Bangkok To Koh Samui By Overnight Train...advice

[leew]

Thinking of going on an overnight train Bkk to Koh Samui......well to the ferry port then to catch the ferry. Has anyone got any comments about catching the overnight train, 2nd class with a/c? There are 3 of us can you a cabin or is it open plan etc? I dont really want to fly as looking forward to a road/rail trip and see some sights on the way.

[roamer]

AC is actually refrigerated. Far better off fan cooled, also allows the windows to be down and buy food from vendors at stations, fun! AC is really hermetically sealed. Open plan and try to book a berth towards the middle of the carriage away from the doors and the toilets.

[SamuiHomemadeFood]

If you book 2 berths in a first class cabin you can all just chill. You can regulate the AC. They will bring you food, drink etc. Just book 2 1st and 1 2nd and away you go. Get the overnight train to Chumpon. Come out of the station and walk to the junction a few metres away. Turn right and you will see Fame tours on the left about 100 metres up the road. Get some breakfast and coffee etc and get a ticket on the ferry that leaves at 0800. The ticket includes free transfer to the boat. I prefer the Seatran rather than the catamaran Lomprayah as it is a more comfortable boat. You get to see Koh Tao and Koh Phangyan before arriving in Samui One of the best ways to travel in Thailand!

[Vertigotogo]

I did this a few months ago. 2nd class with aircon seemed comfortable enough. It's open-plan but bed curtains allow privacy whilst actually in bed. Most people sleep in light bedclothes anyway. The 'beds' are actually the chairs that people sit on during daylight hours (image attached) and they fold down to form the lower bunk. The upper bunk drops down from the ceiling.

Go for the bottom bunk, it's more comfortable (slightly wider bed). Book well in advance and avoid arriving at Surat Thani station in the early hours as there is a lot of waiting around for connecting transport.

I bought a combination ticket (which includes connecting buses and ferry to Koh Samui), arrived in Surat Thani about 4 am and was shuttled from place to place, waiting hours each time, before finally getting a connecting ferry to Samui. I have no experience of later services, but I assume arriving at Surat Thani train station at a more reasonable hour (say, 9am) MIGHT result in less waiting around.

Overall, I found the trip very comfortable and really enjoyed it.

Best wishes for your trip.

[PoorSucker]

Take the super VIP bus from Southern bus station.

Three business class chairs per row.

No hassles with buses from Suratthani train station.

[goldfinger]

Poor sucker,

how much for the ticket with this Super VIP with TV in the seats??

[thaibear1]

Leew say:

Thinking of going on an overnight train Bkk to Koh Samui......well to the ferry port then to catch the ferry. Has anyone got any comments about catching the overnight train, 2nd class with a/c? There are 3 of us can you a cabin or is it open plan etc? I dont really want to fly as looking forward to a road/rail trip and see some sights on the way.

Can I ask what you expect to see during night? some lights and dark, except Hua Hin station a bigger one where you can get food too. You need a sleeper car or you want see the nice landscape? Take day train or bus, travel by bus during day is more safe then in the night with the tired drivers.

[thrilled]

I went 1st class ,had A room to myself,well 2 people.upper and lower bunks.But you have to reserve it about A month in advance.But it's definitely the way to go.

[Samuian]

1 st class A/C sleeper has the advantage of being in privacy, it suits however only 2 Adults, restricted space, but way better then the bunks in 2nd!

If purchasing you tickets make SURE that you DO NOT book a so called "Joint Ticket" as offered while buying the tickets at Hua Lampong Train Station in Bangkok!

As these tickets are for the Songserm "Express Boat" service, which is slow, much slower then the Seatran-Ferry service!

You might be transferred to the old pier Don Sak (toilet facilities no water, rude staff), then have to wait, wait, wait, till other passengers are collected, transfer to the actual pier

So make SURE that you by the transfer (Bus/Ferry) on arrival at Suratthani Train station - INSIST on the Seatran ticket for transfer do NOT let the sales Touts suggest otherwise, Songserm and Raja-Ferry are way inferior services regarding arrival by train and transfer to Samui then the Service offered by Seatran company!

And who doesn't mind a bit of a shake, rattle and roll overnight, might take the Option VIP bus as mentioned by "poorsucker"... here again it is important that you get a ticket ALL THE WAY TO SAMUI!

Other wise you may end up paying again for the transfer which should be included in the Bus-Ticket!

Yes the Chumpon, Ko Tao, Phangan - Samui option is an option, but ONLY if one likes to take it as a sightseeing trip, which is drawn out.... lot's of time (wasted)... many things seen, long time boat transfer - catamaran of Lomprayah very noisy and if slightly rough seas NOT recommendable!