Travel advice

Getting around in Thailand

Q: I'm planning a trip to Thailand this March. I'd like to go to spend a few days in Pattaya then a week in Phuket. How can I get to Pattaya from Bangkok International Airport? Are there any budget airlines that serve Phuket from Bangkok? Is it cheaper and easier to buy the ticket in the U.S. or Thailand?

A: Getting from Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok to Pattaya is easiest by direct bus. The trip takes about an hour and buses depart from the Airport Transportation Centre starting at 6:30 a.m. Travel time is about two hours. Tickets are about $3.50. Ask at the airport information desk for directions to the pickup point outside the main terminal building. Buses arrive at the main Pattaya bus station, and depart from there back to the airport. See www.1stoppattaya.com for more details and information on how to take the bus or train should you decided to go from central Bangkok instead of the airport.

Both Air Asia ( www.airasia.com) and Bangkok Airways ( www.bangkokair.com) fly several times daily between Phuket and Bangkok. One-way fares are about $50 to $75 depending on the season and seat availability. Air Asia is generally the least expensive. It's a reliable no-frills discounter with service to many cities in Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia.

Once you're sure of your dates, it probably makes the most sense to book the tickets online before you go. You could do it there as well, but prices are generally the same.