Appreciation post: I thought those overnight bus rides were a terrible idea until I tried one in Thailand

I used to think saving on a hotel by taking a night bus was just asking for a miserable trip. Last month, I took a 9-hour bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai for about $15, and it was way better than expected. The seats reclined pretty far, it was quiet, and I arrived at 6 AM ready to explore, saving a full night's accommodation cost. Has anyone else had a surprisingly good experience with a budget transport hack they were initially against?

3 comments

3 Comments

morgan.robert2mo ago

Oh man, that's awesome to hear! I've always been scared of those long night trips because I'm a light sleeper. Did you actually manage to get some decent rest, or were you just kinda dozing on and off the whole time? I feel like the arrival time is the real game changer, getting there early with a whole day ahead.

ellis.casey2mo ago

Yeah same here lol. Honestly got more sleep than I thought I would, and that early arrival is totally worth it.

the_emery28d ago

Tbh I bring earplugs and a hoodie to pull over my eyes. It's not perfect sleep but it's way better than staring at the ceiling. Getting off the bus at 7am and having coffee while the city wakes up feels like a secret advantage. Makes the whole groggy feeling worth it.