Nakhon Phanom

[farang000999]

Hello. My wife says that she wants to visit her grandmother in this region however we have a 2 year old daughter and I am unsure of the transportation options in this region. Our two previous trips we just rode in tuk tuks and it seemed a rather bumpy ride and i try to expose my daughter to as little danger and discomfort as possble. Would really hope we could rent a car if possible at the airport?

Also, does anyone know if the bridge to cross to Laos is functional or if one needs to take a ferry over? Are there any services to pick you up in town and cross you over or is it nessecary to hire a tuk tuk to take you all the way? Thanks for any advice.

Edited April 26, 2012 by farang000999

[lovelaos]

Yes you can rent a car at the airport and you can get a bus from the bus station to Thackek in Laos I think they run every 2 hours, very easy.

[riepan963]

just adding a little to the lovelaos answer -- I always thought Toyota were the only people renting cars in NKP so having them at the airport is a new one for me. I don't think you can take a rented vehicle across the bridge into Laos as you must have the green book and I believe 5 other documents.

Also, foreigners can no longer take the ferry as the immigration office is on the bridge, Neither can you walk or cycle so the International Bus from NKP bus station is the way to go.

[lovelaos]

I'm sure I saw a car rental office at NKP airport 3 days ago but I may have been mistaken. The bus info is 100% though as I have used it twice, very easy border crossing.

[storm2010]

I have never sen a car rental at the NKP airport. Would be great if there was one, i wouldnt have to rely on girlfreinds family to pick me up everytime.

[farang000999]

Anyone know if I will get 3g coverage for True Move H to use internet via aircard usb with my sim card for my notebook? thanks.

[farang000999]

and what is price for the car rental (cheapest car is fine)? thanks.

[lovelaos]

I was wrong, there isnt a place in the airport, I was confusing NP with Udon

Anyone know somewhere in NP that does rent cars? Google results=0

[spearfish]

car hire in nakhon phanom. Mrs Kum at the airport minibus desk rents out cars. I hired a toyota hilux dualcab diesel ute from her. she also has an office in nakhon phanom town, her number is 042522222 or 042522707 or her mobile is 0818721215 and 0895736324. her email is [email protected]

she is also an agent for nok air, and does limousine service, car and taxi.

my (thai-laos) girlfriend is a friend of hers. she got me a ute for 1500 baht per day, but the going rate for farangs is 3000 baht. plus a 5000 baht deposit.

I was able to get the car for 7 days without an international drivers licence only a passport. i paid in cash. her knowing my girlfriend was obviously very handy.

I hope this helps.

[MeMock]

3,000 a day? Your special 1,500 baht is the normal price (at least in Ubon Ratchathani anyway.)

[spearfish]

I dont speak thai or laos and relied on my girlfriend who has never rented a car before. she told me i was getting it half price, but who knows, right. Its the first time ive rented a car in thailand, so I have limited experience in these matters.

Its also possible that i rented an expensive car, but its equally possible that because of the limited availability of rental vehicles in Nakhon Phanom that these rates are higher than for the rest of thailand.

The whole point of my post was to inform readers that rental cars are available in Nakhon Phanom, where to get them and how much it cost me.

If this information displeases anyone I apologise.

[MeMock]

^

Sorry, I'll start again.

Well done for passing on the information, I am sure it is appreciated. Please however shop around (if possible) because 3,000 baht is about double the rate for a pick up type car in Thailand.

[spearfish]

^

Sorry, I'll start again.

Well done for passing on the information, I am sure it is appreciated. Please however shop around (if possible) because 3,000 baht is about double the rate for a pick up type car in Thailand.

Mrs Kum may well have been full of shit when she said it was a half price deal. I have no way of knowing otherwise.

As it stands I thought 1500 baht per day was bearable and fair.

Shopping around in NKP for a car to rent takes about 2 phone calls.

The riverview hotel offers a driver supplied car hire service at approximately 2000 baht per day (plus the obligatory tips) .

On a slightly different tack, if youre planning on having a car for a month or more, I am told sakhon nakhon has a thriving used car and scooter industry. NKP also has used cars and motorscooters for sale on the road to sakhon nakhon . Buying one may present you with reliability and repair issues if like myself you arent mech-savvy.

I have no idea of the law regarding farangs buying and driving used cars but if you encounter troubles with paperwork hiring or are concerned about being scammed (or just honestly pinged) for damage to your rental vehicle then buying a second hand car could be the way to go. there are loads of cheapies including a mid eighties mercedes sedan in lovely (exterior) condition I saw for only 10,000 baht here only a day or so ago.

I myself plan on buying the girlfriend a used Mada familia ute around $`1000. if i can for her farm (rice paddy) next time i visit. Then Ill be able to take a spin up to chiang mai or down to phuket whenever i'm able to .

[macksview]

sakhon nakhon road is probably the most dangerous road i have seen in thailand, on my few trips on that road, it seems full of thai drivers in suv overtaking at the most ridiculous moments, flash you lights and overtake at anytime seems their motto.

if you are planning on trips to phuket and chiang mai by road use a rent a car,why subject old vehicles to those trips, whilst the roads are not difficult, apart from idiots driving on them, they are long trips.

a 30000 baht ute,should be left for gently rolling around from the rice field to town.

[spearfish]

sakhon nakhon road is probably the most dangerous road i have seen in thailand, on my few trips on that road, it seems full of thai drivers in suv overtaking at the most ridiculous moments, flash you lights and overtake at anytime seems their motto.

if you are planning on trips to phuket and chiang mai by road use a rent a car,why subject old vehicles to those trips, whilst the roads are not difficult, apart from idiots driving on them, they are long trips.

a 30000 baht ute,should be left for gently rolling around from the rice field to town.

Ive travelled that road around 20 times now to sakhon nakhon, kusuman and my gfs house in chok amnuai. half the time in a rental car and the rest on a motorscooter. Youre right about the speeding. 140kmh seems the norm for SUVs . I'm a nervous wreck by the time Im back in my hotel room.

[my friend I]

Yes you can rent a car at the airport and you can get a bus from the bus station to Thackek in Laos I think they run every 2 hours, very easy.

Does the bus stop near the river in ThaKhek town or go to the bus terminal. thanks

[spearfish]

Yes you can rent a car at the airport and you can get a bus from the bus station to Thackek in Laos I think they run every 2 hours, very easy.

Does the bus stop near the river in ThaKhek town or go to the bus terminal. thanks

the bus stops at the international bus terminal. Then you get a tuktuk for 20,000 kip to town which is the equivalent of 80 baht. It takes only 5 minutes or so.

[spearfish]

Yes you can rent a car at the airport and you can get a bus from the bus station to Thackek in Laos I think they run every 2 hours, very easy.

Does the bus stop near the river in ThaKhek town or go to the bus terminal. thanks

the bus stops at the international bus terminal. Then you get a tuktuk for 20,000 kip to town which is the equivalent of 80 baht or US$2.60 It takes only 5 minutes or so.

to cross the border youll need 1 extra passport photo and 1000 baht or 30 US dollars. It varies a little depending on your nationality and can be 28 dollars or 38 at the most I think. They dont accept any other currency. There is a currency exchange office at the laos customs if you want to buy kip there.

50000 kip = 200 baht = US$6.50

[SantiSuk]

Presuming an `ute` is a pick-up Spearfish, which country does that phrase come from? Is it an acronym (utility trucking equipment)? Just interested

I know that South Africans call them backies (sp?), which I quite like since obviously the back is the important end of he animal in the case of a pick-up. Any other country-specific phrases out there?

[SantiSuk]

Yes you can rent a car at the airport and you can get a bus from the bus station to Thackek in Laos I think they run every 2 hours, very easy.

Does the bus stop near the river in ThaKhek town or go to the bus terminal. thanks

the bus stops at the international bus terminal. Then you get a tuktuk for 20,000 kip to town which is the equivalent of 80 baht or US$2.60 It takes only 5 minutes or so.

to cross the border youll need 1 extra passport photo and 1000 baht or 30 US dollars. It varies a little depending on your nationality and can be 28 dollars or 38 at the most I think. They dont accept any other currency. There is a currency exchange office at the laos customs if you want to buy kip there.

50000 kip = 200 baht = US$6.50

Some nationalities, eg Swiss, dont need a visa and some (applies to many African) can only acquire a visa at an embassy/consulate. A bit more detailed info here:

http://www.retire-as...l-30-days.shtml

Always take dollars for the visa fee (cheaper) - dollars are useful for larger purchases in Laos anyway.

Edited November 6, 2012 by SantiSuk

[my friend I]

Presuming an `ute` is a pick-up Spearfish, which country does that phrase come from? Is it an acronym (utility trucking equipment)? Just interested

I know that South Africans call them backies (sp?), which I quite like since obviously the back is the important end of he animal in the case of a pick-up. Any other country-specific phrases out there?

Ute is Australian English. It is short for utility. It is a pickup. Australians can't speak english much goodly so shorten everything, eg Oz for Australia.They would also say a ute not an ute.

[spearfish]

Presuming an `ute` is a pick-up Spearfish, which country does that phrase come from? Is it an acronym (utility trucking equipment)? Just interested

I know that South Africans call them backies (sp?), which I quite like since obviously the back is the important end of he animal in the case of a pick-up. Any other country-specific phrases out there?

Australia (the birthplace of the "Ute") = utility vehicle = pick-up.

[spearfish]

Presuming an `ute` is a pick-up Spearfish, which country does that phrase come from? Is it an acronym (utility trucking equipment)? Just interested

I know that South Africans call them backies (sp?), which I quite like since obviously the back is the important end of he animal in the case of a pick-up. Any other country-specific phrases out there?

Australia (the birthplace of the "Ute") = utility vehicle = pick-up.

This may help explain......https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMEj8Tc_SmY

[lovelaos]

car hire in nakhon phanom. Mrs Kum at the airport minibus desk rents out cars. I hired a toyota hilux dualcab diesel ute from her. she also has an office in nakhon phanom town, her number is 042522222 or 042522707 or her mobile is 0818721215 and 0895736324. her email is [email protected]

she is also an agent for nok air, and does limousine service, car and taxi.

my (thai-laos) girlfriend is a friend of hers. she got me a ute for 1500 baht per day, but the going rate for farangs is 3000 baht. plus a 5000 baht deposit.

I was able to get the car for 7 days without an international drivers licence only a passport. i paid in cash. her knowing my girlfriend was obviously very handy.

I hope this helps.

Yes I used this woman too, 1500 a day for the white vigo (she only has 1) I did have to give her the 5000 deposit. After extensive searches this is the only place in NP where self drive car hire is available. Good business venture for somebody maybe?

[spearfish]

car hire in nakhon phanom. Mrs Kum at the airport minibus desk rents out cars. I hired a toyota hilux dualcab diesel ute from her. she also has an office in nakhon phanom town, her number is 042522222 or 042522707 or her mobile is 0818721215 and 0895736324. her email is [email protected]

she is also an agent for nok air, and does limousine service, car and taxi.

my (thai-laos) girlfriend is a friend of hers. she got me a ute for 1500 baht per day, but the going rate for farangs is 3000 baht. plus a 5000 baht deposit.

I was able to get the car for 7 days without an international drivers licence only a passport. i paid in cash. her knowing my girlfriend was obviously very handy.

I hope this helps.

Yes I used this woman too, 1500 a day for the white vigo (she only has 1) I did have to give her the 5000 deposit. After extensive searches this is the only place in NP where self drive car hire is available. Good business venture for somebody maybe?

Ive rented 3 different vigos off her in the last 2 weeks, all dual cabs, 2 with rear canopies and one without...

[spearfish]

^

Sorry, I'll start again.

Well done for passing on the information, I am sure it is appreciated. Please however shop around (if possible) because 3,000 baht is about double the rate for a pick up type car in Thailand.

I just figured out my girlfriend has told me she was getting it at half price to win some brownie points from me when it was the actual going price all along.