Hello, Whats the best way to get to Kachanaburi from Bangkok - i was thinking of Rail (with the obvious ties this place has) and are what are the good budget guesthouses to stay in? Have looked on Hostelworld/Bookers and most are unrated? What is a decent price to pay for a Double here? Any help and advise is greatly appreciated.

Happy Travels

Craig

Hi Craig,

If there are a few of you travelling together, a taxi would be more economical and convienient, expect to pay around 2000 baht.

I dont know the train prices but believe it is a "tourist" train that can add considerable time to the trip and is relatively expensive.

We stayed at the VN Guesthouse which was really comfortable and well situated if you dont mind a short walk to the restaraunts, bars and market (5-15 mins), a little longer to the bridge. It is run by super friendly people who make you feel at home and prices start at 250 baht and 450 baht for their biggest/best air-con rooms. It is right on the river with a great restaraunt with great views. My "Tales of Thailand" trip report has more details of our short stay in K'buri

__________________
I love Thailand this much

Thanks very much, will get on looking into that now. Will also read your report.

Craig

A few years back I took the train from BKK all the way to Nam Tok, so I highly recommend the train for travel to K'Buri. If you do take the train to Nam Tok you'll pass over all that rickety scaffolding around the mountains and that put the willies up me. Also taking the train from BKK you get to see some most interesting sights, all the squalor that lines the tracks, broken down little humpy houses. I really enjoy train travel far more than coaches or taxis. For one thing you can walk around and stretch your legs, and sit in the dining car and have a beer & snack. Only drawback is the trains can be slower but if you're on holiday why rush?

__________________
The Truly Wise Man Never Plays Leapfrog With A Unicorn

I love Kan - it's a "home from home" for me in SE Asia. I've always got there by bus from BKK; if I remember rightly there is an express bus and a more leisurely one that stops more frequently.

I can also second shanek's suggestion for the VN Guesthouse. I've stayed there twice, getting "stuck" there for quite a while the second time. They have AC rooms out on a "raft" floating on the river which were pretty special. Nothing quite like putting your feet up outside on the balcony as the sun sets on over the river and you watch everything go by. The only weird thing is being woken up by the wake of boats chugging by - your whole room rocks as it's floating on the river - disconcerting at first, especially waking up after a few Singhas!

Have a great trip and please come back and tell us about it when you return!

Since the train has only a couple of departures every day, you might want to take the bus to Kanchanaburi from The Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok. It's leaving every 15 minutes, trip takes two hours (train at least three), price about 100 Baht a person (one way). Make sure you get the blue/white airconditioned VIP bus by buying your tickets at the blue ticket counters a little bit on the back from the orange counters, where you SHOULD NOT buy.

There are several excellent guesthouses in Kan'buri. To name a few there are the mentioned VN Guesthouse, Jolly Frog, Sam's Guesthouse, Blue Star Guesthouse, and more. All these are located on the river bank, and prices are reasonable - 300-400 Baht depending of you want air-cond. or fan, and share bath or your own bathroom.

Visit the War Cemetary with 7000 headstones for allied soldiers who lost theeir lives in World War II during the building of the Death Railway. Take a hike by the beautiful Erawan Waterfall, and have a swim in one of the ponds at the seven steps waterfalls. Some people like to visit the Tiger Temple... and some people love to hate the place, make your own decision.

Take a walk at the local night market by the train station and make a good bargain, and have some good and cheap food at the big evening food market by the bus station.

Anyway... enjoy your stay here in this nice city.

The SRT has been having enormous problems these past few weeks, trains are falling apart from age and lack of maintanance. It seems that Thailand's entire railway system needs replacing and modernizing. Due to these recent events I would now recommend traveling anywhere by AC coaches (the blue/white ones Flebo mentions) Best give trains a miss until something is done to improve the service.

__________________
The Truly Wise Man Never Plays Leapfrog With A Unicorn

I went on a train from the Bangkok Noi station in February to Kanchanaburi. They had no air con, but it wasn't needed. It was a pleasant trip and cost about 40-60 baht, as I remember. VERY reasonable and the trains in Thailand are great! Will be doing it again in Nov. and take the night train to Chiang Mai.

Hi, We caught the bus from the Southern Bus Station and it was a good trip with no hassle, from memory 100bt each for VIP Express Bus. We stayed at Ploy Guesthouse and thought the rooms were good value and enjoyed Kachanaburi very much, stayed for three nights and loved it.

Lucy

Hi went there last year - caught a bus and it was a great way to see the scenery and get to know the locals - very crowded but a good experience. Stayed at River Kwai resort - about a 5 min walk from the bridge. Excellant accomodation. You must go on the rail trip up towards the Burmese border - travel the length of the death railway - cross the wooden viaducts built in WW2. An experience not to miss. We paid a bit extra ( tickets available from a rep on the station at River Kwai) and got in an better carriage which included a light snack , drinks and a certificate to show you'd ridden the death railway - worth the extra £5} An excellant place to visit and would recommend to any one visiting Thailand. History, brill scenery, great markets and a good fun time whatever your budget.