Finlaco

Thanks for the reply. Perhaps a little more meat on the reply. Uv travelled with them once/many times ..... Service was ok/best experience of ur life ....... Travelled 42/32/24 seater .......

Why refer to the train as a white elephant? When I used it I found it to be extremely efficient.

Because he's that "type".

umm 1,500 passengers a day by my definition is a White Elephant -- If u have used the regular trains and have an observant mind u would see that the trains are not of the same standards of the BTS or MRT. Have u not noticed that the breaking system is too strong and the seats are not comfortable (degree of pitch). If this system ever gets to the required numbers do u think that the platforms are wide enough to accommodate waiting passengers and disembarking passengers safely?

Yes it’s wrong to classify everything as T.I.T but actually its fine to critise something that isn’t working. It doesn’t make u more Thai to automatically attack a poster on TV who has a valid point. By any standards the new system is currently a white elephant.

Depends on their education. My ex and two of my friends graduated from ABAC, another graduated from Chula and regularly read English novels or non fiction.

In fact my ex just finished The World is Flat and Walmart, which I've just borrowed.

It's strange when Farang comment on TV about their wife's education or understanding of the outside world. I can understand having 'fun' with a poorly educated Thai but actually to marry .....

Marry about child production, not about quality relationship.

PS

Person say Farang indicate person low education or person mix with low education Thai, Thai word for foreigner Kon Dtaang Chaat

Very few on TV declare they skin colour so use farang here wrong

sorry I'm not sure what ur trying to say.

A couple of points about Nakhon Chai Air and Chan Tours:

Last I heard, NCA has 3 First Class busses daily (each direction) between BKK and KK. One leaving around 11:00 am, and two leaving around 11:00 pm. These busses have extra comfort from "shell-type" seating (like airline Business Class), although it is not a "lay flat" seat. It is also set up with wider seats, as it is 3-across (1-2) seating. These busses tend to get booked well ahead of departure time; many times it is days ahead. If you want to go this way, book ahead.

NCA has Gold Class busses going frequently throughout the day and evening. These busses are usually easy to get without advance booking. Seating is a conventional 4-across (2-2) format. I believe they have individual screens at each seat now too, although maybe that is not on the entire fleet yet?

NCA uses lower-profile busses that are single level. NCA does the trip between KK and BKK nonstop.

Chan Tours busses all feature the 3-across 1-2 seating. "S Class" is their answer to NCA's "First Class", though it seems more like a gussied-up conventional Chan Tour bus, whereas NCA First Class seems to have been designed from the ground-up as a unique product.

Chan uses the more typical tall dual-level busses. They look very high if you've ever driven behind one. They look like they could tip over easily. And I've had some Thai people (whom preferred NCA Gold Class even though Chan offered added comfort of 3-across seating) tell me they thought the NCA busses were safer as they were lower. I can't argue with appearances. But honestly, I've been on the Chan Tours busses several times and have never gotten a hint of a feeling that the bus was unstable or likely to roll over.

Chan makes a 10 minute stop each direction at the Korat bus station (Nakhon Ratchasima.) So their published times are longer. The stop is enough time to run into the biffy, and get something to drink or eat at the convenience store to take with you for the rest of the journey. Korat is just about half way on the trip.

Can't say I am impressed with either company's attention to non-Thai speaking people. Both seem to dig in their heels on offering any kind of English on their websites. I took NCA First Class once and seemed to be largely ignored by the hostess when my girlfriend was asleep. She wouldn't even look in my direction, apparently because I didn't speak Thai and she didn't want to try to communicate any other way.

Both companies advertise for their "S-Class/First Class" products that they have some type of GPS function. I've never seen a hint of that actually being on their video systems. As far as Video content goes, as a farang what's offered has never appealed to me, but the peace and quiet does (compared to a bus with a TV playing a Thai movie or music videos from a VCD, with the sound cranked up!) With video at each seat, it is quiet and I can play my own MP3 music through ear buds and actually hear it!

Great review. Well balanced. We need more of this on TV. Yes it's ok to critise Thai service if it's not as advertised.

Their number is on their website. They have several English operators and u can book on the phone and then before midnight pay at any 7-11 for ฿25 using the booking reference. Very easy.

Depends on their education. My ex and two of my friends graduated from ABAC, another graduated from Chula and regularly read English novels or non fiction.

In fact my ex just finished The World is Flat and Walmart, which I've just borrowed. 

It's strange when Farang comment on TV about  their wife's education or understanding of the outside world. I can understand having 'fun' with a poorly educated Thai but actually to marry .....

1st class is just 2nd class with a private room. It isn’t luxurious and the carriages show their age.  If u want privacy it might be worth the extra, assuming ur travelling by train for the 'novelty' factor. Also the staff will be on u like flies to honey trying to get u to order from a non priced menu or a non declared additional charge for bringing the overly priced, undersized food to ur carriage. Just be firm and polite and decline.

I prefer 2nd class. Be aware that the newer carriages have a very small sized top bunk. I'm a slim Farang, and I just about get a good night sleep. Also the top bunk when not made up as a bed, faces backward.

Also try to choose a seat in the centre of the carriage away from the semi automatic doors. Apart from the constant traffic and a large percentage of Thais who won’t bother to close the door, many will choose to smoke on the bogie

Hi

I usually fly to Chiang Rai and return by VIP bus. My last trip was with Sombat Tour (VIP32) and I was not impressed with their double decker old decor and mediocre service. The Sombat Tour fleet used from Chiang Mai to BKK is quite new and very pleasant. Perhaps competition isn’t as fierce on the CR to BKK, so they use their old fleet.

I’m just curious if any TV member could recommend a good VIP32 service from CR to BKK.

Thanks

Don's Cafe

Advertising or .....?

My thoughts for what their worth:-

I had a stopover Chiang Rai on Friday last (July 15) and decided to try out the World Class Hamburger (main road near to the bus station). I opted for the basic non cheese topped burger ฿125. The ฿45 add-on had the option of double chips or chips/coleslaw. I chose poorly and the coleslaw is best avoided. The chips were extremely good, fat and crinkle and thankfully not McDonald French Fries.

I really enjoyed the outdoor setting on the top floor and whilst the staff have close to zero training, they did try their best. I ordered a large Leo and was brought an already opened small Leo as they were out of the large one. Since the staff were polite I let it go.

The burger: - I like my burger to taste of ground beef and the bun toasted. This one taste of barbecue sauce and that was it. I'd say that a Burger King has a more meaty taste (and I eat BK once a year). The bun wasn't toasted.

Can anyone recommend a good meaty tasting joint in or close to central Chiang Rai with real fat crinkle chips and a hamburger that tastes of ground beef.

Thanks

Thanks guys

MaeSai Duty Free

Done the visa run ten times plus and always ignored the Duty Free on the way back across the bridge. Today decided to check it out. The prices for wine seem reasonable and I almost bough a small bottle of Gordon's Gin but the labelling seemed not quite right. I checked 4 bottles and each had a different version on the reverse side.    It was like the bottles came from different years and different countries of origance. 

So I'm wondering if any TV member regularly makes use of the Duty Free at MaeSai, are the products the real thing and what happens with Thai Customs. 

Thanks

thanks all

Thanks guys

They are open. You can ask on the Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai subforums for any details, or Google.

when did mae sod re-open? googles a very big pool - u have a specific website or are u just assuming both boarders are open?

Hi

Any member have first hand knowledge weather Mae Sai or Mae Sod boarders are open for business?

Thanks

And after dropping your spare change in their tip box... do you wai the staff ?!?

nice one ---

Anyone seen coverage in the local media?

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/05/23/cfp.rivers.thai.sex.slaves.cnn?hpt=C2

Pointing a finger at Thailand does not distract from the fact that a supposedly developed country that touts freedom and equality does not walk the walk.

Speak with Thai Officals and you'll learn that Thailand is a 'developed' country.

If u really want to economise u'll need baht, kip and dollars. If the main price is quoted in one of the three currencies, then it will 95% of the time be cheaper to pay in this currency.

Ditto Thanks for the assistance.

Thanks for the helpful reply

Hi nice members of TV

Planning to be CM April 10, and later CR. Just like to know the weather quality wrt smog and those pesky Laotian and Burmese burning their fields (Thai would never do that).

Thanks

Ps. am departing Sangkhlaburi cos the air quality is lower than BKK cos of the burning of the vegetation.

Not the answer that u wish for but the only option is wait and see. Find a number for buttersworth train station and call them closer to the 12. No trains running south of chumpon and too many factors involved for anyone to give a real answer.

if ur inconsiderate neighbours are smoking on their balcony, move ur fan onto urs and set at full power in their direction -- should quickly get the message