Transport
BY
AIR Bangkok's Don Muang airport is as busy as any major international
airport anywhere in the world and there are flights leaving and
arriving every minute.
A word of caution: The Bangkok airport has more than its share of
hustlers out to make a quick baht, who often wear uniforms and tags
that make them seem official. They will try to get you to change
your hotel to one that pays them a large commission, perhaps claiming
your intended hotel is overbooked. They will hustle you into overpriced
taxis or limousines. Do not get taken in. This is a genuine warning,
not a 'competitors' wrangle.
For
more information on flight timetables etc. telephone the department
you require as follows: International Flights: (Bangkok) 5351111,
Domestic Flights:(Bangkok) 5351253, Arrivals: (Bangkok) 5351301
and Departures: (Bangkok) 5351386
Airport
- Limo When arriving in Bangkok International look for the Airport
Associate Limousine / Taxi counters. There are two services operating
out of the Airport, the Airport Associate Limousine service or the
Thai Airway Limousine. The cars are generally clean and the drivers
reliable. The toll way for the highway is not included but the expressway
below it is. Ask for a bonus card and for each 650 Baht you spend
they will give you a stamp, when you complete the card with a total
of 5 stamps, you will be entitled to a one way trip in either direction
free of charge (if you take the return trip at 1,150 you will only
get one stamp).
Airport
- Taxi Taxi's are readily available. Only take the taxi's which
are in the official taxi queue and only those that will show you
the meter is working before you get in. A ride from the airport
to central downtown should cost between 200/350 Baht.
BUSES
within Bangkok There are five types of city bus in Bangkok. The
cheapest ones, cost 3.5 Baht, are not air conditioned. The fare
for air-conditioned ones ranges from 6 Baht to 18 Baht depending
on the distance traveled. The air-conditioned microbus cost 25 Baht.
This
type guarantees you a seat on the bus, however, they are so scarce
and unrealiable. Another thing about the buses in Bangkok is that
they don't like stopping, so tell the driver where you want to disembark,
as you get on. You usually have to do this anyway so that they can
determine the price of the journey.
BUSES
to destinations outside Bangkok Bangkok has three main bus terminals.
Northern/Northeast Bus Terminal on Phaholyothin Rd., tel. 2720296
or 2796222, often referred to as Morsit, serves Chiang Mai and the
north. The Southern Bus Terminal on Pinklao-Nakomchaisri Rd., Talingchan,
tel. 4351199, on the Thonburi side of the river, is for Hua Hin,
Ko Samui, Phuket and points south. The Eastern Bus Terminal located
on Sukhumvit Rd., Soi 40, Ekkamai, tel. 3912504 or 392-2391, usually
referred to as Ekkamai, is for Pattaya and points southeast, to
Rayong and Trat province.
BOAT
There are two types of boats plying the waters of the Chao Phraya
River. One is the ferry that crosses the river, costing only one
baht per person per crossing, the other is the boat that travels
up and down the river. The fare for this is dependent on the distance
traveled and is paid on the boat. Two lines are available: the Chao
Phraya Express and Laemthong Express
MOTORBIKE TAXI The other way to get around if you are crazy
or brave is to take a motorbike taxi or as they are called in Thailand,
a motorcy. These are readily available and are fast and cheap. You
can recognise the drivers as they wear numbered vests. They can
be fun and will definitely beat the traffic but do be aware that
the accident rate is very high in Thailand and you may pay for your
trip with your life rather than a few Baht.
TAXI
There are a number of taxi companies operating in and around Bangkok.
Our advice is to only utilise those that are metered and check that
the meter is switched on as you get in the car, otherwise you may
land up paying someone else's fare too.
SKYTRAIN
The BTS, LRT or Skytrain, is Bangkok's transport problem's saving
grace. Stretching from Sukhumvit Soi 77 all the way to Chatuchak,
with one leg running from Erawan intersection to the Chaopraya river,
just next to the Shangri-la Hotel, the Skytrain is welcome addition
to the weary fight against traffic congestion. You can buy individual
tickets as well as monthly, yearly, and other alternative usage
tickets. The train reaches most major places in Bangkok, covering
most of Sukhumvit, Silom, Ploenchit and Phiyathai roads.
The
following hotels on the skytrain route or with stops very close
by are: Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, Grand Pacific, Landmark, Amari
Boulevard, JW Marriott, Grand Hyatt, The Regent, Le Meridien President,
Swissotel, Novotel Siam Square, Novotel Bagna, Novotel Lotus, Pan
Pacifc, Dusit Thani, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Shangri-la, Peninsula,
Imperial Queens Park, Rembrandt.
TRAINS
to destinations outside Bangkok Thailand has an excellent and reasonably
priced railway system and tickets can be bought pretty much at any
station in the country for travel along that line. You need to book
well ahead for first class travel and for other classes during peak
travel times. Most of the time however you can simply book in person
a few days in advance. Travel agencies also sell tickets for overnight
trains.
Tip:
One can catch a train to/from Singapore, via Malaysia to/from Bangkok
(1943km) - choose from the Eastern and Oriental Express for the
ultimate in comfort and luxury, or the local express trains which
run daily offering different classes of berths for all budgets.
First
class seats on overnight services are difficult to obtain unless
you book well in advance. For a higher price you enjoy air-conditioning
and much more privacy. Second class travel is recommended - you
get a good night's sleep in a fold-down bunk in a fan cooled carriage
and the ticket prices are affordable. Third class is good for short
trips only - you get a hard wooden seat with no fan cooling. Tickets
are cheap, so the carriages can be crowded.
You
can choose from express services with minimal stops or cheaper services
that stop at every town en-route. Train travel is the safest and
most affordable way of exploring Thailand. You do need to be a little
security conscious as the occasional theft and/or drugging of passengers
occurs.
Hualamphong
Railway Station located on Rama IV Rd., tel. 2230341, the city's
main station, serves most long-distance trains. Bangkok Noi on Arun
Amarin Rd., tel. 4113102, on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya
River, is used by local trains to Hua Hin and Kanchanaburi. (There
is no train to Phuket, though you can go as far as Surat Thani and
change to a scheduled bus service.)
For
information on schedules and passes, contact The State Railway of
Thailand: (02) 220 4334 To make advanced bookings call the Bangkok
Railway Station Advance Booking Office tel. 02) 225-0300 ext 5200-3.
TUK-TUKS
Although fun these can be a health problem if in rush hour traffic
and if you are on business, you may finish with a large dry cleaning
bill.
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