Getting a taxi in Pattaya
There are thousands of brightly colored Payyata taxis driving around the city. Taxis in Pattaya come in all different colors, including blue, green, orange, yellow, pink, and red. There are two different types of Pattaya taxis: company-owned, which are one solid color, and privately owned, which are two colors. Company-owned taxis should offer fixed fares based on the company’s tariffs, while privately owned taxis are supposed to use a taximeter to calculate your fare. All taxis in Pattaya do have one thing in common, they should all have a large “TAXI” sign on top of the vehicle, so you can easily spot them in the street.
Getting a taxi in Pattaya is easy, you can hail one in the street, walk to a designated taxi rank, call one of the Pattaya taxi numbers, use a Pattaya taxi app or pre-book important rides in advance, such as your Pattaya Aiport taxi.
With so many different Pattaya taxi services available, it can be hard to know which ones are safe and reliable. Be sure to only use taxis with a clear taxi number on the side and a large sign on top. There should also be a clear ID showing in the car that matches the driver.
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How much does a taxi cost?
| Taxi prices | Day time (05:00 - 24:00) | Night time (00:00 - 05:00) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| FROM PATTAYA AIRPORT TO CITY | 27 € | 27 € | 40 MIN |
| FROM PATTAYA AIRPORT TO BANGKOK | 55 € | 55 € | 2 HR |
| FROM PATTAYA TO BANGKOK | 48 € | 48 € | 1 H 40 MIN |
| FROM CITY CENTER TO PATTAYA BEACH | 5 € | 5 € | 10 MIN |
| FROM ELEPHANT VILLAGE TO PATAYA WATER PARK | 10 € | 10 € | 20 MIN |
| FROM PATTAYA TO RAYONG | 40 € | 40 € | 1 H 30 MIN |
Pattaya taxi rates
When it comes to calculating Pattaya taxi rates, the cost will depend on the type of taxi you take. On the whole, taxi apps such as Grab, are much cheaper than taking a regular taxi from the street. If you take a solid-color taxi, you will be given a fixed fare based on your destination. If you take a bi-colored taxi, your fare should be calculated using a taximeter, though most drivers turn off or hide their meters. Taximetered fare is calculated as follows:
Base fare: €1.20 (TBH 45)
Price per mile: €1.60 (TBH 59)
An example of a fixed fare is taking a taxi from Pattaya Airport to the city center, which will cost €27 (TBH 1,000). Taking a metered taxi from the city center of Pattaya to Payyata Beach will take around 10 minutes and will cost an average of €5 (TBH 180).
It’s common for Pattaya taxi drivers to increase their fares during bad weather or when traveling from popular attractions. However, there’s no difference in fare when traveling at night.
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How to grab a taxi in Pattaya
Getting a taxi in Pattaya is extremely easy. The local taxis are brightly colored, so very easy to spot in the street. Although taxis in Pattaya come in all different colors, they should all have the same “TAXI” sign on top and a clear taxi number on the side of the vehicle, along with the company logo (if it’s a solid color taxi).
You can very easily hail a taxi in Pattaya in the street by sticking out your arm, or by walking to a taxi rank. The ranks can be found around the city center at popular tourist spots and large beaches, at Pattaya Airport, Dolphin Road, and at the Jomiten Bus Station. For a more personalized ride, you can also use a taxi app in Pattaya, call a phone dispatch taxi, or pre-book important rides in advance with a private company.
How to get a taxi from Pattaya Airport
There’s a Pattaya Airport taxi stand located just outside of the main Arrivals Hall. Before exiting, you will need to ask for your taxi ride at one of the three kiosks inside the airport. You will then take your receipt outside to one of the solid-colored taxis. The Pattaya Airport rank is open 24 hours a day and they offer fixed fares into the city center. You can expect to pay €27 (TBH 1,000) for a taxi from Pattaya Airport to the city.
How to get a taxi from Dolphin Circle
Dolphin Circle is a large strip in the center of Pattaya that’s home to many shops, restaurants, and hotels. This is the most popular area for Pattaya taxi drivers to hang out during the day, so it’s one of the best places to pick up a ride. Be aware that there’s no fixed schedule for this taxi rank and the drivers tend to shout and haggle with you from this location. Most drivers here will offer fixed fares based on your destination.
How to get a taxi from Jomiten Bus Station
If you take a bus from the airport or surrounding town, you will end up at the Jomiten Bus Station. As this bus station leads out onto a very busy road, the closest taxi rank is located a few meters away from the exit. After walking out the main doors, you will turn left and walk down Thappraya Road. At the corner, you will cross the road and will see the Taxi Pattaya Net taxi rank. These taxis offer fixed fares for their services.
Booking with a taxi app in Pattaya
There aren’t many Pattaya taxi app options available. However, if you’re looking to enjoy a more personalized service or are traveling late at night and don’t wish to walk the city streets after dark, you can use either Bolt or Grab. Grab Pattaya taxi is more popular as they have a few more drivers available than Bolt, resulting in shorter wait times. Having said this, as taxi apps aren’t popular in Pattaya, you may have a long wait for an available driver, whichever app you use.
If you’d like to avoid the long wait times and price spikes that come with ride-sharing apps, you can always pre-book your taxi in Pattaya with Welcome Pickups.
Useful Pattaya taxi numbers
If you’re struggling to find reliable Wi-Fi, you can also call one of the Pattaya taxi numbers. As not all phone operators speak English, it’s advisable to have your hotel concierge or restaurant call a taxi for you. However, if you do wish to call a taxi yourself, you can use one of the following numbers:
Flinstones Taxi Service: +66 (90) 260 3864
Pattaya Taxi Service: +66 (95) 485 7968
Pattaya Central: +66 (86) 347 9162
Pre-booking your Pattaya taxi service
One frustrating aspect of taxis in Pattaya is that they don’t have regulated or fixed fares. This means that you can’t plan or budget your trip fully and that you may have to awkwardly haggle with drivers for a fair price. However, there is a way to avoid this.
Pre-booking your taxi in Pattaya with a trusted company such as Welcome Pickups will give you complete peace of mind that your trip is fully paid for in advance with a fair and fixed price. You will also be able to enjoy English-speaking local drivers, guarantee on-time pickups and 24-hour customer service.
Pattaya taxi tips
- Although all bi-colored taxis should use a taximeter, it’s very rare. However, if your driver does have the meter on and running, ensure it’s switched to the correct base fare.
- There’s no price change for travelling at night, however, drivers may choose to increase their prices for any reason, such as bad weather, public holidays or large groups.
- During very heavy rain, Pattaya taxis don’t run, so it’s important to find another mode of transport during these times.
- It’s rare for a Pattaya taxi driver to give you a receipt, they often store away the printer and request extra payment if they have to use it.
- Not all Pattaya taxi drivers speak English, be sure to write down your destination or show your driver on Google Maps.
- Tipping for your taxi service in Pattaya isn’t obligatory, but rounding up your fare is always appreciated.
- You can’t pay for a Pattaya taxi by credit card. You will need to bring cash in the local currency of Thai Baht to pay for your rides.
- Pre-booking your taxi in Pattaya will give you the peace of mind of guaranteed on-time pickups, hand-picked English-speaking local drivers, competitive fixed-rate fares, and 24/7 customer support.
Wheelchair-accessible taxi in Pattaya
Standard taxis in Pattaya aren’t wheelchair-accessible. If you’re looking for a taxi with a ramp or hydraulic lift for an electronic wheelchair, you will need to pre-book this service with a specialized company. You can book a wheelchair-accessible taxi online from Wheelchair Holiday’s Thailand or over the phone from BB Van Transport (+66 85 961 1226 for English-speaking operators).
Pattaya taxi safety and complaints
Taking a taxi in Pattaya is usually a safe and pleasant experience. However, metered taxis are renowned for turning off their meters and overcharging tourists. If this does happen, it’s important to note down the taxi number, route, and your driver’s ID number and then make a complaint to the company you traveled with. If you were traveling in a personal taxi, you can file a complaint with the local tourist police by calling +66 (61) 146 1155.