Hello:

Need some advice.

I have to go to Laos to get a Multi Non-O, but I don't want to take any of those killer Bus or Van rides.

I live near Phuket International Airport in Thalang.

What is the most economical way to safely get to Savannakhet?

Thanks

Lao Airlines. They do BKK - ZVK (direct or via VTE)

http://www.laoairlines.com

Not 100% what you're looking for, but could help...

Lao Airlines do not fly to Phuket. Both Air Asia or Nok Air are cheaper that Lao from Don Mueang. They connect by bus to Mukdahan.

There are many threads on the subject.

Edited September 26, 201411 yr by paz

HKT-BKK with Bangkok Airways and then BKK-ZVK with Laoairlines.

The small Lao planes to ZVK or VTE are really funny for a windy flight. A memorable experience. Also the domestic gate at VTE is a must see in Laos.

Edited September 27, 201411 yr by schlog

By air this will cost you an absolute fortune, esp if you are booking with little or no advance.

Bus to bkk, bus to muk, overland to Lao.

Maybe discount carrier to Ubon in/direct and take it from there.

Seriously, if you cant deal with overland, maybe want to rethink where you are living. City and country.

Both Air Asia and Nok Air offer fly/ride service to Mukdahan via Nakhon Phanom.

You can fly in and spend the night in Mukdahan then cross the bridge the next morning to Savannakhet. Apply for your visa before 11am and then pickup your visa at 3:30pm and return to Thailand for your trip home now.

Fly Air Asia to Udon Thani, then 20 min bus ride to Vientiane crossing. I am assuming that what you wanted done un Savanakhet can also be done at this major checkpoint also

Just drove myself from chiang mai to mukdahan return and didnt see any "killer" buses or vans

Fly Air Asia to Udon Thani, then 20 min bus ride to Vientiane crossing. I am assuming that what you wanted done un Savanakhet can also be done at this major checkpoint also

He is wanting to go the Thai consulate in Savannakhet to get a multiple entry non-o visa.

He does not just want to do a border crossing.

The Lao Airlines flight from BKK is very quick (45 minutes) and efficient. A pricey option but worth it if you can get to Bangkok.

I'm sitting here at the bridge now, what a completely different experience for those of us in the south.

I got 4 flights for 5,500b, the cost of the flight transfer from Don muang to mukhahan via nakon phanom was 1300b + 1500b.

The minivan is easy to find, print your ticket, report to limo service first, then escorted to luxury van ( not like a southern junker ). There were 6 others on my bus, driver careful for an arrival in Muk at 6.30 PM on the dot.

Bridge immigration were the friendliest and politest I have come across after 6 years in the south.

A fortune, I think not .. It's hardly worth taking the bus.

Fly Air Asia to Udon Thani, then 20 min bus ride to Vientiane crossing. I am assuming that what you wanted done un Savanakhet can also be done at this major checkpoint also

They do not do multiple entry o visas.

By air this will cost you an absolute fortune, esp if you are booking with little or no advance.

Bus to bkk, bus to muk, overland to Lao.

Maybe discount carrier to Ubon in/direct and take it from there.

Seriously, if you cant deal with overland, maybe want to rethink where you are living. City and country.

You're kidding, right? Whether one chooses to fly vs. overland has nothing to do with where he/her should live. And it doesn't cost a fortune to fly. May be hard for you to understand but some people are happy to pay for convenience ... and it doesn't make you a lesser person to do so.

Edited September 27, 201411 yr by HerbalEd

I flew from Suratthani to Nakon Phanom.

Cost me a fortune (had to change dates of 1 flight due to a bank holiday I missed) but I would rather spend my hard earned cash on flights than take a bus anytime.

Thank You everybody for the info.

Hi,

I have a house in Mukdahan and travel there several times a year. To get to Mukdahan the most cost effective way is Nok air Don Muang to Ubon Ratchatani then taxi. the Nok flight should cost you about 2500b return, the taxi is about 2200b each way. you can get the VIP mini buses cheaper, Ubon-Mukdahan but I refuse to travel on them.

The taxi will take you to the bridge for crossing. Visa entry to Laos for most is currently 1700b and you will need a passport photo. Bus over the bridge is 40b (i think) and in Laos there is a variety of taxi's - tuk tuks to get around on. take a fair amount of small baht denominations as taxis etc want to give change in Laos currency which is useless outside Laos.

Alternatively you can fly BKK - Savanakhet direct, the daily flight has been cut to about 4 per week but is quite good, only 50 minutes or so and the service is efficient (for SE Asia). This costs about USD150 each way but is hassle free. Savanakhet has a good variety of accommodation I am told.

Edited September 27, 201411 yr by stevecarteraus

I just flew from Bangkok to Nakom Panom on AA for 1600 last Thursday.

AA minibus transfer to Mud was 430 baht. Takes about an hour from Airport to Central Mud.

The bus from Bangkok is less than b700 and puts you in before 0700.

Did not know flts to muk ftom puk direct, stand corrected.

The bus from Bangkok is less than b700 and puts you in before 0700.

Did not know flts to muk ftom puk direct, stand corrected.

Yes the bus is cheap, and you can get VIP minibus cheaply as well. I won't travel on them as have seen too many off the side of the road after accidents. Will happily pay an extra couple of thousand baht and maybe have a better chance of arriving in 1 piece.

Hi,

I have a house in Mukdahan and travel there several times a year. To get to Mukdahan the most cost effective way is Nok air Don Muang to Ubon Ratchatani then taxi. the Nok flight should cost you about 2500b return, the taxi is about 2200b each way. you can get the VIP mini buses cheaper, Ubon-Mukdahan but I refuse to travel on them.

Both Nok Air and Air asia have the bus transfer included in their price. Just book to Mukdahan not Ubon Ratchatani. However if one wants to get there later evening, there is a an AA 18:00 flights that is does not have the option of pre-booking the bus.

The taxi will take you to the bridge for crossing. Visa entry to Laos for most is currently 1700b and you will need a passport photo.

Laos visa should be paid is USD to avoid exchange scamming. E.g. various nationalities pay $35.

Hi,

I have a house in Mukdahan and travel there several times a year. To get to Mukdahan the most cost effective way is Nok air Don Muang to Ubon Ratchatani then taxi. the Nok flight should cost you about 2500b return, the taxi is about 2200b each way. you can get the VIP mini buses cheaper, Ubon-Mukdahan but I refuse to travel on them.

Both Nok Air and Air asia have the bus transfer included in their price. Just book to Mukdahan not Ubon Ratchatani. However if one wants to get there later evening, there is a an AA 18:00 flights that is does not have the option of pre-booking the bus.

The taxi will take you to the bridge for crossing. Visa entry to Laos for most is currently 1700b and you will need a passport photo.

Laos visa should be paid is USD to avoid exchange scamming. E.g. various nationalities pay $35.

True, but when I crossed in August they had taken down the sign for USD various nationalities and were charging baht, guy gave me dumb look (you know the look) when I asked about USD.

True, but when I crossed in August they had taken down the sign for USD various nationalities and were charging baht, guy gave me dumb look (you know the look) when I asked about USD.

I guess that is part of the scam, one has to be firm to not be taking in. I do not have a copy of the Laos regulations but these must exist somewhere.

The Thai consulate is in a new (ugly modern grey style) building, nearer the bridge

google map coordinates are 16.582011, 104.758597

Visit Lin's cafe, its marked on google maps, they speak reasonable english and know the town, serve good western food

english bloke there had 2.5 years of back to back TVs with red marks and warnings and had no probs at the consulate and at the border

Edited September 28, 201411 yr by Jdiddy

Hi,

I have a house in Mukdahan and travel there several times a year. To get to Mukdahan the most cost effective way is Nok air Don Muang to Ubon Ratchatani then taxi. the Nok flight should cost you about 2500b return, the taxi is about 2200b each way. you can get the VIP mini buses cheaper, Ubon-Mukdahan but I refuse to travel on them.

Both Nok Air and Air asia have the bus transfer included in their price. Just book to Mukdahan not Ubon Ratchatani. However if one wants to get there later evening, there is a an AA 18:00 flights that is does not have the option of pre-booking the bus.

The taxi will take you to the bridge for crossing. Visa entry to Laos for most is currently 1700b and you will need a passport photo.

Laos visa should be paid is USD to avoid exchange scamming. E.g. various nationalities pay $35.

True, but when I crossed in August they had taken down the sign for USD various nationalities and were charging baht, guy gave me dumb look (you know the look) when I asked about USD.

I went last week, I just gave 35USD & a completed form & said nothing & job jobbed.

Main advantage of bus to Mukadan from bangkok besides cost is the arrival time is perfect for simply buying border bus ticket (50THB) & jumping straight on bus to border.

Complete commute costs from/to BKK for me using Using VIP tour bus (drove sensibly) & Mukadan border bus was 1,500Bt including some tuk-tuk baht etc. With Visas done same day you can even be back in Mukadan by 6pm which is perfect timing to book return vip which they have 2 at 7:30pm or 8pm.

Also remember the new thai consulute is only 10 miunte walk from Savannakhet bus station ( walk out bus station turn left & walk straight on same road & consulate will be on your left also)

Edited September 28, 201411 yr by BuckBee

True, but when I crossed in August they had taken down the sign for USD various nationalities and were charging baht, guy gave me dumb look (you know the look) when I asked about USD.

I guess that is part of the scam, one has to be firm to not be taking in. I do not have a copy of the Laos regulations but these must exist somewhere.

Country Price (US Dollar)

Australia 30

Canada 42

China 20

India 40

Sweden 31

USA 35

UK 35

Others 30

I had no 40THB stamp fee which was nice surprise, Noticed Asian person in front of me did & had 40THB ready but was stamped & told no fee & assume because my first time through & looking like genuine Lao tourist compared to most !

the form for Lao visa on arival can be downloaded saving time/hassle at boarder & I added a link in the main Savannakhet thread.

Edited September 28, 201411 yr by BuckBee

On 9/27/2014 at 7:47 AM, Mencken said:

By air this will cost you an absolute fortune, esp if you are booking with little or no advance.

Bus to bkk, bus to muk, overland to Lao.

Maybe discount carrier to Ubon in/direct and take it from there.

Seriously, if you cant deal with overland, maybe want to rethink where you are living. City and country.

What a ridiculous statement! I’ve just done it from Phuket and was one of the easiest and straightforward visa trips that I have done in the past 15 years. It doesn’t cost a fortune either. Bangkok to Savannakhet about 5000 Baht with 30 minute stop in Paske. Much better than risking your life on a crappy old bus and saves so much time.

3 hours ago, mal2018 said:

What a ridiculous statement! I’ve just done it from Phuket and was one of the easiest and straightforward visa trips that I have done in the past 15 years. It doesn’t cost a fortune either. Bangkok to Savannakhet about 5000 Baht with 30 minute stop in Paske. Much better than risking your life on a crappy old bus and saves so much time.

Nice rant, but in case you didn't notice, you commented on a post that is more than 4 years old.

Nice rant, but in case you didn't notice, you commented on a post that is more than 4 years old.

It hasn't changed much. Lao Airlines still fly to Savannakhet from Suvanarbhumi via Pakse. A nice little flight.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk