• Most people departing Bangkok for Pattaya use the bus. The most frequent departures are from the Eastern Bus Terminal located adjacent to the Ekkamai BTS station on Sukhumvit Road at Soi 63 (Soi Ekkamai).
• Air-conditioned buses leave approximately every thirty minutes between 05:20 and 23:20 each day and cost B117.
• Similarly priced a/c buses also leave the Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit) between 05:30 and 20:00 each. If you are near the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai), buses leave at 05:30, 08:30, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:30. This terminal is the easiest to access from the Khao San Road area. Simply take a 511 bus on Rachdamnoen Road headed across the river and get off at the end of the line.
• The trips to Pattaya usually take about 2 hours, but times vary considerably depending upon traffic. Travel agencies and hotels around Bangkok, particularly in the Khao San Road area, also offer mini-van transport, usually at around B400 per person. This option is worth considering as you will usually be picked-up at your hotel and delivered to your digs in Pattaya. Another 'door to door' option is to take a taxi. The official fare is B1500 plus expressway fees, but there are private cars available from the guys lounging about in that will do the trip for B1000. If you aren't a fan of rubber-wheeled vehicles, a third-class only train leaves Hualamphong Station on weekdays at 06.50 for Pattaya and costs a paltry 31 baht for the three hour trip.
• There are also second class air-conditioned buses available, but they take longer and only cost 20 baht less than the first class buses. If you are going to Jomtien beach, rather than Pattaya Beach, you might want to consider a second class bus as many of them continue on to Jomtien, avoiding the hassle of travelling from the Pattaya terminus to Jomtien. The bus station for second class buses in on South Pattaya Road where you will have to arrange transfer to your hotel.