Driving From Bkk To Hua Hin/prachuab -- Advisable Or Not?

[berkeleydb]

Topic -- driving from BKK to Hua Hin/Prachuab.

I lived in Prachuab Khiri Khan for two year, about twenty years ago.

This will be my first trip back to Thailand in a long long time.

I'll be driving with my family.

I'm considering renting a car and driving down to Prachuab

(um, I'm assuming you all know that Hua Hin is in Prachuab

province and that the provincial capital is an hour or two south

of Hua Hin).

Has the highway situation changed at all?

What I'm asking is, Is the major North-South highway still

a two-lane white-knuckle drive with siplaws(10-wheel trucks)

and rotmaes(red buses) trying to pass each other while

ignoring oncoming traffic? If so, them maybe I shouldn't do

this.

In the old days, I never made this trip by car.

First, I didn't have one, and second, the experience would

not have been pleasant.

I took the aircon bus from Sai Dai. It took 5-6 hours.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Also, while we're on the this subject, does anyone have any hotel

recommendations in Prachuab or Thapsakae? Thapsakae is a district

about one hour south of Prachuab town. Or is Hua Hin so enticing

that you don't ever leave?

The last time I was in Hua Hin, the rooms at the Railway Hotel looked

exactly as depicted in the film Killing Fields. I swear I stayed in one of

the rooms they used to film -- the same peeling paint on the walls.

Right after I stayed there, the Hilton chain bought the place and

gutted the insides to make something modern. I have not been back

since.

[jdinasia]

The roads are not too bad .... but if you are not used to driving in Thailand and have your family with you ... you might consider getting a driver

[singa-traz]

Done it a couple of time, and there are some good and bad portion of highway for this trip.

If you have a big family, rent a van with driver.

For hotel, last time we stayed at the "Anchara" resort.

There are a few around. You can book one or look around when you go there (assuming you are not going there during sonkran )

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The roads are not too bad .... but if you are not used to driving in Thailand and have your family with you ... you might consider getting a driver

Good advice

[MMan]

Or if you be going to HH from central Bangkok, another inexpensive alternative you might consider is taking the train. The State Railway of Thailand has info on timetables and types of trains on its website that you can download. Just do a web search for State Railway of Thailand, select the English language version and click Time Tables.

[PeaceBlondie]

From mid-2005 to mid-2006, I lived in Hua Hin, and took mostly private taxis between HHin and Bangkok. North of Hua Hin, the road was often quite good. Just south of Hua Hin, it was narrow and two lanes and passing was very dangerous. I almost killed us both, the first time I headed south on that road.

If you take the railroad, expect delays, and try to book first class. The first time we went, we had an open car and bench seats during the hot and dusty season; we were miserable.

[taxexile]

the road from bkk to hua hin is being upgraded at the moment from phetchburi south to cha am.

it is already a dual carriageway (2 lanes each direction with a divider) and they are upgrading it to a 4 lane each direction road.

lots of construction going on at the moment , if you do drive yourself , then do it during daylight hours.

its a 3 hour trip at the moment , more on friday afternoons and holidays.

[Ollie]

I must be the odd one out. I like the drive but I enjoy driving. I think its an okay drive and if you are used to driving in London its no big deal. Take the point about the road works, but otherwise, no real different than the M5/6/42 in the UK on a Friday rush hour evening.

[steve73]

I did this drive just last monday. After getting lost in BKK for 1 hour, it took about 3-4 hours to PKK (excluding a meal stop in HH), with the bit from HH at night.

As someone said before, the road is being upgrded at the moment in places, but I'd say it's one of the better roads I driven - not too many nutters.

Currently in Ranong, and will be heading back up there in a few days.

As for accom, we stayed in a lovely little guest house right on the beach in PKK (right at the southern end of beach road, just before the military check point to Ao Manao) - Sunbeach Guest House. 800b/n, for really nice room, and they have a small swimming pool. Highly recommended, but sorry I didn't keep the tel no.

[justwilliam]

I have lived in the Hua Hin area for three years, and have made the round trip to Bangkok by car about every three weeks. For the 6-7 years prior to that I was visiting 4-5 times each year, and always rented a car at Don Muang and drove to Hua Hin.

I echo ollie's response, it's no big deal.

The road has been improved beyond recognition over that period, the first 30 km or so out of Bangkok now being a ten-lane highway. Driving habits here are of course different, and unless you choose to follow those overladen pick-up trucks that refuse to budge from the fast lane, you will just have to get used to overtaking on the wrong side. My only advice would be to be very careful overtaking buses. Otherwise, IMHO it's no more hassle than driving on major highways in Europe or the US.

By the way, you will hardly recognise Hua Hin.

[jumnien]

My wife is from Thap Sakae; we have a farm there. Mostly, we live in Thap Sakae. I recommend the Haad Tong Hotel in Prachuab on the waterfront 960 baht/night and Rocky Point Resort or Laem Kum Beach Resort in Thap Sakae on the beach just south of town. PM me for details.

I find the drive from Hua Hin to Bangkok rather relaxing if I leave HH at around 5am. Just avoid the crowded times and its not that bad.

[klikster]

From mid-2005 to mid-2006, I lived in Hua Hin, and took mostly private taxis between HHin and Bangkok. North of Hua Hin, the road was often quite good. Just south of Hua Hin, it was narrow and two lanes and passing was very dangerous. I almost killed us both, the first time I headed south on that road.

If you take the railroad, expect delays, and try to book first class. The first time we went, we had an open car and bench seats during the hot and dusty season; we were miserable.

The section of road you must be talking about is the road from HH back (south) to Phetkasem Road. Phethasem has been a 4 lane all the way to Surat Thani for many years.

I drove that local road a few days ago, and while it is still 1 lane, it is okay. But it's quite easy to avoid that road and get back on Phetkasem Hwy.

Actually, the 4 lane version of Phetkasem is old enough to have gone through several generations of repair. While there are bumpy stretches, Phetkasem Rd is a very easy drive.

There may be some construction north of HH .. we approached north of Cha-AM .. but it is just a slow-down and crowded on weekends. And it may be finished now.

Once out of the 'spaghetti bowl' in BKK, the trip south is very easy.

--------------------

If deciding to take the train, opt for the 'Sprinter', quite comfy and limited stops.

Edited April 7, 2007 by klikster

[lopburi3]

The construction is not anywhere near finished and extends almost all the way to Bangkok. Expect 3 hours plus just to Hua Hin. There are a number of accidents currently as they add lanes and there can be long delays. The drive is nothing like it was years ago and there is no longer the almost nothing but salt flats on highway 35 along the coast. There are cities and towns and normal heavy traffic. When you get on highway A-2 (4) you run into more construction as they add lanes and it is not near to being complete yet (one segment for a few KM is open). The bypass around Hua Hin is best for trucks as road surface is crap - take the old road through Hua Hin as that is in good condition and (mostly) four lanes. As this is the only route South the traffic is always heavy.

You are not going to remember much as everything has changed. Hua hin is a large city now. Not the train station, railway hotel, and a few shops that you likely remember. Also stayed in the old hotel - only thing first class was the sterling silver dinner service in those days. You drive under the airport runway these days - instead of across it.

Would strongly advise rent of a van/driver so you can enjoy the trip as you will likely not know the current rules of the road and have to be on defensive mode to an extreme to avoid the cycles on the highway coming at you on both sides (talking divided highways). The cost will not be much more than a car rent alone.