I did never fly into KKC yet, but as the airfares are now almost same as a deluxe Bus or train-ride I am planning to do so.

Does anybody know from personal experience if the KK hotels offer free Airport pick-up same as virtually every better hotel does in Udon ? If so, which hotels would that be ? Except for the Pullman, any other hotel would suit my budget...... Kosa, Charoen, Centara and the likes, or even cheaper ones.

If no Transfer, is the shuttle/shared-van reliable ?

In Udon I had problems more than once when the counter refused to sell me a ticket for the shared Van at 80 THB and wanted to force me to buy the 250 THB private Limo ticket....

Yes you will get free pick up from the waiting buses for the major hotels.

Kosa is on Agoda at 1250 baht with free bus. Airport taxis are around 200 baht downtown.

I would recommend the http://www.rachawadeehotel.com/index.php?lang=en.

It is a lovely hotel and resort just around the corner from the airport with free transfer from arrivals.

Nice pool as well.

They have a special deal of around 850 baht at the moment and will take you downtown whenever you want on their shuttle bus.

Taxis are cheap at around 100-120 baht for journeys inside the ring road.

How long are you staying?

Yes you will get free pick up from the waiting buses for the major hotels.

I would recommend the http://www.rachawadeehotel.com/index.php?lang=en.

It is a lovely hotel and resort just around the corner from the airport with free transfer from arrivals.

Nice pool as well.

They have a special deal of around 850 baht at the moment and will take you downtown whenever you want on their shuttle bus.

Taxis are cheap at around 100-120 baht for journeys inside the ring road.

How long are you staying?

thanks for the quick reply !

Unfortunately, I DEFINITELY want to stay in a radius of 1 km of the happening places in the downtown area so I can actually walk (or crawl, who knows ^^) and not rely on TukTuk, Sawngthaew or even worse, the odd shuttle to remote hotels

Chaipat is a good value at around 550 baht. No pool but nice rooms.

Also very very near the centre.

very old and pretty run-down. I saw a room with my own eyes 4 years ago or so.

if for a cheapo, I would rather choose LELERT, very new, location alright not more than 1 km away from the action, and rooms just 510 THB plus Tax. most probably I will book into that one.

whereas the Suparee Parkview is already too far from town, same as the Mantra Varee

Chaipat was renovated last year.

However if you are prepared to get a Tuk Tuk then B B hotel at the top end of the lake is good value at 550 or

Kanyratt Hotel nearby at 800.

I arrived in November and walked straight outside to where I know the shared minibus waits. I was sent inside by the driver to the now clearly marked counter immediately to the right of the exit to buy the 80 baht ticket. Never knew there was a counter before. I just used to pay the driver. I think I was charged 100 baht the time before. Maybe the military has tightened up on any corruption there. I also noted the drive was a lot quicker going this time through 2 checkpoints which I think must have been through military property emerging on the main Bangkok road near the university area right behind where I stay. I have always thought that the drive to and from the centre was long and convoluted and that there must be a shorter route.

I arrived in November and walked straight outside to where I know the shared minibus waits. I was sent inside by the driver to the now clearly marked counter immediately to the right of the exit to buy the 80 baht ticket. Never knew there was a counter before. I just used to pay the driver. I think I was charged 100 baht the time before. Maybe the military has tightened up on any corruption there. I also noted the drive was a lot quicker going this time through 2 checkpoints which I think must have been through military property emerging on the main Bangkok road near the university area right behind where I stay. I have always thought that the drive to and from the centre was long and convoluted and that there must be a shorter route.

think your talking about udon thani

I

I am 100% sure he is talking about Udon.

Getting downtown from Khon Kaen is a lot easier than Udon.

The only military property nearby is the golf club you can see from the end of the runway.

Many hotels have a shuttle service.

If you want to be close to the action (relatively ) and don't care for the price:

Pullmann

Kosa

Charoen Thani

FULL STOP

Kosa and the Thani Princess are both excellent and just 1200 baht a night.

The free airport transport and breakfast makes the first day a no brainer.

As for action Khon Kaen has little of that apart from a few Farang bars near the Kosa.

I am 100% sure he is talking about Udon.

Getting downtown from Khon Kaen is a lot easier than Udon.

The only military property nearby is the golf club you can see from the end of the runway.

Yep! Sorry...OP mentioned Udon so I wrongly thought he was talking about Udon.

Many hotels have a shuttle service.

If you want to be close to the action (relatively ) and don't care for the price:

Pullmann

Kosa

Charoen Thani

FULL STOP

What about the Glacier Hotel??

We seem to always end up back there. Right in the middle of town.

The beds are huge and very comfortable. Only thing is their restaraunt is overpriced, but there's plenty of food nearby.

As for shuttle services, they are never free, not sure why people always say that?

A taxi is easy in KK, and usually cheaper than the 'free' hotel shuttle bus.

Close to the "action" in KKC - the mind boggles!!!!!

What about the Glacier Hotel??

OK, its a luxury place a few minutes walking from the trio.

I have not seen the rooms nor do I know people who lived there.

Personally I am not up to the "cold" glass/metall interior style. Not my taste.

I once went there with a friend looking for a room.

For the price they quoted he could have got a room at Pullmann I guess (which I'd prefer).

We walked on.

Close to the "action" in KKC - the mind boggles!!!!!

Khon Kaen is no Pattaya which is what makes it attractive. However there has been an influx of Farangs over the last 15 years which has resulted in around a dozen expat bars opening . These seem to change hands on a regular basis when the owner discovers there is no money to be made.

However it is still a lot nicer than Udon.

Many hotels have a shuttle service.

If you want to be close to the action (relatively ) and don't care for the price:

Pullmann

Kosa

Charoen Thani

FULL STOP

thanks a lot for your input but this should actually be an AIRPORT TRANSFER topic and not "what is a good hotel in KK" - topic as I know ALL of those hotels by my own experience since more than a decade.

only that I never arrived by AIR before.

Kosa and the Thani Princess are both excellent and just 1200 baht a night.

The free airport transport and breakfast makes the first day a no brainer.

As for action Khon Kaen has little of that apart from a few Farang bars near the Kosa.

If only you knew.....and i never go to the farang bars.

Enjoy your stay in Khon Kaen.

Unless you are staying at the major hotels such as the Pullman or Kosa then a taxi is the only other option.

200 baht or so. Not exactly going to break the bank and worth the convenience.

Of course you will get free pick up from the waiting buses for the major hotels.
Kosa is on agoda at 1250 baht with free bus. Airport taxis are around 200 baht downtown, I would recommend http://kiwitaxi.com to transfer airport - rachawadeehotel. We was stay in this hotel on holiday last year, nice hotel and resort

Of course you will get free pick up from the waiting buses for the major hotels.

Kosa is on agoda at 1250 baht with free bus. Airport taxis are around 200 baht downtown, I would recommend http://kiwitaxi.com to transfer airport - rachawadeehotel. We was stay in this hotel on holiday last year, nice hotel and resort

Why use that taxi company? I have never seen one of their taxis at the airport in Khon Kaen.

The Ratchawadee is only about 200 metres from the airport and they will pick you up free!

Hotel back to the airport too, drove the free?

I am confused!

I am confused!

Me too

"Kiwi" Taxi in Khon Kaen for a ~700 m "transfer"?

You never stop learning

I am confused!

Me too

"Kiwi" Taxi in Khon Kaen for a ~700 m "transfer"?

You never stop learning

Not even that...a small gentle stroll from the airport. The Ratchawadee is just outside the airport entrance next to the weather office.