Travel Tips » Bangkok

Beware of fake VIP buses in Thailand

Vi — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:01:53 +0000

After staying for a couple days in Ao Nang I started look how I can get back to Bangkok on time of my international flight. I realized in is not so easy task as I expected because it was very busy season in Thailand. All flights are booked out, so only alternative was 12 hours trip by bus (train would be last resort).
Trip is very long so at least I wanted to take it in comfort but tickets to the most comfy bus – Super VIP with only 24 seats on it – were already sold out. What about VIP bus then? Agent made a call and an answer the same – tickets sold out..But then she made another call and said there are seat on other (VIP) bus. Perfect. Now I can relax.

Fake VIP bus stop in Krabi,Thailand

Next day in afternoon guy picked me up from guest house and dropped in some coffee shop on edge of Ao Nang. There another mini bus should pick up me and transfer to Krabi from there bus goes to Bangkok. Never travelled with bus in Thailand before, so didn’t have any expectation how it works and wasn’t worrying much about it, as after 20 minutes mini bus came and dropped all passengers including me somewhere in Krabi. Place doesn’t look like bus station at all. But bus was were and a lot of other people also were waiting for it. No worries. Only after talking with another guy I met there I understood it is fake (not government run Transport Company) VIP bus. What I can do now? I must in Bangkok tomorrow. Bus wasn’t full and I had two seats available. Not bad, as usually in such private buses they have more seats then in real VIP bus. Which means less leg space. So far so good, except driver was smoking and all bus was full of smoke. At night when we stopped for a break a could look at real VIP buses. Not much difference from outside, except serial numbers and company title on it. But inside it was much cleaner, had working TV and probably could find other cons, but I will check it next time I come to Thailand.

Fake(left) and two real(right) VIP buses in Thailand

This time I arrived safe and sound to Bangkok and actually it stopped near Khao San Road there a lot of hostels are, so no need to take taxi from bus station.
My experience with fake VIP bus in Thailand was not such bad, but want to know everybody about it. Next time I at least will know about it’s existence and will think should I take it or not. Price I paid for ticket was higher then real VIP bus, don’t know what insurance they have in case of accident and most unpleasant thing happened – at night somebody checked bags left in bus storage unit and even didn’t bother properly to close bags after they opened them. Nothing was stolen, but it is not very nice feeling when you know somebody went through your stuff. So don’t ignore warning: “KEEP YOUR VALUABLES WITH YOU”.

Beware of fake VIP buses in Thailand is a post from: Travel Tips

When NOT to go to Thailand

Vi — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:01:02 +0000

I had long trip during Xmas/NY time and to make it easier decided to stopover for a week in Thailand. From November through March is the best time to visit Thailand. It is less rain, not so hot. That also means more tourists, everything more expensive. So I didn’t expect to be alone there, but it was busier I anticipated. A lot of people are on holidays as me, so not much you can do about it. But if I could be more flexible I would avoid Xmas/New Year period. It is not just about crowd. Except you have booked all accommodation and flights/bus tickets in advance, it would be very time consuming to do it then you are in Thailand during this time. I had arrangements for the first half of my trip and later was planning to go depending on situation without strict schedule and list of places to visit. It is not best idea for short trip as even around Khao San Road in Bangkok it difficult to find room and need to wait until somebody (may be) will check out. Also I had problem finding transport back to Bangkok from Krabi as buses and planes were fully booked on the days I need it. So searching for accommodation and transport took quite a lot of time. I am sure it was just bad timing and not flexible schedule. So next time I will go to Thailand I’ll try to avoid this very busy Xmas/New Year period or at least book everything online. That would be more expensive but I think anybody would rather spend time on the beach instead of siting in internet cafe searching information or browsing in the town through travel agent shops.

When NOT to go to Thailand is a post from: Travel Tips

Free wireless internet in Bangkok airport (BKK)

Vi — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:58:29 +0000

In Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport airport you can get voucher with login details for free access to SVB Wi-Fi hot spots. Unfortunately it is only 15 minutes long access. But. You can go closer to Qantas Business Lodge and there is free access to their network. Didn’t check other airlines lodges as I was happy with Qantas and was not so much thinking about another delayed flight.

Free wireless internet in Bangkok airport (BKK) is a post from: Travel Tips