The city-produced "Official Map of Pattaya" is available at Pattaya City Hall, and may also be available from the Pattaya Police, the Tourist Police and the Immigration Police.
By Songthaew
Songthaews are also known as public passenger pick-up vehicles.
Apart from a handful of privately operated examples, Pattaya has no tuk-tuks and most ad hoc local transport is undertaken by a flotilla of over 700 dark blue coloured songthaews, pickup trucks converted to buses, also called Baht Buses. The fare is 10 baht for trips within Pattaya, for locals and foreigners. Having the correct change is by no means essential, but does keep the potential hassle factor to a minimum. In the past, dual pricing applied technically 5 baht base fare, but generally only applied to locals, with a 10 baht fare for foreigners and some drivers will shortchange you on a 20 baht note if you don't act like you know what you're doing, but most will return 10 baht. Avoid asking destination when using songthaew, as many drivers will charge 100-200 baht. If you know the direction, it's recommended to just ride the songthaew without asking for a destination. That way you will just pay 10 baht per person no matter how far you go.
Flat fares only apply when operating as a bus. Beware the driver of an otherwise empty songthaew, especially one that's parked at the roadside, who might presume that you want to charter a taxi, in which case expect a much higher fare of 100 baht or more, depending on your negotiating skills. Taxis in Pattaya do not use the metres at all, and unless you can speak Thai, start at 150 baht and up.
The busiest route is the beach circuit: from the junction of Second Rd and South Pattaya Rd, north along Second Rd to the Dolphin Circle roundabout; then south along the full length of Beach Rd; then briefly east along South Pattaya Rd to complete the loop. Frequency is virtually non-stop, and even at the most unlikely hours, average waiting time is literally no more than a minute, often only a few seconds during daytime hours.
The routes sometimes vary. For example, with a left turn from Beach Rd or Second Rd into Central Pattaya Rd; or no left turn at the Dolphin Circle roundabout where Second Rd, Beach Rd and North Pattaya Rd meet and going straight on to Naklua or even a right turn towards the bus station and Sukhumvit. The only way to know the route for sure is to ask but don't let the driver mistake your asking as a charter request. Sometimes the driver will just decide to turn down a random soi for no apparent reason, or because he's just been hired as a taxi, but you'll still be expected to pay your 10 baht if you've ridden for more than a soi or two - however surprises such as these are few and far between.
It's also easy to catch songthaews along South Pattaya Rd, Central Pattaya Rd, and North Pattaya Rd; in the case of the latter, there's often a songthaew waiting at the Dolphin Circle roundabout they depart from here at regular intervals, or when full, and the fare to the bus station is 10 baht and there's also a free songthaew service to the Tesco-Lotus supermarket on North Pattaya Rd.
For Jomtien, songthaews wait at the beginning of Pratamnak Rd the continuation of Second Rd, from the South Pattaya Rd crossroads, and charge 10 baht.
For Naklua, take a songthaew up Second Rd to the Dolphin Roundabout 10 baht. If the songthaew turns left or right at the roundabout i.e., it's not one of the few that continue straight on to Naklua, disembark immediately and cross to the north side of the roundabout, and either walk or take a north-bound songthaew 10 baht from there.
White coloured songthaews ply Sukhumvit Rd, going as far as Si Racha and Sattahip 20 baht; full-size buses to destinations as far away as Trat and even Chiang Mai also stop and pick up passengers on Sukhumvit Rd at the South Pattaya Rd, Central Pattaya Rd, and North Pattaya Rd junctions.
If you're overcharged by a songthaew driver, note the three digit vehicle number top left corner of the windscreen, also stenciled on both sides and in the back and report the problem to:
Pattaya City Manager: dial 038429216
Banglamung District Baht Bus Cooperative: dial 038221271 / 038423554
Rentals
If considering renting a vehicle, bear in mind that traffic in Pattaya can seem very erratic by Western standards, and that driving on the left can be confusing not only for those who have previously only ever driven on the right, but also for those unfamiliar with the common Thai practice even the police do this of motorcycling alongside the kerb on the "oncoming" side of the road, or the wrong way up one-way streets. The latter problem is especially prevalent in the Pattaya Bay area, where the majority of the roads in the main tourism zones are one-way; and the northern section of Second Road requires great care as some treat the right-hand "bus" lane as oncoming, while others do not.
Motorcycles and Scooters
Motorcycle rentals are a very popular way to get around, but not the safest, especially in the case of visitors with limited previous experience of motorcycling and Eastern traffic habits, and even more so in Pattaya given the large number of motorcycle-mounted holidaymakers who seem hell-bent on a Darwin Award. Also note that a motorcyclist carrying a shoulder bag, and anything placed in the front basket of a motorcycle, makes an especially easy target for bag-snatchers. Also beware the "No Parking" signs - fines are typically 400-500 baht.
Motorbikes can be rented without difficulty at countless locations in Pattaya, including many hotels and guesthouses, usually without having to produce a licence; however it's common for foreigners to be asked to deposit their passports as security to avoid this, simply shop around until you find one of the many places that will accept a photocopy instead; cash deposits are also often required 1000 baht is not uncommon. Motorcycle rentals do not include insurance, and both motorcycling accidents and motorbike thefts are common.some outlets have athird party cover which covers you for medical attention.If motorbikes don't carry this insurance they are illegal and should not be entertained.One renter that has this cover is nittayas who opperate from soi12Naklua.
Take It Easy
Pattaya New Plaza, Second Road, tel. +66-90077804. British management, open 09:00-19:00; sample prices:- fully automatic 115cc scooter: 750 baht/4 days, 900 baht/week, 2900 baht/month - Kawasaki KSR 115cc: 1100 baht/4 days, 1400 baht/week, 4400 baht/month - Honda XR 250 trail/enduro: 2000 baht/4 days, 2900 baht/week, 10000 baht/month
Cheap Charlies
tel. +66-38720452, (http://www.metstatel.dk/c...). Assorted rentals from 100 baht/day, plus used motorcycle sales.East Coast Choppers
tel. +66-38303113, (http://www.customharleyre...). Harley Davidson rentals.Maipang Motorcycle Rentals
tel. +66-38361090 / +66-38303406, (http://www.mai-pang.com).Jans
tel. +66-38373594. Advertises rates from 2000 baht/month for long-term rentals.Noks Bike Rentals..at the "TAKE IT EASY BAR", Soi 7/8.. British managed, open 24hours, also sells European bike helmets.
Cars and jeeps
Cars can easily be rented, and are a good way to explore beyond the city limits, but they are not such a practicable way to get around the busiest central areas as traffic can be congested, and parking spaces can be difficult to find in the evening and weekend periods. However the major supermarkets offer free parking, and low-cost parking is available at the major shopping venues such as Royal Garden Plaza, Central Festival & Big C on Second Road.
Rentals without insurance start from around 800 baht/day for small cars, and from as little as 600 baht/day for open-top jeeps; cars with insurance start at just under 1000 baht/day, and come down to around 5600 baht/week or 18000 baht/month in low season. High season prices from early November are generally a few hundred baht more.
Getting the correct type of insurance cover on any rental car in Thailand is extremely important. Commerical "Car Rental Company" First Class Insurance provides the absolute full legal cover (as opposed to limited personal or third party only insurance cover. Request a copy of the policy document and check that it states "For Comercial Use".
Avis
tel. +66-38361627 Dusit Resort or +66-38428755 Hard Rock Hotel, (http://avisthailand.com/h...)Budget
Beach Road, tel. +66-38710717, (http://www.budget.co.th/l...)CCR Car Rent
Third Road, tel. +66-38489401 (http://www.ccrcarrent.com)Chalee Car Rent
Third Road, tel. +66-38720413, (http://www.pattayacarrent...)Expat Car Rent
Thappraya Road, tel. +66-38252275 [email protected] (http://www.ExpatCarRent.com)Hertz
tel. +66-26542553 Marriot Resort / tel. +66-38716693 Sukhumvit Road, (http://www2.hertz.com/loc...)Holiday Car Rentals
tel. +66-38723814 Second Road / tel. +66-38426303 Third Road, (http://www.pattayacar-rent.com)National
Liabchayhard Rd, tel. +66-38416125 /6, (http://www.smtrentacar.co...)Q Cars
Jomtien, tel. +66-38231694, (http://www.qcars.net/cont...)ATVs
Imac ATV Centre
at the Beach Road end of Tipp Plaza, near Mike Shopping Mall - tel. +66-79532173 / +66-98884340 fax. +66-38227064, (http://www.atvthai.com). Has a small fleet of assorted models. Prices start at 1500 baht/day for a 4-stroke 150cc quad with road tyres that can carry two people; rates for larger models some with off-road tyres go as high as 3000 baht/day.Bicycles
Bicycles could, until recently, be rented at Jomtien - however due to lack of demand the current options are to either bring your own, or buy one locally - see the Do | Sports | "cycling" section. A few hotels offer free bike hire to guests.
By taxi
Meter-taxis are a common sight in and around Pattaya, however none of them will accept a fare using the meter. The minimum for a foreigner is usually 150 baht - even 1 km hops. All are from Bangkok; their drivers bring passengers from the capital, and then operate locally until a return fare becomes available. There are also some car services and non-metered taxis that operate on an on-call basis; minibuses can also be chartered. These services are suited primarily to longer trips outside the core of the town or to another city, and can be arranged through most travel agencies and many hotels/guesthouses.Expect to pay considerably more than the cost of a songthaew charter, probably in the order of a few hundred baht. If you are going back to Bangkok, there is the cheap possibility of catching a taxi which has just came from there with some passengers and has to return. Since the driver isnât going to get a passenger as soon as he leaves Pattaya, heâll be willing to take back a passenger for cheap which should cost you no more than 800-1200 baht.
By Motorbike Taxi
The quickest way to get around is by motorcycle motosai. A moto-taxi will be less expensive than a songthaew charter, but arguably less safe. Roadside moto-taxi stands are scattered throughout town, and waiting drivers usually clap their hands or sometimes call out to attract the attention of potential passengers; alternatively just flag down the next available one that cruises by, as the drivers are easily identified by their coloured vests. Some will carry two or more! passengers - although this is illegal. Foreigners can expect to pay around 30-40 baht for trips around the inner parts of town.