UbonTaz

The best car rental place in Ubon is Chao Wattana. They have a shop and also a booth at the airport. You can rent a car with or without driver. They also have a taxi/limo service to take you from point A to point B for a set fee. You can also rent for partial day. ph (045)243443 or (045)241-906

Nice write up. Similar to my experience there for a night. Nice feeling to stay in a new hotel with, as of yet, few guest. It will be interesting to watch as their occupancy rate increases. It is definitely a great and welcome addition to the list of Ubon hotels and accommodation.

The bath/shower set up is better than in my house. The superior and jr suites have separate but costs more.

The City Mall beside the hotel is suppose to open its supermarket Feb 7 which is already a postponed date.

They are suppose to offer a buffet breakfast but I am sure it is driven by how many guests are staying there.

If you live here in Ubon and want the Bangkok Post everyday you can get it delivered to your house. It cost around 700TB per month. Keep an eye out for the delivery person in your neighborhood who should be riding a motorcycle with saddle bags full of newspapers. That is the best way to guarantee you will get it daily.

You might check around the market or the train station for a newstand that carries the post.

Ubon International Hotel (formerly Nevada Grand) might have the best location in Ubon. If you want western food you will find it all in the complex. Chesters Grill, S&P Bakery, Black Canyon and Starbucks. For entertainment there is The Rock Disco, Karaoke, Theater, DNA Pub, Friends Bar (formerly Zodiac Pub but now only DJ). Tommy has left UI and returned to Pataya.

IMHO the published room rates are not justified. For that rate you would be better offer going to Sunee Grand hotel http://www.suneegrandhotel.com and get a new superior room for 1500TB. However at the UI website the English gives one rate but if you look at the Thai version of rates page, at the bottom in Thai the red print states, "40% discount if book in advance except during high season. If you want to be in the action and conveniet to certain places it is good.

A lot has been invested in the complex, however the hotel itself needs some maintenance, upgrading and even rennovation.

Nescafe on the corner of Srinarong and Ratchawong offers western style breakfast but no cereal. The same with Dao Coffee on Chongkonnithen Rd.

I have made an effort to promote Ubon in a small way. My website and blog, even with their shortcomings, have been helpful to many farang tourists and visitors coming to Ubon. They have been kind enough to send an email or make comments on the blog.

TAT has never acknowledged at all. I have been there and the help was just giving a brochure and asked to sign the guestbook. My feeling is there is limited promotion except during Candle Festival in July.

There is a lot of potential here for tourism and I seldom see it exploited. It takes an effort to promote to foreigners and much easier to get tour groups, conventions, seminars and workshops to fill the hotels. I see a "here it is" marketing approach much like the dangerous buses people ride on in Thailand.

Huai Wong Nang is a spot in town with a lot of potential. A large reservoir surrounded by restaurants, resorts and houses. It is hard to get there if you don't have transportation though. A songtaew passes by the southern end but none circle the pond.

There are many places in Ubon to get a decent breakfast. Not all are true western style breakfast but similar ingredients and taste. Kai Grata, a fried egg, served in the pan its cooked in and comes with sausage and bread rolls is quite good.

Nescafe restaurant on the corner of Sinarong and Ratchawong Rds is a good and popular place for breakfast. You can get Kai Grata and some western style. It is 1 block east of the main post office.

Dao Coffee also has a decent breakfast selection. They are on Chongkonnithan Rd 2 blocks south of Natsiri Mansion. Line 8 passes by this coffee shop.

Somchai serves a Kai Grata set and can have with Bolan coffee for 50TB. It comes with a small glass of orange juice as well. It is on Phadaeng Rd across from a court and is one block south of Wrong Way Cafe on the opposite side before you reach Tung Sri Muang.

Phadaeng Mansion, across from Wrong Way and about 50 meters south toward the park is 400TB per night for queen size bed and 500TB per night for king size bed. The rooms are small but clean and have air-con, TV with VCR and hot water. A good alternative for the rooms behind Wrong Way.

There are many places that offer western food, Nana, S&P, Black Canyon, Risotto, several Japanese places, Wrong Way, N-Joy, Smile, the restaurant at the new Sunee Grand Hotel, many places offer steaks and you can even get some French cuisine at Tohsang City Hotel restaurant.

Here in Ubon city the meter reader comes around monthly, if we aren't home or don't respond to his horn honk he leaves the bill in a little container made for it. We can pay him, go to the main office or pay at Seven11 and a few other places.

It might be some policy that they won't leave it if you are not home because bills disappear. I have heard that there isn't much grace if not paid on time but it is only hearsay. Why not talk to the electric company when you are in town to get the policy from the horses mouth.

I am not sure how UK works but I left my pension going to US bank and it has worked out fine. It helps to have that bank when need to pay something or order something from US. Also I can schedule withdrawal for best exchange rate. I know I wouldn't want all my funds changed to TB when receive. This has worked out for me. Use a local bank to deposit funds here.

There is one I am sure of, if you ride on Highway 217, after you enter Phibun you will come to a T intersection. Turn left and cycle across the bridge. As you cross the bridge you can look to your right on the far side of the river and see the hotel. When you get across keep to the right which should be Highway 2222 heading east. The hotel is less than 1km from there. I am not sure what the room rate is for a night.

There is another one in town before you cross the river. I think if you head west, left, before the bridge it is between there and the market/bus station.

Hope this helps.

English language bookstores are rather scare. What I am doing here in Ubon is ordering books via the web for home delivery from kinokuniya.com and asiabooks.com . If I really want a book and not available I also order from amazon. I have had good service from kinokuniya.com I place an order, they send an invoice via email, I transfer funds, fax copy of ATM receipt with acct info blacked out, they usually send out that night and I get books delivered to my door the next morning. I have been very happy with their service.

Ken,

If you are still looking I will keep my eyes open and ask around as I am going about town.

Darwin

I have enjoyed the Rajabruk Hotel when staying in Korat. It is around 1200 per night which includes buffet breakfast.

I spent a night at Sunee Grand Hotel. It is open now but limited operations. The grand opening is tentatively planned for mid March. I posted an interview with the Managing Director on my blog and will have a post about the facilities in the next few days. The City Mall next to the hotel and part of the overall Sunee Tower is partially open and this Friday is suppose to be the opening of a new supermarket. It is a nice place and the room rates are a bit more than the norm here in Ubon.

Thanks for that F.C.

Just a question if one was catching the overnight sleeper train, how do you book and pay etc.

I cant see a link on the website or phone number to find out, if you were to roll up at the station a few hours before departure would you have any dramas getting tickets for 4 people. Thanks Rick

If 4 of you to make sure I would get in advance. The sleepers and express are often full. The express leaves Hua Lamphong around 5:45am and will arrive in Surin around noon.

Tell them to go visit Kittrong Land and House 504 Chayangkul Rd. They are right by the Yamaha dealership. The number here in Ubon is (045) 313336. They might be able to help though the 500-600k might be a dream.

I have only been on day trips to Srisaket so had no need to look for hotels. However near the train station on the south side of the tracks in the direction of Bangkok there is a mid sized hotel. I don't remember the name but doubt it is fully booked.

I think Wrong Way ended the pizza gig. I also enjoy the Italian pizza at Risotto. They also have excellent lasagna that would make Garfield happy.

I have had many packages safely delivered to Ubon from US via Kerry Logistics. There is also a local but they might be a licensee of Kerry. I don't see a local contact here in Ubon but can contact in Bangkok.

Apologies if this would be better in the Thailand Travel Forum, I wasn't quite sure where to post - Mods please move if necessary.

Has anyone had any expeience of the punctuality or otherwise of Air Asia's new schedule out of UBP, with the flight now moved from afternoons to mornings? I used the afternoon flight a few times and found it to be fairly punctual. I am now considering using the morning flight to make an international connection at Suvarnabhumi, and am wondering whether I can trust Air Asia not to mess up.

Thanks for any info.

Air Asia only has a morning flight from Suvarnaphum to Ubon. It is normally on time and actually more punctual than ThaiAir, however sometimes they are delayed due to mechanics, late arrival or low priority for runway. I have been mostly satisfied with their service. The fare is considerably cheaper than Thai if you purchase in advance.

Matt,

I know that the Lao Imm is closed on weekends but not sure if they close on holidays as well. Maybe good idea to call and find out. You might be able to get an extension before just to be safe.

I wonder did they impound the bus? If so just auction it off an compensate the victims. Amazingly no mention of the driver. The driver and runners abandoned the bus without fear of repercussions by their employer? The tour company taking no responsibility and offering only 50% restitution? What about mental anquish, inconvenient and all? I hope a campaign is initiated to make the public aware of the travel company and whatever bus company it was. Justice would be neither get foreign tourist business again. Both names should be posted in Bold Letters in all articles and TAT should broadcast a warning. But neither will happen. Authorities should be fighting to protect any and all tourists in an effort to keep them coming and spending money.

I wouldn't mind seeing phones banned just because of those who leave their ringtones active and insist on answering their phones and talking during the movie. I would be amazed if a mobile phone has enough memory to copy an entire movie.

Would rather though they ban the 30 minutes of advertising the theaters receive money that they show before the movies. Getting out of hand.

I would say Non-O is best. If you qualify you have more control of your visa and you can also work with the non-imm O.

Here in Ubon it is hard to find just a helmut that fits and impossible to find one that meets international safety standards.

Also they are still allowing smoking in pubs, restaurants and hotel lobbies.

If this is truly a problem that is wanted to be solved they could do random, unannounced spot-checks of schools. If a foreigner is found to be working illegally give them a week to leave the country. But also hold the school, president or director responsible and make it known publicly.

Foreigners don't work in a vacum. They need cooperation from locals to work illegally. If schools refuse to hire because of repercussions then the problem is solved. If directors or presidents stand to be fined or lose their job because they hire illegals I am sure the practise would cease. The foreigners work illegally because they can.