Thorn Tree travel forum

1

Very good, well-worded post. Nothing to add to that other than that theft on the 'backpacker-express' buses is reported here at least weekly. You bet it happens every single trip, and still people take them.

(Makes me wonder if this will finally be stated with urgency in teh new LP guide..)

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2

Two issues here:

How long does it take people to figure out that you should keep money, credit cards, passports and any other critical papers ON YOUR BODY!

Why do people insist on leaving money laying around and then are surprised when it is taken? Would you do that at home? Don't put it in a fanny pack, don't put it in your backpack, don't "hide" it somewhere. KEEP IT ON YOUR BODY.

Issue Two: I am less trusting of backpackers than I am of Thais. Could be related to - "theft on the 'backpacker-express' buses is reported here at least weekly."

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3

The Songserm buses are ok . Of course many thousands have taken VIP with no problems but sometimes you can be unlucky .
Just as a travel tale I once met an unfortunate who had all his savings from working in HongKong in his money belt in Hk cash . On this bus from the islands to Bkok the bus crew knocked everyone out with gas introduced thru the aircon system . most of the passengers lost all their cash . that fellow lost all his HongKong dollars.
Not keeping all your money in cash is also another good rule .
But at least things have improved since the 1970,s when buses were routinely stopped by bandits with automatic weapons ! .

4

Theft on Busses - copied from main page apologies for not putting it in its right place. I would also like to add that while I agree with Ted ( yes we should have been more careful) the money has been in the same place (reasonably well hidden) for the past 2 months travelling through Vietna, Laos and Cambodia. Maybe the theft is reported so frequently due to the fact it occurs frequently, the posts are not implying all Thai people are dishonest, just some of the VIP bus companies, and people feel upset about the fact. Anyhow...

Having heard from an Irish couple I met in Vietnam that the VIP busses can be a bit dodgy, especially if they load the bags into the downstairs of the bus, and not into the baggage hold, I took some extra precautions of ensuring nothing of value was in my baggage. This turned out to be wise as upon leaving the bus, at a rather strange place - about 5 km away from the docks to Ko Samui, I discovered that my bag had been handily 'repacked'. My girlfriend and others had not been so lucky, and a 20 pound note which we had hidden away for our return was taken along with several other items including cameras. I'm not sure what to do about the scam apart from let you all know. We tried contacting the Tourist Police, who will look into it, but as they mostly only take stray money and as the company whose bus you are loaded onto is not neccessarily the same as the one on the receipt you have its hard to prove.

A strong reccommendation to all travellers is to ensure that all items of value are on your hand luggage, and that the hand luggage is secured with padlocks (there doesnt seem much pointn in securing the backpacks, as it appears they may be handy with lcokpicking (at least simple paddlocks - maybe not so with numerical locks) and this only points where the items of value are. Also if possible argue to have your luggage put inot the baggage hold, as when you get off a bus at 7 in the morning, not really sure of where you are, its hard to remember how you packed your bag in the first place. Finally try and get the company name, bus registration number, and if possible the drivers name.

I don't want to make Thailand sound too bad, as only once have we been offered a scam in the 2 weeks we have been here, but this incident has caused a bit of upset and spoilt the end of what has otherwise been a good trip.

Well good luck to you all, and I hope you all have better luck.

5

I have a personal distrust of anything that claims to be "VIP", I take the view that if it's truly "VIP" it would not be advertising and therefore is actually a trap for gullible.

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6

I lost a leatherman tool kit when my pack was rifled thru on an overnite VIP bus. Have taken them countless times and have been generally happy with them but this time my luck ran out.

7

See also related post - "SOUTHERN BUSES-BEWARE" , posted by BWANABRAD.

8

Could we sponsor someone to fill a backpack with a mixture of rotten shellfish and dog excrement and then check onto one of these fckuing KSR buses?? Lets see them rifle through that fckuer and hang out in the baggage hold for 8 hours. TAT should have had this idea already.

Pob money.

9

Not a bad idea No 8.. but you could add a few used comdoms and tampons, just for good measure...

Travel lightly........

10

> I have a personal distrust of anything that claims to be "VIP", I take the view
> that if it's truly "VIP" it would not be advertising

Well, yes, and the word IS definitely over-used in Thailand. Then again also take language into account, and that superficially the same word may mean something else in a different language or culture. "VIP", while over used in Thailand, merely means the highest class/level of comfort. They use it for everything, also the best reclinging cinema seats are called that for example. For buses, VIP merey means "An airconditioned bus with 32 or fewer seats that recline to (almost) flat." But then when they made an even more comfortable 24 seat bus, with wider seats in only 3 chairs across configuration, they decided to call it 'Super-VIP'. :)

Still, mileage (or seats) may vary, so always good to ask the number of seats and/or check out the bus if possible. Often I used to not go to the ticket counter first, but walk around the bus station first and noting which bus company had the best/newest looking buses. Then went to the ticket counter for that bus company. (Lonley Planet advice, yet again, doesn't cut it.)

Check out pics and reviews of all kinds of food at chanchao.fotopages.com. Get the Thai Travel Menu, a printable bilingual menu to help you order great food off the beaten path.

11

Try the train. Much more comfortable (nice beds, good sleep, can walk around etc.) and no theft there (and I've travelled Thailand by train a zillion times). If you really insist on tkaing a bus, the only one I'm aware of that (should) is reliable is the Lomprayah bus to the south (Samui, Phangan, Tao). But again, spend a few hundred Bhat more and get yourself a decent bed on the train. Sleep well...