Pattaya - Udon Thani by bus?

[arjay]

Nok Tang - welcome, there is an existing thread on your question, further down the same Travel & Transport Forum, see here:

post128250.html#p128250

Topics now merged.- so see start of this thread onwards.

[NokTang]

To update and make additional inquiry.....

Ended up flying back last visit. Flew up to KK, then bused to Udon Thani...Return on Thai Air at a very reasonable fare.

On my visit I looked around the bus station and came across a company called "Udon Air"? Very impressed, had the VIP bus with 1(good for me) and 2 seats across(total of three)... to Mo Chit in Bangkok... But I ended up flying. However, I'm not finding this company using various search methods. I'll be spending some time in BKK prior to my return and would like to know the times for this special VIP bus to compare with current airfares and related costs.

Anyone who knows the proper name or an actual link to the company please advise.

Thanks. Nok

[frenchfarangjomtien]

Hi,

Any complete times schedule of all bus companies leaving Udon Thani to BKK or Pattaya ?

Are buses available every 30 minutes all day long ?

Thanks.

[jorg]

Buses to BKK are no problem, there are many buses (from different companies). I prefer Chantour (they have a website but Thai only, www.chantour.com). Chantours also does buses to Rayong (but from Khonkaen), I guess they stop in Pattaya to. I took a bus from Pattaya to Udon a few months ago, don't know the name any more. Just go to the central bus station and ask.

[KHONDAHM]

For the record: OMFG the 407 bus SUCKS!

I've been commuting daily both ways this week. I've taken VIP and the 2nd class buses. 2nd class is horrible. I cannot find adequate words to convey the experience. No toilet and they cram 30 people into the isle AND the idiot steward still tries to walk up and down the isle. Toilet breaksseem to be optional (old lady next to me pissed herself TWICE) and the bus broke down twice, but still did not let people off to piss - everyone did get to watch the driver relieve himself, though.

The VIP is less crowded, but isn't much better IMHO. If you sit in the bottom, bring a gas mask. You will be smelling toilet fumes the entire trip. Blankets provided are filthy. Travel time is 12hrs for either service. They seem to take the longest possible route through other cities. You can drive it yourself in 7-8 hours (if it weren't for needing sleep, I'd be driving).

Take the plane, but g/l finding a seat on short notice. Especially just after Songkran like now. Happy trails.

[KHONDAHM]

Correction: Travel time is 10 hrs. Was thinking of time when bus broke down.

Also, according to ticket person, I had a VIP seat on a normal double decker. The VIP bus is something else. I just tried booking a seat at 0600 for the evening VIP bus and was told it was sold out. Go figure.

[Tilokarat]

Your standards are way too high KhonDahm. You are talking bus travel here. I would say that my experience travelling on Thai buses, and I do it a lot, is much more pleasant than travelling on Greyhound in Canada or the United States.

[douglas]

Hi,
Done the VIP bus to BKK a few times. 400B each way. best to book beforehand to get seat. Bus very clean and included in fare was a Thai meal and a bottle of water. Seats recline and have a massage feature. Time for trip was approx. seven and a half hours. Only stopped in K.K. on way back. Always got the 1030 approx. bus from Udon and the 0730 from BKK.
I've sat in the lower deck a few times, on these buses, and have not had the need to carry a gas mask. The wife was very impressed with them.
Only one minor point, all the films on the T.V were in Thai, but I can live with that.

[easterneye]

Khondahm I do know what you mean about the gas mask as I have also done a lot of travelling on the old buses ,, although I have also had some very good journeys offering fantastic value for money .
Just as an aside did you notice when you all watched the driver relieve himself if he had a slash as well ?

[KHONDAHM]

Been making the trip almost daily now for a week or so. Last few days have all been VIP. It has been a mix of meh and ok experiences on the 407 bus line.

I do see the other VIP buses doing the BKK Udon route and some look quite impressive with onboard WiFi, massues, and other extras. Almost makes me want to go to BKK then transfer to the Sin City regular line.

[old-timer]

Been making the trip almost daily now for a week or so. Last few days have all been VIP. It has been a mix of meh and ok experiences on the 407 bus line.

I do see the other VIP buses doing the BKK Udon route and some look quite impressive with onboard WiFi, massues, and other extras. Almost makes me want to go to BKK then transfer to the Sin City regular line.

just get a flight, then jump in a taxi and stop moaning, what do you expect for a couple of hundred or so baht.

OT...