Bus, train from BKK to Udonthani.

Post by **beer monkey** » January 15, 2006, 7:36 pm

Prenders88, Was that snorers and fathers ?
Must agree take the train for the experiance if you've never done it before , never done udon on train, only bkk surat-thani 12years ago. once its been done stick to flying or my favourite driving. You get to see so much more.

Personally i would avoid the tour bus's as i have seen to much carnage on the roads involving these big blue and white machines plus they seem to think they are the only vehicles using the road i gave up using them 13 years ago.

Post by **yorkman** » January 15, 2006, 11:03 pm

Your favourite is driving?? Having driven from BKK and points south on many occasions, heck, I'd rather fly!! Once you get north of Korat it all looks the same anyway IMHO and is a very tedious experience.

John

Post by **BangkokButcher** » January 16, 2006, 2:28 am

I would have to say that yes, it is a tedious journey, but it's still an adventure for those that havent made it too many times.

Post by **yorkman** » January 16, 2006, 3:01 am

Adventure??? Picture this... She needs to stop every 1:30 for a loo stop, and every 2 hours cos hungry (they do not coincide) . I try 140 kph or more to make it less than a bum aching 7 hour experience dodging buses, pickups in the outside lane doing 50 kph, and get nagged to slow down!!

Its dark...rain occasionally.......the kids thankfully are snoring in the back of the car unless the little one demands a 49 minute (non coinciding) loo stop and is hungry.

I may get food.....a cold egg and some rice somewhere in the services near Korat. Which, incidentally, has needed some Immodium treatment more than once the next day.

She offers to drive for a while (bless) ....but I know it will be 80 kph (hence 10 hours) and I cannot sleep in the car because of the constant complaints about how bad "other" thai drivers are and she has dodgy nightime eyesight.

Its worth every baht to go by air IMHO...cut your losses and shell out!

John

Post by **Stevo** » January 16, 2006, 3:30 am

yorkman wrote:
Its worth every baht to go by air IMHO...cut your losses and shell out!

John

Cut your losses?? I reckon the fuel cost of driving around 1500 baht each way...
makes the flight a positive bargain in my book.

Post by **Prenders88** » January 16, 2006, 3:40 am

We went on the train a few years ago to take our daughter and neice for a few days in Krueng Thep to see the sights, shopping. I always to do a long train trip in Thailand, the worlds longest narrow gauge network. Lots to take in, the footstalls on the platform, the clean bright stations along the way, with wonderful hanging baskets and pots filled with colour. The staff with the smart uniforms. Compare with the staff in the UK who all look like sacks of potatoes, or extras from Captain Scarlett. I've done the bus once, not for the faint hearted arse killer seats, no legroom a real pain for me as I'm 6'5". Try taking a dump on the bus karsi!!! Only use the "International bus" to Laos now. Those stories you see in the press from time to time, showing graphic pictures of bus crashes don't help.

Tony

Post by **yorkman** » January 16, 2006, 3:55 am

Stevo wrote:
yorkman wrote:
Its worth every baht to go by air IMHO...cut your losses and shell out!

John

Cut your losses?? I reckon the fuel cost of driving around 1500 baht each way...
makes the flight a positive bargain in my book.

Errr yes.. but this is 4 flight tickets not just 1. But still, agreed, I am getting older fast enough already..... a bargain

John

Post by **beer monkey** » January 16, 2006, 3:59 am

Indeed the Loo stops are annoying, all the trucks,oil tankers,bus's, and carts that i managed to get by successfully all get back infront of me, so i start the process all over again, and again........
yes it all looks the same after korat but you can stick your right foot down a bit, till the next loo/food stop or capture by the boys in brown, but still enjoy driving in thailand and i do shell out as i hire a car when i am there. And i like the freedom to go where and when i want . But i fell asleep once driving back from chiang mai via Tak to udon virtually non stop a very near miss

Never again, night driving after a long day is madness, we all know flying is better cheaper and safer. and they have loo's.

Post by **Stevo** » January 16, 2006, 4:42 am

easydude wrote:I want to know where I can catch a bus or train from BKK to Udon. Either from the airport or from Nana plaza area. Price and scheduals would be great. Is there a web site for the schedual? I was going to fly but that 300 bhat fuel surcharge is just wrong. The fligth was 900 baht one way. 50 baht, tax, 50 airport fee, and 300 baht fuel charge, plus other fees total price was over 1400 bhat. Now I have the money but that is just wrong. Thanks easydude

hmmm... sounds like 1 to me John

I may have lost the plot here somewhere

Post by **lee** » January 16, 2006, 10:57 am

Flying is still cheap, even with all the extra's added it's good value. I've just booked a ticket to Bangkok 1,250 one way. Before all the budget airlines came along it cost 1,900 to fly with Thai Airways.

IMHO flying is the easiest and most comfortable way of traveling. I'd sooner choose to fly than being cramped on a bus for 9 hours or on a train for 12 hours.

Bus, train from BKK to Udonthani.

Re: Bus, train from BKK to Udonthani.