Sleeper Train

How to get from Bangkok to the Islands which are alot further down south. Most backpackers take the overnight bus. I had heard horror stories about these. Uncomfortable chairs, freezing air con and dvd's blaring out when you are wanting to sleep. I wasn't looking forward to it but chatting with another traveler, I was told about the Bangkok sleeper trains. Now my last experience of a sleeper train was in China, Xi'an to Beijing. Nineteen hours cramped onto the tiny top bunk of the three tier high sleeper cells, having to watch and listen to the man opposite spend the entire time spitting onto the floor. 2nd class on a Bangkok train was,I was informed, very different to 2nd class on a Chinese train. My goodness, the advice I was given was not wrong. For a start the bunks were only 2 high. They were also more spacious. When I first got on, the bottom bunk did not exist. There were 2 chairs, so yourself and your bunk buddy could chat or perhaps eat a meal from the 5 different set menus. When diner was served, those not eating were visited by a very smart porter who made the bunks up. Mattresses were laid, linen with hospital corners placed on top and fresh pillows and topsheets dispensed. When he was finished, the porter hooked a smart curtain over each bunk so you could have privacy. I was so impressed and even managed to catch a little sleep. Trains are definitely the way forward