What's up with the Bkk wans?

[Chas]

Just had the distinct pleasure of surviving yet another high speed chase ( of the almighty baht ) from Bangkok to Hua Hin in one of the vans that plies the route between the two cities.

Scary no doubt, but really the only way to do it short of hiring a taxi perhaps or driving oneself there and back ( an adventure I have actually risked once or twice) or perhaps by air.

I tried the Railroad first as I LOVE trains. Computers down due to lightning. (apparently forever) no reservations possible, then a bombing in Pattani and the closure of that line. . .and then an agent who wanted first to send me to Surratani to get to Bkk. So I gave up on that.

I went to Bkk by the regular bus line ( the blue and white jobs) but I am on vac and really wanted to enjoy the trip. I wanted a luxury ride and this was not it! Are there NONE leaving Hua Hin? Those busses you see with the reclining seats and blankets and pillows and all? Is it just the blue & whites unless you are with a tour?

But of course the big buses ALL leave you of at that bus station well outside of BKK at the mercy of taxi touts, so its back to the fast, convenient dangerous vans.

Anyway, this time the van drove up to the ticket stand (at Victory Monument) loaded the waiting passengers in a state near panic and drove off the back way through the hospital parking lot. I have never seen Thai people this excited about something not a rock concert or a sports match. They were actually shoving people and yelling at customers.

Anyone have a clue what's up? I have taken these vans for years now and never seen this kind of thing before. Govt crackdown? gang wars? Competition? I also noticed that there were no signs of any sort saying where to buy the tickets as there used to be.

[Heebio]

I heard something about this yesterday - it's all third hand but I'll pass it on, for what it's worth.

One of my customers has a business in Bangkok and makes regular trips there via the mini bus - she has become friends with one of the more sensible drivers and usually calls him to find out what time he is scheduled to be making the trip.

She was heading up to BKK on Monday but when she called the driver he told her they are no longer leaving from the usual place as three or four of the mini buses had been impounded by the MIB - his boss had taken his bus back to his home town to prevent it suffering the same fate. From what she could make out it was more than just the boys in brown out for some extra beer money, she was of the opinion that this was somehow political and related to current events countrywide.

Now the interesting part is that she was telling me the Hua Hin bus is no longer dropping off or picking up from Victory Monument - seems the BKK cops are in on this as well - doesn't appear to be a localised incident. She was saying they were told to wait at a gas station round the corner from Victory Monument, where they were told they would be picked up. When she and her friend were waiting at the gas station there were a couple of cops hanging around apparently, and two or three more inside the stations shop. She said she felt pretty uncomfortable with the whole arrangement and ended up finding alternative transport to get down the road.

Like I said, this is mostly third hand, but what she told seems to back up the OP's post. I can't even begin to hazard a guess at what's behind this move but it does appear that, for the time being anyway, the mini buses are no longer an option - which is pissing me right off.

I sincerely hope this is an isolated incident and not a taste of things to come. Anymore information about this would be very much appreciated.
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Never trust a hippy....

[thehamok]

Please, if anyone else has some information on this matter pleas let us know.

I'm planning to use this mini bus service on Wednesday 13th. next.

If the mini buses are not going to be running then I should be making alternative arrangements.

Perhaps I should just get a taxi to the Southern Bus Station from the new airport and travel by ordinary bus.

How far is the bus station in Hua Hin from the centre of town and how do you get to the centre from the bus station ?????
Any help would be appreciated.

The train is also an option.

Is there anyone on the board in a position to get more up to date information from the people who run the buses in Hua Hin ???
Have they stopped completely ??
Is there somewhere else they are going from ??

Thanks and any information will be appreciated.

[The understudy]

Hallo There thehamok

I would strongly advise you not to get a Taxi from Suvarnebhum Airport all the way to the Southern Bus Terminal! You gonna pay a hefty meter price around 160 to 180 Baht or more.
I can;t really give you any alternatives because I'm abroad to and whcih this News concerns me too.

When you arrive by VIP bus the Station is right @ the centre of Hua Hin you can reach any guesthouses, and Hotels in the centre of town within five min. walk!!!

Your;s The understudy!!!
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[thehamok]

Understudy -- thanks for that.

It has been suggested that I get a taxi all the way to Hua Hin and that looks like a good option now.

Any idea of the price for that ??

[STEVE G]

Thehamok, realistically expect to pay 2500 baht for a taxi picked up at the airport, you might be lucky and get lower but don’t rely on it. If you are on a budget, getting a taxi to the Southern bus terminal and the normal bus to Hua Hin will work and cost you about 500 baht in total. The bus stops in the centre of Hua Hin, where the bus symbol is on the HHAD city map, square B6.
The Southern Bus Terminal is a bit of a mad, disorganized, place but if you ask anyone official looking for Hua Hin you will generally get pointed in the right direction.

[thehamok]

SteveG.
Thanks.
I see that there is supposed to be a local bus, number 556, from the airport to the Southern Bus Station for 35 baht.

A taxi might get me there earlier.

Do you know how long it takes on this bus from the Southern Bus STation to Hua Hin ??

[STEVE G]

There could well be a bus service to the S. Bus Terminal, I've never tried that but I know when the airport opened they were trying to organize one.
The bus to Hua Hin takes around about 3 hours but it can be more or less depending on traffic conditions, I've used it quite a few times and I always found it to be reliable.

[Jack Daniel]

There is also a publc bus from the airport to the southern station.


http://www.bangkokairportonline.com/node/56

[STEVE G]

Yes, I just had a look at that bus 556, and it shouldn’t take much longer than a taxi providing they are regular and you don’t have to wait too long for one.

[Chas]

Hebio everything you say makes perfect sense with what I observed.
Some of the drivers are more careful than the others and it would be nice to be able to plan ahead. . but its usually the luck of the draw.

A couple of questions here.

1. Does anyone know of an arrangement like that set up at one time for visa runs. . where the time and place are advertised, the cost set and a number of passengers share the cost of the taxi/van/bus?

2. Do any taxi drivers in HH arrange multiple passengers to share costs? It seems like a rather simple business to conduct by cell phone with a common number to call. ( But then I have never run a taxi so I really dont know. But there must be peak times when a larger number of people travel. . like weekends.)

3. Do ALL the busses run to that southern terminal?

4. Any predictions as to when the Railway computers might be back on line and reservations possible again? Anyone booked lately?

I have to make the trip again in a week and information is very useful right now. Hell, maybe I will just drive myself there.

[buksida]

You can book taxis online here:

www.taxihuahin.net
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Your powers are weak old man.

[Norseman]

I went to the minibus station today and asked if they had made any changes to the bus stop at the Victory Monument as mentioned by Heebio.
They said no and that business runs as usual.
No changes and the vans will pick you up same spot as usual.
True or not, I don't know, but this is what the staff told me in Hua Hin.
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I intend to live forever -- so far, so good.

[thehamok]

Thanks very much Norseman for that.

It is much appreciated.

I hope it wasn't too much trouble to get that information.

I will keep this under review. I will leave on Tuesday and get to Bangkok on Wednesday morning.

Its good news anyway.

[santa]

Anyone know when the last busses or minivans leave BKK for HH - my flight gets in at 19.40 Sunday
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