HI
Would appreciate any advice on the 'state' of the roads from Bangkok to Krabi.

We arrive in BKK and were initially thinking of flying to Krabi, but are now considering hiring a car and driving down to Krabi. Are the roads good? i.e. are there main highways?
thanks for any help tips advice anyone can offer.

james will probably have the best advice, but there has to be a reason why everyone goes by plane????

why waste the day each way?? countryside is not that interesting..

I have driven along this route more times than I can remember.

keeping it simple:

1> If your destination is krabi then just fly, takes about 1 hr 10 mins, easy.

2> If however you want to spend 3 or 4 days getting there then driving is an option but again I emphasise only worthwhile if you plan on those 3 to 4 days as part of the vacation.

3> if you 'do' choose to drive the first thing is simply don't bother getting a rental in Bangkok, it is just a headache.

The best idea is to take a cab or preferably a limo from Bangkok Airport / bangkok City to Hua hin which is 180 km / 120 miles south of Bangkok along the coast, this gets you well out of the urban areas. Spend a night or 2 in Hua Hin.

These are distances/drive time on routing south from Hua Hin:-

Hua Hin - Pranburi area : 30 kms, 30 mins

Hua Hin - Dolphin Bay : 40 km, 40 mins

Hua Hin - Bang Saphan ( snorkeling and small offshore island Koh Talu ): 200 km, 2 hrs

Hua Hin - Chumphon ( Chumphon Cabana Resort, quiet beach area ) 260 km, 2 hrs 45, also island nearby of Koh tao for snorekling/scuba, Jet catamaran service

After Chumphon little to see/do, continue past Surat Thani, turn right and head to krabi.

The road is wide dual highway as far as the turn-off past Surat Thani, then scenic winding road to krabi, about 3 hours journey though not so far but road is hundreds of bends, curves.

Be aware that cattle, kids on m/bikes, racing driver speed buses etc have to be avoided, drive daytime only.

The idea of beach hoping along the coast is something that I always suggest, I have just had almost a week along this coastline and we love it, small towns, remote beaches, but some very nice resorts indeed, a real chance to see local areas, farmlands etc and off the well troden tourist trail, although again, you can stay in a/con comfort with pools etc no problem at all.

To summarise, as a mode of tranport A to B forget it, as a journey as part of your vacation highly recommended. Though what I would realy suggest is that as you will not really get any enjoyment out of the driving yourself is to "car+driver hop along the coast", i.e take a limo from bangkok to Hua Hin, then ask the hotel concierge or look on the street for a car+driver(taxi style) to take you the next stage, then you do the same at next place and so on, you have no worries about driving, have a driver who knows the roads and how to handle things, you relax! All in all that works out cheaper than a self drive rental and far less hassle.

I will post back with some ideas of places to stay, but I really recommend that coastline.

These are the coastal areas in sequence south of bangkok along the coast:

Hua Hin area:
http://huahin.sawadee.com/attraction...n%20the%20park

Hua Hin down to Bang Saphan:

http://thailand.sawadee.com/prachuap...ttractions.htm

Chumphon area:

http://www.chumphon.com/amphoe_muang.htm

Koh Tao off the coast from Chumphon:

http://www.samui.org/kohtao/attractions.html

Ideas on places to stay after Hua Hin heading south: I am putting in here mid range places though there are plenty of cheaper/mid range and budget places:

Pranburi : Evason Resort $ 90 +
http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/hu...ason/pictures/

Pranburi: Evason Hideaway $ 300+
http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/hu...away/pictures/

Pranburi / Dolphin Bay: Dolphin Bay Resort $ 30+:
http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/hu...nbay/pictures/

Bang Saphan ( Koh Talu short speedboat ride ) $ 70+
http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/hu...land/pictures/

Bang Saphan: Suan Bankrut Resort $ 35+

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/th...krut/pictures/


Chumphon : Chumphon Cabana Resort $ 45+

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/ch...bana/pictures/


In Hua Hin wide choice: Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt Regency, Sofitel, Anantara at top end down through lots of mid range down to boutique resorts and boutique guesthouses from around $ 25 upwards.

Avis and Budget both in Hua hin, Budget has the most locations in Thailand, average say Honda Civic size sedan roughly $ 40-50 per day with insurance, though getting a car+driver takes minutes just asking your hotel to sort.

James

many many thanks
this is exactly what we wanted to do. See some of Thailand on route.

At the beginning of the week I was set on Ko Samui but then changed my mind and went for Krabi and surrounds


we have 10 days in Thailand.We always like to get off the beaten track and see the countryside, how locals live etc.
Would you recommend Krabi and environs or should we stick to south of Hua Hin?
thanks again for your invaluable help
Carolyn

James

many many thanks
this is exactly what we wanted to do. See some of Thailand on route.

At the beginning of the week I was set on Ko Samui but then changed my mind and went for Krabi and surrounds


we have 10 days in Thailand.We always like to get off the beaten track and see the countryside, how locals live etc.
Would you recommend Krabi and environs or should we stick to south of Hua Hin?
thanks again for your invaluable help
Carolyn

Nothing beats scenary like krabi, what you could do is spend say 4 nights heading down, perhaps 2 nights Hua hin, 1 night Bang Saphan ( or on Koh Talu island - that link I gave ), then a night at the Chumphon Cabana.
From Chumphon to Krabi takes perhaps 4 hours easy.
I do though 'strongly' recommend using the car+driver idea, this is so popular in Thailand, what it comes down to is that every hotel/resort has contacts with local people with nice cars / wagons and this is good business, your cost is no more than a rental plus you have someone along with you that knows each individual area, every receptionist has a brother or uncle with a car and it is a hassle free way to travel.
Like anywhere driving can be a dream but you don't want to get lost on some turn off and get frustrated because non one understands you or such like. I can manage after years to find some driving leisurely but at the same time you need to know how to handle cars and bikes comming at you the wrong way down the road etc etc, this is quite normal and can take the fun out of it.

You can then fly back from krabi. Those off the beaten track accommodations do attract plenty of overseas visitors, language not a problem. A few months back I remember having baked prawns on an open fire on the beach with a few beers at one of these places and the experience lives on, you 'will' see monks on their way to temple, cattle in fields, fishermen hauling in their nets, it's there(!).

What is you accommodation budget ? We spend usually around the USD 40 level and always stay comfortable, so let me know your budget and if you want to down budget from lux/mid range I know those places as that's my budget. Dolphin Bay resort is in the Sam Roi Yot National Park but again you see more with a local driver, if you were say heading a couple of hours from there to bang saphan the driver would give you the Sam Roi Yot Tour on your way to bang saphan, also heading on the speedboat across to Koh Talu island you don't want hassle of leaving a rental on the mainland, same applies in Chumphon as you can day trip to Koh Tao island, again, the Chumphon Cabana would drop you at the Jet-catamaran pier in the morning and be there to pick you up in the evening
( I have to add also that however weel you drive you 'don't' want to have an accident...!! ).

In Hua Hin we stay at a small boutique guesthouse B&B near the beach, low season about USD 35, high about USD 50, you see elephants walking along, animals graxing, lots of local temples and a lovely local Thai village, but at the same time 7 minutes away you are in busting Hua hin for restaurants and night markets etc.
Let us know your budget for accommodation. Limo Bangkok to Hua hin about USD 70, takes about 2.5 hours. Hopping along the coast each place a few hours apart but their are sights to see along the way and local drivers know where they are(!!)

Hi James
Thanks again for your invaluable help. Have now had a rethink.

We are now either going base ourselves in Krabi/environs or Hua Hin. In your opinion, which would be the best place to stay.

We like to get out and about under our own steam and to see rural/local life and beaches etc . Is it easy to hire self drive cars in both these places.

We enjoy driving ourselves. We've driven in India, which I suspect, maybe similar driving conditions as Thailand?. Is it possible to drive around Krabi to the beaches or do you have to go by boat? Not to clear on the websites or guide books, unless of course I'm having one of my 'dumb' moments!
Thank again.

Ok if you have driven in India you have an idea, the orads in Thailand though are very very good in general comparison but you need to take care.
As far as basing yourself in one loation, mmmh, I still think it would be a good idea based ion what you are after to hop along the coast.
If you base yourself in Krabi you will of coursre have the amazing scenary of the rock formations, you need to take a boat to most good beaches, the coast south not so interesting until you get to koh lanta and Satun area, north west roughly takes you to Phang Nga but to appreciate Phang Nga going by boat from Krabi area is much better.
Krabi sights in general do not need a car.
Hua Hin area south yes by car or car+driver, I think the original idrea to spend some days easy along the coast in smaller places is nice and then finish up with some time in Krabi, that is what i would do.

Budget I belive won't charge any 'drop charge' if you rent for certain days, it used to be 3 days but I think it might be 5 days, so you can rent from Hua hin and drop in krabi if you rent for 5 days or more with no drop off charge.

It's no fee for 7 days, but 3-6 days is only B 1,000 ( USD 25 ) so that is quite reasonable:

http://www.budget.co.th/locations_home.php

Many thaks again for all the info and your time and trouble, it's much appreciated.

Is it possible to visit Phang Na and Khoa Sok National Park form Krabi? or is it too far, maybe an overnight stay?
We could also do a few nights in Ko Lanta then pick up a car near Krabi and stay there. is this in your opinion feasable?

Have you idea of good places to stay in Lanta and Krabi, is Somkietburi resort any good or should we consider somewhere Khlong Muang or Nopharat Beach? It all seems overwhelming! thanks for any info