Bangkok to Pattaya on a Budget: The Best Value Transfer With 12Go and a 180-Baht Bus

Time to leave Bangkok behind! Our next stop is Thailand's famous seaside city, Pattaya. So what is the smartest, best value-for-money way to travel from Bangkok to Pattaya? In this post I walk you through our entire experience step by step, from buying the ticket to boarding the bus, plus the little traps waiting for you when you arrive in Pattaya.

Step One: Download the 12Go App

The first thing we did when planning our move to Pattaya was download the 12Go app. It lets you compare and buy train, bus, ferry, and flight tickets across Thailand and Southeast Asia, all in one place. You can download it from the links below:

iOS (App Store): 12Go: Train, Bus, Ferry, Flight
Android (Google Play): 12Go Ticket App

The app offers various travel options like trains, minivans, and buses. We went with the 180-baht bus, the most sensible choice in terms of price/performance. A very reasonable figure for a roughly two-hour journey.

Departure Point: Suvarnabhumi Airport Terminal 2

Since our departure point was the airport, we entered through the Terminal 2 entrance. Here is the Google Maps location of the bus departure point:

Bus departure point: Google Maps location

Important Tip: Don't Forget to Convert Your E-Ticket Into a Physical One!

Here is the most critical part of this post: after payment, make sure you stop by the ticket counter. This is where they convert the e-ticket you bought in the app into a physical ticket. You cannot board the bus without it. Don't assume the QR code on your phone will get you straight onto the bus and risk missing your departure; counter first, bus second.

How Was the Bus Ride?

After waiting a little while, we boarded the bus. Overall it was quite comfortable. It may not match a premium Turkish coach line, but it served us just fine. With air conditioning and spacious seats, the two-hour ride wasn't tiring at all. For 180 baht, the comfort level is more than satisfying.

The Trap Waiting for You in Pattaya: Overpriced Transfer Drivers

The strange part happened when we arrived in Pattaya. At the bus drop-off point there were several vehicles waiting to take passengers to their hotels, and they asked for 70 baht per person. That felt expensive to us, so we called a Bolt instead. The result? We reached our hotel in an air-conditioned, comfortable car for about 25 baht per person. So don't accept the first offer the moment you step off the bus; Bolt does the same job for nearly a third of the price.

Total Cost Summary

Bangkok - Pattaya bus ticket (12Go): 180 baht/person
Bus stop - hotel (Bolt): ~25 baht/person
Total: For roughly 205 baht per person, you get from Bangkok all the way to your hotel in Pattaya.

Conclusion

And we are now in Pattaya! Getting from Bangkok to Pattaya is both very easy and extremely economical if you follow the right steps. Buy your ticket on 12Go, convert your e-ticket into a physical one at the counter, and skip the overpriced transfer drivers in Pattaya by calling a Bolt. Don't forget to stay tuned for more posts and videos about Pattaya. Feel free to drop your questions in the comments. See you soon, take care!