Khon Kaen to Hua Hin

Post by **richard** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:42 pm

Hi

As many of you know I now live in the sticks but need a break now and again down in HH

Ive normally got there by flying but recently noticed large air conditioned coaches going through our village

With the credit crunch biting Ive now got to look at cheaper options

Anybody any experience and know of links to timetables (haha) etc

Post by **STEVE G** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:12 pm

I believe there are now two buses a day direct from Khorat to the new bus station near Market Village so I suppose you can get a reasonable bus from KK to Khorat.
We live SE of Khorat so I've never been up your way by bus, but they seem to have good services around most of Issan.

Post by **barrys** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:42 pm

Hi Richard

I can confirm what Steve G says - KK to Korat and then direct to HH - the most difficult bit is probably getting from Kranuan to Khon Kaen

Post by **chelsea** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:14 am

Richard
I do not know whether it is the same bus, but there is a VIP bus with 32 seats only that goes from Hua Hin to Chiang Mai. The cost from Hua Hin to Chiang Mai is just under 800baht one way.
That particular bus is run by Sombat Tours and from what I have heard is a very comfortable ride. Bus had DVD's and regular stops along the way.

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:28 am

There are two bus stations in Korat, the smaller one is the old one and is close to the Yamo monument in the center. The one you want to be delivered to is the other one, newer and bigger, which is called "Bus station 2" by the locals or "Bor cor sor song" in Thai should get you to the right place.

This is the one that you'll probably be taken to automatically anyhow from Khon Kaen but if, by some chance, you end up at a small bus station then you are at the wrong one. Take a tuk-tuk ride to the other.

Steve G is right about there being buses everyday to Hua Hin. As you enter the bigger bus station then you need to go to the left hand side of the station, that's where the buses to HH/Pattaya/Rayong/Bangkok etc are in a long strip running up the left hand side of the station grounds. Going further into Isaan in generally at the front of the station.

Post by **caller** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:28 am

Its worth reserving a seat in advance as well, otherwise you might end up sitting on a red plastic stool in the aisle for a large part of the journey!

Post by **chopsticks** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:37 am

It's a good service worth paying a premium for as the drivers are checked, insurance is included, modern fleet and avoids having to change buses in Bangkok so quicker.
They run 2 separate routes from Hua Hin to Korat and Chiang Mai.
Seats are comfortable and can be pre-booked and selected.

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 1:15 pm

chopsticks wrote:It's a good service worth paying a premium for as the drivers are checked, insurance is included, modern fleet and avoids having to change buses in Bangkok so quicker.
They run 2 separate routes from Hua Hin to Korat and Chiang Mai.
Seats are comfortable and can be pre-booked and selected.

and some typically loud music just to make sure you don't fall asleep and miss any part of your journey.

Post by **STEVE G** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:40 pm

I've used buses from time to time and they're worth looking into as some of them now are surprisingly good.
There is one company that I've seen coming through Issan now that offers a VIP type service with some very modern and comfortable looking vehicles.
Obviously there are many others that you wouldn't touch with a barge-pole!

Spitfire · Post by **Spitfire** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:35 pm

As a general rule of thumb then I'd say that the blue and white ones are OK/standard and it's not too unbearable. Stay away from the orange and white ones, think they are usually the ones that stop every few kilometers to pick up all and sundry wherever they are and it take hours to get anywhere. The orange and white ones are the local's cheap service and the ones STEVE G is talking about not touching with the barge pole.

As others have said there are decent VIP buses in most places/routes that you book a seat but will probably find that they only go once a day and you need to find out the schedule of that particular service.

Post by **chopsticks** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:58 pm

That's correct, but beware that some of those smart looking double-deckers have only had an exterior impressive looking paint job. Inside some are still a disappointment.
The Chiang Mai and Korat routes used to run about twice daily and time tables were freely available at the terminus and booking office past Market Village.

Post by **chopsticks** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 5:00 pm

Paint job cover up applies to the single - deckers as well

Post by **Big Boy** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:47 am

spitfire wrote:

Stay away from the orange and white ones, think they are usually the ones that stop every few kilometers to pick up all and sundry wherever they are and it take hours to get anywhere.

If you've got time to spare, it's worth doing it just once for the experience. An interesting way to travel - however, don't tend to sit too near the back because that tends to be where the livestock (chickens, mudfish etc) gets put.

It's one of those things you've just got to try before you die

Post by **Big Boy** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:50 am

chopsticks wrote:

those smart looking double-deckers

Haven't I read somewhere about a stability problem with some of the double deckers?

Post by **chopsticks** » Wed Jul 01, 2009 3:39 am

Maybe having most of the seats on the top deck and allowing hostess
and passengers to walk around while tight corners and bends are taken at some speed doesn't help too much.