Mandy asks…
Can anyone answer a series of questions I have about Thailand travel please?
Yes, I’m back with another series of questions about Thailand (something I omitted in my first set of questions because I didn’t want to have too many topics flying around). Thanks again for those who really helped me with my previous questions, by the way. I received some really helpful tips.
Ok here we go. I put in as much detail as I could to elaborate on the situation I’m in. Because I’m pressed for time (something unavoidable), I’m cutting a lot of my time short in Thailand to see as much as I can. A portion of my trip will include a day trip to Sukhothai (via Phitsanulok) and 2 days in Chiang Mai before returning to Bangkok. This schedule can’t be changed due to time constraints and because of the 2 other blokes I’m traveling with.
1. From Bangkok to Phitsanulok, I was thinking of taking a train. I went online to find a train schedule, but the ones I found were either from a blog in Thai or just really confusing English. Is there a sleeper-train from Bangkok that can bring me to Phitsanulok in the morning? If so, how long is the train ride and around how much would a one-way ticket cost?
2. On the same day after spending the day in Sukhothai, I wanted to head up to Chiang Mai. What’s the recommended way to get there from Phitsanulok station – by bus or by train? With your recommended mode of transportation (bus or train), how long would the commute be and roughly how much?
3. After spending sometime in Chiang Mai, I was recommended to fly back to Bangkok because it’s faster allowing more time for me to decompress and get ready for more Bangkok sightseeing. What airlines do you recommend I fly if I want to get back into Bangkok cheaply?
4. Also, I was told that I should just book the flight when in Thailand versus before I head out because it will be cheaper to buy it in there. Is this true? If so, where do you recommend I go to buy tickets (for 3 people) one way from Chiang Mai to Bangkok? Lastly, what is the average ball park for a flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok (I don’t want to get ripped off).
Thank you SO much for helping me with all my gazillion questions. Any and all relevant answers are welcomed. If you have other recommendations that you feel are better than the above plans, I’d love to hear them as well. Thanks again for your time and concern.
Players Club Tours answers:
Here are some travel forums you can look over. When you ask questions try to only ask a couple at at a time. If you need hotel recommendations mention a price range for a hotel room.
Http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g293915-i3686-Thailand.html
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=51
http://forum.virtualtourist.com/forum-1943-1-Travel-Thailand-1-forum.html
You can sign up for tours in Bangkok (Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket too) at local travel agencies. They may have tours going to the places you want to see. Yes, you can buy plane tickets at local travel agencies. Some cheapo discount airlines may have lower weight allowances than Thai Air. The only time I hear about problems with travel agencies are from kids who use them in the Khao San Road area – and even those are not common. You can ask the price of a flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and then compare that price with another travel agency and see what they are charging. Most travel agencies are pretty reliable and even some of them post prices right on the door or somewhere you can read them.
You can take an overnight sleeper train up to Chiang Mai if you want, if you want the sleeper get the ticket a couple days ahead of time either in person at the train station or via a travel agency. The subway can take you to the train station, the Skytrain can connect you with the subway. If you have a hotel near the Skytrain you can use that overhead rail service. In Chiang Mai check out the tours available from local travel agencies, they provide a pick up at your hotel, the tour, sometimes a dinner, then a ride back to your hotel. Very safe and reliable. Millions and millions of tourists see Thailand this way.
Wait until you get to Thailand to exchange your money to Thai baht. Bank money changers available at the airport 24 hours a day. Read up on the TripAdvisor forum on how to take meter taxis from the airport and transportation within the city.
Good luck.
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