Reader question about Chiang Mai and the night train
Hello all,
First of all congratulations for this website/blog! My girlfriend and I are going to Thailand for the first time in the second week of August (for 2 weeks) and we have already managed to get a lot of useful information from here!
Now we still had some questions. So we are August 12 in Bangkok (to take the night train to Chiang Mai later that day). But now it turns out to be Queen's Day/Mother's Day that day, is that something we should take into account?
And does anyone have experience with thailandtrainticket.com? We have reserved our tickets for the night train to Chiang Mai there, but so far we have only received a 'Booking and Inquiry' number, so we have not paid anything yet and no further instructions. I have already tried to contact you via email, but no response yet.
As mentioned above, our journey goes via Chiang Mai where we stay from Tuesday to Sunday. Now we find so much information about what to do there (and in the area) that we can't really see the wood for the trees, so the question to you; what should we really see/do when we get there?
Thanks for the comments!
Regards,
Merlijn
I have no experience with this site though http://www.thairailticket.com/ there I could pay by credit card and choose the beds and chairs myself. I immediately received the train tickets.
You should definitely visit the Saturday and Sunday market in the evening, really great, especially on Sunday, and of course the large temple on the mountain, I forgot the name.
If you don't hear anything about that ticket, I would go to the train station the day before with your reservation number and ask for tickets there. Please don't let people in front of the train station tell you they work there and try to sell you tickets.
When you arrive in Chiang Mai, there are many taxis for normal prices at the station outside, ask for a ticket there, this can come in handy if you want to go somewhere.
Agree in advance what you want to see and agree on the price in advance, for example for a whole day taxi who will take you anywhere in the Chiang Mai area. Taxi for the whole day that will take you to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, hill tribes, beautiful waterfalls also in the mountains, the price for a taxi will be between 1000 and 1200 bath.
If you want cheaper, my experience is that you are always stuck with a tour who goes to places where you do not want one and you lose a lot of time.
I would also definitely visit Chiang rai to see the white temple and hot springs.
And if you still have time left Golden triangle 3 countries point, although that is a long drive, so you have to make up for that consideration whether it is worth it.
Success my experience with Chiang mai is that the people are more relaxed and the prices are fairer than in Bangkok
Chiang Mai is very nice and there is indeed a lot to do. The large temple on the mountain (doi suthep) is definitely worth a visit. I would definitely cook, visit the hill tribes and ride the elephants.
what do you say: take a ride on the elephants? Don't you know that borders on animal cruelty? Much better advice is: visit Elephant Nature Park, an hour's drive from Chiang Mai. You can book for that in town.
Since January 2013 it is no longer possible to reserve tickets for the train online. See this link for alternatives (and a lot of info about traveling by train anyway): http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#Bangkok-to-Chaing-Mai
Success!
Chris
It is a nice tip to just click on the site of the toursiten office of Chiang Mai and read what there is to see and enjoy or find. Maybe familiarize yourself in advance with the distances in Thailand via GOOGLE EARTH?. Because the hill tribes visit, and the golden triangle etc you talk about tens of kilometers in your unknown territory. Because what's fun for one doesn't like the other. Riding elephants can be found on every corner of the street - which I personally think is a shame to do this to those animals. Give those animals a kilo or two of bananas. They and you have more fun with that? It is recommended to visit one of the many Thai cooking schools. You can also have fun with it at home. Have fun.
The night train is nice but I prefer to go an hour by plane for about 50 euros pp. In Chiangmai you also have the walking street market on Sunday, possibly .. golf.
You pay € 50,- ???. Are you flying first class?. Could be. Then you just sit a few chairs in front of me. No extras for the rest. But for 995 Baht on offer Nok Air. Normally approx. 1.200 Baht only p/p Don Muang / Chiang Ma (not on every flight) i. I wish you a lot of fun flying.
Very nice, you should definitely do that. Your train ticket also contains your seat number. Tomorrow you will have a nice breakfast for a few cents. Chaingmai is very beautiful and especially worth a bike ride. On the way back we took the day train, which is beautiful and the thousands of hectares of rice are very beautiful and the nature is wonderful. We are going to Thailand for the sixth time this year. beautiful country and nice weather, have fun.
With the night train to Chiang Mai? Is that because it is cheaper than by plane?
In Chiang Mai itself I would look at the inner city: chedi Luang (touristic), but the area is interesting, Chedi Phra sing and chedi chiang man (I think very beautiful and hardly any tourists).
Outside the city center: Chinatown, fruit and flower market, Warorot market (1st floor!).
There is a night bazaar every evening, but those who like crowds should go to the Saturday and Sunday markets. For handicrafts, going to San Kamphaeng is worth it. For a trip to the north (you must spend the night there) Doi Ang Khang is recommended. The Golden Triangle is worth nothing, just a boat trip on a river between 3 countries. The whtite temple is something special.
But be careful, the distances are huge.
If you want someone reliable for these tours, who is also affordable, and who will discuss your route with you and book the hotels along the way, I can recommend (I don't make any money from it!!): Sight Seeing. Garry (Prasert) Tel. +66 (0) 819609292 or email: [email protected]
For a trip north (depends where to) you do have to factor in the cost of gas, and that Garry also has to pay for a place to sleep and his board. (I've always invited him to lunch. That's a pittance!).
If you want to engage him, which I really recommend, you can tell him that you got his address from 'Dr. Lebert' (emphasis on bért). That's how people know and call me there and that 'Dr.' I have accepted this over time. Nothing special, it means nothing to me.
Have fun and happy holidays.
M. Lebert
Hey , I also went with the night train nr chang mai ... I only bought the ticket 2 hours before departure . I paid 20 eu for it so don't let it put you in the bag… That's my tip. Buy it in the station itself … Don't go to agency that plumes you …. . Good luck & enjoy Thailand !!!
During holidays in Thailand, the night train is often full. It is then wise to buy your ticket well in advance.
I also booked at the beginning of this year http://www.thailandtrainticket.com.
I wanted to book a ticket in advance because my trip was around Songkran. I didn't want to run the risk of not being able to buy tickets at the station itself. On or around that day.
I've sent them an email.
There were indeed no more tickets available on the day I wanted to travel.
I emailed back to see if there were other options. E.g. a day before.
A day earlier turned out to be possible.
I received an email how to pay and what my delivery address in BKK would be. (They deliver the ticket in Bangkok for free.)
I paid with my credit card and one or two days later I received an email confirmation.
And a few weeks before the travel date I received another reminder that I had not yet provided my delivery address.
Excellent service.
When I arrived at my hotel, the ticket was ready at the reception.
So only good experiences. (One, haha. But I would book again in a heartbeat. They seemed reliable to me.)
Attractions Chiang Mai:
Doi Suthep, temple in the mountains that you should definitely see. (view over Chiang Mai)
Mae Rim : Elephant camp, also rafting, elephant ride + show and long necks
Chiang Mai : zoo, Sunday market, night bazaar, temples in Chiang Mai itself is worth it. Shopping BIG C/ CENTRAL AIRPORT PLAZA AND LOTUS.
Mea Rim : snake farm, monkey farm, crocodiles, orchids
Waterfalls at different locations, botanical garden, etc
Doi Suthep temple is highly recommended. You can agree on a price with an open taxi, but you can also take a tour of the place where the mini trucks leave for the temple. (ask your hotel to write this down in Thai for the driver, this is cheaper than a taxi) At the top of the temple you will receive a blessing from a monk, you will receive a ribbon around your wrist. Remember the number of the open truck that will take you back to the boarding point at the agreed time.
I myself once went by night train, to see a lot of the country. (in the hours that it is light then) But I thought that was enough after an hour. Moreover, I could not sleep at all on the train, so I arrived in Chiang Mai broken. If I go now, I will fly cheaply (in the morning) with Nok Air or Air Asia. Then I'll be there in an hour, I'm still nice and fresh and I still have an extra day in Chiang Mai, which you would otherwise have spent partly in the train. If you're a bit daring, I can advise you to go cycling Down-Hill. (note that some parts are also Up-Hill) Have fun in this beautiful area.
Try with a chat to Greenwood Travel (Dutch)
This tour operator can best help you with a question about this.
I myself did this to Koh Samui a few years ago, but had to pay with a credit card.
And the transport tickets can then be collected 1 hour in advance at the main station.
good trip
Ps try to fly around €.25 are you over (1 hour)
Especially if you don't have that many days,
And with the train you see nothing at night and is +/- 800 thb.
I experienced the night train to Chiang Mai as a very nice experience. Many young people on board and the atmosphere is very nice (I am 66 years old myself) but everyone is pleasant. ONLY the train is delayed very often. We have been standing still for hours. a short drive (very slowly) and then stop again. Something like a 4-hour delay. Every disadvantage also has an advantage: because we have seen a lot of the area because we have driven more during the day. But with 2 weeks of vacation, those are precious lost hours. We only had fun, but I was there for 4 months, so it's not that bad. In Chiang Mai I went to the Hot Springs. Great after a tiring day.
Thanks for all the responses!
Everyone keeps talking about taking the plane to Chiang Mai, but I can only find expensive tickets for that. Anyone have a tip where I should look?
Yours faithfully,
Merlijn
Dear Merlijn, my experience is by regularly checking the sites of the various airliners because they have promotions at set times.
For example, last year I booked a ticket to ChiangMai for my wife and myself during such a promotion for less than 699 baht at AirAsia and back to Bangkok for the same price, so 4 x 699 baht + booking costs.
The funny thing is that the booking costs can then be more expensive than for one ticket. Such tickets also ever booked with NokAir to Phitsanulok.
The issue is the earlier you book or rather the further the flight date is when booking, the cheaper so if you already know what you plan to do in about 3 to 4 months or perhaps longer then I would book.
As mentioned, the closer the flight date, the more expensive if there is still room because often the cheap tickets can already be sold by the early bookers.
Also keep in mind that extra costs can be charged for too much weight luggage.
By the way, I don't like such a long stretch by train, but that's personal.
You can be a little clearer because everyone has their own limit where the word DURATION starts?. Where did you start with the word …too expensive?. Check out Nok Air, the subsidiary of Thai Airways. They have regular promotional prices for flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai varying between 980 and 1500 Baht p/p per flight. If that is too expensive, you can go by train. It may take a while for them to clear things up. Yesterday a train overturned on the Bangkok to Chiang Mai route. You can also fly with Thai Airways, which have higher prices. It depends on when you fly. But that's normal in almost every society. Otherwise, just take the bus. Nice and cheap and you see something on the approx. 7-hour ride. Nok Air does that in about 60 minutes. Good luck.
What about your luggage? Can you safely store it while you sleep? Is there a difference for your luggage if you travel first or second class?
1st class you have your own compartment (per 2 persons). In such a compartment there is a connecting door on one side so that you can also make 2 compartment from 1 compartments. The door can be locked and there are curtains on the windows. Second class everyone sits together, so your luggage too.
More info (easy to find if you call up articles tagged “train”:
- https://www.thailandblog.nl/vervoer-verkeer/thailand-trein-video/
- https://www.thailandblog.nl/vervoer-verkeer/nachttrein-thailand/
- https://www.thailandblog.nl/vervoer-verkeer/trein-thailand/
Luggage is in a rack next to your sleeping place on the train.
So you can monitor it all the time.
You put hand luggage next to you on the bed.