kapstreak

First of all, I want to thank every one who has given us ideas about where to stay, how to use the ATM machines and every other question we have asked. You have all been very helpful and have great tips!!

Now for some more questions. As I said my husband and I are visiting Thailand in February and are staying for 6 weeks. We are first time travelers and have so many questions! Can you tell us if the trip to Bridge on the River Kwai can be taken from BKK in one day or do we need two? How do you suggest we travel? Is it best to travel by yourselves or to take a tour?

Also, has anyone ever taken the train from BKK to Chaing Mai? Is it worth the trip? Is the scenery worth it? Or should we just fly there. We will be in Thailand for 6 weeks so we do have time to take a train somewhere. Is it worth it?

Also, I have a laptop which I am leaning toward leaving home. We are flying to Honolulu in January and then leaving to go to Thailand in February from Hawaii. I hate to drag my computer all over Thailand as we will be traveling to different parts of the country - that is as much as we can. Is internet service easy to find? Do the hotels have it? I would like to have access to a computer to check email and to drop a line to some friends. What do you think?

Thanks again for all the help you have been on our questions.

Kapstreak

MichaelBKK

The Bridge can be done in a day trip from Bangkok, but there is a lot more to see there than the bridge, which is very unimpressive. Since you have the time, why not stay there a while and see more, like Erawan falls, the sunken temple, etc.

Trains are not the best way to get around Thailand. I don't know of anyone who recommends them. For the trip to Chiang Mai, the scenery is very repetitive for most of the way. It's the same thing you would see on a day trip to Ayutthaya for the first 500 km, and only gets 'interesting' as you reach Chiang Mai.

There are internet shops in every major tourist center, where you can get cheap access to your web email, etc. Many hotels have internet access. Some charge a fortune for it; while some give it away. I tend to bring my laptop on long trips more for downloading pictures from my camera than for internet access.

Kathie

Yes, you can do a day trip from BKK to the River Kwai. Some people like to stay over night, but it isn't necessary. It depends on your level of interest.

Gazillions of people have taken the train from BKK to CM. A number of them have reported on it on this board. Is the scenery worth it? Well, you'll get a better view of the scenery with a car and driver. If you love trains, do it, but I can't remember anyone saying that the trips itself was especially memorable.

Internet service is very easy to find. Internet cafes are everywhere, If you plan to do financial transactions over the web, you may feel more secure carrying your own laptop. All hotels will have internet service, some for free, some for rather high prices. If you only plan to use your laptop for email, internet cafes (and free computers in some hotels) will likely work fine for you.

rhkkmk

i agree with kathie about the laptop...most upscale hotels charge for the computer connect, but not all....some of the smaller places give it to you...
in 11 thai trips we have only taken it once and i did like having it...we were gone 2 months that time... most safes will not hold it so if you are afraid of losing it, leave it behind....

cafes can be found in most towns of any size...

bridge over river...i have been and found it very disappointing...its a very long drive out and back...but you can combine it with a couple of other stops....go early (6:30AM) in the AM and visit the floating market first, then on to the bridge for lunch and then visit the tiger temple and then arrive back in bkk by 8PM....

the best way to do this and the cheapest for 2 people is to hire a car/driver....many of us like the following people: tong, rat, cherry and their associates... search for them here and book now....its about $100 for the day give or take...

fly to chiang mai using a discount carrier like air asia

afterall

I liked Kanchanaburi and if you are interested in the Bridge then you might also be interested in the war cemeteries and the small musuem founded by a buddhist monk if I remember rightly. You can get there on the bus from BKK. Once there hire bicycles for the above, and take a local tour to visit Bridge, Hellfire Pass, do a bit of elephant riding.

I'd stay overnight if you have six weeks.

Re train to CM - yes, I have taken the overnight sleeper. I like trains. And I love waking up at first light to be up to see the scenery as journey's end approaches. Might not appeal to everyone, of course.

Cheers.

crellston

We spent a few days in and around the Kanchanaburi area and quite enjoyed it for its historical significance (probably of more interest if you are British or Australian). the town itself is a bit of a dump but with a few nice places to stay (both high end and backpacker). To travel there, personally, I would either take the bus or rent a car (but not everyone is happy driving in Thailand). IMO most tours are not worth the money and the same trip could be done, with a little effort for half the cost.

Try not to go at the weekend as a/ accomodation will be booked up by weekenders from BKK and, b/ if you do find somewhere to stay the noise from teh disco boats and partying Thai students will keep you up until the early hours!

If you rent a car there are a number of non touristy places to visit 100kms or so further north of Kanchanaburi.

I liked the overnight train to CM if only for the change of transport and there is just something about train travel that I like! Plus you do save on a nights accomodation costs.

Laptops - a personal decision but I would say that having made the decision not to take one on our current trip we relented after 4 months and bought one in Singapore. For 6 weeks maybe not but I would be nervous about inputing credit card info into internet cafe PCs for very obvious reasons.

jcasale

To put in my two cents regarding the train - we thought it was great. The scenary was anything but repetitive. We have some great pictures from the train and found it pretty comfortable. It's not Amtrak, but the seats were decent. We took the day train obviously. We debated the overnight one but we wanted to see the countryside. The one thing I would recommend is that you bring some of your own food. They do feed you, but not much from about 3pm on and you don't get in until about 8pm. Fortunately we had some leftovers from the day before.

We did the River Kwai in conjunction with the floating market and tiger temple as rhkkmk suggested and it was a great day. We didn't spend a ton of time at the bridge, but it was cool to see it. We hired Tong to take us that day and it was definitely a highlight of the trip.

Enjoy!