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Getting around Bangkok
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One of the better examples of a pavement!
There are several
ways to get about Bangkok, although the most obvious one, WALKING,
is the least practical, as Bangkok is hardly pedestrian friendly. The
pavements are a place where you have to compete for space with
motorcycles, parked cars, street vendors, street restaurants, barbecues,
vats of boiling oil, and various
strange objects left lying around from recent construction projects.
Not
to mention holes, broken - missing - or damaged inspection covers, water
pipes, water meters, and cables, it has to be seen to be believed!
Until December 1999, the
only choice was Walk, Taxi, Motorbike, Tuk-Tuk, or boat up a klong.
The Skytrain changed all that, just imagine the pandemonium that would
occur if the sky train broke down for a day - that used to be every day in
Bangkok.
The Skytrain revolutionised transport, and places you couldn't dream
about going to (unless you had all day,) are now a few minutes away in
air-conditioned (relative) comfort.
2004 saw another revolution, the opening
of the Bangkok Metro, based on the same (almost) faultless system already
installed by Siemens of Germany in the Skytrain, the Metro started public test runs in
April 2004 and went into service on the evening of 3rd July.
Bangkok Skytrain Map
Bangkok Mass Transit Map
Bangkok Metro Map
Bangkok Underground Map
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BTS Sky Train
By far and away the best way to see the
central area of the city is the BTS Sky Train. For full details see my Sky
Train page, CLICK HERE
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Bangkok Metro (MRTA)
Opened 3rd July 2004. The latest addition to the many ways that Bangkok is
trying to catch up with mass transportation in this congested city. Map and details HERE
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Taxis
TAXIS
are plentiful, in fact they seem to outnumber private cars 2:1. Most
journeys can be completed for well under 100 Baht, even if you have been
stuck in the traffic for ages. Make sure you take a genuine taxi with TAXI METER on
the sign on the roof, and make sure the driver actually uses the meter and
that it starts from 35 Baht, otherwise you may find yourself paying the
previous trip again.
Unlike the UK, the Taxis here don't have to take you
if they don't want to, if you find one that doesn't want to go your way,
no problem, just politely get the one behind. The same advice for those
that will not use the meter, just tell him to stop, then get out, and use
the one behind.
The
best advice I can give is for you NOT to go anywhere the driver may
suggest, especially a massage parlour or gem shop, they are on commission
for every customer they can get.
Try to know
where you want to go, and insist on being taken there and nowhere else, although it's very
unlikely that you will encounter any problems, if they occur they are best dealt
with politely with a smile, above all, don't get angry.
Late 2005 has seen the
introduction of Taxi Ranks, and surprisingly they seem to be working,
with queues of taxis waiting for passengers rather than aimlessly
driving about the city. The first 2 I saw were outside the Emporium and
at Phra Ram 9 Subway Station.
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Bangkok taxis
are a testament to Toyota engineering, they are usually run in 2 - 12 hour
shifts, constantly on the move for years at a time. All other makes of
vehicle fail to survive this harsh test, even though Ford, Mazda, Nissan
and Renault have been tried. There
are still some guidebooks around telling people that you have to barter
for the fare, this went out years ago with the coming of the
meter taxi. Overnight, Bangkok went from an expensive place to get around,
to one of the cheapest in Asia, in fact I have sold my car now, as taxi
travel works out cheaper and more convenient.
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Car Hire
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Many well known car hire
companies operate in Thailand and my suggestion to you is that if you
consider hiring any kind of self drive vehicle, do it through a recognised
company and ensure you have a CDW (Collision Damage Waiver).
Thailand drives on the left as we do in
the UK, and as they do in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong etc.
To legally drive in Thailand
you need an International Driving Permit, in the U.K. these are obtainable
from The Automobile Association, The Royal Automobile Club, or selected Post
Offices. They
are usually available over the counter, make sure you take your U.K. full driving
licence and a passport sized photograph with you.
 Full details on the International
driving Permit
HERE
Driving in Thailand is not
easy, you need to be aware of what is happening all round the vehicle, and
special care must be taken due to the practice of overtaking on the inside,
although this is officially illegal, it is the norm. You should also carry
your passport with you when driving AND the contact card given to you by the
car hire company, regard this as a "get out of jail FREE" card, as
without it, and no proof of insurance, you will be detained by police in the
event of an accident, until all parties are happy with financial
matters arising from the incident. With the card, you can go and let them
get on with it via the car hire company's insurance and agents.
Check the vehicle
thoroughly for any damage and missing accessories, and point these out
and have them detailed on your paperwork, otherwise you'll end up having to
pay for them.
Budget Rent A Car |
Avis Thailand |
Motorcycle hire in Bangkok?
try this
Quote from UK Foreign Office website:- Riding a motorcycle or
scooter in Thailand can be dangerous. An average of five people an
hour die in motorcycle accidents.
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Tuk-Tuks
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Tuk-Tuks
are becoming rarer these days, try one if you want, but they cost more
than taxis and you get covered in dirt from the exhaust emissions from
buses and lorries etc. Not my preferred mode of transport. Tuk-tuks get
their name from the noise they make.
Negotiate the fare BEFORE setting off, don't get taken anywhere you don't
want to go, Gem Shops for example. |
Motorcycle Taxis
The teams of motorcycle
"gangs" you see parked on street corners with numbers on their
backs are not about to have a race, well officially anyway, they are Motor
Cycle Taxis. Surprisingly safe and quick in the traffic, fix the
fare first, about 10 Baht's worth should be enough to get it out your
system!
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Buses
Buses
[Rot-Mee in Thai] These come in several forms
all designated by colour and now they are becoming more confusing due to a
re-numbering scheme that leaves even the locals confused.
Basically
they are either cheap and cheerful with no air conditioning, or air-con. There used
to be 2 basic types but now there is a fleet of blue buses, and another
of orange buses. These air-con buses share some of the same numbers as the old
buses, but DO NOT travel the same routes, but this is Bangkok after all,
so what do you expect?
Micro Buses are a different matter, and are well worth using, see my
route listing CLICK HERE
Fares:-
Micro
Bus 20 Baht
any journey.
Non Air Bus 5 Baht.
Air Con
Bus 5.5 Baht - 16 Baht dependant on
distance.
I can thoroughly recommend bus
travel, you see the real city for next to nothing, get out when you see
something interesting, and get back to where you started in a Taxi if you get lost.
My suggestion, if you don't
know where you are going, use a non-air bus, this way the fare is the
same for the entire journey, currently 5 Baht,
failing that, tender the full fare of 16 Baht in an Air-Con bus - hang the
expense!
Visit the
Bangkok
Mass Transport Authority's English Web Site.
Warning, the site is not 100%
accurate and contains some inventive uses of the English language.
Example:-
| On 11 August 2001, BMTA open
Culture Bus Operation service to arouse and revive good culture of
Thai and to arouse good conscious mind in building good culture on bus
journey. Nevertheless, these all buses seat will reserve the rights to
children, lady, older, handicapped, Buddhist monks and novice which
the gentleman must sacrifice seat for these people who get on busses
and no seat. Then, the conductor and the driver will say "Thank You"
and "Sawatdee" to the user with polite and respectful manners. Culture
bus will run for service people in the route No. 16, 49, 74, 111,
no.8, no.10, no9, and no. 80. |
Bus fares are constantly
changing, and with the addition of Orange buses and other variations on
the same theme, these prices are not guaranteed accurate, nevertheless,
bus travel is remarkably cheap and safe. Hang on to your wallet though if
you are standing on a crowded bus.
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Boat!
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Long Tailed Boat |
Klong Boat Stop |
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Water Travel can be fun,
especially when you have no idea where you are going! Rest assured that
the boat only stops where the locals go, so you will never be far from
"civilisation". Try the boats on the Chao Phraya river, or take
a trip on one of the fast disappearing klongs (canals).
See The Chao
Phraya Expressboat map for details of the riverboat service
CLICK
HERE
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Railway
For Travel out of Bangkok,
try the train, say "Rot Fai" in Thai (car with fire).
Here is
the link to the State Railway of Thailand in English, timetables etc.
This is Hua Lumpong Railway
Station, it's located on Rama IV road just on the outskirts of China Town. A
convenient way to get there is by No.25 non-air bus that passes right
outside.
Recent improvements have seen fast food outlets opening up inside, a general
re-vamping of the interior, and more English speaking ticket clerks. Book
tickets ahead of your journey, hang the expense and travel First Class!
A second station is located
across the river, it is called Thonburi (Formerly Bangkok Noi), and is where you can catch the
train to Kanchanaburi for the Bridge on the River Kwai and the so called
"Death Railway". Don't worry, the name is from the number of
prisoners of war that lost their lives during it's construction and no
reflection on the Thai railway system's accident record!
The third Bangkok railway
station is situated on the Thon Buri side of the river, and is called Wongwian Yai.
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Updates and suggestions? - Email me here
