fortunately I have the financial means to do anything I wish and don’t have to answer to anyone. Especially someone with one foot in the grave. Just pass already and let us young people have fun.
I totally get that! I love to drive and see new things. If the experience is what you are looking for, I say 100% do it. For the MOST part, locals will just drive and flow around you. It’s madness at first, but then you get used to it. Once you get out of Bangkok, everything will be fine.
One thing you CANNOT do in Thailand is be distracted when you drive. Texting on your phone, playing with the radio, eating can all be a recipe for disaster. So I think my biggest worry would be trying to navigate since you don’t k ow where you are going. Looking at the map on your phone for 2 seconds to see where to turn next will easily cause an accident.
We just had this choice to drive or fly to Krabi for a 7 day vacation and made the decision to fly and then rent a scooter.
Air Asia tickets are still reasonable, but all flights are 100% full. Busy season is already here, Ao Nang was a madhouse.
If we were told we could not fly, I would rent a van or take the bus before I would drive it. And I love driving here. 3 hours to Jomtien is just super fun watching the chaos. 13 hours to Phiuket would be exhausting for all of the reasons mentioned above. Is there and overwhelming reason to drive vs all of the other options?
Nothing. 7-10 days every time, but I just roll with it and if I’m awake all night I go find something to do. The worst is waking up at 0400 wide awake on an island and no one else is moving until 11.