Pattaya to Bangkok - Safe to go after midnight

[Guest whall]

You think it is safe to take a taxi at midnight from Pattaya to BKK at midnight? I have a 6 am flight and want to stay in Patt as long as possible. Just want to make sure the travel will be fine. If not, I'll go a day early and get a hotel near the airport.

 

thanks so much! I love reading everyone's experiences on here. really helped me decide to go to Thailand.

[Gaybutton]

I've never heard of anyone having a problem.  You'll be fine.  At that hour you'll reach the airport in about 90 minutes.

[Guest whall]

Okay. Great. Maybe I'll stay later in Patt. Thanks.

[kokopelli]

As GB says, no problem. Never any traffic problems. For my 6 am flights I leave Pattaya at 2am and arrive at airport before 4 am. Check in is easy at that time.  If you arrive too early I am not sure if the check in counters will be open.

[Guest whall]

What do you take to get to BKK? Someone recommended:

http://thelimopattaya.com/

 

I thought of going with them.

[vinapu]

Partying whole night before long flight has an advantage - you will be tired and increase your chances of having good sleep on the plane.

 

Don't party too long though and leave well before flight just in remote case your car would break down somewhere in between or your driver simply doesn't show up at time promised -this was reported by somebody not that long ago.

 

I'd be sleeping in Bangkok last night , not necessarily near airport, taxis in BKK are aplenty and easy to hail even in dead of night. But it's just me

[jacquet]

You think it is safe to take a taxi at midnight from Pattaya to BKK at midnight? I have a 6 am flight and want to stay in Patt as long as possible. Just want to make sure the travel will be fine. If not, I'll go a day early and get a hotel near the airport.

 

thanks so much! I love reading everyone's experiences on here. really helped me decide to go to Thailand.

Last time I was in Pattaya, I used a taxi from the Copa hotel where I stayed. We left in time, five o'clock. The driver drove in a safe way. The only problem we had was a flat tyre in the middle of the highway and the car didn't have the good equipment to repair, but nevertheless the driver managed to repair it. We were in time at the airport !

[hanan]

Is a 1000 baht the correct amount to pay for taxi from Pattaya to Suvarnabumi airport?

[kokopelli]

I usually pay 1200 Baht plus a tip.

[gerefan]

1000 airport to Pattaya and 900 Pattaya to Airport for me. 

[Guest]

1000 is fine for a pre-booked taxi.  If you take a metered taxi from the airport, it would cost quite a bit more.

 

Tipping taxi drivers is an American custom, so somewhat optional for the rest of the world & probably very unlikely amongst Asians, including the wealthy ones.

 

Now do those who tip taxi drivers also tip bus drivers and train drivers?

[vinapu]

Usually we 

 

 

Now do those who tip taxi drivers also tip bus drivers and train drivers?

probably no but usually we get a bit more personalized service from taxi drives than from bus drivers or train conductors.

 

That's true that North Americans are spoiling it for rest of the world but this is what it is. Their culture is tipping one so they tip, 

others from not tipping places will be waiting to get 3 baht change when paying 97 baht fare with 100 baht banknote.

 

I don't see it as problem in Thailand where  one is rarely  pressured to tip / go-go etc exempted /.

 

I personally leave them with change if meter used but would not tip one where  fare is negotiated.

[firecat69]

I would make last night in BKK or build in plenty of time for drive from Pattaya .

 

Tipping driver is discretionary but in most cases driver either does not own car or is only getting a portion of the fee. No big deal for an extra 100 baht since the trip is already one of the great bargains in the world.

 

In most of the world would cost you many times more. I am more inclined when being waited for at airport.

Frequently driver may wait quite some time for you because flight late and baggage slow.

[fedssocr]

I've used thelimopattaya many times to get back and forth between there and Bangkok. Only ever had one problem and that was when the driver didn't show to pick me up at my hotel in Bangkok because he had an accident on the way. Called them a couple of times with help from the front desk and eventually they sent a local car to pick me up and that driver didn't know Pattaya well so I had to direct him to the hotel.

 

But every other time has been very good. Comfortable car, decent drivers. One guy spoke English very well so we managed to have an actual conversation which was kind of nice.

[kokopelli]

Oh deer, did I start a tiff about tipping when mentioning a tip for a limo driver?  Sorry, not trying to spoil it for all those from non-tipping countries.

 

As Firecat noted, the driver may wait a long time at the airport if his passenger is delayed.  For me I appreciate a driver who arrives at my condo at 2AM and gives me a safe ride to the airport. Likewise when one is lugging 45-90 kg/100-200 lbs of luggage it is a great relief to have a driver ready and waiting to get it from the terminal to his car.

 

In addition I often use the same service for trips to Bangkok from Pattaya to Immigration or the Hospital.  The driver just doesn't dump me at Immigration door he escorts me; and at the hospital he has waited 6+ hours until I am ready to return. Can't stiff him for that!