Getting Around Pattaya by Car Rental
January 11, 2008 by Pattaya Girls
Filed under Pattaya Travel Guide
If considering renting a vehicle, bear in mind that traffic in Pattaya can seem very erratic by Western standards, and that driving on the left can be confusing not only for those who have previously only ever driven on the right, but also for those unfamiliar with the common Thai practice (even the police do this) of motorcycling alongside the kerb on the “oncoming” side of the road, or the wrong way up one-way streets. The latter problem is especially prevalent in the Pattaya Bay area, where the majority of the roads in the main tourism zones are one-way; and the northern section of Second Road requires great care as some treat the right-hand “bus” lane as oncoming, while others do not.
Motorcycles and Scooters
Motorcycle rentals are a very popular way to get around, but not the safest, especially in the case of visitors with limited previous experience of motorcycling and Eastern traffic habits, and even more so in Pattaya given the large number of motorcycle-mounted holidaymakers who seem hell-bent on a Darwin Award. Also note that a motorcyclist carrying a shoulder bag, and anything placed in the front basket of a motorcycle, makes an especially easy target for bag-snatchers. Also beware of the No Parking signs, otherwise you would end up paying 400-500 Baht for the fines.
Motorbikes can be rented without difficulty at countless locations in Pattaya, including many hotels and guesthouses, usually without having to produce a licence; however it’s common for foreigners to be asked to deposit their passports as security (to avoid this, simply shop around until you find one of the many places that will accept a photocopy instead); cash deposits are also often required (1000 baht is not uncommon). Motorcycle rentals do not include insurance, and both motorcycling accidents and motorbike thefts are common.
Take It Easy, Pattaya New Plaza, Second Road, tel. +66-90077804. British management, open 09:00-19:00; sample prices:
- fully automatic 115cc scooter: 750 baht/4 days, 900 baht/week, 2900 baht/month
- Kawasaki KSR 115cc: 1100 baht/4 days, 1400 baht/week, 4400 baht/month
- Honda XR 250 trail/enduro: 2000 baht/4 days, 2900 baht/week, 10000 baht/month
Cheap Charlies, tel. +66-38720452. Assorted rentals from 100 baht/day, plus used motorcycle sales.
East Coast Choppers, tel. +66-38303113. Harley Davidson rentals.
Maipang Motorcycle Rentals, tel. +66-38361090 / +66-38303406,.
Jans, tel. +66-38373594. Advertises rates from 2000 baht/month for long-term rentals.
Cars and Jeeps
Cars can easily be rented, however this isn’t such a practicable way to get around the busiest areas as traffic is often congested and parking space limited. Prices without insurance start from around 800 baht/day for small cars, and from as little as 600 baht/day for open-top jeeps; cars with insurance start at just under 1000 baht/day, and come down to around 5600 baht/week or 18000 baht/month.
Avis, tel. +66-38361627 (Dusit Resort) or +66-38428755 (Hard Rock Hotel),
Budget, Beach Road, tel. +66-38710717,
CCR Car Rent, Third Road, tel. +66-38489401
Chalee Car Rent, Third Road, tel. +66-38720413,
Hertz, tel. +66-26542553 (Marriot Resort) / tel. +66-38716693 (Sukhumvit Road),
Holiday Car Rentals, tel. +66-38723814 (Second Road) / tel. +66-38426303 (Third Road),
National, Liabchayhard Rd, tel. +66-38416125 /6,
Q Cars, Jomtien, tel. +66-38231694,
ATVs
Imac ATV Centre, at the Beach Road end of Tipp Plaza, near Mike Shopping Mall – tel. +66-79532173 / +66-98884340 fax. +66-38227064. Has a small fleet of assorted models. Prices start at 1500 baht/day for a 4-stroke 150cc quad with road tyres that can carry two people; rates for larger models (some with off-road tyres) go as high as 3000 baht/day.
Bicycles
Bicycles could, until recently, be rented at Jomtien – however due to lack of demand the current options are to either bring your own, or buy one locally.
