last time i went to Koh Samet, i went by taxi to Rayong and got a speedboat to the island,

 

is there a bus that runs from Pattaya to Rayong? if so, where does it pick up from in pattaya? how much does it cost? and how long does it take to get there?

 

thanks, Pogo

There's a second class bus (hourly, I think) goes along Sukhumvit all the way from Bangkok to Trat. Should have a "Trat" or "Chanthaburi" sign in the windscreen. You can flag that bus down (they'll be looking for passengers to pick up), best place is at any of the main junctions (Pattaya North, Central, South). It will drop you off anywhere along the way, I think it goes into the bus station in Rayong, at Ban Phe you would get off at the Sukhumvit traffic lights and take a motorbike or songthaew to the ferry pier.

 

There are similar buses from Bangkok to Rayong but they tend to pack passengers in like sardines when they are busy and wait for ages at some stops when they're not, and stop-start-stop like you wouldn't believe.

 

But it's not worth it. Better to book a seat on a minibus with a travel agent. For about 100 baht more you'll get picked up from your hotel and delivered straight to the ferry pier (or a nearby office), and you'll get there a lot quicker, as the minibus takes a much more direct route than the big buses and doesn't make any stops.

 

You could buy a combined minibus and ferry ticket, but then you would probably have to wait longer for a specific ferry, and you still pay full price for the ferry ticket.

 

I would just buy a minibus ticket, walk to the end of the pier, and get on whichever ferry is going next.

How long is the trip, and how much does it cost

thanks

Hi there you will be much better going to a travel agents and booking the minibus they will even

book the ferry ticket all in one just make sure you know which beach you want to go to aprox

300 - 400 bht per person takes about 2 hours on the bus and then 45 mins on the ferry and its

well worth it I can recommendThe bay watch bar

on Vong Duern beach rooms are about 1500 per night high season and 1000 per night low season

There are VIP buses leaving from Pattaya South to Ban Phe, not sure about the price though. More info on there website here

I had a recent trip to koh samet Island, and found as with Bangkok the prices had risen since last year noticeably, I still like the Island but be prepared to pay the price, food accommodation, foot massage, drinks & rooms double mostly over Pattaya.

My choice more likely now for a day on the beach away from Pattaya would be Koh Larne, a short 40 mins trip on the ferry (50baht I think ? ) from Bali High pier at the far end of Walking street.