Best Route to Bumrungrad?

[Ratsima]

My wife and I hold an unbroken 19 year record of never having driven in Bangkok and not gotten lost at least once. At times we have made the same mistake two or three times in a row.

On our way back to Korat this Saturday we need to stop at Bumrungrad. Is this really the best way to go? The last bit in the lower screenshot with the weird U-Turn and convoluted routing has been especially troublesome for us in the past. We’ve never done it right.

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[404cameljockey]

The u-turn is in a tiny soi off a signposted sliproad, the tiny soi goes back under the main road. Stay right once on the sliproad, It's the correct way. Follow Google maps.

[Ratsima]

We do try to follow Google, but sometimes it’s hard. Last time we made the u-turn, but couldn’t get into the right lane of Phetchaburi quickly enough to make the right turn onto Suk Soi 3. We ended up driving all over the place as Google kept recalculating the route.

Another time we mistakenly got off the Don Mueang Tollway. Google thought we were still on the elevated road, not on the surface streets. We ended up parking the car and walking around until we found a human who was able to explain what to do.

Last time we drove from Bumrungrad to Cha Am we missed the turn to get off of Rama 3 and ended up going way out of our way.

For us, it seems much easier said than done.

[Big Boy]

Another time we mistakenly got off the Don Mueang Tollway. Google thought we were still on the elevated road, not on the surface streets. We ended up parking the car and walking around until we found a human who was able to explain what to do.

That is a similar to the problem I've experienced a few times. Google Maps thinking I'm on a different level. I thought it was just me, but others obviously experience the same problems with the Don Mueang Tollway. I sympathise.

[404cameljockey]

So you do know about the u-turn!

Defensive driving won't get you across that four or five lane stretch, I agree, I've done it many times over 15 months of my late wife's treatment and didn't have a problem, a bit of bullying is sometimes necessary. Open your window and use hand signals too if you find that hard. Some people use the lane second from right to turn right also, although it's not correct it's sometimes necessary.

If you really can't do that just follow that road further over the lights until you reach a u-turn, the next set of lights or maybe before I think I remember, but anyway it's not far, but often a queue there.

[Ratsima]

I think one of the main problems is that we’re just not aggressive enough. We end up missing turns because we’re not up to dealing with the Me First/Me Only Bangkok driving style. No room for nice on the mean streets of The Big Mango.

I believe we’ve decided to just drive home to Korat and I’ll do my doctor visit next week by bus. Much less stressful than trying to drive.

However, thanks for the encouragement.

[STEVE G]

^When I was living in Jakarta, which had traffic even worst than Bangkok, it was quite normal in situations like that to pull over, flag down a taxi and pay them to lead you to where you wanted to go.

[Ratsima]

[caller]

You can get to the hospital by driving up Sukkumvit soi 1 alley. So if you U-turn in the usual place, then head back towards the Sukhumvit exit, you do a left, and then almost immediately another left into soi1.

[Ratsima]

How do we get on Sukhumvit?

[VincentD]

I'd just stop and park at a shopping center that you're familiar with, take a taxi to and from Bamrungrad, and lessen the stress. I live in Bangkok, and that is one of the places I refuse to drive to. I typically take the train, but it does get crowded, so taxi would be the best option. It would save you a seperate trip.

[caller]

How do we get on Sukhumvit?

Do the U turn as per your map, then head back the way you came. You will see an exit to the left for, and signposted to, 'Sukhumvit'. As a bonus you can see the hospital on your left. Exit left into Sukhumvit, then as per your map again, take the first left - Soi1 alley - which takes you to the hospital.

[caller]

I'd just stop and park at a shopping center that you're familiar with, take a taxi to and from Bamrungrad, and lessen the stress. I live in Bangkok, and that is one of the places I refuse to drive to. I typically take the train, but it does get crowded, so taxi would be the best option. It would save you a seperate trip.

Or if the shopping mall is on BTS - Gateway at Ekkamai, the three Mall group malls at Phrom Phong, for example, take the train to Nana and either walk, or catch the free shittle bus to the hospital, which travels up soi1.

[caller]

I'd just stop and park at a shopping center that you're familiar with, take a taxi to and from Bamrungrad, and lessen the stress. I live in Bangkok, and that is one of the places I refuse to drive to. I typically take the train, but it does get crowded, so taxi would be the best option. It would save you a seperate trip.

Or if the shopping mall is on BTS - Gateway at Ekkamai, the three Mall group malls at Phrom Phong, for example, take the train to Nana and either walk, or catch the free shuttle bus to the hospital, which travels up soi1.

[Ratsima]

How do we get on Sukhumvit?

Do the U turn as per your map, then head back the way you came. You will see an exit to the left for, and signposted to, 'Sukhumvit'. As a bonus you can see the hospital on your left. Exit left into Sukhumvit, then as per your map again, take the first left - Soi1 alley - which takes you to the hospital.

Ah. That's very clear and seems a lot easier than Google's circuitous path.