Train or Planes in Thailand
Dec 3rd, 2005 | 05:21 PM
#2
Original Poster
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7
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Hello, sorry I am responding to my own topic because I pushed enter by accident...we need to know if it is best to take a train from Bangkok to Phuket or a plane. does anyone know the cost of either method? Do you need to start booking ahead of time
Dec 3rd, 2005 | 05:23 PM
#3
Original Poster
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Hello, sorry I am responding to my own topic because I pushed enter by accident...we need to know if it is best to take a train from Bangkok to Phuket or a plane. does anyone know the cost of either method? Do you need to start booking ahead of time or can we do this while we are actually in Thailand? we will be there over Christmas and New year.
Dec 3rd, 2005 | 05:42 PM
#4
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,034
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I would take a plane...it takes an hour. There is not a train to Phuket... you would train to Surat Thani then change to bus to Phuket...I wouldn't do that. Bus from BKK to Phuket is 13 hours.
You will be going in the absolute peak season, so if you intend to fly, you need to book the tickets as soon as possible. We booked tickets from Chaing Mai to Phuket last month and the discount seats were long gone. From BKK you have more choices than we did. Check Thai Air, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Air Asia...there may be more. Be careful comparing prices because they often display prices that do not include taxes and surcharges. We found that Thai Air was cheapest for our 3 trips within Thailand...surprisingly is was cheaper than the discount airlines, but only when comparing the final price...the cheap fares were a bit deceiving because the taxes and fuel surcharges added up to a lot, in the end pushing the full price to more than Thai Airways' fares.
You will be going in the absolute peak season, so if you intend to fly, you need to book the tickets as soon as possible. We booked tickets from Chaing Mai to Phuket last month and the discount seats were long gone. From BKK you have more choices than we did. Check Thai Air, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Air Asia...there may be more. Be careful comparing prices because they often display prices that do not include taxes and surcharges. We found that Thai Air was cheapest for our 3 trips within Thailand...surprisingly is was cheaper than the discount airlines, but only when comparing the final price...the cheap fares were a bit deceiving because the taxes and fuel surcharges added up to a lot, in the end pushing the full price to more than Thai Airways' fares.
Dec 3rd, 2005 | 07:32 PM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,100
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Yes fly. It is only around $10 more than a 1st class train tickets to Surat Thani plus bus fare to Phuket if you take a discount airline. The only thing to note is the baggage allowance on the discount airlines. Comparing the fares (one way) the regulars Thai and Bangkok Air are 3090 abd 2445 baht respectively. Discount Air Asia 2514
