Udon Thani or Khon Kaen?

[LOSdelights]

Me and a mate are coming to LOS soon and am looking at doing a few days up North to Isaan. The obvious choices are to fly either to Udon Thani or Khon Kaen. Really fancy a place that's not your usual farang-touristy place (gonna do enough of that elsewhere), but also with a few interesting things to see and do…...and have read alot about Isaan.

Udon is appealing as could do a day trip to Laos from there, although by doing a few searches I see that Khon Kaen seems to have a few fans on here. We fancy just driving around into the country, experiencing the town, and then also heading to some nightlife ie bars and clubs in the evening.

Would people who know both these areas rate Khon Kaen over Udon Thani particularly, or vice versa?? Also, cant find it on the internet, but how long would it take to travel between the 2 places?

Any input welcomed, Cheers!

[lunglek]

Try looking at these they´re similar forums to this one

KhonKaen.com Forum
Udon Thani, Thailand Forum - - Index

[Heywood]

Originally Posted by LOSdelights

Me and a mate are coming to LOS soon and am looking at doing a few days up North to Isaan. The obvious choices are to fly either to Udon Thani or Khon Kaen. Really fancy a place that's not your usual farang-touristy place (gonna do enough of that elsewhere), but also with a few interesting things to see and do…...and have read alot about Isaan.

Udon is appealing as could do a day trip to Laos from there, although by doing a few searches I see that Khon Kaen seems to have a few fans on here. We fancy just driving around into the country, experiencing the town, and then also heading to some nightlife ie bars and clubs in the evening.

Would people who know both these areas rate Khon Kaen over Udon Thani particularly, or vice versa?? Also, cant find it on the internet, but how long would it take to travel between the 2 places?

Any input welcomed, Cheers!

Well you won't have issues with either place, you won't mistake them for the usual touristy areas....So your plan is what??

Guess what I'm asking is are you going into issan for any particular reason?

As far as which one to go to would really depend on what your looking to do with your time, more than happy to talk about things.

[LOSdelights]

Originally Posted by Heywood

Well you won't have issues with either place, you won't mistake them for the usual touristy areas....So your plan is what??

Guess what I'm asking is are you going into issan for any particular reason?

As far as which one to go to would really depend on what your looking to do with your time, more than happy to talk about things.

Yeah I guess Isaan is a bit romanticised for me at the moment after reading quite a lot about the place and people and way of life. Also going to Samui and more tourist places in my few weeks so would really like to try somewhere a bit more authentically thai.

Thanks for the offer of help.......I'm not particularly going for a sex tour or anything, plenty of that elsewhere in LOS. Some of the stories on here though about the way of life and the villages surrounding big towns just make it more of an intriguing place to visit and experience the real Thailand.

It's looking like Udon now cos of flights actually......any recommendations as to things to do? ie Is Laos worth a visit for the day? How about just driving out of Udon into the countryside a bit? And what's the nightlife like? I hear there's a place called Hightech plaza thats got bars and clubs etc.......not necessarily looking for naughty nightlife, just fun places with nice locals.

cheers

[Heywood]

Originally Posted by LOSdelights

Yeah I guess Isaan is a bit romanticised for me at the moment after reading quite a lot about the place and people and way of life. Also going to Samui and more tourist places in my few weeks so would really like to try somewhere a bit more authentically thai.

Thanks for the offer of help.......I'm not particularly going for a sex tour or anything, plenty of that elsewhere in LOS. Some of the stories on here though about the way of life and the villages surrounding big towns just make it more of an intriguing place to visit and experience the real Thailand.

It's looking like Udon now cos of flights actually......any recommendations as to things to do? ie Is Laos worth a visit for the day? How about just driving out of Udon into the countryside a bit? And what's the nightlife like? I hear there's a place called Hightech plaza thats got bars and clubs etc.......not necessarily looking for naughty nightlife, just fun places with nice locals.

cheers

Here's the only thing that jumps out at me about what your saying, most people I know have someone with them that is from there, that's where the real experience comes from, I've never thought about just going up there by myself...no problems mind you, just the real feeling of things for me has come because of getting out and doing things with the family.

I say go for it, plenty of info on the farang folks up in udon. try udonmap.com, but I thought that khon kaen was easier to get in and out of, hadn't been to laos in a very very long time, so I'm not much help there...but all reports say if you have the time sure laos is worth a stop in...again it depends on what you want..plenty of temples to visit.

Khon kaen has a lot of uni girls running around...so if your a younger guy that might be worthwhile....either way not matter what you trip up there most certainly won't be like the rest of your trip, so work on your thai prior to leaving and just keep an open mind and your eyes open...relax and enjoy.

[dizbuster]

I know Udon reasonably well now, but not been to KK, I'm waiting for G to get back to LOS so I can't drive down and get plastered with the wee fella

Anyways, as far as Udon goes, there is not really much up there compared to the likes of Pattaya, Patong etc. Small bar scene near the big shopping complex and they also have a Soi Kateoy. Driving to Laos would not be possible as far as I am aware, you can drive in Thailand but you cannot take the car across the border - insurance reasons I guess. Plenty of places to go in the car if you like going out for a drive and looking at the countryside. It's not obvious and nothing is signposted, so grab anything that the hotel you stay at has on their reception desk i.e. maps, flyers etc.

I recommend Udon Thai House having stayed there twice already, it's on the outskirts of town just outside the ring road but is very popular, so book in advance if you want to stay there.

Have fun

[LOSdelights]

Originally Posted by Heywood

Here's the only thing that jumps out at me about what your saying, most people I know have someone with them that is from there, that's where the real experience comes from, I've never thought about just going up there by myself...no problems mind you, just the real feeling of things for me has come because of getting out and doing things with the family.

I say go for it, plenty of info on the farang folks up in udon. try udonmap.com, but I thought that khon kaen was easier to get in and out of, hadn't been to laos in a very very long time, so I'm not much help there...but all reports say if you have the time sure laos is worth a stop in...again it depends on what you want..plenty of temples to visit.

Khon kaen has a lot of uni girls running around...so if your a younger guy that might be worthwhile....either way not matter what you trip up there most certainly won't be like the rest of your trip, so work on your thai prior to leaving and just keep an open mind and your eyes open...relax and enjoy.

Cheers, I actually know a girl who lives Khon Kaen way so may look her up to help as my Thai is pretty bad.

Udonmap is very useful and seems to have a good forum.

Just hope the trek up there is worth it..........I'm sure it will be ;-)

[sdhayes]

Not a lot to do in KK. I'd recommend Buriram (for Phnom Rung) & Khorat also nearby. Or Ubon and a dip into Laos. Or, Nong Khai and into Laos from Udon?

[thaitan]

I have been to UT and KK but i think you will find what your looking for is in Khorat.

[H3X]

LOSdelights i agree with Heywood.

To get the best 'Isaan experience' it would be better to go with a couple of Isaan girls as tour guides.....



H3X

[JHolmesJr]

FWIW every girl I have ever had from Khon Khaen has been exceptional...I can't figure out why but that is how it is.

[erik1]

Fly to Udon Thani, rent a car (approx 1200 baht per day for a new L200/Triton 4 door or 1000 for a smaller both with full insurrance, you can also get a fortuner for about 2500 per day and many in between) look around Udon for 2 days, then take the highway 2 to Khon Kaen (2 hour drive) and spend some days there and you have both

Udon has more Farang orientated restaurants and bars, but Khon Kaen gives more pure thailand to me even though slowly there are more farangs there

Originally Posted by LOSdelights

Me and a mate are coming to LOS soon and am looking at doing a few days up North to Isaan. The obvious choices are to fly either to Udon Thani or Khon Kaen. Really fancy a place that's not your usual farang-touristy place (gonna do enough of that elsewhere), but also with a few interesting things to see and do…...and have read alot about Isaan.

Udon is appealing as could do a day trip to Laos from there, although by doing a few searches I see that Khon Kaen seems to have a few fans on here. We fancy just driving around into the country, experiencing the town, and then also heading to some nightlife ie bars and clubs in the evening.

Would people who know both these areas rate Khon Kaen over Udon Thani particularly, or vice versa?? Also, cant find it on the internet, but how long would it take to travel between the 2 places?

Any input welcomed, Cheers!

[Heywood]

Always good advice to be found here, its always hard to tell people about a place, personally for me I've always had a good time just about anywhere I have been, so I tend to think its what you make of things.

There is always something to see or do if your willing to get outside of your comfort zone.

Personally I could stay just about anywhere and find something to do...maybe I'm just easily amused

[fun2have]

good highway from udon to kk (kao lam sold on the roadside is a treat you may like), a fairly gentle drive, stopping off in kumpawapi to look at the monkeys, very exciting place the north east.
nice picnic out to ubon rat dam, if your a golfer have around of golf there.

laos is not somewhere i would bother with on a day trip, 30-35 usd for a visa and the waiting time.
if your taking an issan tour guide make sure she has a passport or a border pass, i dont know the waiting time to get the border pass done but a question to udonmap website would provide the answer.

farang bars in udon are quite plentiful and you even will hear "hello hansum man" at night time if that turns you on.

[eric-the-viking]

Originally Posted by Nuntanabkk

Wanna go to Mahasarakham with me mai? And i will pass Khon Kaen anyway then I will drop you at Udon Thani...........

hells bells you do come from Mahasarakham do you ?
that my second home!!!!!!!!!!!! shocked or what well its very close anyway try kosum pisai

[eric-the-viking]

if you go to K.K
The sofitel or kosa are not bad hotels very close to Erics bar which is just around the corner from the few bars/nightclubs that are there but the are cheaper ones,the Khon kean inn is cheap and the rooms show it ,but its location is very close to K.K`s version of chirsitines(so im told)and has a karaoke type thing.The is also a few car hire places next to Erics but dont know what insurance cover you have if any?
but i normally have a 3litre d-max of the girl who has the pepsi stand outside her shop.her husband is high up in the police so all his motors are fairly new.

[khon kaen boy]

sdhayes, what experience do you have of KK ? not a lot to do ? you obviously don't know the place then

[eric-the-viking]

"money town"
hehe i have not heard it call that before,mind you it does have a good saturday market.
small world though isnt it.

[erik1]

Originally Posted by Nuntanabkk

Oopy Oopsy!! I mean monkey town.....people called that... sorry.

yeah one of the great things to do there is the monkey sanctuary. Will be going in october among other things, also be visiting Phimai and some other things in the provinces in isaan

[eric-the-viking]

Originally Posted by Nuntanabkk

Oopy Oopsy!! I mean monkey town.....people called that... sorry.

ah now that makes sense ,my brother in law is a ranger at the monkey park.
yes the are a lot of monkeys,i always smile when i see the mokeys going into the nearby temple.

[buggermeskippy]

And there is the snake village near KK. Sounded boring to me but had some time to spare so stopped in. Really impressive show with the cobra's.

[khon kaen boy]

Is that the cobra village at Kranuan, near to Castle Howchoi Resort ?

[eric-the-viking]

castle how chow is good for a weekend away from the inlaws,nice pool ,live entertainment,bar and pool table.rooms basic but clean.