Transport, Khon Kaen - Bangkok

[steveweaver99]

Hi people

Does anyone know what time schedule for buses (VIP) leaving Khon Kaen to Bangkok is? I want my partner to get into Bangkok about 11am or there abouts. Normally she gets a bus which leaves Khon Kaen 9/10 pm and arrives in Bangkok about 4.00am. The reason for wanting a later time is for a Hotel check-in or else we would have to pay an extra night for an early check-in.

Thanks in advance.

[asanee]

why do people who travel that far not even have the slightest clue about the travel industry works?

1.About any HTl will let you in earlier IF (know the meaning of that word?) there are spares empty, cleaned etc. in the price you paid for. However, the snag is that most scary newbies tend to book online mothes advance for the few places that allow that-and thus these places tend to be much fuller.

2/ there are 3 buscomps doeing the knKn-BKK runs-all take 6 hrs and all run about hourly (staggered, so there is a bus ev 30 mins or so). Now do the hard work: brainwork to reasonable timing:

They either allow you to arrive in BKK pretty early-mostly around 5 (yes-there will be a later one as the one you mentioned) OR they set off from KnKn at a time the THAI think is reasonable-not your wesetrn idea of that. That mostly means start from around 4.00/5.00 (am if youre brit-influenced to not even knowing the 24 hr clock). Can she manage that or is that too antisocial? ALL buses arr in BKK in or at /near that giant Mochit2 behemoth of buses.

One out of 3 comps is nakornchaiair-the next is CHANtour, some do a bit of webiste-Thai only and even allow prebooking. Now can also book the socalled ''govmt bus BoKoSo'' via thaiticketmajor.son (and pay at 7). You can check these for an overview of times.

OR-use that most frightening thing for bargirls: a sleeper in the overnight train-garanteed to arr much later as announced anyway-relieving you of most of these scary problems.

In short: BY 11.00 is possible-buit with tiome at Mochit-add the time to reach your preferred HTL (Honey?

[fishhooks]

why do people who travel that far not even have the slightest clue about the travel industry works?

1.About any HTl will let you in earlier IF (know the meaning of that word?) there are spares empty, cleaned etc. in the price you paid for. However, the snag is that most scary newbies tend to book online mothes advance for the few places that allow that-and thus these places tend to be much fuller.

2/ there are 3 buscomps doeing the knKn-BKK runs-all take 6 hrs and all run about hourly (staggered, so there is a bus ev 30 mins or so). Now do the hard work: brainwork to reasonable timing:

They either allow you to arrive in BKK pretty early-mostly around 5 (yes-there will be a later one as the one you mentioned) OR they set off from KnKn at a time the THAI think is reasonable-not your wesetrn idea of that. That mostly means start from around 4.00/5.00 (am if youre brit-influenced to not even knowing the 24 hr clock). Can she manage that or is that too antisocial? ALL buses arr in BKK in or at /near that giant Mochit2 behemoth of buses.

One out of 3 comps is nakornchaiair-the next is CHANtour, some do a bit of webiste-Thai only and even allow prebooking. Now can also book the socalled ''govmt bus BoKoSo'' via thaiticketmajor.son (and pay at 7). You can check these for an overview of times.

OR-use that most frightening thing for bargirls: a sleeper in the overnight train-garanteed to arr much later as announced anyway-relieving you of most of these scary problems.

In short: BY 11.00 is possible-buit with tiome at Mochit-add the time to reach your preferred HTL (Honey?

Whilst attempting to be helpful in some respect, this post is really demeaning in the way it is formed and not in the spirit of a forum such as this!

If I may demean in some way, the spelling and english really needs a lot of attention.

[steveweaver99]

I think Asanee or whatever he or she calls him/herself has psychological problems and should be banned from the forum. Because he or she does not have the ability to converse politely and in a manner that is to be expected from this great forum.

It was a simple question but Asanee decided to make heavy weather of it. I cannot read your shinglish Asanee or whatever language you are attempting to write in, albeit 10% helpful.

[fishhooks]

Silence is 'GOLDEN' let's hope we are rid of him!

[Lakegeneve]

I think Asanee or whatever he or she calls him/herself has psychological problems and should be banned from the forum. Because he or she does not have the ability to converse politely and in a manner that is to be expected from this great forum.

It was a simple question but Asanee decided to make heavy weather of it. I cannot read your shinglish Asanee or whatever language you are attempting to write in, albeit 10% helpful.

Asanee is obviously Thai so the language usage should be considered with that in mind. More than a few TV, native english speakers often express a form of english that would make most primary school english teachers cringe with concern. Being a Thai member may also give some insight into the tone of the response given apparent assumptions that were made in the reply.

I don't condone the tone of Asanee's reply, which should have been more diplomatic, but I must say that I think your use of one term is actually more blatantly offensive than his tone. Asanee has a wealth of knowledge on transport, geographical and logistical issues and often is one of only a few that takes the time to provide very informative replies to numerous queries (often repeat queries where OP's have obviously not searched other threads on the same issue). Just read through other threads to check.

Ignore some of the 'rubbish' and he gave the OP the info he needed, which is what no one else has done.

Sometimes people post really inane, silly or lazy queries. That is to be expected in forum in any country. They don't offer enough info or context that would induce valuable replies. That don't bother to click on the next page and read the thread asking exactly the same query.That was not the case here though I could see how that it may have been interpreted that way.

Similarly, sometimes the replies are less than helpful, unnecessarily critical of the OP's query or just plain hostile & dismissive. Sometimes people just completely misinterpret the motivation underlying the query of the OP, which is what may have happened here.

I myself have been subjected to a less than diplomatic reply by Asanee on one occasion when he corrected my incorrect info and 'put me in my place'. Could it have been expressed better, perhaps. Did I take it to heart, no. Did he still give invaluable and correct info to the OP, yes. In some ways it was actually fair enough as I should have checked something that had recently changed and I did not.

None of the 2 other replies offered any info in reply to the OP's query. He has the info he asked for it seems to me. Calling for a ban is an over reaction and TV would lose probably the only Thai member who consistently can proffer informative and current transport and travel based info. A simple request to not make assumptions, consider the language usage and improve ones tolerance of ignorant farangs would suffice. However, that request could apply to many other TV members, Thai and non Thai alike.

[Lakegeneve]

Do you need any more info Steve or is what Asanee provided enough?

From what I understand there are VIP buses departing every 30-60 mins throughout the day and it should be very easy for a local to obtain exact departure times. I would assume that there are early morn departures which arrive in BKK at the time you require. Last time I caught a VIP bus from KK in 07 it had great massage seats. These days I hear there are also seat TV screens and wifi.

Nakhonchaiair have a great website and your partner should be able to navigate it with ease for departure info.

[steveweaver99]

Hi LakeGeneve

I found his/her/its (Asanee) reply incomprehensible!

Basically I am aware of google and it does list times and schedules, but not that informative. I was wondering if there all multi stops catching the later buses as opposed to the earlier (9pm) bus that my partner normally gets.

I will take a look at Nakonchaiar, but I was really looking for peoples experiences of catching the VIP buses that arrive later in Bangkok. I didn't realise it was such a difficult task and that people would flame me for being lazy and not using google. Sometimes it is easier to ask for peoples experiences and I would quite happily share mine without suggesting that people use their 'Noddle' so to speak and look themselves, people must realise that this is Thailand.

Thanks I will see if I can digest the information.

Thai rock band fronted by brothers Asanee "Pom" and Wasan "Toe" Chotikul. Among the band's hits is a 1989 song that puts into verse the lengthy ceremonial name for Bangkok, "Krung Thep Mahanakhon" ("กรุงเทพมหานคร"). The elder brother, Asanee, is known for his guitar solos and his wild, "rock star" persona. His way of singing ballads is often described as broken-heart jiggo (jiggo is a Thai slang for bad boy, parody from Gigolo in English and Italian). The bespectacled Wasan is known for his sensitive songs and softer, gentler style. Their songs often include a hook chorus sung by female backing vocalists.

Reference:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asanee-Wasan

[Sam Drucker]

Sorry for the rude response you got Steve. Assanee, what is wrong with you?

I live in Khon Kaen and have used the buses a few times. Both Nakhonchai Air and Chan Tours are good. As I recall, both have schedules with departures that fall off around midnight, then resume around 6:00 am. So I think the best your gal could do would be to get the earliest departure. If it is 6:00 am, it would probably arrive around noon to 12:30pm. Otherwise, get the last departure of the night, and arrive around 6:00 - 7:00 am.

All the Chan Tours buses from to/from Khon Kaen are configured with 1-2 seating, so it's nice to get a single if you're traveling single. Nakhon Chai Air uses 2-2 seating, with the exception of the three First Class separtures they have daily. Last time I looked, they had one First Class departure in the morning around 11:00 am, and two in the evening around 11-11:30 pm. These buses have "shell" seating (kind of like airline business class) and it is configured 1-2. They do fill up, so if you want First Class, book a week in advance if possible.