The regular air-conditioned buses are typically configured with two seats on either side of a central aisle. The VIP buses are often configured with just one seat on one side of the aisle and two on the other. This extra width plus the fact there is more legroom and the seats recline further equates to a good night’s sleep when travelling overnight.
Cabin staff on the air-conditioned and VIP buses provide a travel experience akin to flying. Complimentary bottles of water and snacks are served to passengers soon after they board. On longer journeys, there might be additional drinks in addition to an iced face-towel just before arrival. Buses on the longer routes stop at roadside restaurants. A light meal at these eateries is quite often included in the ticket price. Stops are for between 15 and 30 minutes.
Travelling by air-conditioned bus in Thailand
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Bus routes give access to most cities, towns and villages in Thailand. When travelling on intercity routes, passengers typically have three options. These are fan-cooled, standard air-conditioned and VIP. The air-conditioned and VIP services are invariably quicker as they do not stop everywhere en route and are also more comfortable.