Bangkok to Singapore the long way round

[stigsfilocousin]

So..this is my first crack at writing a TR so forgive me for any slip-ups or stuff-ups. I will be writing it on a leg by leg basis as much as I can starting with the background prep leading to the actual experiences onboard planes, trains, and buses, and finally onto the accomodation and a quicky summary. I will also be posting photos (but probably will have to ask a mod to lift any restrictions for new members).


BACKGROUND PREP:

This trip was actually going to be part of my holiday last year, but due to employment issues (no I didn't get the sack...t'was all about having two state govt. departments getting off their backsides and processing leave portability) it never eventuated. This time around, I planned and got approval for leave one year in advance so I was able to plan the route, accomodation, and transport. My itinerary is as follows: SYD-SIN-BKK-KBV-BKK-PNG-KUL-SIN-SYD with majority spent in Thailand due to an unforseen reason (more on that later). I will be flying SQ on the SYD-BKK via SIN and SIN-SYD legs and TG on the BKK-KBV-BKK leg (SQ232 SYD-SIN then 55 mins transit to SQ978 SIN-BKK, and SQ221 SIN-SYD, and TG745/744 on the BKK-KBV leg); I chose SQ232 and SQ221 simply because they are the only two our of three? flights left that still use the old A380 config with the upstairs economy, and seeing as I booked a paid shadow, I needed to maximise value as I'm flying on Y. TG745/744 is now operated by TG's new semi LCC Thai Smile and I booked it as J (cheaper than booking a shadow in Y as TG charges 2 x normal fare incl taxes unlike SQ which charge 1 x normal fare and 1 x base fare plus some taxes (mainly pax movement charges in SYD and SIN).

Now, the long way round in the thread title refers to the method of transport i'll be using to get from BKK to SIN, and that will be trains and buses. I will be picking up the southbound International Express from Hualumphong station to Butterworth taking approx 22hours then a bus from either Butterworth or Penang to Kuala Lumpur (where I'll be overnighting) then a bus again from KL to Singapore for an overnight stop. Initially, I was going to have 3D/2N in KUL but due to my preferred date's train service being booked out (this early!), I had to cut it to 2D/1N which is the less of two evils (other one being expensive as it means having to lose the booking I had on the resort in Krabi so that I could pick up the train earlier).

Below is the list of where I will be staying in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore:

1. Bangkok- Sacha's Hotel Uno at Sukhumvit (got a great deal with Agoda for a deluxe room....also when I saw what they had set up in the deluxe room connectivitiy wise, I knew this was the place I wanted because I am easily pleased )
2. Krabi - Vogue Resort at Ao Nang (booked directly with the resort in order to get free return transfers to the airport, a free room upgrade, and 20% food and spa)
3. Kuala Lumpur - Ancasa Hotel and Spa
4. Singapore - Ibis Singapore Novena

Stay tuned for the next part i.e. when I actually fly out in a month's time (I will then report how easy check-in is with SQ on a shadow booking as none of the threads in here seem to mention paid shadows on SQ).

 

[Simo]

Look forward to reading more in the future

 

[stigsfilocousin]

A quick update: its now almost one week to go and I'm still 'wrangling' with SQ regarding seat assignment. I couldn't log in and change the assignment myself as I booked it through the ticketing office directly and the website keeps saying the shadow isn't ticketed yet. I've managed to score an upper deck on SQ232, a window on SQ978 (although I have put in a request to block 43H as I'm assigned 43J and 43K), and 41E/41F on SQ221; now 41E/41F is the middle two seats on the lower deck so another email to SQ tomorrow to get upper duck (initial request mentioned it) although Expertflyer is saying no vacant seats (lots of blocked seats but a smattering of actual occupied) and the loading is R4 F3 P2 A1 Z4 C4 J4 D4 S9 Y9 B9 E9 M9 H9 W9 Q9 N9 U0 G0 L0 K0.

 

[stigsfilocousin]

Flight 1: SQ232 dep 12:15 arr: 17:40 actual arr:17:25

Got to the airport at 0830 from the northern suburbs of Sydney via the long way around and then proceeded to do a bit of luggage shuffling i.e. trying to find my USB charger. Went to queue up for check-in and spent around 30 mins mainly due to two notes on my reservation, namely ensuring that the shadow and me are allocated seats in the upper deck for SQ232 and the two seaters at the back on SQ978, and for a credit card check. I then had breakfast before going into the sterile zone...emigration took around 5 mins on the queue and the TRS queue around 30 bloody mins due to tonnes of mainly Chinese tourists claiming back the GST they paid on 5 iPhone 5s etc etc etc.

Boarded around 11:35 to find that the upper deck Y was around 60% full with the middle seats being the most empty. I settled myself into 75H/75K in a sleepy state (I can blame the motion-sickness medication for that). Refreshments were served around 40mins after take off and lunch not soon thereafter. I took the chicken option (chicken breast with vegies, roast potatoes, and a white sauce) and it was one of the more decent Y meals I've ever had. After lunch service was done, the FAs went around the cabin once an hour or so roughly with the drinks trolley and they responded to the call button within a short span of time. The seatbelt sign was off for most of the flight and when it did go back on outside Java, no announcements were made (surprise surprise). We were due to land at 17:12 but 35 mins outside Changi the captain came on the PA and told us that we were placed on a hold due to rush hour at Changi...eventually we landed at 17:25 with doors opened at 17:30. I didn't faff around as I only had a 60 min window to connect with SQ978 at T2...after letting nature relieve itself, I jumped onto the skytrain to T2 to gate F60 i.e. the end of the world at T2.

 

[stigsfilocousin]

SQ978 SIN-BKK B777-200ER with regional J and Y config
dep: 18:35 arr: 20:00
actual dep: 18:40 actual arr: 19:45

Once I arrived into T2, F60 was already open so after doing the security check (oops I managed to set off the alarm because I forgot to remove the airline headset adaptor in my pocket and place it into my bag), I then proceeded to check in and ask if my 58H/58K was still allocated to me (have had massive issues with this flight due to seat allocation) and it was still assigned to me. Boarding commenced on time at around 17:50 and we departed at 18:40; loading on this flight from what I can tell was that J was full and Y only had a smattering of seats empty (my theory is they are mostly shadows incl mine) with the plane full of Chinese tourists. For dinner I chose the chicken pasta option which was alright (they did forget to give me my damn bread roll though! ) and alongside it, they also gave a small tub of tiramisu icecream for desert.

Outside BKK, we encountered some nasty turbulence with the plane dropping at least three times, much to the amazement of the tourists (I think they felt like they were in a rollercoaster). I think we had to go around that pocket hence our earlier ETA of 19:39 got pushed back to 19:45; once we landed, I went straight to immigration which took 5 mins and they had someone at the queue directing people which counter to use. Luggage took around 10 mins with mine one of the first non-priority tagged ones to come out. Caught a cab to Sukhumvit and I managed to pick up one of those rare cabbies that never exceeded 100kph on the motorway. Maybe it was because of him (or because it was after rush hour) that I got into my hotel within 30 mins and I proceeded to tip him due to his...well...driving (fare was 253 baht inclusive of the airport tax so he had 47 baht for himself to keep).

 

[krisflyer]

interesting!!