I need to get from BKK to Trat on Sunday morning, Feb 20. It seems there are a few companies with buses leaving at 7 am. Which one has the fastest service and is the most reliable?

Thanks.

This is something of a guess, as I hven't been to Ekamai in some time, and haven't been to Trat in even longer. But,

- in general, the one with the most expensive ticket should be the fastest. The want to make all their money at the departure point, because they don't stop along the road to pick-up additional passengers.

- Blue & white air-conditioned buses are the fastest. Avoid the ones that have an orange stripe on them. These stop to let passengers on and off at the side of the road. The blue and white air-con. ones usually leave from the covered parking area behind the terminal building.

- buy your ticket inside the terminal, from a ticket counter. Do not buy a ticket from a driver in the parking lot in front of the terminal. When they say "Where you go ?", and you say "Trat", they will often motion you to board their bus,even if it is only heading in the general direction of Trat (for example, Rayong or Chantaburi). You will then face the problem yourself of trying to get from Rayong or Chantaburi to Trat !

- if possible, visit the bus terminal in advance, so that you get an idea of how things work, and how long it takes to travel there from wherever you are staying.

- There is no point in asking drivers or counter personnel how long the trip takes. They will give only an optimistic estimate; whatever they say is not a guarantee. Figure on 80 km/hr. From memory, 4 hrs. 30 min. to 5 hrs. from Ekamai to Trat.

Chard tours is the best. Im doing the same run on Sunday but might leave tomorow. Pm me if you want;

TIMETABLE

Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekamai) - Trat

Air-Conditioned Buses

Tel.

Bangkok-Trat

Time (hrs)

Trat-Bangkok

Time (hrs)

Cherdchai Tour

(First Class Air-con)

42 Seat

One way 189 Baht

Roundtrip 357 Baht

Bangkok Office :

(02) 391-2237

(02) 391-4164

Trat Office :

(039) 511-062

06.00 , 07.00 , 09.30 , 11.00 , 12.30 , 14.00 ,

15.30 , 17.30 , 19.30 , 20.30 ,

22.00 , 23.30

07.00 , 08.00 , 09.00 , 10.00 , 11.00 , 12.00 , 13.00 , 14.00 , 16.00 , 18.00 ,

23.00 , 23.30