Nakhonchai Air vs Srimongkol from Pattaya to Korat ?

[thairookie]

Travelling for the first time from Pattaya to Korat. I'm wondering which is a better option - Nakhonchai Air or Srimongkol.

Any advice is most welcome!

Safety and comfort my top priority.

[Asiantravel]

NCA all the way !!

[Chivas]

NCA no question

[VBF]

I've never traveled on Srimongkol. but have used NCA many times between Pattaya and Loei

Very satisfied with punctuality on leaving (arriving depends on traffic of course), ticketing, cleanliness, comfort. Take some warm clothing as they sometimes have the air con set to "arctic"

Hope it helps.

Bon voyage

[MJCM]

NCA all the way !!

+1

100% NCA, but wear long pants / "winter" clothes when you travel on their buses

[walkingstreet]

Any reason as to why NKC is the undisputed champion?

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[VBF]

Any reason as to why NKC is the undisputed champion?

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

They may or may not be undisputed, but the OP basically asked for opinions from those with experience of the journey - mine is in post #4.

It seems the weight of opinion is with NCA - however YMMV!

if you've done the journey with another carrier please tell us your opinion.

[MJCM]

Any reason as to why NKC is the undisputed champion?

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It's NCA, but IMO, they are the best because of

1) good new buses, trustworthy

2) they usually are on time

3) they don't oversell / take more passengers then there are seats

4) price is very competitive

5) they have 3 classes with different price structures (non aircon, aircon or aircon with lots of legroom)

[thairookie]

Any reason as to why NKC is the undisputed champion?

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It's NCA, but IMO, they are the best because of

1) good new buses, trustworthy

2) they usually are on time

3) they don't oversell / take more passengers then there are seats

4) price is very competitive

5) they have 3 classes with different price structures (non aircon, aircon or aircon with lots of legroom)

Thanks for the endorsement. I hope another person can throw some light on Srimongkol too. Based on the website, Srimongkol comes in double-decker. I suppose the specs are the same with all double-decker tour buses.

[laolover88]

NCA Gold. Efficient. Even change drivers on long haul. All true about the air-con.

[tomwct]

NCA is good, but don't travel at night. The drivers have been falling asleep with many accidents and deaths. So travel 06:00AM to

8PM only.

[VBF]

Any reason as to why NKC is the undisputed champion?

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It's NCA, but IMO, they are the best because of

1) good new buses, trustworthy

2) they usually are on time

3) they don't oversell / take more passengers then there are seats

4) price is very competitive

5) they have 3 classes with different price structures (non aircon, aircon or aircon with lots of legroom)

Thanks for the endorsement. I hope another person can throw some light on Srimongkol too. Based on the website, Srimongkol comes in double-decker. I suppose the specs are the same with all double-decker tour buses.

NCA use double deckers too

[Asiantravel]

NCA is good, but don't travel at night. The drivers have been falling asleep with many accidents and deaths. So travel 06:00AM to

8PM only.

many accidents? Can you give examples?

[Asiantravel]

Any reason as to why NKC is the undisputed champion?

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It's NCA, but IMO, they are the best because of

1) good new buses, trustworthy

2) they usually are on time

3) they don't oversell / take more passengers then there are seats

4) price is very competitive

5) they have 3 classes with different price structures (non aircon, aircon or aircon with lots of legroom)

Thanks for the endorsement. I hope another person can throw some light on Srimongkol too. Based on the website, Srimongkol comes in double-decker. I suppose the specs are the same with all double-decker tour buses.

NCA use double deckers too

no they don't!

they are all single deck Sunlong orMercedes buses?

[Asiantravel]

Any reason as to why NKC is the undisputed champion?

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

It's NCA, but IMO, they are the best because of

1) good new buses, trustworthy

2) they usually are on time

3) they don't oversell / take more passengers then there are seats

4) price is very competitive

5) they have 3 classes with different price structures (non aircon, aircon or aircon with lots of legroom)

Thanks for the endorsement. I hope another person can throw some light on Srimongkol too. Based on the website, Srimongkol comes in double-decker. I suppose the specs are the same with all double-decker tour buses.

" I suppose the specs are the same with all double-decker tour buses. "

firstly NCA doesn't have any double-decker buses and secondly the type of bus which the other company you mentioned doesn't have anywhere near the same specifications (in other words I wouldn't go in one if you paid me)

Safety group seeks double-decker bus ban ahead of Thai New Year

“As the chassis is typically quite expensive, they are often immediately taken out of wrecks, to be used again. …

“It’s well known that most double-decker buses currently in service on Thailand’s roads were probably built from used chassis in substandard garages in Ratchaburi’s Ban Pong district. Many of the used chassis come from vehicles that have just had an accident and without having any kind of formal inspection by an engineer.”

https://asiancorrespondent.com/2014/04/safety-group-seeks-double-decker-bus-ban-ahead-of-thai-new-year/

[MJCM]

NCA is good, but don't travel at night. The drivers have been falling asleep with many accidents and deaths. So travel 06:00AM to

8PM only.

many accidents? Can you give examples?

+1.

My guess is that he might be mistaken with a company with approx the same name, so I also really would like to see posts, links etc etc

[VBF]

NCA is good, but don't travel at night. The drivers have been falling asleep with many accidents and deaths. So travel 06:00AM to

8PM only.

many accidents? Can you give examples?

+1.

My guess is that he might be mistaken with a company with approx the same name, so I also really would like to see posts, links etc etc

Well it's possible that I'm mistaken - unfortunately, I threw away my ticket after arrival at Pattaya.

So in February 2016, I traveled from Loei main bus station to Pattaya (on Sukhumvit opposite Pattaya Klang)

I went to the Loei bus statioin with a Thai friend in case they didn't speak English and booked the VIP bus to Pattaya for 472 Baht, choosing seat # 4 - RHS very front upper deck.

This was a service offering about 6 departures a day, and as far as I could see, was the only one on offer to Pattaya.

Among many other stops, the bus went via Kraeng Ko, Chayaphum, Korat (where we stopped to eat: a ticket for 30 Baht's worth of food was give to all passengers)

Eventually it got to Chonburi and eventually Pattaya - about 13 hours, partly due to the road works in Pattaya

I've traveled this route before and i was convinced that it was NCA! However having spent the last 20 minutes on Google, cannot find a picture of an NCA double-decker bus, therefore I may be wrong.

If so, ignore my other posts in this thread - very sorry!

Whoever it was - it was a very acceptable journey to which my comments in post #4 still apply!!!!

[MJCM]

If you travel on a NCA vip bus, your food ticket is a cut off from your main bus ticket. No amount on there. Where did that bus drop you off in Pattaya.?

And IMO NCA doesn't have Double Deckers and another thing, NCA doesn't (again as far as I know) service Loei from Pattaya / Rayong, but only Ubon and Chiang Mai

[VBF]

If you travel on a NCA vip bus, your food ticket is a cut off from your main bus ticket. No amount on there. Where did that bus drop you off in Pattaya.?

And IMO NCA doesn't have Double Deckers and another thing, NCA doesn't (again as far as I know) service Loei from Pattaya / Rayong, but only Ubon and Chiang Mai

As I said Pattaya (on Sukhumvit opposite Pattaya Klang) - the bus station there.

Definitely Loei to Pattaya as I've described above - as I said I thought it was NCA but apparently am mistaken -I did apologise!!

[MJCM]

Sorry for asking the question, should have read your post a bit better

[Asiantravel]

NCA is good, but don't travel at night. The drivers have been falling asleep with many accidents and deaths. So travel 06:00AM to

8PM only.

many accidents? Can you give examples?

+1.

My guess is that he might be mistaken with a company with approx the same name, so I also really would like to see posts, links etc etc

Well it's possible that I'm mistaken - unfortunately, I threw away my ticket after arrival at Pattaya.

So in February 2016, I traveled from Loei main bus station to Pattaya (on Sukhumvit opposite Pattaya Klang)

I went to the Loei bus statioin with a Thai friend in case they didn't speak English and booked the VIP bus to Pattaya for 472 Baht, choosing seat # 4 - RHS very front upper deck.

This was a service offering about 6 departures a day, and as far as I could see, was the only one on offer to Pattaya.

Among many other stops, the bus went via Kraeng Ko, Chayaphum, Korat (where we stopped to eat: a ticket for 30 Baht's worth of food was give to all passengers)

Eventually it got to Chonburi and eventually Pattaya - about 13 hours, partly due to the road works in Pattaya

I've traveled this route before and i was convinced that it was NCA! However having spent the last 20 minutes on Google, cannot find a picture of an NCA double-decker bus, therefore I may be wrong.

If so, ignore my other posts in this thread - very sorry!

Whoever it was - it was a very acceptable journey to which my comments in post #4 still apply!!!!

" cannot find a picture of an NCA double-decker bus, therefore I may be wrong. "

towards the bottom of this webpage you will see pictures of different standards of buses on their network and these represent their entire fleet

http://www.nca.co.th/main.html

[MJCM]

^ AsianTravel beat me to it

Just found this

http://www.nca.co.th/main_en.html

[Asiantravel]

Here is a practical example of why a premium bus service like NCA comes in very useful sometimes particularly under certain circumstances .

I flew to Chiang Mai for Songkran and while I was there I purchased a bulk amount of liquid in bottles (mosquito repellent which is made locally at a cheap price). While waiting for my flight to CM at Bangkok airport I happened to be near the security checking desks and I watched literally scores of verydisappointed travellers as one by one they each lost a variety of expensive -looking cosmetics, shampoos and other liquids that were being confiscated under the relatively new rule regarding a ban on carrying liquids on the aircraft. I think many travellers are obviously unaware of this rule . So if you intend to carry liquids on your travels be prepared and travel NCA and don’t let the security staff at the airport take them home !

Knowing this yesterday I just returned on NCA today and I have to say when you take into account not only the specific ban on these items but the additional stuffing around at airport security and all the time taken in travelling to and from the airport that last night and this morning it was just so effortless to step on board the bus in Chiang Mai (as well as the large amount of liquid I was carrying that is banned on the aircraft) and simply step off the bus in Pattaya which is only a few minutes from my apartment.

[thairookie]

^ AsianTravel beat me to it

Just found this

http://www.nca.co.th/main_en.html

I looked up the website, but it doesn't mention Pattaya at all.

Those who have travelled between Pattaya and Korat, where do you access time schedule for Pattaya ->Korat and vice versa ?

I read somewhere that it starts from Rayong and does a stopover at Pattaya on its way to Chiang Mai. Is that true ? And it says it starts at 1700, which means there is no day bus from Pattaya to Korat ?

[MJCM]

It indeed doesn't mention Pattaya on there, but as you said it starts from Rayong and does a stop at Pattaya, Sri Racha, Chonburi etc.

No idea about the schedule, best to call their call centre 1624, and also be advised that not all buses from (for example) Rayong - Ubon stop at Korat as they are express buses. So better call their call centre. And if you find a schedule online it could have changed already.

Good Luck

[Asiantravel]

^ AsianTravel beat me to it

Just found this

http://www.nca.co.th/main_en.html

I looked up the website, but it doesn't mention Pattaya at all.

Those who have travelled between Pattaya and Korat, where do you access time schedule for Pattaya ->Korat and vice versa ?

I read somewhere that it starts from Rayong and does a stopover at Pattaya on its way to Chiang Mai. Is that true ? And it says it starts at 1700, which means there is no day bus from Pattaya to Korat ?

Many of the NCA bus routes originate in Rayong and just stop in Pattaya but it’s not the Chiang Mai bus that you would be catching because that goes in a north-westerly direction .

I think you will find it would be the bus that goes to Ubon Ratchatani or the Khon Kaen or Udon Thani bus that you would be catching that would stop in Korat. I recommend gold class for comfort or there is now a new first class service from Rayong to Ubon Ratchatani.

[MJCM]

^ the new first class buses have private tv screens in every seat. But I have to say the seats aren't as comfortable as the old first class one, but that is a personal opinion

[thairookie]

^ AsianTravel beat me to it

Just found this

http://www.nca.co.th/main_en.html

I looked up the website, but it doesn't mention Pattaya at all.

Those who have travelled between Pattaya and Korat, where do you access time schedule for Pattaya ->Korat and vice versa ?

I read somewhere that it starts from Rayong and does a stopover at Pattaya on its way to Chiang Mai. Is that true ? And it says it starts at 1700, which means there is no day bus from Pattaya to Korat ?

Many of the NCA bus routes originate in Rayong and just stop in Pattaya but it’s not the Chiang Mai bus that you would be catching because that goes in a north-westerly direction .

I think you will find it would be the bus that goes to Ubon Ratchatani or the Khon Kaen or Udon Thani bus that you would be catching that would stop in Korat. I recommend gold class for comfort or there is now a new first class service from Rayong to Ubon Ratchatani.

Thanks. Been calling for the past two days, apparently

[thairookie]

An update.

Sri Mongkol is the undisputed authority for luxury VIP bus travel from Pattaya to Korat. Double-decker with water and bun. Trip was smooth.

NCA does not have VIP bus from Pattaya to Korat.

[MJCM]

An update.

<snip>.

NCA does not have VIP bus from Pattaya to Korat.

I have no idea where you got your info from, but NCA most certainly have VIP buses (called Gold) from Pattaya to Korat.

Have taken them many times and I sit very comfortable in them and I am 1.94cm.