My dream holiday is happening - Thailand

[StonwEd]

Hi
I got some really good advice on here when we were going to Mexico this year so thought I’d ask about Thailand!
we’ve got 15 nights (not including travel) next January.
Plan is to fly into Bangkok, spend a couple of days there, up to Chaing Mai, then down to some islands for the last week.
Does anyone have experience of getting the sleeper train from Bangkok to CM? Thought it might be fun/cheap but worried about toilets after horrid trains in Egypt.

So we’ve booked nothing yet but we want to do as much as possible. So please if anyone’s been, tell me what you did and what you recommend!

I’m so so excited, never been anywhere like it 💖 and I’ve wanted to for a really long time, life just kept getting in the way.

Stay away from pattaya. I went to Thailand recently and was expecting lovely beaches I was disappointed

We just booked for March - Gulf Air had some very good prices on flights to Bangkok - we got affordable business class seats.
Might be worth a look.

Flights are booked!

Pattaya wasn’t on the list but will bear this in mind thank you!

We’ve just been, I’d definitely recommend Koh Phangan, I absolutely loved it, I was less keen on Koh Samui (a lot more built up than Koh Phangan). Chiang Mai was great and we started at the Bush Camp for a couple of days from there (same company as elephant hills) and that was fab. We’ve been previously and started at Railay Bay in Krabi which I also loved (but that was a long time ago). We’re also went to Sukothai and hired booked which was great fun. We wondered about the sleeper train to Chiang Mai but it was so much cheaper and faster to fly so we did that.

Not really any happy advice but I went to Bangkok and I absolutely hated it. Everywhere you went it stunk. The malls are amazing and the food is too, just be super careful where you eat. Anything with a red star on the menu avoid and if you can, avoid street food. Hygiene does not exist in the markets. There are also black markets and 'meat' markets in Bangkok so be careful what streets you turn down. I travelled Thailand for 2 months and Bangkok was the only place I didn't enjoy, everywhere else was gorgeous especially Koh Phangan!

We took the sleeper. It was comfortable but:

We did not know until after departure there was no food on board. There is a screen to order stuff but there was no food. Take snacks.

You are told to collect tickets the day before. We did, at the station. But we could have saved a trip as the office was open.

There is a new, huge, station next door. Mostly empty. The train is from the tiny one with food stalls (where we would have eaten if others had not raved about the train food.......

If there is a flight from Chiang Mai to Krabi, there are some beautiful islands (Koh Lanta, Koh Jum, Koh Phi Phi) you can get the ferry to from Ao Nang ( Ao nang itself quite touristy but fun) I love Thailand, and actually loved Bangkok, keep your wits about you and definitely try the street food, it’s amazing! You will have a fabulous time!

The night train to CM is nice if you go in first class. The food is really nice on the train as well. I think? It was years ago. I took the night train to Laos as well and that was also quite ok. But I think I had a seat instead of a cabin?
You can fly to CM easily also, it only takes an hour I think.
We went to Pai when we went to CM. That was pretty cute.

with 15 days only I would fly, not sleeper train. I would look at Ko Lanta and Koh Yai Noi or the other side Koh Samui and Koh Toa

Sleeper train to Chiang Mai is great - very clean and efficient.
Staff who help you open the couchettes and even mop the floor!
You can buy the tickets on line in advance.
Breakfast is available but you can also take on snacks.
The air con can make it a bit chilly and they don't dim the lights so take an eye mask.

Following as I'm thinking about going in Easter.

How hot is it then? Has anyone been to Koh Chang, I've heard that's nice.

I went to Koh Phangan years ago in the 90s when there were no hotels there and you just stayed in someone's house so think it may be a bit depressing to go back!

Also anyone been trekking with kids? I'm not sure how they'd be - 12 & 14 but struggle a bit in the heat.

I really liked Kanchaniburi, lots of war history, bridge on the Kwai, Erawan national park with beautiful waterfalls. Only 2 hours from bkk.
bkk to chaing Mai night train is a great way to get to chiang Mai, but you have to book in advance, especially if you want 1st class.
I wasn’t a fan of Phuket in general, Krabi area is far nicer. Lots of nice hotels in Ao Nang, lots to do, boat trips to islands, beautiful beaches.