Getting about in Pattaya

[bachstrad]

I've been budgeting for a move out to pattaya for retirement/golf. Everything seems ok until I come to getting about (mainly to golf courses 4/5 times a week). I see taxis charging 1500/2000 baht !! which blows the budget out the water. Can anyone advise please.

[synthia]

Welcome to the forum! I'm going to copy this to the Thailand forum, which you can find by just scrolling down through the By Country section. Most people seem to get around on motobikes in Thailand.

[aarontcp]

You may want to consider getting a driver full-time.

I'm not sure exactly how much it costs... let me ask around and see if I can find anything.

- Aaron

[bachstrad]

Thanks for any help. Seems strange - when in Florida/Portugal I rent a car for about one third of accommodation costs but in Thailand it looks like the other way around i.e transport is 3 or 4 times accommodation costs ! Motorbike isn't really practical for carrying heavy bag.

[synthia]

Are you planning to take a heavy bag with you everywhere? I assumed you were asking about getting around once you were settled in, not about getting to your accommodation. For that, you can just get a taxi.

[aarontcp]

Heavy bag = golf set right?

I asked around. The going rate for a daytime driver in Bangkok is 8,000 baht a month. Your cost/mileage may vary in Pattaya. This obviously does not include the cost of owning the car / petrol / maintenance...

My friend says that this covers daytime shift only, and that the driver would expect a tip or something extra if they're going to drive you around at night.

- Aaron

[bachstrad]

Thanks for the info. Car hire is approx £500 + driver /petrol = well over £600 + golf green fees and thats well over £1000 just for the golf expenditure per month. For a holiday it's ok but for retirement that's just too much for me.

[synthia]

Oh, I missed the golf bit. What about buying a car, if you are going to be there long term?

[bachstrad]

Buying a car is something I would have looked into once settled in but in a non English speaking country the concern over road signs(off main roads apparently in Thai)/breakdowns/maintenance/license/insurance/gas etc I was hoping to rely on taxi's. For better or worse I see it as a "stopover" destination with NZ as a place to lay my hat.

[owenjones]

Hi,

You could flag down (or pre-arrange with) a Baht Taxi Bus. They will take you almost anywhere on private hire for 100 Baht. EG: Pattaya Central to Jomtien Beach 100 Baht. That's not expensive.

Owen.