. The routes were being served from 6am to 2am, and all started out from Big C Supercenter/ Sukhumvit branch.
So what's become of the Pattaya Beach Bus Service in 20010?
While in early 2008, a few buses of the Red Line were still spotted occasionally, in summer 2010 it looks pretty much as if the 'Pattaya Beach Bus' project had fully come to an end, and the effort of establishing an inner city air-con bus service had totally failed.
If services should resume again during the high season, be warned, though, that there are neither timetables available nor scheduled departure times; which means that you'll never know how long you might have to wait before your desired bus turns up?
Red Line
(Spotted on Jomtien Beach Road, January 2008)
Sukhumvit Road, Soi Chayapruek, Jomtien Beach Road, Thappraya Road, Pattaya Second Road (reverse route along Pattaya Beach Road), Pattaya-Naklua Road, Banglamung, Sukhumvit Road, Kratinglai intersection (U-turn), Sukhumvit Road, Soi Chayapruek intersection (U-turn), Big C
Green Line
South Pattaya Road, Pattaya 2nd Road (reverse route along Beach Road), Dolphin Roundabout, Pattaya-Naklua Road, Soi Potisan, Sukhumvit Road (Big C)
Yellow Line (service suspended)