3. Pattaya by Minivan

If your final destination in the Krabi province is one of the islands, a ferry will eventually come into play–basically, once you arrive in Krabi Town via bus or plane, you can then hop on a ferry to get you to the islands. A large number of travelers arriving in Krabi are heading to Railay West Beach or the Koh Phi Phi islands–both of which require a water transfer at the end of your journey.

Boats leave from a number of piers in Krabi and offer different levels of service and comfort. Ferries take about two hours to reach the Phi Phi islands. The ferries are comfortable and offer air-conditioned travel, as well as a sundeck for those who prefer open views of the sea, plus a stall to buy food and drinks. High-speed catamarans take around 90 minutes for the same trip–and while saving some time is nice, you have fewer chances to walk around and enjoy the trip.

While it's possible to arrive in Krabi and get a ferry ticket there, you can also buy a combination ticket that includes a bus to Krabi and a ferry to the islands. During high season, ferries to popular islands like Koh Phi Phi get very crowded, and you might have to wait for a while to find available space in one. To avoid delays, it might be better to make a reservation online in advance.

4. Pattaya by Train

Trains are not the most convenient way to travel between Bangkok and Pattaya, but if you still want the very Thai experience of using local transportation, this might be your best chance.

There are only two trains connecting the two cities, and they both leave Bangkok before 7am (at 6:45am and 6:55am) on weekdays only – trains don't run between Bangkok and Pattaya on weekends or at all in the afternoons. The trains are all third class, with no AC, and wooden benches as seats. They're not going to be the most comfortable option, but they do give you the best immersion experience you can ask for, as trains go past villages, markets, and the beautiful countryside.

The 6:45am train is a Rapid train, which means it only stops at a few stations between the two cities and will arrive in Pattaya at 9:13am. The second train stops at all small stations along the way and gets to Pattaya over an hour later, at 10:34am. The return trains (both express and regular) leave from Pattaya at 1:10pm on weekdays only.

Both trains leave from Bangkok's Hua Lamphong train station and are the cheapest transportation option you'll find to get you to Pattaya. Since reservations aren't possible for these trains, make sure you arrive at the station early to secure a seat.

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