I will be flying into the new airport at BKK in November and going to Pattaya from there. Is there a direct bus from the airport, if so what is the approximate fare? Also, what is the approximate fare if I take a taxi? Any precautions on doing either one?

There is a direct bus from the lower level that leaves every two hours throughout the day. It is 150 Baht all inclusive and includes minibus transfer from the bus station in Pattaya to your hotel so it is door to door service and is reliable and tourist orientated. This is by far the best deal if you arrive during daytime hours.

The average going tourist rate for a meter taxi (un-metered) is 1200 Baht. If you are an aggressive bargainer you may be able to get 1000 Baht. They will probably ask 1500 Baht or more but will never walk on an offer of 1200 so that is the easy tourist rate. You pay tolls, unless you can negotiate that too.

Avoid the various friendly "limo" touts outside arrival and don't ask them where you find the bus because if you ask a taxi driver where the bus is you will be told there is not a bus and you would be best to take a taxi.

BTW if anyone out there is curious what it would be Suvarnabhumi to Pattaya on the meter. It comes to ~800 some odd Baht. I mention that only as trivia since I do not believe you will get any driver ever to actually run the meter on that particular trip.

~800 baht wouldn't be impossible on the return trip however. And 1000 should definitely be doable (Pattaya - BKK)