Travelling from Bangkok to Koh Samui - via overnight train departing BK @7.30pm arriving 8.15am (1hr) late
Was great in first class the bottom bunk is a bench for both to sit on and u can call the bell at any time and they come and make it up into bunks - small bed side table and pockets on the walls , a sink & soap to refresh yourself & 1 socket - door is lockable so that's all good and about 10 rooms to a cart - so u share two toilets / shower option with those people - which I may add were very clean - staff washed regularly & I'm not sure if their was a staff member per cart but they were very attentive - we didn't travel up and down the train as we wanted to get plenty of sleep but very good quality and price overall - I did notice the second class on the other carts and they looked like 2 bunks on each side with a curtain for privacy so they would be more socialable option if travelling alone . .. Upon arriving the second you get off there are plenty helpful thai people asking to look at your ticket to point you in the right direction for the bus & the bus filled up pretty quick so not much waiting around which was good :-) however we were told bus journey be 1hr but it was more like 2.5hrs- also it stopped more than once so again make sure you show some one your ticket and they will advise if u need to get off or stay on - as we got off thinking we were there - as there is more than one ferry port .
another thing the women on the bus walking up and down asking every one where they going and when they get to the island did they have transport booked to accommodation and did u want to book with her for 400baht - we had done our research prior so knew we would get it cheaper & we did 100 baht for air con van share - u can also get a truck with seats on bck for 80baht and - getting off the bus straight into ferry station where we had 20 mins to get food or drink or ice cream in my case to cool down . the ferry crossing takes 1 hr half and is a smooth crossing with beautiful views :) the otherwise as soon as u get off their are people everywhere asking u where u going and telling u their price - we stayed in Chaweng resort and paid 100 baht per person for a 20minute journey and again with big bags on your back in this heat your grateful for some more aircon. Overall this journey was 17 hours long but considering we went first class on train & this whole thing was £30 so standard would be even cheaper - Long journey but a good one to say the least - though leaving our hotel in BK we decided to get the underground to the train station & @5pm prob wasn't the best idea in the heat with our bags by time we got to train station we were sweating and knackered x had some spare time so grabbed drink , grub and snacks for train journey - it was £1 to eat a good snack - see pictures x