Thailand Travel Info

[Gemsbok1000]

Going back to Thailand in October and rather than flying down to Phuket I'm thinking of journeying down by train from Bangkok and spending a couple of days exploring the country inbetween the two.

Does anyone have any recommendations as to what to see/do en route?

Also, has anyone been to Northern Malaysia as it doesn't seem to far away? Another idea would be too spend a week or so exploring there.

Oh, and finally if anyone can recommend a Villa for hire in Nai Harn please let me know.

Thanks.

[The Ben]

I got a train down from Bangkok to Suret Thani (sp) but I was going to Koh Samui et al. we found out afterwards that is was equally as cheap to fly to the same place, and a hell of a lot quicker!!!

The train was OK, we paid for the sleeper carrage, apprenlty women go at the bottom and men on top (bunks, before you ask) unwritten rule apprenlty.

The only pleasure I got from the train was seeing 'real' Thailand and not the tourist areas, albeit going pretty fast past the views. The aircon on the train was freezing even though it was hot outside, it is the only situation I have been in where I have opened the window to get warm.

as for the other country, I have no idea. Also, We booked our trian in a hotel on Koh san road, and compared to what other people paid we spoke to, ours was very favourable price. Still fking cheap compared ot our rip off trains....

This probably does not help at all, but its there anyway...

Also, the VIP buses are like our normal ones, they dont recline in the way they are ilustrated and the pictures of the proper recliners I think are saved for the king (who I incidently saw in the flesh in Bangkok, aprrently rare on on official business) as no one I spoke to on our travels had the really good ones even though we paid the premium price... Ah well, it didnt taint my travels...


P.S. You lucky git, I want to go back soon...

[Herman Toothrot]

I got the sleeper train from bangkok south to make my way to Samui last year. I was intending to get a stopper train and thought it'd be a good way to see the countryside but when I asked the locals they all said only thing to see / do is the big nature reserve thats about halfway so I didn't bother. The sleeper train is a very good way to go south.

[mybrainhurts]

Gemsbok1000 said:

Does anyone have any recommendations as to what to see/do en route?

Check with Gary Glitter...

He'll be full of ideas...

[minimoog]

Always good info to be had here:

http://www.travelforum.org/thailand/

[Exoticaholic]

mybrainhurts said:

Gemsbok1000 said:

Does anyone have any recommendations as to what to see/do en route?

Check with Gary Glitter...

He'll be full of ideas...

or depending on personal opinion

[Nicholas Blair]

try here too

http://www.seat61.com/

[rsv gone!]

The Ben said:

I got a train down from Bangkok to Suret Thani (sp) but I was going to Koh Samui et al. we found out afterwards that is was equally as cheap to fly to the same place, and a hell of a lot quicker!!!

I presume you're talking about flights to Surat Thani because Bangkok Air to Samui would have been much more expensive than the train. (Can be minimised by flying at about 6am since BKK Air do a deal of around 2000b on the first and the last flights of the day)

Also, with regard to the buses, the Government run buses are very clean and very cheap and do recline.


To the OP, like others, I've never found particular reason to linger in this area.

Something which you might consider is that the far south of Thailand is very unsettled due to troubles with Muslim separatists.

Edited by rsv gone! on Monday 18th August 10:20