More Advice On Trains

[Smallpurplecat]

Hi again,

The more I look into the options for internal travel, the more questions I have!

My husband is not the best flyer so I'm looking to minimise the no. of flights we take. We are planning to go to Krabi first and then back up to Bkk and across to Ubon Ratchathani.

I am now thinking to take the train or train/bus one way for each of these journeys. Reckon we'll do 1 sleeper and 1 trip during the day. Just wondering which trip would be best during the day - most scenic?

Thanks for reading!

SPC

[dantilley]

The stretch from BKK to Ubon isn't exactly stunning (though not unpleasant), so I'd consider flying that stretch. Also, Ubon is a more busy airport than Krabi so there'll be more options for flight times and airlines.

Edit: Sorry, just re-read your post - the airport information is irrelevant it seems! So, to re-phrase, do BKK - Ubon overnight if you can. Not 100% sure if sleeper trains do that route though, but you can get a plush VIP bus (the top of the range government VIP bus with seats that recline to near horizontal) for sure - though chances are you can do train also, so check it out.

[gosompoi]

I live near Ubon Ratchithani and near Krabi. Anytime you can take a night-time First Class Sleeper Train to the south or from BKK to Ubon RatchiThai go for it, they are very comfortable. The daytime train trips are not comfortable and to be avoided. The short flight between BKK and Ubon Ratchithani on airasia.com are in wonderful new airbuses and the quick 45min flight is very comforable. You can purchase the train tickets at any train station in Thailand. Best to get all your train tickets asap as space is limited but you can change the tickets easily in Thailand if seats are availible. Airasia if often late or behind schedule so keep that in mind when scheduling your travel.

http://www.airasia.com/site/th/en/home.jsp

http://www.railway.co.th/English/index.asp

[Smallpurplecat]

I live near Ubon Ratchithani and near Krabi. Anytime you can take a night-time First Class Sleeper Train to the south or from BKK to Ubon RatchiThai go for it, they are very comfortable. The daytime train trips are not comfortable and to be avoided. The short flight between BKK and Ubon Ratchithani on airasia.com are in wonderful new airbuses and the quick 45min flight is very comforable. You can purchase the train tickets at any train station in Thailand. Best to get all your train tickets asap as space is limited but you can change the tickets easily in Thailand if seats are availible. Airasia if often late or behind schedule so keep that in mind when scheduling your travel.

http://www.airasia.com/site/th/en/home.jsp

http://www.railway.co.th/English/index.asp

Thank you for your reply. I am trying to avoid taking too many planes so I will look at booking sleepers asap!

[relayer]

I live near Ubon Ratchithani and near Krabi. Anytime you can take a night-time First Class Sleeper Train to the south or from BKK to Ubon RatchiThai go for it, they are very comfortable. The daytime train trips are not comfortable and to be avoided. The short flight between BKK and Ubon Ratchithani on airasia.com are in wonderful new airbuses and the quick 45min flight is very comforable. You can purchase the train tickets at any train station in Thailand. Best to get all your train tickets asap as space is limited but you can change the tickets easily in Thailand if seats are availible. Airasia if often late or behind schedule so keep that in mind when scheduling your travel. http://www.airasia.com/site/th/en/home.jsp http://www.railway.co.th/English/index.asp

Thank you for your reply. I am trying to avoid taking too many planes so I will look at booking sleepers asap!

"sleepers"

A common misnomer when describing overnight trains...

Just fly. Less wear and tear. AirAsia makes it easy.

[visareal]

I live near Ubon Ratchithani and near Krabi. Anytime you can take a night-time First Class Sleeper Train to the south or from BKK to Ubon RatchiThai go for it, they are very comfortable. The daytime train trips are not comfortable and to be avoided. The short flight between BKK and Ubon Ratchithani on airasia.com are in wonderful new airbuses and the quick 45min flight is very comforable. You can purchase the train tickets at any train station in Thailand. Best to get all your train tickets asap as space is limited but you can change the tickets easily in Thailand if seats are availible. Airasia if often late or behind schedule so keep that in mind when scheduling your travel. http://www.airasia.com/site/th/en/home.jsp http://www.railway.co.th/English/index.asp

Thank you for your reply. I am trying to avoid taking too many planes so I will look at booking sleepers asap!

"sleepers"

A common misnomer when describing overnight trains...

Just fly. Less wear and tear. AirAsia makes it easy.

airasia, you say? the delays and delays and...... god forbid. take the train....

[visareal]

I live near Ubon Ratchithani and near Krabi. Anytime you can take a night-time First Class Sleeper Train to the south or from BKK to Ubon RatchiThai go for it, they are very comfortable. The daytime train trips are not comfortable and to be avoided. The short flight between BKK and Ubon Ratchithani on airasia.com are in wonderful new airbuses and the quick 45min flight is very comforable. You can purchase the train tickets at any train station in Thailand. Best to get all your train tickets asap as space is limited but you can change the tickets easily in Thailand if seats are availible. Airasia if often late or behind schedule so keep that in mind when scheduling your travel.

http://www.airasia.com/site/th/en/home.jsp

http://www.railway.co.th/English/index.asp

... this is an airasia ad. enjoy the train ride and the beauty of road travel. remember, u r on holiday. u don't need the untold stress from airasia travels - all the cancellations, delays after delays, atrocious service on board, blah, blah - n of course this ad in particular.

[edgarfriendly]

does anybody have any up to date info regarding rail services during mothers day?

ef

[jumpybongo]

does anybody have any up to date info regarding rail services during mothers day?

ef

maninseat61.com

sleepers are cheap, clean and great fun.

enjoy

[edgarfriendly]

er cheers mate, but this is a 'bit' more useful... http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm

this is only slightly more useful as its regarding the country i'm(we're) in, and not the whole world of trains..

my question is regarding uptodate info of this wednesdays services.

as its a public/national holiday.

ef

[montrii]

I've always considered the trains, especially overnight express trains, the best way to travel in Thailand, and I first came here over 40 years ago.

The "seat 61" link is good, and it points out that you can reserve online, at least for the major routes (North, South, Northeast). Here's the link to reservations, English version: http://www.thairailwayticket.com/Default.aspx?language=1 My preference is 2nd class sleeper, they have them now both with air con and with fans. I can go with either, but the air con is a little more comfortable. What I like about 2nd class is that you're in with a bunch of folks you don't know, and it can be a good hang. You can order food, beer, etc, sit and talk, then they make up the beds, you can read yourself to sleep, wake with the dawn, and watch the scenery till you get where you're going. If you want privacy, you can get all you want in the first class compartment. I don't agree with a previous commenter that there's not much to see on the way to Ubon, or anywhere else, Thailand is full of great views. I've traveled on the VIP buses, they're really not comfortable compared to the train. Planes, well, we all know what they're like, fast, but cramped. Of course, going to Krabi you'd have to switch to a bus at Surat Thani, but it's only about a 3-hour ride, I think, and not bad. You can catch the bus right there by the train station in Surat. I guess they're not for everybody, I don't really understand why, unless they're in a hurry, but personally I love 'em.

[edgarfriendly]

Yes. trains go 'Choo Choo'...arent they lovely.

ef

[astral]

IME it is catch 22

If you take the overnight sleeper train you do not see anything.

The day time trains will have the blinds down to protect passengers from the sunlight,

so again you do not see anything.............