VIP bus to Isaan

[4niceight 32]

I will have to do a visa run before my first 90 days expires in 7 weeks, and as I have never been to Isaan, I was thinking of taking a VIP air conditioned bus to Khon Kaen, spending a few nights there, on to Udon for a few nights, then making my way to the border at Nong Khai. I have asked and asked many people, farang and Thai, and cannot get a definitive answer. I have also e-mailed Nakornchai Air and received no reply(I expected that). The nearest advice I've got so far is to make my way to a petrol station on Sukhumvit near to Pattaya Klang, but some threads say turn left at Suk and some say turn right, making me even more confused. Can anyone tell me where to get a ticket, where to board the bus, and what is the cost to get from Pattaya to Khon Kaen. I would prefer to travel by day so that I can see scenery and life, and a VIP air-con'd bus is essential. Any other tips/advice welcome.

[thegrogmonster 102]

I am not a fan of long distance bus travel so here are another couple of options.

 

I have checked on the Air Asia website and it would cost you about 2000 baht for a return to Bangkok to Udon Thani for travel in around 7 weeks time.

 

http://www.airasia.com/site/en/home.jsp

 

I am one of these sad people that prefer train travel and have caught the train from Pattaya to Bangkok and then the overnighter from Bangkok to Udon Thani. The same train continues to Nong Khai. The cost for a return ticket will cost about 1100 baht first sleeper and half that for a second class sleeper. We used the second class sleepers and they were fine

 

http://www.railway.co.th/English/index.asp

Edited July 28, 2007 by thegrogmonster

[4niceight 32]

Thanks to The grogmonster but I don't want alternatives. I REALLY want to go by bus and to see the country. I'm trying to do my homework in plenty of time, so, please, guys, no alternatives.

[MM 6,562]

I'd go to the main bus station on Pattaya North (Nua), get a ticket to Mo Chit bus terminal in Bangkok, then when there, buy a VIP bus ticket to wherever you want to go in Issan.

As I recall, that station on Sukh. is for the milk run busses that stop in every village and at every intersection. The busses going from the Pattaya North bus station are express to Mo Chit or Ekamai stations.

[ericg1953 1]

You can get a VIP bus from the petrol station on Sukhumvit that is near the Pattaya Klang intersection. You

MUST buy the ticket 1 day in advance to get the VIP bus...cost is about 415 baht and it will take you to Khon Kaen.....Udon Than about 500 baht. That is the info from my thai girl who just got back...she says this bus goes also to Korat....

[Emil 0]

My TGF told me you can get a VIP bus to Korat at the bus terminal on 3rd Rd just north of Pattayaklang. Korat is susposed to have one of the larger bus terminals in Issan so I would guess that you could get another bus there to your next destination.

[MM 6,562]

You can get a VIP bus from the petrol station on Sukhumvit that is near the Pattaya Klang intersection. You

MUST buy the ticket 1 day in advance to get the VIP bus...cost is about 415 baht and it will take you to Khon Kaen.....Udon Than about 500 baht. That is the info from my thai girl who just got back...she says this bus goes also to Korat....

 

 

My TGF told me you can get a VIP bus to Korat at the bus terminal on 3rd Rd just north of Pattayaklang. Korat is susposed to have one of the larger bus terminals in Issan so I would guess that you could get another bus there to your next destination.

 

Great information. Thanks. I've been doing the BKK, Mo Chit, Ubon run, but if you can get a direct VIP to Issan, that's great news.

[jacko 8,775]

Nakhonchai Air buses leave from their own station to go to Ubon via Korat. You can go to Korat and from there many buses go to Khon Kaen. VIP busses leave Pattaya at about 5am, 08.15, 10.00am and 10.30am, I say 'about' because I have a timetable from Rayong where they originate and guess 2 hours from there to funtown. (Edit in...sorry, I appear to have fucked up the times, my old timetable is in Thai and I am stupid....well done Tahoe Bill....good link.....I do know a class 1 bus leaves at 07.45 as I put my TGF on it yesterday.....YIPEEE....off to Lolitas now )You would need to go to the bus station to reserve, (computerized), and buy the ticket (again I guess around 450 baht+). If you come from Pattaya Klang and turn right onto Sukhumvit (towards Rayong/Sattahip), the bus station is on your left after 50m, near the 7-11.

 

If you don't want to reserve, get the bus from Pattaya North Rd bus-station, (NOT VIP..plebs only ) to Moechit, Bangkok. From there buses to KK are pretty frequent, probably hourly, although not sure what portion are VIP class.

Edited July 30, 2007 by jacko

[Tahoe_Bill 0]

Nakhonchai Air (NCA) Pattaya Bus Station is located on the southbound side of Sukhumvit Road (30/7 Moo 9), one block south of the junction with Central Pattaya Road. Phone # 038424841.

 

As indicated above Routing is Pattaya to Korat, with a bus change for Korat to Khon Kaen (KKC).

 

Both busses VIP to include Thai snacks, beverages and electronic seat massage.

 

Fare Pattaya to Korat 405 baht.

Fare Korat to KKC 176 baht

 

Busses leave Pattaya for Korat @ 17:15, 18:15, 20:15, 20:30, and 20:45.

 

Schedule and fares from NCA URL http://www.nca.co.th/web/timetable/timetable.php

 

 

As stated Pattana bus 407 (Rayong - Nong Khai) departs from (Petronas or PTT?) gas station just north of Central Road on Suk. Rd.

 

Daytime and overnight busses. Bus 407 usually makes numerous stops between major cities for roadside passenger pickup and drop-offs.

 

Since Jungle Girl doesn’t want to change busses in Korat in the middle of the night we take bus 407. Pattana 407 have at least 1 daily double decker VIP bus which isn’t quite as nice as the NCA VIP bus.

 

 

FYI you can get your Loa Visa at the Lao Consulate on Prachasamosan Rd. in Khon Kaen. Standard 2 day service or for a 200 baht surcharge; expedited service (usually 5 - 10 minute wait for Visa).

 

This will allow you to take the Lao-Thai International Bus all the way into Lao (boarder or on to Vientiane) cost 80 baht from Udon or 55 baht from Nong Khai.

 

 

PM me if you need more info.

 

Bill

 

PS: as of next week Air Asia will resume service BKK- KKC @ 1442 baht r/t including tax.

[torrenova 644]

The VIP buses from NCA are like mini business class seats which recline to about 150 degrees. The TV is crap, all Thai rubbish but it is off after an hour or so. I used to go to Korat before I got the truck. Not too bad and bloody cheap.

[Emil 0]

Great information. Thanks. I've been doing the BKK, Mo Chit, Ubon run, but if you can get a direct VIP to Issan, that's great news.

 

Martin,

 

This isn't a very larget bus terminal, in fact if you blink you'll miss the place. Once you turn onto 3rd Rd from Pattayaklang heading north, the place will be on your left. It is basically a shop house and the busses will park out front on 3rd Rd when they are dropping off or picking up.

[torrenova 644]

Having used the NCA buses and the VIP buses from Korat to the village, I can honestly say I would not use a regular bus, even aircon, for that journey.

 

NCA is Bt415 one way. I don't care if the other buses are free they are still too expensive in comparison.

[PerpetualTroll 0]

The regular bus leaves the filling station on the East side of Sukhumvit near Pattaya Klang direct to Nong Khai every night at 6:00 600 baht.

 

No changes - direct. buy your ticket at the window.

[jacko 8,775]

I'd just like to add that the Nakhonchai Air website listed above should be taken with a pinch of salt. I used the timetable, but when I went to the bus station to book the tickets, neither the times of departure, nor the bus frequency were correct. The question as to why the website was giving out incorrect information resulted in the well known, oriental, blank faced, open mouthed, shrug!

[torrenova 644]

The NCA buses run overnight which is a right pain in the arse but then it is too hot in the daytime.

[jacko 8,775]

The NCA buses run overnight which is a right pain in the arse but then it is too hot in the daytime.

Well the VIPs to Chiangmai and Mai Sai do... I don't mind as they probably avoid a bit of traffic too. My TGF always catches a daytime one to Korat though (aircon 1 class)... 7.45am departure and arriving about 2pm. My trip next month to Phitsanalouk will arrive at about midnight.

[cecco 0]

I will have to do a visa run before my first 90 days expires in 7 weeks, and as I have never been to Isaan, I was thinking of taking a VIP air conditioned bus to Khon Kaen, spending a few nights there, on to Udon for a few nights, then making my way to the border at Nong Khai. I have asked and asked many people, farang and Thai, and cannot get a definitive answer. I have also e-mailed Nakornchai Air and received no reply(I expected that). The nearest advice I've got so far is to make my way to a petrol station on Sukhumvit near to Pattaya Klang, but some threads say turn left at Suk and some say turn right, making me even more confused. Can anyone tell me where to get a ticket, where to board the bus, and what is the cost to get from Pattaya to Khon Kaen. I would prefer to travel by day so that I can see scenery and life, and a VIP air-con'd bus is essential. Any other tips/advice welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

If u r going to Udon and have not been there before I recommend you stay at one of two places:

 

 

 

a) silver reef hotel by the bus station www.silverreefudon.com

 

 

 

you can walk to from either the train station or the bus station, it is located behind the bus station. if u take a bus, just turn around and stay there. the owner and his wife are there, his name is tony (singaporean) and is wife

 

Tiffany

 

is thai chinese sing canadian. She speaks english, thai, and everything else. Tony speaks only english.

 

 

 

Udon Thai House (Thomas Guest House) which is by big C and a little out of town. UTH is very nice. http://www.udonthaihouse.com/ (the owner, Thomas, a German, will pick u up for free)

 

 

 

As far as transportation:

 

 

 

Take the local bus here to the Savarnabumi airport bus terminal for 107 baht. Take a train to bkk, or a bus to Khon Kaen.

 

 

 

In Khon Kaen, stay at biggie biggoe, it is 500 baht a night if u stay 3 nights u get a discount, if u ask. they don't speak english. It is right on the lake, and very nice and quiet. It is the opposite end as the congested town.

 

 

 

From KK, take a train to udon thani and then to nong kai.

 

 

 

You should enjoy this more.

 

 

 

I will post where u want to go in nong kai for you (a photo) .. also, when u get off of the train in Udon there are some good buffets along the main road by the night market (preecha market).

 

 

 

this sala keo kou is a definite must see in nong kai. it will knock your socks off.

 

 

 

ok, here are two fotos for u.

 

 

 

 

 

Also, if u choose to NOT go that direction, try going to Ubon Ratchathanee. If u go there, stay at "WRONGWAY Cafe"

 

086-868-6661 (ting, she speaks english. her husband is richard, he is n. american something)

 

 

 

If you go here to Ubon for your visa, do NOT miss a bar called "Country Club" . it will knock your socks off.

 

 

 

At Wrong Way you will be totally connected to everything and everybody. It costs 350 baht a night and is quite nice. They will connect u up with a tour guide whose english is great too.

 

 

 

 

 

Take the train to Ubon too. If u go to Ubon, Take a bus trip to Khemmerat, which is bus only and arduous, but very beautiful.

 

 

 

there are no hotels in the city. but i did find a decent one on the river, can't remember the name though. NOBODY speaks english, except you. They don't speak thai either.

 

 

 

Khemmerat will be an adventure.

 

oh, i forgot .. u can take a train to udon too.

 

take trains, they r nice. second class is good. but generally have to be reserved days in advance. both Udon Thai House and Silver reef have wireless internet for free, and u can of course pay if u don't have your lap top.

 

Oh, one more thing, if u r into clothes, go to Baan Nga Kaa, about 20 miles from Udon Thani, and there u can get some really marvelous silks and cottons which are hand made. Unlike most of thailand the silks are very bright and vibrant colors. Tailor made clothes are better quality than my chiang mai tailors .. and I can't even find a decent tailor in Pattaya.

 

Hope this helps.

 

u can copy this sala keu kao foot name i posted so u can go here. really, don't miss this one, this is terrific. I think it was free admission too.

 

Oh, and the museum ... at sala keu kao, don't miss that after u walk the grounds. plan on spending an entire day. The museum has the ancient drums of the nongkai and vientiene kingdom when united, thailand has 2, and laos has 1. also u can see the ancient tusks of the war elephants and gawk at how enormous these ancient elephants were.

 

 

okay, hope this helps your planning. the statue is also sala keo kou, so u have an idea why i am sending u there.

Edited August 25, 2007 by cecco

[4niceight 32]

Cecco...Thanks for that info, although it came a bit too late. I decided that 8 hours on the bus to Khon Kaen was going to be a drag, and the buses were generally night sevices. I then decided to take the train to Udon but was told that there were only two seats left on the two dates I gave them, and they were on the night service too. So I finally booked a flight with Air Asia to Udon for 1656 baht return. I will be staying at Silver Reef for 2 nights, as this was recommended to me by a friend who stayed there long term last year. I'm then going to stay 1 night in Vientiane at the Mali Namphu hotel. Thanks to all BMs who've contributed. It's not the itinerary I ideally and originally wanted, but I'm sure that the advice, recommendations and info I've received from you guys will have stood me in good stead.