Guest anonone Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 A question for those more in the know than I.... Does anyone have any information ( or dare I hope some type of map ) on routes of the Song Thaews? I am fine getting back and forth to Jomtien from Boyztown / Sunee area and I understand the big circle route down Beach Rd and back up 2nd Rd, but I would like to expand my horizons a bit. I would think there is a route that heads up or down 3rd Road, or am I mistaken? I seem to recall reading about a night market somewhere on 3rd Road that may be worth a visit? I know I should have paid more attention when out and about with various Thai friends, but I always seem to have other things on the mind.... Any information gratefully received...with the implied understanding that sometimes the drivers just kind of go where they want to Thanks. Three weeks til I am back ! Quote
2lz2p Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 Most Blue Baht buses follow a general route - the following URL has a map and narrative regarding these routes - but, as noted, the driver can alter directions - there are a few Baht buses that travel on third road and Thepprasit Road - but, they are often few and far between. Blue Baht bus routes The web page with the above link also has the following comments about Bath buses: The Baht Bus is the primary means of public transportation in Pattaya. They are dark blue pickups. They generally travel on set routes. There are hundreds of them and seem to be traveling one right after the other. The standard Baht Bus fare is 10 baht but will rise to 20 baht for a longer journey. For example, the fare from Jomtien to the Royal Garden Plaza on Second Road would be 10 baht; but from Jomtien to Big C further North on Second Road would be 20 baht. Baht Buses will stop anywhere to pick you up, simply hail them and press the buzzer when you reach your destination and hand the driver the fare. Baht Buses are also available for private charter in the same way that you would use a regular taxi. Simply hail the Baht Bus and negotiate the fare according to the destination. Not often, but it can happen that someone flags the baht bus down you are riding in and Quote
Guest anonone Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 Thanks 2lz2p. The link was very helpful. It looks like there are no regular routes that run up / down 3rd Road. If I get a real urge to check out the weekend market, I guess I will "charter" a song thaew for the trip. I haven't got up the courage to try out a motobike taxi yet, so doubt that will happen. Any opinions on the weekend market? Worth a trip? Thanks again. Quote
pong Posted March 9, 2011 Posted March 9, 2011 the above is only partly ''true''=according to facts. 1. there are No set St routes at all (for the all-blue things in PTY proper), even though they have a nr somewhere down that indicates one. (that is the 23=Cholburi) then 008 and on. the lower nrs. are in Cholburi and Sri Racha). The main execpeiton-nothing is ever true 100% here in LOS, are the Central-Jowmtien shuttles. 2, there is a system of SECTION fares-that may explain the 10/20 bt. On any of the prescribed (but not usually completely followed) routes there is the basic fare of 10 (Thai 5) THB. As soon as you ''use'' another segemtn (even if its just going the red lights into Central rd or so), you have to pay 2 fares=20. The ring 2nd/beack is 1 section, the shuttle to Jown=mtien is, the sections along Cenrtal and North rd. are, etc. 3.the best way-for money/bahtcounters to go to like 3d rd is to take a ST to the crossing with that, get off (or hopefully see if it might even turn into), and wait for another one after the crossing. That means 20 bt (2x10) at the max. Infrequent means-not a dozen per minute, but maybe you have to wait like 2 or 3 mins. Thai people wanting to go there usually use handsigns to ask driver if he turns or not. 4.frankly-even though i know many farang claim it is, once you know how it works, a fine system, it is a total ripoff. Add to that the tuktukmafia style money grabbing of 99,99% of drivers [as everywhere in LOS-they smell a good job and it gets totally inundated with too many people who then note it is not making that much after all). Here in BKK we now have 100s of brandnew yellow Chinese built citybuses, full AC, that charge a flat 10 bt fare-for klod say=all the way. That may mean a ride of well over 1hr. and over 20/25 kms. but there are also 1000s of older, govmt. owned, orange AC-buses that charge by distance-up to 24 bt-for the very same routes sometimes. And also a few 100 of all free but old and nonAC red buses. If you can figure out where they go-it is, yes, free. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted March 9, 2011 Posted March 9, 2011 Following on pong's post, there is a bilingual Bangkok Bus Map. It lists 282 routes and is very useful if you want to get round the city by public transport rather than taxis. I know it's available at Bookazine and Asia Books. Quote
Guest anonone Posted March 9, 2011 Posted March 9, 2011 the above is only partly ''true''=according to facts. 1. there are No set St routes at all (for the all-blue things in PTY proper), even though they have a nr somewhere down that indicates one. (that is the 23=Cholburi) then 008 and on. the lower nrs. are in Cholburi and Sri Racha). The main execpeiton-nothing is ever true 100% here in LOS, are the Central-Jowmtien shuttles. 2, there is a system of SECTION fares-that may explain the 10/20 bt. On any of the prescribed (but not usually completely followed) routes there is the basic fare of 10 (Thai 5) THB. As soon as you ''use'' another segemtn (even if its just going the red lights into Central rd or so), you have to pay 2 fares=20. The ring 2nd/beack is 1 section, the shuttle to Jown=mtien is, the sections along Cenrtal and North rd. are, etc. 3.the best way-for money/bahtcounters to go to like 3d rd is to take a ST to the crossing with that, get off (or hopefully see if it might even turn into), and wait for another one after the crossing. That means 20 bt (2x10) at the max. Infrequent means-not a dozen per minute, but maybe you have to wait like 2 or 3 mins. Thai people wanting to go there usually use handsigns to ask driver if he turns or not. 4.frankly-even though i know many farang claim it is, once you know how it works, a fine system, it is a total ripoff. Add to that the tuktukmafia style money grabbing of 99,99% of drivers [as everywhere in LOS-they smell a good job and it gets totally inundated with too many people who then note it is not making that much after all). Here in BKK we now have 100s of brandnew yellow Chinese built citybuses, full AC, that charge a flat 10 bt fare-for klod say=all the way. That may mean a ride of well over 1hr. and over 20/25 kms. but there are also 1000s of older, govmt. owned, orange AC-buses that charge by distance-up to 24 bt-for the very same routes sometimes. And also a few 100 of all free but old and nonAC red buses. If you can figure out where they go-it is, yes, free. Thanks Tong. This is also helpful. I actually already understood the "section" based fare approach. Encountered it a couple times going from Jomtien to North Pattaya. Pretty easy to understand, I think. If memory serves, there is even a fare chart/grid posted in the back of some STs, showing the different fare sections. Just looking for different ways to explore Pattaya. Quote
colmx Posted March 9, 2011 Posted March 9, 2011 HI Anonone Just to clear up another thing - the weekend market is on Theprasitt road - not 3rd road... Thepprasit is the next main intersection running paralell and south of South Pattaya road on the map in 2lz2p's post Quote
Guest anonone Posted March 9, 2011 Posted March 9, 2011 HI Anonone Just to clear up another thing - the weekend market is on Theprasitt road - not 3rd road... Thepprasit is the next main intersection running paralell and south of South Pattaya road on the map in 2lz2p's post Ah yes, I did not remember accurately. Thank you for the correction. Quote
