Bus Trouble

[eggomaniac]

SHE loves the bus, instead of the train, something about it always stops at 2 AM for dining.

[bKK to NST]

(oh, and out of the 10 times I've done the trip it's broken down twice, once, they were going to abandon us in parking lot, but some insistent Thais demanded another bus, which turned out to have no AC nor biffy, the break down on the outskirts of BKK was just, grab your luggage and leave)

I find the whole trip torture, 6 foot 200 pounds, sleepless in Thailand. [it was a good thing I was wake one time as I shouted when I saw the driver nod off to sleep]

I liked the train much better, our own room 2 bunks, but SHE says it costs too much.

Now SHE is saying there is 'better' bus than the AC we take, where the seats go back into beds.

True? how much do these cost, compared to the train.

From reading on other Forums, the the 2nd class berths sound good, comfy. One bloke said he preferred the fans to AC, because it was usually stuck in high and too cold. I think the bed in a train berth would be better than some seat on bus that reclines?

From BKK to NST, how does the cost of this super duper sleeper bus compare with 1rst class train compartment and 2nd class berth?

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Oh, as a cultural note, WHAT is so fantastic about getting up at 2 AM for some noodles??? especially if you finally found a contorted angle to finally get some sleep!?

Maybe this super duper bus has the courtesy to keep going? not huh?

[londonthai]

let her go by bus and yourself go by train.

yes, trains are more comfortable, reliable and safer than buses.

[eggomaniac]

let her go by bus and yourself go by train.

yes, trains are more comfortable, reliable and safer than buses.

Yes that IS an idea, but I might have to take a 'tour guide' with me, then.

How much is 2nd class berth, compared to super duper reclining bus?

[xen]

I have had the same experience with buses too, being abandoned after breaking down, stopping at some grotty roadside eating place because the driver gets to eat free there, shitting myself white as the drivers pass on double lines headed straight towards some truck etc.etc. And i think the worse experience is having to endure some Thai soapy on the television being blasted at me at 110 decipals making sleeping , reading or day dreaming impossible.

I would rather take the train too but the thais seem to think it is more "cool' to be on the buses and trains are old fashioned. If they began to take trains then the train system may begin operating at less of a loss and they ( the rail authority) may improve the quality . And they will abandon the idea of cutting out some of the least used rail lines for both freight and passengers.

[petertucker48]

Check out the VIP buses 25 ? seats 3 abreast (1+2) cost a bit more but has a WC.

[alant]

we use nakhornchai air quite a lot, they are comfortable with ok service. we use them to both pattaya and bangkok to/from chiangmai.

the first class bus to bangkok according to me friends that recently used it to go to bangkok was "better than flying" cost is about 850 baht i think.

the vip service is also pretty good.

never had a breakdown etc

[Birdman]

I went by bus as well as by train many times in Thailand to different "long distance" places in the South and North in my first years here. All the buses stopped at big petrol stations for food and minor shopping, daytime and during the night. Probably contracted

Train is way better, much more comfortable. Nowadays there are also cheap flights.

But why need a tour guide? That must be a joke?

[eggomaniac]

I have had the same experience with buses too, being abandoned after breaking down, stopping at some grotty roadside eating place because the driver gets to eat free there, shitting myself white as the drivers pass on double lines headed straight towards some truck etc.etc. And i think the worse experience is having to endure some Thai soapy on the television being blasted at me at 110 decipals making sleeping , reading or day dreaming impossible.

I would rather take the train too but the thais seem to think it is more "cool' to be on the buses and trains are old fashioned. If they began to take trains then the train system may begin operating at less of a loss and they ( the rail authority) may improve the quality . And they will abandon the idea of cutting out some of the least used rail lines for both freight and passengers.

Oh ya I forgot about the 'entertainment'. Once it was a freaky horror, ghost, murder story. Everybody on the bus was oblivious, except for a 10 yr old Thai who was 'glued' to it, and, of course me, nodding in and out of sleep until the movie became my dream, as well. To this day I would not be able to testify in court if that 10 yr old, at one point, had a knife to my throat or I was dreaming?

[Do you know when one is sleeping, they can understand Thai???]

[eggomaniac]

Check out the VIP buses 25 ? seats 3 abreast (1+2) cost a bit more but has a WC.

WC? okay my x is Brit. water closet!?