Driving to BKK

[Somtamnication]

I know the route, pretty much. Not terribly difficult. Will sleep in either Chumpon or Hua Hin.

Anyone have any idea on gas cost for the car from here to BKK? Toyota Vios. I know it varies by size and how many passengers. I just need to know an approximate cost.

Or 7900b on Air Asia for wife, son and myself, return.

[hansgruber]

I'd fly. Gas will be roughly the same if you fill up 3 times.

Also there are lunatics on those roads with overloaded trucks.

I wouldn't subject a child to it again after passing some horror crashes.

On the other hand, air Asia hasn't instilled much confidence in me lately.

[LivinginKata]

Gas, food, rest stop - about the same price as flying. Only advantage might be if you need to be mobile in Bangkok. We stopped driving up many years ago since to advent of budget air fares. Not even consider the bus as not much cheaper.

[beechbum]

Fly.

[2fishin2]

Fly

[Torrens54]

Is that amount, Baht7,900 for the THREE of you RETURN? and how old is your son (adult or child fare?)

If that is the "All Up...AND BACK FARE" There is NO WAY I'd want to drive!

Edited January 26, 2015 by Torrens54

[daveAustin]

3k based on 1700kms at 15kpl.

[bino]

We drove our VIOS there and back a few years ago. Filled up when leaving BKK, and coasted into Ranong on fumes at 3 AM... struggling to find a service station that was open. Made it easily the rest of the way on that tank.. about 3/4 of it. You will make it each way easily on two tanks of gas.

But like most of the posters above- I haven't done it since and I'll never do it again. We fly and rent a car at the Phuket airport. The VIOS is just a little bit too small for a long and fast road trip. My feet and hands were "buzzing" after a day on the road.

[Mrjlh]

I've driven it several times and now have a Vios too. For 7900B r/t for three is a great price. Less wear and tear and that's you're best bet.. I usually stop half way south of Hua Hin to break the trip up in both directions. Cost will be about the same as the air fare. You just see more driving, Once you get off the Island fewer idiots on the road. except in a few locations on the way.

[Somtamnication]

Thanks everyone.

To answer one question, son is 8. His price on AA was the same, 900b each way, plus the usual hefty surcharges.

[stevenl]

1,800 km, Vios would run 1:14? on a trip like that, 130 liters, gas 26 Baht so gas 3,380 Baht, overnight 2x1,000 = 5,380 Baht door to door in gas + accommodation.

Plane 7,900 Baht plus 2,200 (depending on location) taxi costs both ways in both places, so flying about 10k door to door.

Edited January 27, 2015 by stevenl

[Somtamnication]

Stevenl, true figures. Thanks for the help.

[hkt83100]

I'd drive, because I a] like driving my car, b] like the sights on the way, c] stay over night at Prachuap, which is a lovely little town, d] like to be mobile on arrival,and last e] hate the hassle at the airports. I drive an Avanza, which is even smaller than a Vios, but it feels roomier.

[Bogan Koori]

The trip works out roughly the same cost of flying so I normally take the family by car. 1 tip though the roads before Hua Hin are poorly lit and quite bumpy. All ways stick in the right lane and don't try it at night as its quite dangerous.

[Bogan Koori]

I'd drive, because I a] like driving my car, b] like the sights on the way, c] stay over night at Prachuap, which is a lovely little town, d] like to be mobile on arrival,and last e] hate the hassle at the airports. I drive an Avanza, which is even smaller than a Vios, but it feels roomier.

Exactly the same reasons I drive

[Bogan Koori]

1,800 km, Vios would run 1:14? on a trip like that, 130 liters, gas 26 Baht so gas 3,380 Baht, overnight 2x1,000 = 5,380 Baht door to door in gas + accommodation.

Plane 7,900 Baht plus 2,200 (depending on location) taxi costs both ways in both places, so flying about 10k door to door.

That's another reason. Generally it's cheaper. Especially when the family starts inviting friends . I am limited to taking 5 when driving.

[Somtamnication]

Well, only son and wife and I. We usually have a small cooler and pillows for the back. So it will be a full car, if we drive. So far, 50 50 on it.

[Shot]

We’re a family of 4. We have done the trip 6 times, 3 driving (Isuzu D-Max SE), and 3 flying. Driving is fun for the adventure, staying and eating in different places. Flying more expensive (family of 4), but saves a few days.

Fly.

Edited January 27, 2015 by Shot

[chefseph]

What did u do in the end?

[glassdude007]

if you drive you have to be real careful....the road between suratani and hue hin is horrible...

bumps holes construction not fit for fast driving lots of crashes along the way too.....very dangerous journey......BEWARE

[phuketrichard]

i do it every year from Phuket to Laos /Cambodia and back!! Average about 8,000 kms /trip

My civic averages 13 kms/lt

Never any trouble, fine roads all the way till i hit north of Mae sot to Mae Hong son and on to Chiang khong ( wont talk about roads in laos or Cambodia LOL )

but its fantastic!!!

cost might be the same as flying even for two of us but i see 10x more an enjoy the going not just arriving

Edited February 16, 2015 by phuketrichard

[Pomthai]

Were planning driving from Phuket to Issan and back later this year wife and two of the kids. Will be making the journey part of the holiday. Quite happy to spend 3 days getting there and three days back stopping each night - looking forward to that bit. Its the 2 weeks in Issan that I'm more worried about enduring.

I think it should be pretty straight forward with a pickup, expect 6 or 7 hours of driving each day, proper break for lunch and no night driving.

The fun part is deciding upon and booking where to stop.

[hudriwudri]

drive several times in 10 hours without staying overnight with my wife and my 5 year old son, go out from phuket as early as you can

[cgphuket]

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Is that amount, Baht7,900 for the THREE of you RETURN? and how old is your son (adult or child fare?)

If that is the "All Up...AND BACK FARE" There is NO WAY I'd want to drive!

Airasia charges the same for babies, kids and adults. No discount, even if parent holds baby. Don't even know why they ask if a passenger is a child?