Internal Flight, Train Or Bus?

[presoblu]

Hi everyone!!!

I will be in Thailand in August, for first time in my life!

First of all, let me say that this site is amazing!!! I'm learning a lot of things about "how to approach" Thailand world... Thank you all!

So, this is my question:

My trip will be Bangkok - ChiangMai - Samui - Bangkok (in two weeks).

What's the best way to move from a city to another? How much does it costs?

Bangkok --> ChiangMai

ChiangMai --> Samui

Samui --> Bangkok

I hope there are cheap direct flight that will connect all this cities...

[udon]

Train.

Cost: Look it up Here or Here.

The SRoT website rarely works: http://www.railway.co.th/httpEng/

Also: The Man in Seat 61

[presoblu]

Thank you!

But from Chiangmai to Samui.. it's very far away, maybe with a flight I can save many hours.

[cdnvic]

What kind of budget are you travelling on?

Bangkok Airways Chiang Mai - Samui

4650 Baht o/w

http://www.bangkokair.com/?lang=en

cv

[presoblu]

I think this is ok, for my budget, even if i thought about a cheaper price...

so thank you for the suggestion!!

[ged]

I think this is ok, for my budget, even if i thought about a cheaper price...

so thank you for the suggestion!!

try AIR ASIA for fares bkk-chiang mai also i think you must pay 500b tax at samui airport but i am not 100% ,it's been a while - have a great time!

[Tufty]

Air Asia do a great deals if you book a couple of weeks in advance

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

Before you go to Chiang Mai give my mate Insuan a call 019920055 to pick you at the airport and get him to book you in at the Chiang Mai gate hotel a very nice, clean and only 1000 baht per night for a room (not per person) Insuan has a tuk tuk to get you round town at night and a minibus for days out, he speaks very good English and will have you laughing so much your face will ache, Tell him John and Kwan (pattaya) sent you and you will get a good price, tell him to take you for the 3 baht noodles they are delicous

[toptuan]

The title of your thread mentions trains--is that a possibility for you too?

Bangkok to ChiangMai: I would highly recommend a 2nd class overnight train with air-con and bunk. In addition to combining your hotel costs with transportation, and combining travel time with sleeping time, you'll have a comfortable night's sleep and get to see some of the landscape too (just after dawn or before sunset).

Be sure to get a berth in the middle of the car (not near the noisier doors at each end), and choose the bottom bunk--darker for sleeping, and more convenient for entry/exiting the bunk.

Take your food with you for the journey, and book your ticket as soon as you arrive in Bangkok at the main train station (assuming you'll look around for a few days in BKK first). The main train station (Hualampong) is conveniently located at one of the subway stations (by the same name).

Cost: I'm guessing $20-$30 one way. (Around 1,000-1,500 baht)

Edited June 7, 2006 by toptuan

[Dave the Dude]

The title of your thread mentions trains--is that a possibility for you too?

Bangkok to ChiangMai: I would highly recommend a 2nd class overnight train with air-con and bunk. In addition to combining your hotel costs with transportation, and combining travel time with sleeping time, you'll have a comfortable night's sleep and get to see some of the landscape too (just after dawn or before sunset).

Be sure to get a berth in the middle of the car (not near the noisier doors at each end), and choose the bottom bunk--darker for sleeping, and more convenient for entry/exiting the bunk.

Take your food with you for the journey, and book your ticket as soon as you arrive in Bangkok at the main train station (assuming you'll look around for a few days in BKK first). The main train station (Hualampong) is conveniently located at one of the subway stations (by the same name).

Cost: I'm guessing $20-$30 one way. (Around 1,000-1,500 baht)

Hi

I would recommend the BKK /ChiangMai night train. Its comfortable,cheap and the on-board food/drink is good. Did it last year with G/F and its a good experience.Also recommend the Elephant Trek in the jungle outside CM.Cant remember name but they kept plugging BBC and Lady Di connections !!!!. You should have no probs with the internal flights.I arrange them all here in UK via OPODO.com

[jdinasia]

ok ... my 2 cents .....

Train one way from BKK to Chiang Mai

Fly the other leg back and do a VIP bus to Surat/Samui

Then take a look at hitting Phuket and flying back to BKK from there

[britmaveric]

Lot of travel for such a brief time.

[jdinasia]

oh wow .... didn't even notice that

2 weeks total? FLY ... every time you can

3 days BKK

4 days Chiang Mai ...

5 days at the beaches at Samui/Koh Phangan

2 days BKK at the end again? (hopefully on a weekend to hit Chatuchak etc?

When pricing flights to Samui ... look at flying into Surat too

[presoblu]

You all have been so kind!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!

Traveling by night in train could be good, I think I will look for the tickets once arrived in BKK.

And I will take a flight to do Chiang Mai --> Samui and Samui back to BKK.

If anybody need advices for transports in Italy, I will get out of debt!!!

[Johpa]

Lot of travel for such a brief time.

Yea, I had the same thought. I'd say that with such a short time frame just skip Samui as you can find tourist beaches closer to home. Fly up to Chiang Mai upon arrival and decompress from the flight and jet lag up there. Spend a week up north then take the night train down to Bangkok and visit some of the cultural sights and do your shopping.

[Plus]

Flying to Samui is the best optioin, but it's monopolised by Bangkok Airways, and they charge an arm and a leg comparing with other domestic airlines.

VIP bus to Samui from Bangkok is ok, but the trip is not long enough to get a decent sleep in your bus seat, and it involves a ferry, too, usually included in the price. Worst is a train or a plane to Suratthani first - too many connections.

For people living here one night on the bus is nothing, but if you travel half around the world and have two weeks only - save your energy, not money.

[meadish_sweetball]

I would also skip Samui. If you want to go to the beach, choose Koh Samet or Koh Chang instead.

[jdinasia]

not really knowing anything about the OP ... I'll stick to their original thoughts ...

but I'd be at Koh Phangan or elsewhere nearby ... but hey ..hewang isn't bad for a few days

[presoblu]

I planned to spend some days in Samui at the end of the travel just to have some relax before going home..

But maybe, at the end, I will go to Phuket instead of Samui... or to another beach place. My choice will depend on the days I will save in Bangkok and ChiangMai, and also on advices thai people will give me