Your bus will not wait, so we plan for traffic
The Southern Bus Terminal is on the far side of Bangkok from Pattaya, out to the west in Taling Chan. Getting there means either crossing the city or swinging around it, and either way, traffic decides the timing. Plan on two and a half to three hours, and give yourself a generous buffer on top. A missed overnight bus can cost you a day of your trip, so we would rather you wait at the terminal with a coffee than sprint for the door.
Send us your departure time when you book. We work backwards from it and suggest a pickup time in Pattaya that allows for Bangkok rush hour. If you still need to buy a ticket at the counter, mention that too and we will build in extra time.
Sai Tai Mai, briefly
Locals call it Sai Tai Mai, the “new southern line”, and it is the main terminal for buses to southern Thailand — Surat Thani, Krabi, Phuket and beyond — as well as to western provinces such as Kanchanaburi. It is a large place with many company counters, food stalls and waiting areas, and it can be busy before holidays. Your driver drops you at the departure building with your bags, so the only thing left to do is find your counter. If you are travelling with a lot of luggage, keep it together in one place while one person checks the boarding details.
- Keep your ticket or booking reference on your phone and on paper
- Note the name of your bus company — it helps you find the right counter quickly
- Before long weekends and holidays, leave Pattaya earlier than usual
- Pack snacks and water in your hand luggage for the bus
Or skip the bus altogether
If your final destination is somewhere a van can reach in a day, it is worth asking whether the bus is needed at all. Many travellers book a van Pattaya to the Southern Bus Terminal only because they assume the bus is the sole option. For Hua Hin, for example, a private van goes door to door from your Pattaya hotel — see Pattaya to Hua Hin. For Kanchanaburi and other western destinations, ask us in chat and we will quote a direct ride for comparison.
If the bus is still the right choice, a Van Pattaya to the Southern Bus Terminal booking gets you there calmly. The Toyota Commuter seats nine with room for eight bags, which is plenty for backpacks and a group of friends heading for the islands. Smaller cars are available for one or two travellers. The fixed price for the whole vehicle is confirmed in chat before the trip, tolls and fuel are included, and you pay the driver in cash when you arrive.