Driving Phuket - Hua Hin return

[Felt 35]

Is it safe to drive this distance alone under the circumstances and kind of limbo the country are in nowadays.

Thanks.

[LivinginKata]

I would not have any worries about driving from Phuket to Hua Hin.

[chiang mai]

No problem apart from the Chumpom Hua Hin part which gets a tad boring - and stay on the inside lane, the cops on that road like to issue tickets for driving in the fast lane, really (you'll know the inside lane when you see it, it's the one that's been dug up thousands of time and has no vehicles in it).

[robertthebruce]

The only danger would be other drivers, as you are well aware, Driving in Thailand, is not for the faint hearted, just be careful out there..

All the best..

[starkey_rich]

Drive it 2 or 3 times a month no problem only the state of the main highway from Surat Thani to Hua Hin , watch out for massive pot holes in either lane.

[NomadJoe]

No problem. No where near protests, like 99.9% of Thailand.

[nedkellylives]

A easy days drive if you leave early around 6AM you should be there by 2.30PM driving sensibly with a couple of stops

[keestha]

Drive it 2 or 3 times a month no problem only the state of the main highway from Surat Thani to Hua Hin , watch out for massive pot holes in either lane.

Agree. Have been driving it at least twice a year since 1999, condition of the highway keeps deteriorating, worst is the Prachuabkhirikan - Chumporn provincial border part. In comparision, the Mitraphap highway between Bangkok and Nakhorn Ratchasima (Korat) is in a much better state, since it was built more recently.

[Felt 35]

Thanks for the replies.

[Somtamnication]

Let us know how it went. I am partial to a drive up there just for kicks.

[andreandre]

Is it safe to drive this distance alone under the circumstances and kind of limbo the country are in nowadays

Not sure what you are asking about specifically to be honest....

What has driving to HH alone got to do with whats going on in LOS nowadays..?

Are you asking if you need a "relief driver/companion" instead of alone because of the distance? Answer ..No,its only 600+ klms easily done alone ..

.The roads in places are rough to say the least as many posters have noted, but your post was not about road conditions,as far as i can make out.

Are you a supporter of one side or the other of LOS politics and worried about being stopped by the opposition for some reason?

The problems are mainly centred around BKK and many many people are driving around and through the city with no worries [even different factions of the crap thats going on there]..so that would definately be no problem for you driving Phuket to HH..

Good luck..i hope you find the answer you were looking for.....the real meaning of your questions got me beat..

[fiddlehead]

My wife told me a few weeks ago that red shirts spread tacks all over this road to keep the southerners down south.
Don't know how true it was but I can see the OP's concern if he heard the same rumor.

I've made the drive many times in the past (although not this year), and we always take our time and it ends up taking 12 hours. (side trips to beaches, good Thai restaurants near the beach, a little sightseeing, etc.)

Thailand is a wonderful and big country and we always try to get off the main roads but, of course, sometimes on this trip, you have no choice.

[Felt 35]

Is it safe to drive this distance alone under the circumstances and kind of limbo the country are in nowadays

Not sure what you are asking about specifically to be honest....

What has driving to HH alone got to do with whats going on in LOS nowadays..?

Are you asking if you need a "relief driver/companion" instead of alone because of the distance? Answer ..No,its only 600+ klms easily done alone ..

.The roads in places are rough to say the least as many posters have noted, but your post was not about road conditions,as far as i can make out.

Are you a supporter of one side or the other of LOS politics and worried about being stopped by the opposition for some reason?

The problems are mainly centred around BKK and many many people are driving around and through the city with no worries [even different factions of the crap thats going on there]..so that would definately be no problem for you driving Phuket to HH..

Good luck..i hope you find the answer you were looking for.....the real meaning of your questions got me beat..

Ahh just up Andre! If you not have noticed that the country are in unusual circumstances and in a political limbo which again have a negative effect on Khun Somchai from North to South both financially and emotionally then you are exempted to answer.

[andreandre]

Is it safe to drive this distance alone under the circumstances and kind of limbo the country are in nowadays

Not sure what you are asking about specifically to be honest....

What has driving to HH alone got to do with whats going on in LOS nowadays..?

Are you asking if you need a "relief driver/companion" instead of alone because of the distance? Answer ..No,its only 600+ klms easily done alone ..

.The roads in places are rough to say the least as many posters have noted, but your post was not about road conditions,as far as i can make out.

Are you a supporter of one side or the other of LOS politics and worried about being stopped by the opposition for some reason?

The problems are mainly centred around BKK and many many people are driving around and through the city with no worries [even different factions of the crap thats going on there]..so that would definately be no problem for you driving Phuket to HH..

Good luck..i hope you find the answer you were looking for.....the real meaning of your questions got me beat..

Ahh just up Andre! If you not have noticed that the country are in unusual circumstances and in a political limbo which again have a negative effect on Khun Somchai from North to South both financially and emotionally then you are exempted to answer.

Your response here is as bizarre as your OP to be honest..

All i asked was what it was for you to explain exactly what part of driving to and from HH was not going to be safe, and obviously your OP confused a lot of people, not just me..in fact apart from fiddlehead and maybe Joe, all replies involved the road conditions and travel times etc, so get down off your high horse and if you are scared of possible politically activated problems, then ask specifically about that!!

Yes, i am fully aware that the country "are in unusual circumstances and in a political limbo" and it has been since November[ish] Yes?

In all that time i have not heard myself of any bad news, or attacks on motorists or allegations of anything that would cause fear or trepidation to you or the thousands of other people who drive this route.

Enjoy the drive, but maybe you should employ the services of an armed escort to accompany you if you are living in such fear in LOS.

[Felt 35]

Is it safe to drive this distance alone under the circumstances and kind of limbo the country are in nowadays

Not sure what you are asking about specifically to be honest....

What has driving to HH alone got to do with whats going on in LOS nowadays..?

Are you asking if you need a "relief driver/companion" instead of alone because of the distance? Answer ..No,its only 600+ klms easily done alone ..

.The roads in places are rough to say the least as many posters have noted, but your post was not about road conditions,as far as i can make out.

Are you a supporter of one side or the other of LOS politics and worried about being stopped by the opposition for some reason?

The problems are mainly centred around BKK and many many people are driving around and through the city with no worries [even different factions of the crap thats going on there]..so that would definately be no problem for you driving Phuket to HH..

Good luck..i hope you find the answer you were looking for.....the real meaning of your questions got me beat..

Ahh just up Andre! If you not have noticed that the country are in unusual circumstances and in a political limbo which again have a negative effect on Khun Somchai from North to South both financially and emotionally then you are exempted to answer.

Your response here is as bizarre as your OP to be honest..

All i asked was what it was for you to explain exactly what part of driving to and from HH was not going to be safe, and obviously your OP confused a lot of people, not just me..in fact apart from fiddlehead and maybe Joe, all replies involved the road conditions and travel times etc, so get down off your high horse and if you are scared of possible politically activated problems, then ask specifically about that!!

Yes, i am fully aware that the country "are in unusual circumstances and in a political limbo" and it has been since November[ish] Yes?

In all that time i have not heard myself of any bad news, or attacks on motorists or allegations of anything that would cause fear or trepidation to you or the thousands of other people who drive this route.

Enjoy the drive, but maybe you should employ the services of an armed escort to accompany you if you are living in such fear in LOS.

.......and your answer is picking on details in my question which it seems the other posters easily understood without trying to make the post dumb .......have you nothing better to do!

[Somtamnication]

Incredible. The OP was concerned and asked the right questions. Why is this turning into a boxing fest?

OP. Relax, enjoy the ride, the food and watch out for the wandering buffaloes.

[Felt 35]

Incredible. The OP was concerned and asked the right questions. Why is this turning into a boxing fest?

OP. Relax, enjoy the ride, the food and watch out for the wandering buffaloes.

Must be the warmer than usual weather in February

Edited February 24, 2014 by Felt 35

[andreandre]

Incredible. The OP was concerned and asked the right questions. Why is this turning into a boxing fest?

OP. Relax, enjoy the ride, the food and watch out for the wandering buffaloes.

The greatest danger the OP could possibly confront in all his wildest, over the top bad dreams on his epic journey to war-torn HH and back on the highway to hell is indeed a buffalo or two...no AK47's or landmines or ambushes, or even some boxing fests..[either red or yellow shirted ]reported in last 50 years on that road AFAIK.

[Somtamnication]

And looking at some pretty young things walking by. Far more dangerous than the buffaloes.

[andreandre]

And looking at some pretty young things walking by. Far more dangerous than the buffaloes.

Depends...maybe there's going to be a a driving buffalo..now that is dangerous...especially if its looking at the aforementioned pretty young things...

Edited February 24, 2014 by andreandre

[Felt 35]

Incredible. The OP was concerned and asked the right questions. Why is this turning into a boxing fest?

OP. Relax, enjoy the ride, the food and watch out for the wandering buffaloes.

The greatest danger the OP could possibly confront in all his wildest, over the top bad dreams on his epic journey to war-torn HH and back on the highway to hell is indeed a buffalo or two...no AK47's or landmines or ambushes, or even some boxing fests..[either red or yellow shirted ]reported in last 50 years on that road AFAIK.

Great that someone have the standard about driving Phuket - Hua Hin.

[phuketsub]

The state of that road, AH2, is deplorable and is the single greatest danger you will face, with all the high-speed drivers trying to avoid potholes. Amazing how much so many successive administrations on both side of the political divide have invested in bs projects (my favorite is the many millions wasted on the bogus 'magnetic resonance' drug and bomb detectors, yet they forget to maintain this most important artery. Shameful across the board.

[phuketrichard]

9 hours easy drive , stop for lunch and gas,

You can take the fast route that bypasses Ranong/Khao Lak

am now down in Songkla ( having driven up from Kota Bharu, no problems, lots of Army between the border an Pattani but not nearly as bad as Betong and Yalla that i drove last June.

also very few tourists down here at all.

[starkey_rich]

"also very few tourists down here at all."

Now I wonder why that is?

[andreandre]

9 hours easy drive , stop for lunch and gas,

You can take the fast route that bypasses Ranong/Khao Lak

am now down in Songkla ( having driven up from Kota Bharu, no problems, lots of Army between the border an Pattani but not nearly as bad as Betong and Yalla that i drove last June.

also very few tourists down here at all.

Waiting for OP to point out that this is not the info he was seeking ...

He was worried about driving in a "war zone" ,not the condition of the roads..

Does show, however that his OP was not clear at all, as i was severely chastised for mentioning..

Edited February 27, 2014 by andreandre

[hansgruber]

What's the draw with Hua hin?

I've been there numerous times passing through and it seems rather boring. Beaches are not really that nice as the water is brown.

If you play golf I understand but there is more to life than that.

[Somtamnication]

Never been there, but am dying to see the invadeit shop. Anyone been inside?

[phuketrichard]

YES it is safe, It is NOT , i repeat, NOT a war zone

OK???

[andreandre]

YES it is safe, It is NOT , i repeat, NOT a war zone

OK???

Good news ..but repeat again please...OP is not convinced i'll bet.. ..theres's bad stuff going on you know..

Actually as i was adriving along from HH back to Phuket i saw this ....

Edited February 27, 2014 by andreandre

[Somtamnication]

Yeah, pretty dangerous. I saw this between Chumpon and Suratthani.