I intend to take the sleeper train tom HH and was wondering if anybody else has used such a serve in the past? Don't wish go by road or air - So what was the experience like and hat kind of train would be best?

Cheers Tom

I took a sleeper train from Udon to BKK once. My experience is pretty good. Little bit tight and it's just a piece of cloth (curtain) shielding your privacy but it works unless you're very picky about things. One of the crew members on the train even handed me my watch that I had dropped down on the floor beside me which anyone could have just taken, even him, but he kindly told me to be more careful.

I don't know if there are differences between the speeds of the trains in Thailand but the sleeper train we took took 10 hours if I don't remember wrong, which makes it the slowest alternative (excluding walking). I think there are trains you can take that cost nothing, but this train did cost something, but still very cheap.

May I ask why you won't take the airplane?

HH to Nong Khai via rail? Two trains, then, HH to Hua Lamphong then another from Hua Lamphong to Nong Khai.

2nd class A/C sleeper is fine, get a lower berth.

Details available here: http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm

Mac

The sleeper train experience is all good, I have done it at least 30 times. Get the lower berth, the upper one is small, and you have a light in your face. AC, of course. Bring your own food, as the train food is not good. Coming back from Nong Khai, there are many places to eat across from the station, so you can eat before boarding the train [likewise in Bangkok] No need to get out of your bunk until you reach your destination, don't be bullied by the guy who wants to turn your bunk back into seats an hour before you arrive. Enjoy, it is a good service for 650 baht. Just stay off the damn roads. PS Don't hang around on the station platform at Hualampong, the air is lethal.

Leaves BK 8.40 PM, Leaves NK 6.30 pm

The sleeper train experience is all good, I have done it at least 30 times. Get the lower berth, the upper one is small, and you have a light in your face. AC, of course. Bring your own food, as the train food is not good. Coming back from Nong Khai, there are many places to eat across from the station, so you can eat before boarding the train [likewise in Bangkok] No need to get out of your bunk until you reach your destination, don't be bullied by the guy who wants to turn your bunk back into seats an hour before you arrive. Enjoy, it is a good service for 650 baht. Just stay off the damn roads. PS Don't hang around on the station platform at Hualampong, the air is lethal.

Leaves BK 8.40 PM, Leaves NK 6.30 pm

Thank you so much for your advice. Can I book the tickets at any train station, and I guess better to book in advance?

The sleeper train experience is all good, I have done it at least 30 times. Get the lower berth, the upper one is small, and you have a light in your face. AC, of course. Bring your own food, as the train food is not good. Coming back from Nong Khai, there are many places to eat across from the station, so you can eat before boarding the train [likewise in Bangkok] No need to get out of your bunk until you reach your destination, don't be bullied by the guy who wants to turn your bunk back into seats an hour before you arrive. Enjoy, it is a good service for 650 baht. Just stay off the damn roads. PS Don't hang around on the station platform at Hualampong, the air is lethal.

Leaves BK 8.40 PM, Leaves NK 6.30 pm

Thank you so much for your advice. Can I book the tickets at any train station, and I guess better to book in advance?

You can book it all at Hua Hin station. Book early and you will have a choice of beds and get a discount. My experience of trains from Hua Hin is its not very convenient to go to Bangkok. You will want to check that everything connects or stay a night in Bangkok or take the bus to Bangkok and the sleeper train from bangkok.