Road Trip to Phuket

[Adrianli]

Pre-trip preparations :

 

 

 

Asked wife permission to drive up due to the recent terrorist activities. She is not as adventurous n wouldn

[Adrianli]

24th June 2007

 

We woke up ard 9.30am SG time n was ready for breakfast at 10am SG time. Breakfast at hotel was from 6.30am

[Adrianli]

25th June 2007

 

Tis time we early bird, woke up 8.30am n was down for breakfast at 9am SG time, 8am Thai time. Every choice of food was there but the menu never change leh, the food was exactly the same as yesterday

[Adrianli]

26th June 2007

 

Got up early, 8.30am SG time. Pack bag, had same breakfast(menu never change) n by 9.30am we checked out of hotel. Went to Patong beach, parked car along side n took a few pics plus a last look at the waves. We moved off from Patong beach. I took the 1st leg from Phuket to PhangNga while my fren took over from PhangNga to Hat Yai. At PhangNga, stopped at Esso n wana top up petrol but they ran out of ron95 so pumped ron91 instead. Car minimum was ron92 as in manual but no choice, 1st time feeding car such low grade fuel. We risked a short cut n went to Trang thru provisional route to Sikao n then to Trang which is off the highway route 4. Thus bypassing Huai Yot. We stopped over at Trang for lunch, on our way there, a dog decided to cross the road again while my fren was speeding at 140km/h!!! He immediately e-braked till can heard screeching sound from rear tires. I had Hankook V8 RS on so was surprised that it handled the e-brake at 140km/h very well w/o any skidding. My fren is truly inspired to get the same tire for his ride when his wear out. We encountered heavy showers too n the tires jus cut thru the water w/o problem at all.

 

 

 

Soon at 4pm we reached Hat Yai n took a wrong route which went into Hat Yai city instead of bypassing it. So lan lan juz travel along within the city speed limit due to heavy traffic. We changed over drivers there n I drove all the way back to the border checkpoint.

 

 

 

At Thai border, we again slot the RM1 note in the passport for swift processing n returned the carbon copy of the custom clearance for the car. The custom officer collecting the paper happen to be the very same lady who processed my documents on entry!!! Tis time I also never slot RM1 to her but she jus collect the form back n tell me to sign n tell me to go. We waved bye bye to Thailand n welcomed back to MY. Time check 5pm SG time.

 

 

 

Enter into MY border was super tight security, after the normal of stamping passport, kena stopped three times n thorough checked of boot. The last stop was by army uniformed guys. He even asked me if thai gals over there pretty n was surprised we traveled all the way from SG to Thailand. I drove on after the thorough checks at 80km/h n my fren reminded me that we r back at hungry TP MY, no more Thai highway w/o a single TP. I gradually increased speed to 130km/h while looking out for TP!!! We changed over at Gurun rest stop n had tea break there. Topped up Shell Vpower Racing full tank n begin our racing journey to Ipoh for a stopover for the nite. My fren avg abt 120-130km/h on NSH till we reached Ipoh ard 8pm. W/o any hotel reservation, we jus looked ard for any budget hotel n came upon tis Hollywood Hotel. We stopped n asked the rate n was pleased to hear that it

[Adrianli]

27th June 2007

 

Got up 8am wif a splitting headache from the lousy bed we slept on. Had breakfast next door, wan ton noodles + thick n sweet milo compared to the diluted NSH milo a very far cry!!! We packed our bags n checked out of the hotel n drove ard aimlessly. We came to Ipoh Parade Shopping Centre n went to have a walk there. Abt 11am, we left n went to the local produce shop which I had stored its location on my Garmin the nite b4. Bought all the stuff we needed n proceeded back to SG.

 

 

 

We hit the NSH ard 12noon n my fren took the wheel till Nilai rest stop, he traveled at ard 120-130km/h. When I took over, I floored it till 170km/h on clear straights n we would slow down till 110-120km/h when overhead bridge was sighted. By 5pm, we reached JB n after the last toll booth, I continued to travel at ard 120km/h n wondered why other vehicles traveled so slowly. Near the bend out to JB, I knew the answer

[Adrianli]

Finally here are some statistics for those interested :

 

 

 

Trip : Drive from SG to Phuket n back

 

 

 

Duration : 5D4N w/ 1N in MY stopover

 

 

 

Car : 2004 FL Nissan Sunny Ex 1.6A

 

 

 

Total distance from SG to Phuket : abt 1,300km on my tripmeter

 

Total time taken from SG to Phuket : 2.30am till 7.30pm = 17hrs exactly

 

Total distance covered for whole trip : abt 2,900+km on my tripmeter

 

Total time taken from Thai border to Phuket : abt 7hrs

 

 

 

 

 

 

NSH Toll Charges :

 

To : RM70.30 + RM16.80 + RM1.60 + RM3.30 = RM92.00

 

Back : RM3.30 + RM1.60 + RM13.00 + RM16.80 + RM68.70 = RM103.40

 

Total : S$88.02

 

 

Total toll on Thai Highway : FOC

 

 

Fuel Money Fuel Litres Mileage

 

RM75.94 33.09 349.9

 

RM59.07 30.76 340.7

 

RM16.54 08.61 115.9

 

650.10Baht 24.08 282.4

 

700Baht 23.00 272.8

 

918Baht 34.00 331.6

 

RM87.10 40.51 461.5

 

RM73.61 38.34 467.9

 

RM48.46 25.24 283.6

 

 

S$265.58 257.63 2906.3

 

 

 

Starting Routes taken : SG -> MY NSH -> Bukit Kayu Hitam -> Thai Border -> Sadao -> Hat Yai -> Phatthalung -> Trang -> Huai Yot -> Krabi -> PhangNga -> Phuket

 

 

 

Return Routes taken : Phuket -> PhangNga -> Krabi -> Sikao -> Trang -> Phatthalung -> Hat Yai -> Sadao -> Thai Border -> Bukit Kayu Hitam -> MY NSH -> Ipoh -> SG

 

 

 

 

Patong Beach Lodge Hotel stay 4D3N : S$86

 

Hollywood Hotel stay 2D1N : RM46 = S$20.72

Edited July 1, 2007 by Adrianli

[Adrianli]

Attached is the map used from MapQuest to Phuket from Thai Border :

[Kelpie]

Thank you very much for the insightful information to Phuket. It seems like I can go solo with your info. Will consult you again when I'm going there probably in December.

 

Regards,

[Ahbengdriver]

Nah Beh, this is cool man

 

Next time a 50 car contingent should go

[Rskeisuke]

Your post is really useful for those who are thinking of driving to thailand. I would like to drive up to Krabi one day. Were you a little worried when you drive through the southern part of Thailand?

[Adrianli]

I'm worried abt the Pattani area n Hat Yai only. They r the places where bombs have gone off. But we were never even closed to Pattani at all.

 

On highway 4, u will bypass Hat Yai completely which we did when going up. But on the way back, we turned into Hat Yai city. I was a little worried but it looks relatively safe wif normal traffic conditions.

 

 

The thais r generally frenly ppl. Those causing the trouble n the other group of ppl. Anyway they r aiming at those thai-muslim communities n not tourists. Juz keep to the highway will do.

 

 

Phuket is only 180+km away from Krabi, why not visit both places instead!!!

Edited July 2, 2007 by Adrianli

[Skinky]

Brilliant !!! Thx Bro !!!

 

Will help my trip in dec a great deal !!

 

so which country next ? BKK ??

[Ahbengdriver]

lets touch base again in Oct? to be feeling safe and comfortable, there should be around 15 to 20 cars.

[Adrianli]

Driving long distances, really need a good companion cum navigator cum experienced driver cum look out. My fren n I really clicked n both of us have these similar components. I doubt either my fren or me will make another such trip in the short future as he is expecting a baby within tis yr + me hosting a customary wedding end of Sept.

 

Driving in a convoy makes things even more complicated!!! The more savvy ones will be in front while those not so savvy will be lost somewhere especially when everyone's fuel n peep pitstop is different. Imagine one or two car enroute need a peep, everyone need to stop. Between Phatthalung n Trang is mountain road wif single lane n very little overtaking opportunity, it will be tricky for a convoy.

 

Wish u guys all the best n have fun during ur trip up.

[Marcz]

excellent and brillant write up!

 

we should have a folder of all these road trip experiences so fellow forumers can read!

[Rayd8or]

I got lots of RESPEK for you!

 

Makes me want to pack my bags and go to Phuket!

 

And I think with your writeup, I will do it b4 year end.

 

Thanks for a brilliant and entertaining writeup!

 

[Adrianli]

Thks.

 

I was glad Admin opened up tis section juz b4 my trip. We can read more of each others long distance driving adventure.

[Dwoon]

Thanks for the great detailed writeup.

 

It'll sure help alot when the convoy goes up.

 

Yes, it true that when the group gets too big, its very difficult to keep track of everyone. Probably break into smaller packets of max 5 cars each.... will ease the tracking for each packet lead.