Hi All
I was hoping someone can help me. I'm arriving in Bangkok in Jan and want to get the overnight bus from the new southern bus terminal to Koh Phangan. I've used this service the other way a couple of times but I cannot find out which local bus to catch to the New Southern Bus terminal from Siam Sq or Victory Monument to buy my tickets.
I have seen from a translated version of the Thai Transport Co website that there may be a way to buy tickets in Bangkok, at various Supermarkets for example, does anyone know if this is true?
I do not want to use Travel agents as I have been ripped off so many times in Thailand I'd rather go to the terminal a couple of days before I need to travel if there are not any ticket outlets in the City.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Chris
Reply to this You could just get a taxi to it? It's not that far out of the city - something like 100 baht in a taxi if I remember rightly.
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In response to: Msg #145037
Cheers Kris & Kate but when I got a taxi from the bus station to the Khao San it cost me about 450 baht on the meter (more than my ticket from Koh Samui!!). As I need to go there and back to buy my ticket a couple of days before travelling I wanted to try and find a bus.
Reply to this 450 baht was a rip off taxi then. It's only 300 baht to the airport.
Reply to this Hello Chris and Lisa 😊
I was in Bangkok in August and September. A taxi from the Khao San Road to the bus station for busses going south is around 95 bahts. Be sure to ask the driver to switch on the meter, or you can easily get charged costs such as you were charged.
The public busses to this bus station are incredibly complicated, as I found out in August. I got so lost that I ended up taking a taxi anyway. I dont know if the bus station changed location or the bus number to it changed.
I do not want to use Travel agents as I have been ripped off so many times in Thailand I'd rather go to the terminal a couple of days before I need to travel if there are not any ticket outlets in the City.
There is one reputable agent that I use near the Khao San Road. You would still need to check that you are not buying a particularly expensive ticket though. They are honest though, as far as I have heard and experienced. The prices vary, so ask other travellers what you can expect to pay before buying a ticket. The price of the ticket also includes a mini van to the bus station, which the agency also provide.
To find this agency.
Walk to the end of the Khao San Road that has the temple opposite it. Cross the road. Go left for around 100 M. You will then see wooden tables and seats with usually some backpackers sitting there. It is to the right of an Indian restaurant.
Another perk: This travel agency has free 24/7 internet upstairs, and western standard toilet facilities. So, you can also save the money you would spend in an internet cafe, by visiting this agency. The place is even air conditioned. The food in the agency cafe is expensive though.
Mel
Reply to this ...it cost me about 450 baht on the meter
Keep an eye on what the driver does with the meter. Make sure he doesnt fiddle it by starting it at 300 bahts and then adding the rest of the journey to that. If you suspect any nonsense, write down his taxi licence number. ie. If the journey is supposed to cost 95 bahts and the meter is going over 200 bahts. You will see a card with his photo and number on the dashboard of the taxi. It will be on display. Then ask him to let you out and dont pay anything. Tell him you will be speaking with the tourist police about it. I wouldnt bother with the police though, unless the driver wont let you leave without paying. I think, the police are likely to be just as corrupt as any corrupt agent or taxi driver in Thailand, and probably wont treat the situation fairly for the driver or maybe not for you.
Reply to this Thanks Mel, that's great info.
We aren't staying near the Khao San Rd this trip as it's about our 6th time in Bangkok so are trying other options nearer to the transport hubs. We're staying just off the Sukhumvit Road this time.
I've been advised that ThaiTicketMajor provides a ticketing service for Transport Co and they seem to have booths at most of the malls so we are going to try to buy our ticket through them.
I agree about the complicated buses, we had to get a bus from the Southern Bus Terminal, got dropped off by a flyover on a busy dual carriageway then catch another one that finally dropped us at Siam Sq. I guess the Thai taxi mafia want to make it as difficult as possible for people to use buses, oh well travelling is always an adventure.
What I find frustrating is that without exception, in Asia, that unless you book directly with the transport provider you never get what you should. You are booked on a 36 seater when you paid for a 24. You've been given a 'voucher' that the transport company at the pickup don't recognise. You pay 800 baht for a 300 baht ticket, etc, so as I have time, I try to avoid the frustrations. Luckily this is only a minor irritation that doesn't detract from the joys of the region.
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"I do not want to use Travel agents as I have been ripped off so many times in Thailand I'd rather go to the terminal a couple of days before I need to travel if there are not any ticket outlets in the City."
You seem to have more problems than many other tourists. Just in case you do not know - meter taxis start at 35 baht. YOU must check that the meter is not on some other price. Using the meter taxi means you do not bargain the fare - just pay the meter! The fare you pay for a meter taxi ride is for everyone in the taxi and not per passenger. Have small bills and even coins. Two people in a taxi will be the same price as one passenger. Taxi is door to door.
The only time I read or hear about tourists being scammed or cheated in some way for bus rides is by travel agencies that were in the Khao San Road area. Mostly kids that stay there anyway, guess they are more gullible. At least in the Sukhumvit area you can even use the Skytrain for many things.
In case you do not know (since you have so much bad luck) do not put any valuables in your checked in bag when using a bus! Keep passport, cash, computer, jewelry, etc. with you at your seat. Make sure your bags can be locked and lock them!
Koh Phangan - another destination popular with kids! You can also use the train part of the way. The Skytrain connects with the subway, the subway takes you to Hualamphong.
Be aware that there are scams in the Koh Phangan area too! A Google check will come up with some links.
Reply to this Thanks Sir Halberd, your advice is excellent as always. Don't get me wrong the transport thing isn't much of an issue, now I know what the starting fare should be it will help enormously. As an aside in many places, Koh Samui for example, the taxis refuse to put the meter on, they even have printed sheets explaining why. I spent an hour one day trying to get a taxi from Bophut to Nathon to take me on the meter because I wanted to know what the proper price was. 11 taxis refused!!
I agree about the skytrain, it's fantastic and I even enjoy the buses (when I manage to catch the right one).
As for Koh Phangan, while Had Rin is a resort mainly for the kids, us 'fortysomething' kids find the resorts, beaches and residents on the north and west side of the Island fabulously relaxing.
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