Parking In Town

[poisoner]

Hi everyone,
I have a house about 4-5km out of town & previously hired a scooter to get into town. When I arrive back in March I'll be driving from Bangkok (is this a difficult task for someone who's never driven in Thailand before?), and my main question is, where is the best place to park in town?
Unlike home (UK) there don't seem to be double yellow lines etc & I wondered what the protocol was.
Thanks
Al

[JW]

Driving from Bangkok isnt itself that bad, just actually getting out of the city is the task, the traffic can be brutal, i would try and find someone to drive you out of the city then its just a staright drive down.
Parking is simple, dont park on or nearjunctions where the kerb is red and white the rest is fair game. Apparently you can get a ticket if you park against the flow of traffic. mAybe someone knows if this is the case for sure?

[Guess]

Driving from Bangkok isnt itself that bad, just actually getting out of the city is the task, the traffic can be brutal, i would try and find someone to drive you out of the city then its just a staright drive down.
Parking is simple, dont park on or nearjunctions where the kerb is red and white the rest is fair game. Apparently you can get a ticket if you park against the flow of traffic. mAybe someone knows if this is the case for sure?

Sorry but I have to disagree with this. Traffic is a problem in Bangkok but the worst thing that will happen is that some idiot which scratch the side of you car/truck with his handle bars.

The short road (Highway 35 rather than Highway 4) has to be one of the most treacherous stretches of road in the country. I have seen the most horrendous accidents in the two or three hundred times that I have driven it including a double decapatation. It is, after all, the main road from Bangkok to the south. It is plagued with incompitent bus drivers, manic mini-bus drivers farmers trucks and Heavy Goods Vehicles (who in my opinion are the least dangerous) and complete lunatics with fast vehicles showing off skills that just do not possess.

My advice to anybody who is thinking of driving in Thailand is firstly, do most of your travelling as a passenfger and observe the habits of the Thai drivers and secondly when you do take to the wheel start off in a quiet place away from arterial roads.

If you really must drive to Hua Hin without having had any practice then take Highway 4. It adds about 30KM depending upon where in Bangkok you are starting your journey.

Also a when seeing a car put on the right indicator and move to the right lane it may mean that he is really going to do a swan neck left turn.

As for your original question about parking. Central Hua Hin has many parking problems but when you look around and know the village well you should find an area that is convenient for you. Also there are a few paid for parking places. Paying ten Baht to park a 2 million Baht vehicle puts many people off. Time of day makes a huge difference to availability.

Parking against the flow of traffic is an offense that carries a 400 Baht penalty (even in broad daylight). I have had two so far and both got chucked in the rubbish where the belonged along with many other for not wearing a hat or driving the wrong way down a one way street. The latter two BTW are not to be recommended and it is always sheer laziness on my part. For some reason parking the wrong way in a one way street seems to be OK. My truck spends most of ot's life parked facing the wrong way. Another bit to add to JW's red and white kerb markings is that some road have alternate day parking. I.e. you can park on one side of the road (with the flow of course) and the other side the next day.

The signs are writeen in Thai so that maybe the first Thai writing you should learn.

BTW suddenly stopping and double parking in Petchkasem Road causing motorcyclists to be forced out into a lane used by speeding buses semms to go unpunished as does driving or riding in the middle of the night with no lights and doing.

[poisoner]

Thanks guys, there is some really good information there & it's much appreciated.
I agree about the driving choice i.e. I'd rather not be driving & in a taxi!, the reason is that I've bought a car (small suzuki 4x4) in bkk & need to drive it to my house in HH. Once there I was intending to leave it at the house, I guess the next question would be 'is that the best option?', or am I possibly better off driving back to bkk & parking it at my friends place?, it's a Muay Thai Gym with plenty of parking & no one messes with their stuff!
If I leave it at the house, I have the problem of will it start & more importantly, will it still be there when I return!?
I spend most of my time in the UK working, but I'm in LOS approx every 3-4 Months (business & pleasure). I have an hour Thai conversation lesson every week, but still can't read very well - so the Thai signage was a top tip also.
I didn't realise there were actual Car Parks in town, where abouts could I find a decent one?
I've got an international Driving License, do you guys pay for insurance also?, I understand it's 'optional'.
Thanks again
Al

[Guess]

Thanks guys, there is some really good information there & it's much appreciated.
I agree about the driving choice i.e. I'd rather not be driving & in a taxi!, the reason is that I've bought a car (small suzuki 4x4) in bkk & need to drive it to my house in HH. Once there I was intending to leave it at the house, I guess the next question would be 'is that the best option?', or am I possibly better off driving back to bkk & parking it at my friends place?, it's a Muay Thai Gym with plenty of parking & no one messes with their stuff!
If I leave it at the house, I have the problem of will it start & more importantly, will it still be there when I return!?
I spend most of my time in the UK working, but I'm in LOS approx every 3-4 Months (business & pleasure). I have an hour Thai conversation lesson every week, but still can't read very well - so the Thai signage was a top tip also.
I didn't realise there were actual Car Parks in town, where abouts could I find a decent one?
I've got an international Driving License, do you guys pay for insurance also?, I understand it's 'optional'.
Thanks again
Al

If you have to return to BKK before flying which I presume you must be doing, then definitely leave it at friends, if indeed that is what they are.

They will be able to fire it up in necessary. The best way if possible is to have blocked in somewhere and make sure that you have a set of jump leads. The battery needs to be connected to ensure that you radio code remains intact and possibly your alarm system if you have one. A way I have done this in the past is to connect a trickle chager to the batterey and have it switch for for a few minutes every day. Even when you think that nothing is switched on the battery is wtill being drained. You can leave the charger attached eeven with the hood closed and the vehicle locked.

As for paid for car parks in Hua Hin I am not sure of the deals but there is one in Naresdamri road and another in Sra Song. How secure they are I do not know. There is always hotels of course but at high cost.

Driving Licences and Insurance are not really connected. You must have at least the basic insurance in Thailand for both a Motorcycle and a car. I believe, but may be wrong, that basic insurance is just to cover third party claims. Fully comprehensive insurance is available at about 20,000 Baht per year for a car. It is not available for a bike.

I have heard that if you do not have a licence then the insurance is worthless but again I am not sure. Best way is to get one anyway. It is very easy in Hua Hin.

[poisoner]

Thanks for the follow up post Guess, much appreciated
Al