Furnishing a condo? Start with the space in the van
Mega Bangna is one of the largest shopping malls on the Bangkok side, in the Bang Na area close to the motorway that runs to the eastern seaboard. It has an IKEA, a big hypermarket, home and electronics stores, cinemas and a long row of restaurants, which is why people from Pattaya make a day of it. It is especially popular with anyone setting up a new apartment: you can see everything in one building, then take it home the same afternoon.
That last part is where the van earns its place. A taxi boot holds a couple of bags; the Toyota Commuter can carry nine people and eight bags, and with fewer passengers there is more room for flat-pack boxes. Before you shop, send us the sizes of the big items in chat and we tell you honestly what fits. It saves a lot of stress at the checkout.
A shorter drive than central Bangkok
Because Bang Na is on the Pattaya side of the city, a van Pattaya to Mega Bangna is a shorter run than a trip to Siam or Sukhumvit. Plan on about one and a half to two hours, depending on traffic as you come off the motorway. Your driver drops you at the mall entrance you choose, and for the trip home you can meet at the IKEA side if that is where the heavy things are. Trolley to van door, boxes in the back, and the next time you lift them is at your own front door.
- Make your IKEA list before you leave; it is a big store and the day goes quickly
- Ask about home delivery for anything too long for a vehicle, like bed frames
- Mention a meeting point and a rough time, and keep your phone on for the driver
- Weekends are busier; a weekday visit is calmer in the store and on the road
Fixed price, and an easy stop on the way to the airport
Send us the pick-up address in Pattaya, how many people are going, and whether you want the driver to wait for the return. We confirm a fixed price for the whole vehicle in chat before the trip, with tolls and fuel included, and you pay the driver in cash afterwards. Waiting time and the drive back are priced in chat before you go, so a long shopping day has no surprises at the end.
Mega Bangna is not far from Suvarnabhumi either, so some travellers stop for last-minute shopping and a meal before a late flight. If that sounds like your plan, see our Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi page and we will price the stop as part of a Van Pattaya to Mega Bangna and airport run.