KM’s Stop-over in Nakhon Sawan
Nakhon Sawan is 240 kms North of Bangkok and as such it’s really too soon to stop if you’re heading North and too close to Bangkok if you’re headed South. However, on our recent trip to Chiang Mai we didn’t get away from Bangkok until four in the afternoon, which meant Nakhon Sawan was a comfortable place to spend the night.
If you’re driving you’ll need to go into the town instead of taking the bypass north, and turn right at the traffic lights. You’ll now be in the main street, which is normally busy with lots of traffic. It’s deserted here because I took the pic well early the following morning.
The Chao Phraya river flows through the city and it’s quite narrow up here, especially compared to its width further downstream around Nonthaburi. There were a number of people out fishing in small boats so the river must be in a healthy condition here.
There’s really nothing much to see in Nakhon Sawan, so this is just to show a couple of hotels in the centre city and somewhere to eat.
First off was the place we stayed at, called Pen One Hotel. The signs are only in Thai and the transliteration is mine. Look for the name in Thai in nice big letters on the wall. Will be on your right as you drive down the street.
It’s a typical provincial city hotel with basic accommodation and the ubiquitous massage parlour. It has secure parking under the building at ground level.
Rooms range from 350 - 500 baht, which is what we took because it has three beds.
A quiet stroll down the road took us to this local restaurant which seemed popular with the locals. It runs between the main street on one side and the river on the other.
It has a decent menu at provincial prices. The name of the restaurant ‘Big Steak’ was the only English on the menu but each meal had a small picture so it’s easy to choose.
Right opposite the restaurant, but set well back off the road is another hotel. It’s position makes it difficult to find when you’re driving, but you turn in immediately before the hospital which will be on your left as you drive along the main street.
P.A. Place Hotel is new and the signs on the road side advertise it as an apartment. However, it is also a hotel with nice modern rooms.
These rooms are 500 baht and are equipped with your own PC and free wi-fi. This is obviously a better place to stay, but like so often happens, you find the better places after you’ve paid the money for the first one.