FruitPudding Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Hello all. Anyone got any experience driving to Bangkok around Songkran period? How bad does it get? Would you say driving on route 24 on the 17th of April would have fairly normal road conditions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunBENQ Posted February 12, 2019 Share Posted February 12, 2019 In the past I fell for the same idea: one after the official holidays are over all fine. But that can go wrong. Nowadays many people have extra day(s) off. I last observed this during the past New Year period. On Jan 3 I did a short trip (16 km) to the district town (on a route south) and it was still heavy. 16th being last office holiday this year for Songkran. 17th, "fairly normal"? I won't support this. It will still be quite heavy. Plan extra hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpoint Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Not too bad driving to Bangkok at the start of, and mid- Songkran, as all the traffic is going the other way, but I wouldn't do it at the end of the holiday, as everyone's heading back to Bangkok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunBENQ Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 2 hours ago, ballpoint said: at the start of, and mid- Songkran Yes that might work. Going against the flow. But then: what you do in deserted Bangkok at this time? Enjoy empty roads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJPom Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Did this last year from Kalasin and only got as far as Sara Buri. Drove up from Krabi midweek before Songkran and averaged mid 70 kph On the drive back on the Tuesday the average was 28 kph with three lane roads having five lanes of stop start traffic, never again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfd101 Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Whether or not you're doing it on a weekly basis or an occasional holiday basis, your driving in or out of BKK needs to be counter-cyclical. Unless you enjoy the heat, the fumes & the frustration ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGW Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 I had to drive to Bangkok from Udon a couple of years back due to a bereavement, it was an absolute nightmare as many lanes of road had been closed off and given to the traffic leaving Bkk to drive north, wouldn't want to do that again, took twice as long as it usually takes me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydebolle Posted February 13, 2019 Share Posted February 13, 2019 If you can - fly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitPudding Posted February 14, 2019 Author Share Posted February 14, 2019 Anyone think it will be quieter driving at night? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maprao Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 On 2/13/2019 at 5:17 AM, ballpoint said: Not too bad driving to Bangkok at the start of, and mid- Songkran, as all the traffic is going the other way, but I wouldn't do it at the end of the holiday, as everyone's heading back to Bangkok. and are probably on your side of the road heading towards you???????????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IssanDad Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Head to Toe going up there unless you go 1-2 day head start before the designated public holidays...Tediously slow and frustrating..All i can say is avoid it. Do not drive the same days as the Thai public are forced to. Coming back was a nightmare. Took over 10 hours, 3 lanes becomes 6 lanes, frequently grinding to a complete halt for any number of reasons, even at best you can frequently walk faster. Because i was driving on my own i faced 2 major hurdles. !st, I was dying for a Toilet stop....I had no option but to use a bottle, as the gas stops were hours apart at the pace the traffic was going. 2nd issue i was absolutely buggered (very tired), i was terrified that i would nod off and bang into the car in front because of monotonously slow (hypnotising almost) traffic speed, At 7-8 hours into the trip i became very sleepy But due to the 6 lanes of traffic (including the emergency lane) i could find no where to pull over for a rest). NEVER AGAIN AFTER THAT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubonjoe Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 I make it a point not travel on any big holidays. The Songkran holidays just grew to 5 days in row since the cabinet added Friday the 12th as an additional day on Tuesday. Now the 12th to the 16th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nervona81732 Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Yah, don't do it. Sorry to be so blunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUNROAMIN Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Stay at home, is the silly season in Thailand, all the fruit cakes are out on the roads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wreckingcountry Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 Silly season for Thais driving is Jan 1 - Dec 31Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjoo888 Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 On 2/13/2019 at 12:04 PM, KhunBENQ said: Yes that might work. Going against the flow. But then: what you do in deserted Bangkok at this time? Enjoy empty roads? As a Bangkok resident, Songkran is my favorite time of year in Bangkok. What may normally take an hour to drive from point A to point B, you can do in 15 minutes during Songkran. Plus, most everything is open, just not nearly as crowded. Yes I do enjoy the empty roads, they're a rare and most welcome sight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunBENQ Posted February 14, 2019 Share Posted February 14, 2019 2 hours ago, gjoo888 said: As a Bangkok resident, Songkran is my favorite time of year in Bangkok Never been there during Songkran but I understand what you mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitPudding Posted February 15, 2019 Author Share Posted February 15, 2019 18 hours ago, IssanDad said: Head to Toe going up there unless you go 1-2 day head start before the designated public holidays...Tediously slow and frustrating..All i can say is avoid it. Do not drive the same days as the Thai public are forced to. Coming back was a nightmare. Took over 10 hours, 3 lanes becomes 6 lanes, frequently grinding to a complete halt for any number of reasons, even at best you can frequently walk faster. Because i was driving on my own i faced 2 major hurdles. !st, I was dying for a Toilet stop....I had no option but to use a bottle, as the gas stops were hours apart at the pace the traffic was going. 2nd issue i was absolutely buggered (very tired), i was terrified that i would nod off and bang into the car in front because of monotonously slow (hypnotising almost) traffic speed, At 7-8 hours into the trip i became very sleepy But due to the 6 lanes of traffic (including the emergency lane) i could find no where to pull over for a rest). NEVER AGAIN AFTER THAT Wow, which road was this on? What time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitPudding Posted February 15, 2019 Author Share Posted February 15, 2019 On 2/13/2019 at 3:50 PM, PJPom said: Did this last year from Kalasin and only got as far as Sara Buri. Drove up from Krabi midweek before Songkran and averaged mid 70 kph On the drive back on the Tuesday the average was 28 kph with three lane roads having five lanes of stop start traffic, never again. When you say Tuesday, do you mean Tuesday 18th April, last year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitPudding Posted February 15, 2019 Author Share Posted February 15, 2019 Anyone reckon the 226 would be better than 24? Or leaving at around midnight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitPudding Posted February 16, 2019 Author Share Posted February 16, 2019 CHEERS GUYS. YOU ALL CONVINCED ME TOO BOOK THE TRAIN. I GOT THE LAST 3 TICKETS. ACTUALLY THEY WERE CANCELLATION TICKETS -- WE GOT LUCKY. ONLY 3RD CLASS LEFT NOW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpoint Posted February 17, 2019 Share Posted February 17, 2019 I remember an infamous Songkran back in the 90's when the tollway was still being built and there was major road and bridge construction around Rangsit. The Bangkok Post interviewed one poor guy who left central Bangkok after work, and by 02:00 had gotten as far as Don Muang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.