| Travelling
to Chon Buri By
Car
Chon Buri is a one-hour drive
from Bangkok along Highway No. 34 (Bang Na-Trat).
Alternatively, taking the Motor Way (new Bangkok-Chon
Buri Route) will reduce travel time.
By
Bus
The 1.5-hour journey from
Bangkok can be made on regular buses originating
from the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai). Air-conditioned
buses leave Ekkamai every 40 minutes from 5.30 a.m.
to 9 p.m. Tel: 0 2391 9829. Non air-conditioned
buses leave Ekkamai every 30 minutes from 5 a.m.
to 9 p.m. Tel: 0 2391 2504.
There are also air-conditioned
buses leaving the Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal
(Mochit 2 Bus Terminal) on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road
from 6.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Call: 0 2936 2852-66
for more information. In addition, Si Racha Tour,
Tel: 0 2936 4029 operates air-conditioned bus services
to Chon Buri and Bang Saen.
Travelling to Pattaya
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 Bangkok’s 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
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.
Car
By Car: Chon Buri is one-hour
drive from Bangkok along Highway No. 34 (Bang Na-Trat).
Alternatively, a faster trip can be made by taking
Motor Way (new Bangkok-Chon Buri Route).
Bus
By Bus : The 1.30-hour journey
from Bangkok can be made on regular buses originating
from the Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai). Air-conditioned
buses leave Ekkamai every 40 minutes from 5.30 a.m.-9
p.m. Tel: 0 2391 9829. Non air-conditioned buses
leave Ekkamai every 30 minutes from 5 a.m.-9 p.m.
Tel: 0 2391 2504.
There are also air-conditioned buses leaving the
Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal on Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road
from 6.30 a.m.-6.30 p.m. Call :0 2936 2852-66 for
more information. Si Racha Tour Tel: 0 2936 4029
also operates air-conditioned bus services to Chon
Buri and Bang Saen. |