Travel around in thailand...

Post by **Morten** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:32 pm

Hi there,

Me and my girlfriend (me from denmark her from thailand) are planning to travel a littlebit around in thailand in my holiday in april, she want to see pattaya and i want to se chiang mai so our route is hua hin - pattaya - chaing mail - hua hin.

But what is the most comfortable way to travel, i was thinking we would take the bus from hua hin to pattaya she say it takes about 3 - 4 hours but i dont think she know for sure, but when we go from pattaya - chiang mai it is what 800 - 1000 km, i want to take some stops on the way to chiang mai to see..... whatever there is to see (some suggestions) but how do we travel from pattaya - chiang mai what are the costs for this trip (huahin - pattaya - chiang mai - hua hin ?)

thanks in advance for the help `!!

Post by **PeteC** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 7:51 pm

This is just a starter but, I think you forgot Bangkok to Hua Hin? You have to add that into the equation both coming and going. Except...there are international flights that arrive directly in Chiang Mai from overseas i.e from Tokyo, Taipei and other Asian gateways. If you book one of those, the trip seems much easier, Chiang Mai/Pattaya/Hua Hin...then probably Bangkok and home.

If all that fails, it depends upon how much you want to spend. If you want to make stops all over and can afford it, maybe rent a car and driver for the entire stay (assume 2 weeks) from an agency in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. I think it will cost you the better part of USD 1,000.00 or equiv for 2 weeks. If too much, the itinerary gets complicated. Up to you depending upon your budget.

What to see in between the north and south? Many historical sites. Sukothai, Lopburi, Ayyudya...on and on. Before you embark you really need to do some web searches concerning Thai locations/history and see what tickles your fancy. Over to the other guys/gals for more advice. Pete

Post by **Jaime** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:10 pm

Not so long go I spent about 9 hours on a bus travelling from Chiang Mai to Phitsanulok, which does not look so far on a map but it was gruelling. Especially the seemingly short stretch between Chiang Mai and Lampang, which seemed to take forever as it twisted round innumerable snaking bends. The journey I took is slightly less than half the distance between Bangkok and Chiang Mai so I don't recommend attempting Pattaya-Bangkok-Chiang Mai by bus unless you break the journey up into lots of smaller sections, especially once you get into the mountains. Your Thai gf will take an 18 hour bus ride in her stride but for a westerner it is a dispiriting ball breaker.

Post by **Morten** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:24 pm

Hi and thanks for your answers so far,

I dont write anything about bangkok to hua hin because my girlfrind will come in the airport and take me back to hua hin (she have friend who is more then happy to drive his car huahin - bangkok - huahin for 2000 baht) where we will spend 14 days while she work, when her boss will give her 14 days off we will go see some of thailand.

but as i can read out of the two answers, bus from hua hin to pattaya is okay, but airplane from pattaya - chiang mai is to prefer,

Post by **Jaime** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:28 pm

PS :- Before my 9 hour Chiang Mai to Phitsanulok bus trip on slippery plastic seats my then gf told me that the trip would take 3 or 4 hours. She also failed to tell me that there was no connecting bus service between Phitsanulok and our final destination - Khamphaeng Phet (she was actually not thinking that far ahead) so after waiting for a couple of hours in the early hours of the morning I then endured a 3 hour cross-country songthaew ride. After that was a half hour ride in pitch blackness on the back of a moped (with my large suitcase) along rutted tracks to the parents' house.

I now realise that my gf had no concept of the distances or time required to travel between them as she had never travelled that way before. She just told me what she thought I wanted to hear.

Now I know better!

In addition to flying to Chiang Mai there is also a night train that runs between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It takes about 18 hours but has a sleeping car, which could be quite a civilised way of getting to Chiang Mai from Bangkok. Ask at the main Hualamphong station.

Post by **PeteC** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:00 pm

Morten wrote: but airplane from pattaya - chiang mai is to prefer,

I don't think that can be done unless Bangkok Air, Nok Air or some others have started a route. Pattaya does not have an airport. The closest is U-Tapao, about a 45 minute drive from Pattaya. I think you will need to go back to Bangkok to get a flight to Chiang Mai. Pete

PS: My advice to save you headaches....just tell your girlfriend to arrange everyhting BUT.....clear the costs with you first. She is Thai and she knows how to get from here to there.

PPS: Except in Jaime's case....LOL

Post by **Norseman** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:46 pm

My advise would be; Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Bangkok by plane.
If you want to see Hua Hin and Pattaya you go by bus, car or taxi from Bangkok.

Phitsanulok is located halfway between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It is one of the oldest towns in Thailand and appx 380 km from bangkok..
This is a very interesting part of Thailand as prcscct points out with Sukhothai, Lopburi, and many other places, especially if you are interested in history. These places can be reached with bus or train from Phitsanulok.
From Bangkok it takes about 5 - 6 hours by car to Phitsanulok as I remember.
You have to do some research to find out more about sentral Thailand, otherwise it's no point to go there. (My opinion).
Sukhothai is the original capital of Thailand, founded in 1238 and the first independent kingdom in Thailand.
(Start of the end for the Khmer domination)

End of history lesson.

Post by **Jaime** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:59 pm

prcscct wrote:PS: My advice to save you headaches....just tell your girlfriend to arrange everyhting BUT.....clear the costs with you first. She is Thai and she knows how to get from here to there.

She may know how but does she know how long!?

Personally, I double whatever I am told on how long it takes to do anything in Thailand!

Post by **PeteC** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:33 pm

Jaime wrote: Personally, I doubt whatever I am told on how long it takes to do anything in Thailand!

Jaime, the longer it takes, the happier she is. Thai 101.

Pete

Post by **HansMartin** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 3:13 am

We flew from BKK to Chaing Mai, and took the train back (Exprress). It took about 12 hours I think, but the scenery was wonderful.

Then, of course, there are the in-laws pickup trucks. New king or club cabs are great--but then there are the others!!! We went from BKK to Mai Sot in about 12 hours, including the mandatory noodle soup stops.