Getting to Chiang Mai, Thailand 3/21/08

My first experience with an overnight train and the first class sleeper car...

First of all, some travel advice: these overnight trains book up fast! The first class cars which are very reasonably priced (giving you a private room with door and lock and shared shower) book up about 1 week or more in advance...we found about 9 days in advance. We also thought you had to book these in person at the train station and you can, however, we recently read info about the website for the State Railway of Thailand and supposedly you can send an email to book.

Overall I would say the overnight train was a fun experience and a good way to save some money. You get transportation and lodging in one. It was exciting to figure out how to climb into bed while the train was rocking back and forth, how to shower in the toilet/shower stall while avoiding contact with the toilet or the walls and keeping my balance...Good times! The down side...neither of us got much sleep with the noise and sudden jerks the train made stopping and starting at the stations along the way. Ear plugs & sleeping pills were helpful but were no match for the sounds & motions of the train.

We checked into our hotel and we love it! We are staying at the Riverside House B&B for about $23 a night for the Superior room (no standard rooms were avail). The place is spic and span, the room is spacious, the shower hot and the bed comfortable. This is luxury compared to our last stay in Lop Buri (Nett hotel). Breakfast is the typical white toast & jam and coffee, which Jon and I are growing quite tired of. The location is about a 15 minute walk from the center of the old city but it is not a bad walk. Plus, this gives us a bit more peace and quiet away from the crowds.