I'm thinking of doing a day or overnight trip to Hua Hin/Cha Am during my visit to Bangkok. I've searched all around but cannot find an official bus timetable departing and arriving from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal.

Would anyone have this handy?
Also, what's the easiest way to get to the Southern Bus Terminal from the Westin considering the morning traffic conditions? Taxi or public transport?


One more thing... is there an Airport bus from the southern bus terminal?

tia for the help

Buses to Hua Hin from Bangkok�s Southern Bus Terminal on Pinklao - Nakhon Chaisi Road (in Thonburi); 232km, 3-4 hours
non-aircon 42 Baht, 5:00 - 19:00 every 30min;
aircon 74 Baht, 5:00 - 22:00, every hour,
2nd cl 65 Baht, 6:00 - 19:00 every 30min.

From the Westin to the Southern Bus Terminal, easiest would be to take a cab....traffic in the morning won't be bad between 9.30-11.30am

There is no airport bus to between the airport and the Southern Bus Terminal, but local Bus no. 10 goes to the Southern Bus Terminal from just outside the airport, so there must be a similar bus service in the opposite direction.

There is a train station right at the Bangkok airport if that's an option for you. Not sure about busses.

thanks for the responses...

is that every hour on the hour (eg 11am, 12pm, 1pm, etc...)? Where can I find this timetable online?

I heard that we can't bring luggage onto public buses so I will prolly have to resort to a taxi from the southern bus terminal to the airport.

Not a (practical) option: Don Muang is on the north/northeast line and it would take a minimum of two transfers to get to Thonburi station for southboard trains.

Take the taxi to the Southern terminal and just get on the next bus out. Don't worry about the schedules, the buses are rarely full.

A few weeks ago I made a three-day trip from Bangkok to Hua Hin. I took the train to Hua Hin. It was a 2-car sort-of-express train from Hua Lumpong Station (accessible via the new subway) and cost 302 THB. The trip took ~ 4 hours, 1 1/2 of which was required to get to and cross the Chao Phra! I took an air con bus back to Bangkok as the train schedule is somewhat limited. I cannot remember how much it cost, maybe ~100 THB? There was a bus leaving Hua Hin every 30 minutes on the hour/half-hour. The bus took ~ 3:30 and made one toilet/food/driver change stop along with ~ 8 stops along the way. I think you can get out pretty much anywhere if you speak with the driver/attendent? The bus terminates at a bus station in Thonburi. Getting from there back to central Bangkok can be challenging. I took a taxi which took 90 min. to get to Sukhumvit (we waited at one light near the Royal Palace for 32 min. I think it was Constitution Day).

I would recommend you take the train if the schedule allows. The Hua Lumpong train station is easy to get to via taxi/subway. My train left Bangkok ~ 7 AM-ish; I cannot find the schedule right now.

An alternative if you're going to Hua Hin is to take the shuttle van (~9 or 10 seater) between the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok and the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin. There is a counter inside the Grand Hyatt - IIRC they charge 650 baht each way. You can take airport bus A1 to the Grand Hyatt.

Or these guys charge 590 baht to/from Bangkok or 690 baht to/from the airport at fixed times: 8.30am & 2.30pm
http://www.travel-huahin.com/transfer.htm

Just to follow up as I am back from my trip...

There was an accident in the subway system when we were there. The govt closed the subway system down for a week for inspections and safety checks. Because of that, streets were jammed pack with cars. We ended up taking a the shuttle from the Grand Hyatt because taxi to southern bus terminal would've been a nightmare. It was 500 baht each way. We were the only ones on the shuttle so it felt like a private hire. 2.5 hours and we were there. The driver was nice enough to drop us off at our hotel (25 mins away) as we didn't stay at the Hyatt Regency.

If any of you are interested:
Only one shuttle per day out and return 10am from Grand Hyatt and returning at 2:30pm from the Hyatt Regency.
Just walk up to the main entrance, there's a stall/podium on the right. Tell the person you wish to go to Hua Hin and you are good to go. You pay the driver when he lets you off.