Lex in Pattaya – day 1
A few weeks ago I asked Thailandblog for tips for my trip of (unfortunately) only 9 days to Pattaya. I have received many tips, changed my trip almost completely and was even able to make it considerably cheaper.
The editors then asked me to make a report of my journey, which of course seems very nice if I experience things that are worth sharing here. But luckily it is never boring in Pattaya, as I experienced on the first day of the holiday!
The journey
I don't need to tell you that the journey is long, very long and like probably most of you I always get really fed up after about 6 hours. Fortunately, I had a more spacious place right after the toilets at the always comfortable but according to the lists very dangerous China Airlines. I sat in the middle row, on the aisle and had three Frenchmen sitting next to me, one of whom spoke a little English and translated for the rest. Nice people in themselves, although they did ask for extra sandwiches for lunch and an extra omelette with potatoes for dinner. I found it uncomfortable, and so did the otherwise excellent Thai crew. But they got what they wanted and so it turns out that being cheeky is rewarded again.
But luckily I didn't have any whining kids next to me, so that was fine. After watching the films 'No Escape' and 'Braveheart' (takes a nice long time), listening to some music and eating in between, the journey was soon over halfway. The last couple of hours kept going, with regular turbulence, and I landed safely at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok around 6.30am.
Finally in Thailand
After leaving the plane I always smell right away that I am in Thailand. It feels like coming home. I immediately walk in fast pace to the Immigration and that was certainly rewarded this time because I left at least two planes full of Chinese behind me. Once I arrived at Immigration I always choose the wrong row, because the other rows went considerably faster. But I can't complain, the rest of my plane was far behind me, behind all the Chinese I had overtaken.
There was another small commotion when an Immigration officer sat down at a closed counter. There are always people who come all the way from the back and think 'great, I'm going to stand at the new counter right away', but alas, the officer didn't sit down for even a minute, messed around a bit and walked away again. Then this Arab-looking man apparently thought he could pretty much get to the front of the next row, where others had been waiting much longer than him.
A short Englishman thought that this 'wanker' should stand at the back, was supported, but his complaining was no reason for the front pusher to stand at the back. A woman from Immigration was called in, but to no avail. Then the chef came in… and then I had to keep going so I don't know how it ended. Fortunately, the wait went a lot faster because of that uproar. As usual, my suitcase was already on the belt and I was able to walk straight through, after having exchanged some Euros for Bahts to the 'nothing to declare' exit. Got a Thai Sim card, put 1000 baht credit on it, and on to the taxi stand downstairs, to the meter (which no one turns on) taxis.
Taxi
The taxi system works well at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Ticket is printed and you can get in almost without waiting at the taxi number on your ticket. As always they don't want to turn on the meter, and I had to negotiate the price again. Despite the fact that I have already been to Thailand 7 times, I did not remember what I paid the previous times. But the THB 2000 that the driver asked was too high, I knew that.
I asked if he could turn on the meter. 'No meter taxi' was the answer, and I made it clear to him that there was something else on his roof. The meter was neatly covered with a towel and he handed me a laminated rate card and said 'Meter not for Pattaya, Pattaya fixed price THB 2000' and pointed to the word Pattaya on the rate card. When I pointed out to him that the card said THB 1700, that became the price. I had had too long a drive to negotiate down to THB 1500 or less, and left it at that. I was broken from the long journey and wanted to get to my hotel as soon as possible.
At around 7.30 am we finally went on our way to Pattaya, where after seeing the 'Welcome to Pattaya' sign my holiday finally started emotionally. Half an hour later we finally arrived at Harry's Place in Soi Honey. The holiday can now really begin!
Harry's Place
Checking in at Harry's Place, which is a very cozy guesthouse in Soi Honey, was arranged in no time. The female employee insisted she carry my small laptop bag and I my large bag. I did notice that 'small bag is small tip' and after some laughter we walked upstairs. Those three stairs with narrow steps made for Thai feet are a bit disappointing, but all in all I have a nice room that is fully equipped. I can recommend it to everyone, although unfortunately the hotel cannot be found on Booking.com. Not necessary, according to Harry himself, who I was able to make happy with a pack of tasty stroopwafels, because he is busy. Those interested can view and book via www.atharrysplace.com. Tip: make sure you are there on a Friday, then there is always a theme night and it is very busy and fun.
Pattaya
I always travel with a large Samsonite bag, which works much better for me than a clumsy suitcase. The bag always remains largely packed because I change hotels every 2 nights. So I live out of the bag and therefore hardly spend any time packing and unpacking. So I immediately went to lie down, but I couldn't sleep, after which I went downstairs around 10 o'clock for a small breakfast. A toasted sandwich that is labeled as a croque monsieur was delicious and after I asked, slightly disoriented that I was, which way the sea was, I started my exploration of Pattaya.
I walked down Soi Honey towards the beach, after which I turned left at the end onto Second Road. I decided to have myself rubbed with Aloe Vera at the first 'normal' massage parlor, supplemented with my own sunscreen. Since my last vacation it seems like I'm getting some sort of allergic reaction to my skin from the sun, so I've decided to apply a good amount of sunscreen this holiday and to keep out the sun as much as possible. Finally had an otherwise pleasant massage at Lucky Fingers, after which I walked towards the beach.
As I mentioned in my earlier piece, this is my first holiday 'alone' in Pattaya. And then it is a bit different than when you go to Pattaya with your girlfriend. I never noticed that there are dozens (and in the evening maybe hundreds) of women hanging around the Beach Road, looking for a Farang. Now I couldn't escape it, because the attention was enormous. Good for my confidence, but unfortunately for the ladies…
After a little search at the beach in front of soi 7 / 8 I found my big friend Albert who had a chair ready for me at the very front. After some catching up I struggled away a bit, but it didn't really come to sleep. The speedboat started to accelerate for no reason (without sailing away), the seller of mobile speakers tested his merchandise and even a Thai woman next to us was tattooed on the spot with a kind of mobile tattoo station. The complete market passed by as usual and after a dip in the (incidentally fairly clean for Pattaya) sea water, I decided around 16.00 p.m. that it had been nice and I headed for Walking Street.
Next to the entrance of Walking Street is the Turkish doner shop 'Ankara Döner Pumpui', where you can get the best doner in Pattaya, if not all of Thailand. When you see the owner you understand the name 'Pumpui', which should actually be followed by 'mak mak'. I have planned to walk as much as possible this holiday and although it was a long walk, the incredibly tasty meat was worth every step.
After this I walked back via Second Road to Soi Honey where I went to sleep for a few hours around 5 o'clock. Around 20.00 pm I woke up again after which I calmly started to get ready for the evening. I first walked to Harry's Bar, which is run by the Thai Nadya. After a warm welcome from Nadya and catching up with Nadya's friend Paul I walked towards Central Festival. On Floor 5 there is Swensen's where they have my favorite ice cream/dessert. A chocolate lava cake with ice cream and whipped cream. My glass of water and the menu card were immediately handed over and I could almost taste the ice cream… But then an employee came to tell me that they close at 23.00 p.m. You could order ice cream, but only to take away. I didn't like that so I'm going to try to be on time today so I can still show you a picture of this delicious dessert tomorrow.
I decided to go to the Walking Street where a nice band played at The Stones House. I had a drink there and then decided to go back to the hotel. Once there I saw a band playing down the street at Full Bar and it was very busy.
Anyway, I walked through and I soon got talking to Wayne, a very tall Englishman of 51. Been coming to Pattaya for 15 years and you would expect him to know how it works. Nothing could be further from the truth, because one lady drink after another was ordered. And the Thai girl who worked at the bar probably weighed her age, because she was super skinny (but not terribly young either). In any case, I have no idea where she left that drink, but I was surprised that she could walk at all.
Anyway, Wayne was on a mission, and his mission was to take her to his hotel, even though the finances weren't finalized yet. The girl asked much more than Wayne was willing to give, but meanwhile Wayne's bar bill was mounting. Her shoes were still next to Wayne's chair, so he was confident that the fish had bitten, it was only the rod that had to reel it in. But as is often the case in Pattaya, things turned out a bit differently. The shoes were suddenly gone and suddenly there was another tourist who left the Full Bar with the lady in question. Which probably paid the asking price. At the end of the evening, Wayne was left with a bill… and the next day with a serious hangover.
Tomorrow we will have breakfast with Wayne at his hotel, take a foot massage (must be done after all that walking), go to the beach, eat the delicious ice cream that I have been looking forward to for weeks, of course visit our Turkish friend for a delicious döner sandwich and in the night out again…
To be continued!
Always nice to hear what someone has done with the tips.
1700 Baht for the taxi is more or less normal for the Public Taxi since the rate increases.
Remarkable that you hadn't seen the ladies and ladyboys on Beach Road before. At night there are at least a thousand, according to my estimates, but I have never been tempted by it. After all, they must all have a reason why they would rather stand there for hours than hang out in a cozy bar where they can also score some lady drinks.
Three flights of stairs to get to my room would be a breaking point for me, but for a few days it won't matter much.
Looking forward to day 2. Don't let Wayne forget his fishing license.
Hey Lex,
Nice I look forward to your report tomorrow …. ease the pain a little to be back in Europe!
Dear Bart,
I wrote the pieces some time ago and I've also been back in the Netherlands for a week (sigh). How I wish I could be there again…
I'm going to Thailand alone soon, my Thai wife recently passed away, and I don't feel like arguing about prices of taxis and hotels and so on! you buy train tickets at the station, just like in the Netherlands and not at some travel agency in a back street. I also don't want to mess with taxis, meter not on is getting out. The yellow / green taxis are reliable, you have to be wary of the different colored taxis!
Dear Wally,
Sorry for your loss.
Keep in mind that you will often get off… I have not found one (in Pattaya that is) that wants to turn on the meter. All fixed prices.
That is again so incorrect about those taxis at Suvarnabhumi Airport!!! ALL taxis yes ALL drive with the meter and with a note with destination on it. If no meter works, you immediately take another one and return the note with the number to the person who gave it to you! 2. The cost to Pattaya for a regular taxi (not a limousine) is no more than 1200 Thb. A few months ago I paid THB 900 incl. Highway toll in the reverse direction and even THB 800 the other time before. It is partly the fault of tourists that abuses and scams can still flourish in the taxi world. Don't participate in that, it benefits every tourist and even local user. Never accept a taxi that does not turn on the meter spontaneously or after asking once! At least not when you have arrived at a destination like Deee!
So give it back to the computer pole? Or are there ladies and gentlemen filling out forms again like 1,5 years ago?
Why don't you just go get another note? If I remember correctly, you can still mention on that note if there has been abuse and then send it.
The taxi driver then has to see that he returns to the turn system, because he will already have received a customer before the system.
Maybe he has to leave without a customer and come back in to get back into the system. He will then be at the end of the list again.
No idea how the taxi is registered in the turn system.
I think I have already noticed that they are registered at those barriers, and they are then automatically registered and deregistered in the system.
If someone refuses the taxi, he may still have to leave to register as “out” and come back in on the other side to register as “in” again.
No idea. If anyone knows how it works, I think we'll read about it.
Since the public taxi on Suvarnabhumi is no longer staffed, but you get a piece of paper from a pole with a push button with the lane number of the taxi, there is no longer a destination on the piece of paper. You can't return the note to that pole either. You can get a new piece of paper if you don't like the taxi.
You claim : If no meter works, then immediately another one.
Unless it suits you, because Pattaya – Suvarnabhumi for 900 or 800 baht is UNDER the meter price. So from Pattaya you don't have to use the meter.
On the meter from Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya soi 13, without traffic jams, it comes to 1232 baht plus 50 baht surcharge for departure from the airport plus tolls.
It is partly due to the tourists who want to go to Suvarnabhumi for too low prices that drivers are sometimes inclined to compensate for this loss with other journeys.
Nice and funny. Life as it is.
Keep going, Lex.
mr. T in Soi Diana opposite the Areca lodge only asks 100 bth BKK-Pattaya, and the last time I even had a taxi for 900 bth Pattaya – BKK through one of the many travel agencies, and he also had to come to me at 5:XNUMX in the morning you might be able to save a bit.
I have had very good experiences with Mr.T taxi for years. You can call them or book via email. The price is fixed in advance. Any time of the day, from anywhere. My last ride on January 8, 2016, Pattaya to Bangkok (sukumvit 43) was 1100 baht including tollway.
Small correction should of course be 1000 bth instead of 100 😉
Why not just take the bus? 134 bath! And it goes just as fast.
Would next time take the special Touringcarbus service directly from the airport -Pattaya and from there a minibus that is already waiting with the name of your destination / address will drop you within two hours in front of your Hotel / Condo / Apartment for I think 350 batjes a taxi can be economically interesting if, for example, there are four of you and you arrive 15 minutes earlier.
Nice story Alex. Thank you. 😉 I'm curious where you will eventually end up.
Taxi in the Netherlands ordered via the Internet, the driver is waiting with your name and brought in limmosine to the hotel in Pattaya 1199 Bath 51Bath tip for 1250 Bath ready. So don't pay the driver in advance
Pattaya Taxi Service