Flying Options: From Bkk For Savannakhet.

[Salapoo]

Well Mukdahan really.

Flying Options for Sannakhet Visa Run.

Nok Air to Nakhon Pathom, or Sakhon Nakhon for around 3,500b return.

Air Asia to Ubon seems to be the cheapest (and most convient time wise for me).

I can’t leave before 3pm on Sunday so theirs is the only evening flight in that direction. 6pm.

Returning on Tues or Wed 7:25pm flight, total, only 2,536 thb!

Two questions:

Getting from Ubon Airport to Mukdahan at 7.30pm on a Sunday evening? (I’d rather not have an early rise to travel on the Mon morning). By bus preferably and not a taxi. That would defeat the purpose of flying to Ubon rather than Savannakhet with the lovely int. tax.

And:

Picking up your passport from the Consulate in Savannakhet at 12pm, or 1pm, or 2pm? (which one) And easily
getting to Ubon for the 7:25pm flight back? How realistic and easy is it?

Thanks.

PS, I don’t have any interest in Savan Vegas deals etc.

Edited June 9, 2013 by Salapoo

[Thanyaburi Mac]

"Nok Air to Nakhon Pathom" FYI, that should be "Nakhon Phanom," no "t".

Bet you're going to have to spend the night some where before getting to SVKT, either at Muk, if you're able to find a late bus, or in Ubon. If Ubon, here's some hotel info:

http://www.weloveubon.com/ubon-accommodations.html

Mac

[Salapoo]

Yes, sorry for the typo.

Of course I'm going to have to spend the night somewhere. That's what the question is about. I'd much rather it be Muk than Ubon and then a very early rise to get to Muk, over the bridge, then down to the consulate before they stop accepting applications at lunch time.

Google says buses from Ubon to Muk finish around 18:30.

Anyone with their feet on the ground up there, or with experience know?

Edited June 9, 2013 by Salapoo

[LuckyLew]

You can alwiays take the night bud from MoChit to Mukdahan

Did it a few months back and it was not so bad

Took VIP bus arrived in Mukdahan at 6.30am

Used SavanaVegas visa package

They picked me up at Muk bus station at 7am

There is a VIP vn that goes from Ubon airport to Mukdahan

Drop of is at Ploy Palace in Muk

all the Ploy Palace Hotel in Mukdahan (042 631 111) and get their

VIP transit mini van to Mukdahan. It costs ฿350 and takes 2 to 3 hours

Not sure what times van leave Ubon airport ... give them a call for more info

[ignis]

Picking up your passport from the Consulate in Savannakhet at 12pm, or 1pm, or 2pm?

Last week they opened the gates at 2mins before 2pm, then got in line to collect Passport..

Did notice because it was raining all the Tul Tuk that were taking people did not have sides, the driver wiped the water off the seats 1st......... myself stayed another night but people going to the border must have been very wet when they arrived..

[transam]

Picking up your passport from the Consulate in Savannakhet at 12pm, or 1pm, or 2pm?

Last week they opened the gates at 2mins before 2pm, then got in line to collect Passport..

Did notice because it was raining all the Tul Tuk that were taking people did not have sides, the driver wiped the water off the seats 1st......... myself stayed another night but people going to the border must have been very wet when they arrived..

There are mini vans at Sav to take you over the bridge, l have never used a tuk tuk.

[kurtmartens]

Can I ask, why you dont just fly Laos Air into Savannakhet directly from BKK? We did that last year and it was the easiest way in. This year we drove across the bridge in the bus, which proved to me that flying directly in is just ... better.

[Salapoo]

Just for the off-topic posts.

Sorry but I'm not spending 10 hours on an overnight bus, especially when you can fly to a nearby destination for 500b more.

Flying to Sav.... wrong timing and wrong departure location for me, and unappeasing price with international taxes.

[Salapoo]

Picking up your passport from the Consulate in Savannakhet at 12pm, or 1pm, or 2pm?

Last week they opened the gates at 2mins before 2pm, then got in line to collect Passport..

That probably makes it tight getting comfortably back to Ubon for a 19:25 flight. Likely doable, but not much fun if you don't enjoy looking at your watch every 10 seconds.

Relaxed journey back then hotel and nice evening in Ubon getting to know a local or two sounds better.

Edited June 9, 2013 by Salapoo

[ubonjoe]

There are plenty of buses from Ubon to Mukdahan. But you will need to stay in Mukdahan that first night because bridge will be closed when you arrive.

Then take bus from Mukdahan to Savannakhet.

For the return the same but to make it back to Ubon for your flight would be tight. You might want to consider an overnight in Ubon. Plenty of good low cost hotels are available.

[asiaexpat]

Nok Air specials

Price/ One way/ Person

(All inclusive)

Phuket 990 Baht

Nakhon Si Thammarat 990 Baht

Trang 990 Baht

Surat Thani 990 Baht

Udon Thani 990 Baht

Nakhon Phanom 990 Baht

Chiang Mai-Hat Yai 990 Baht

Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son 990 Baht

Booking Period 6 - 10 June 2013 (Time : 06:00 pm. - 08:00 am. )

Travel Period 9 June - 30 September 2013

Advance Booking 3 Days

[kurtmartens]

Just for the off-topic posts.

Sorry but I'm not spending 10 hours on an overnight bus, especially when you can fly to a nearby destination for 500b more.

Flying to Sav.... wrong timing and wrong departure location for me, and unappeasing price with international taxes.

Fair enough on the timing and departure location I guess. Not sure what the international taxes have to do with it all. Enjoy your trip though. Its an easy run, drop off passport at 9AM and pickup at 2PM next day. They will call your number, so don't be late or you will have to wait til the end of the line.

[ignis]

They will call your number, so don't be late or you will have to wait til the end of the line.

Been a few times and yes was normal to call your number, last week we all just lined up and gave ticket when arriving at window....... I was number 28, the person in front of me was 89 the person behind was number 5..

As said always stay a extra night, so no rush, but is totally mad as soon as gate open many run up the drive..

[Salapoo]

There are plenty of buses from Ubon to Mukdahan. But you will need to stay in Mukdahan that first night because bridge will be closed when you arrive.

Then take bus from Mukdahan to Savannakhet.

For the return the same but to make it back to Ubon for your flight would be tight. You might want to consider an overnight in Ubon. Plenty of good low cost hotels are available.

Thanks. I'll call the bus station there later just to make sure.

Yes, a night is Ubon on the way back to relax is definitely the way to go.

[Salapoo]

All booked and very cheap.

Don Muang - Ubon, Sunday 6pm.

Ubon - Don Muang, Wednesday 9:25am.

Paid for online with Visa card, complete total 2,6xx baht.

Considering I see on the net that over night VIP buses are around 1000b each way I think it's very good value, but of course will be forking out for two extra night's accomodation in both Muk and Ubon as I won't be sleeping on some bus! Plus a late arrival into Muk isn't convenient but for those able to take the early Sunday flight from Don Muang it would be a great way to do it.

Edited June 10, 2013 by Salapoo

[Salapoo]

Just for the off-topic posts.

Sorry but I'm not spending 10 hours on an overnight bus, especially when you can fly to a nearby destination for 500b more.

Flying to Sav.... wrong timing and wrong departure location for me, and unappeasing price with international taxes.

Fair enough on the timing and departure location I guess. Not sure what the international taxes have to do with it all.

Just checking it out on Laoairlines.com and the total is 7,020b before booking fees etc. Taxes are listed as $73 or 2,200b. Pretty much the same as the total of flying to Ubon on AA.

Of course more convenient. But to be honest a night in Ubon is going to be fun.

[thailandbeachisland]

Hello,

Can you confirm that it is possible to be at Savanaket consulate at 9am when flying at 6am with Nok air from Don muang ?

There is no official airport limousine or van but there is a daily van daily from Ploy hotel ?

And does Savan vegas casino hotel pickup people at airport or only at border ?

Is Savanaket still the most boring place in the world ? (I like Laos, but not this shithole with people living like hundred years ago :-) )

Thank you.

[fifthcolumn]

Just for the off-topic posts.

Sorry but I'm not spending 10 hours on an overnight bus, especially when you can fly to a nearby destination for 500b more.

Flying to Sav.... wrong timing and wrong departure location for me, and unappeasing price with international taxes.

It is never b500 more. No idea the cost but will guarantee it will be a thousand. Then you have the money to get to the airports. Getting ti o Morchit should cost you under b100 from anywhere on the transit lines. Then you will undoubtedly spend an extra night, for a high flyer like you (pun intended). Posh hotel and a french meal, that is another -1500.

To the poster above, because this is an old thread. I think Savan is no longer running.

Why dont you go to Singapore for your visa if you have such disdsin for Lao people?

Sorry you are forcing yourself to stay in a shithole. Say hrllo to yhe cavemen for me.

This is so typical of tv postets these days. They live on an islsnd called Thailand. Stepping off the islamd fatal. Why bother? Go home.

Edited February 3, 2014 by fifthcolumn

[ubonjoe]

Did you check Nok Air for flights to Mukdahan. They offer a fly/ride service.

Savan is no longer doing the visa service but may pick you up it you reserve a room.