Train Travel (With Luggage) - Possible? Difficult?

[exyalie]

Hello, everyone.

I will be spending two months in Thailand this year, and one of my plans is to do the train trip from Bangkok to Singapore. I have done much research and it looks exciting.

One thing concerns me: I will be traveling with a moderately large single piece of luggage. Do you think that will cause either a problem or discomfort aboard the trains? Are there places to securely stow such things? Or should I totally downsize and try to do it with just the equivalent of a carry-on?

Thanks so much!

[necronx99]

Just from a matter of practicality, I would think you are always better off with two smaller, lighter peices than one big heavy one.

i.e backpack and a tote rather than one big suitcase.

[craigt3365]

I've traveled extensively, including pretty much all of Asia. Travel as light as you can. Makes a huge difference. Wifey and I did 2 months in Chile and Argentina one time and then 2 months in Italy and Eastern Europe another time with only carry on luggage. It was wonderful. Europe involved a lot of train trips. Wheeled luggage is preferable, unless you are young and have a strong back. And a small day pack for your valuables and to be able to carry around stuff during your tours.

I've seen people trying to lug huge suitcases around and it doesn't look fun. You can have laundry done overnight pretty much everywhere here in Asia, or do some of it yourself in the hotel. I just got back from 3 weeks in Egypt, Jordan and Israel with only a small carry on bag and small day pack. Did laundry a few times in my hotel, had it done a few times by the hotel. I have quick dry shorts, tshirts, pants, etc.

And if you forget anything, you can usually get what you need along the way. My trick is to lay everything out you think you need, then get rid of stuff until it fits in your bag...with a bit of room to spare for souvenirs.

I've traveled overland from Thailand to Singapore before. Great trip. Have a blast!

Here's some websites for reference:

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/pack-light.htm

http://www.onebag.com/

http://toolkit.bootsnall.com/how-to-travel-guide/packing-light.html

[Ricardo]

Two more-manageable suitcases/wheelie-bags/rucksacks are better, than one enormous bag, IMO.

Happy travels !

[harrry]

No problem at all but remember you must leave the train with your luggage at each border crossing.

[Gone]

No problem at all but remember you must leave the train with your luggage at each border crossing.

Isn't there only 1 boarder?

People travel with motorbikes, chickens, goats and everything else you can imagine here on trains so a HUGE case as you say is easy except for what the rest of the posters say: a pain in the buttox. Why would you need to travel with so much anyways if you don't mind me asking? Can't you just ship some stuff there and travel lightly on the train for enjoyment if that is your goal?

[harrry]

Singapore /Malasia

Malasia/Thailand

Is this

a: 7 borders

b: 2 borders

c: who cares about borders

d: after 8 beers cannot count.

[bluebluewater]

Short answer is that you will have no trouble with the luggage that you are considering while traveling on the train.

However, if coming for only two months, to have any more than a backpack is tooooo much. There isn't anything that you have that you can't get here.

I've done it and so have many many others. My first trip in I had two pair of everything, one pair of sandals. some toiletries. Laundry is easy done and I added items as I needed/saw/wanted them.

[harrry]

I do not know what you have to bring but if you can trave light. Suitcases are not the best to carry. Backpacks are marginally better. If you cannot carry the item in a hurry for 200 metres over rough ground with all your other gear it is too heavy. Unlike india porters are almost unavailable and if you can get them costly. Trolleys are rare. Your pack should be waterproof, have a secure chain for fixing to things like your seat in a train and have at least the cable netting to deter theft.

The train trip is no problem in itself but as I said it is not a case of get on in singapore and get off in Bangkok. I f you do do the trip you should note that if you start your journey in Singapore you will pay a lot more than if you start in Malasiia as by some historic agreement the fare is caharges as say 200 Singapore Dollars in Singapore or 200 malasian ringat in malasia and the exchange rate is vastly different.

It is a great trip though I have not done it for some years.

[UbonOz]

A very good reference website for train travel plus more anywhere in the world is The Man in Seat 61

www.seat61.com

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[exyalie]

Thanks, all - you people are super helpful and it is sincerely appreciated!

I am mostly concerned with not being a nuisance to my fellow train travelers - taking up too much space, for example. I am a frequent traveler and a definite adherent to the school of light is best. I would love to travel with just a small bag, but the way I have structured my trip is to fly into Bangkok and at the end of the stay travel slowly and leisurely down to Singapore for the flight back to the USA. I plan on bringing very little with me from New York, but I will be traveling with all that I have accumulated during my stay.

Again: ALL your advice truly appreciated!

[craigt3365]

I've shipped stuff back before using the Thai post office. Relatively cheap and made it home in 3-5 weeks. Can't remember the price, but it was a relatively large box and not that much to ship. Just a thought.

[gk10002000]

I used to watch the Rick Steves travel shows. I took to heart his travel light theme. I bought online one of his travel bags that also had shoulder straps. I really never used the shoulder straps as a back pack but they come with it. I have been to Thailand 13 times, sometimes staying as long as 50+ days. Bring a weeks worth of shirts and undies and then I have a fine excuse every week to go chat with the lovely Thai lady that does my laundry. Carry on fits easily on the airplane overhead. No long line waits at the airport to get luggage pre X-ray screened. No waiting to pick up luggage on arrival. Basically zero chance of losing the luggage or of having anything stolen. I don't even bring any liquids or soaps. I don't mind paying $20 USD when I get to Pattaya or Bangkok and filling up on some toiletries. Easy for bus travel. Easy for ferry travel to places like Ko Samet where you transfer from a ferry to a barge like thing for the last 100 yards to shore.

[craigt3365]

I used to watch the Rick Steves travel shows. I took to heart his travel light theme. I bought online one of his travel bags that also had shoulder straps. I really never used the shoulder straps as a back pack but they come with it. I have been to Thailand 13 times, sometimes staying as long as 50+ days. Bring a weeks worth of shirts and undies and then I have a fine excuse every week to go chat with the lovely Thai lady that does my laundry. Carry on fits easily on the airplane overhead. No long line waits at the airport to get luggage pre X-ray screened. No waiting to pick up luggage on arrival. Basically zero chance of losing the luggage or of having anything stolen. I don't even bring any liquids or soaps. I don't mind paying $20 USD when I get to Pattaya or Bangkok and filling up on some toiletries. Easy for bus travel. Easy for ferry travel to places like Ko Samet where you transfer from a ferry to a barge like thing for the last 100 yards to shore.

You can travel with liquids again, less than 100CL (I've gotten away with much more), in a clear plastic bag that you pass through the scanner individually. Allows me to bring a tube of toothpaste, small bottle of shampoo, skin lotion, sunscreen (it's expensive here!) and mozzie repellent.

My bag also has wheels and straps. In 3 years of traveling full time, all over the world, have never used the straps. I use to travel exclusively with a backpack...but don't any more. Works great when you get into town via train/bus and have a 1km walk to your hotel (like Dubrovnik). Easy to pull the bag.

[Roj]

You can buy large rucksacks that also have wheels like a trolley case nowadays. Mobility is the name of the game; it`s no fun to be `tied` to a travel chest. Travel by train in Thailand is a great experience, cheap and much more pleasant and safe than travelling by coach.

[rakman]

Travel light, especially on foot (or where you're carrying the luggage).

SE Asia is the tropics, it's very easy (especially if you come from non-tropical areas) to carry 1 light warm/rain proof garment, just in case. If you're traveling outside a city a three piece suit is the last thing to bring.

As other noted, laundry is easy to do or get service.

The more I visit and travel out of the city, the less I bring, and travel is easier.

[Microwave]

I believe, but am not sure, that Thai Railways will allow luggage weighing no more than 20 kg. Another incentive to travel as light as possible as others have suggested.

Here's the Thai Railways website, there may be info. on this site concerning allowed luggage weight: http://thairailways.com/