Getting Around Bangkok and Thailand
Bus Travel: There are plenty of buses available all over Bangkok. Fares
vary, depending on the type of bus you take. A note of caution. The green buses are driven by maniacs and not
recommended. But if you would like to get rid of your perm and finish up with your hair standing on end, take one for a
short ride. Of course, if you don't have much hair, this might not work.
Yellow buses are 3.50 Baht for a trip anywhere along the route.
Blue or yellow air-conditioned buses charge 6 Baht per section (about 2 kilometers)
Red Micro Buses are air-conditioned and run by a private company. They charge 20 Baht for any distance
along the route. The service is much better than the government run buses and you will always get a seat, as they have a
no-standing policy. TV and newspapers are available for passengers.
BTS Elevated Railway:
Getting around the city recently became much easier with the inauguration of the BTS
elevated railway. It snakes through the main parts of the city quietly, and on time. Getting up to the stations can be
tiring, as few of the stations have escalators at this stage. It's a long walk up there! Travel cost ranges from 10 Baht
to go to the next stop, to 60 Baht for the entire route. Take a ride!
Water buses: Thailand was known for a long time as the "Venice of the
East". Unfortunately, most of the klongs (canals) have been covered and converted to roads. But there is still a system
of canals through the city. Although the Bangkok khlongs are polluted and stink, it is still a lot of fun to take a
water bus ride. You will find khlong bus stops all along the major canals at most major road intersections. The easiest
one to find is Khlong Saen Sab, which runs under Rajadamri Road as you go towards Pratunam. Travel on most khlong buses
is 5 Baht per section.
Bus Travel out of Bangkok: There are 3 main bus terminals where buses
leave for all points of the compass around Thailand. If you are going North, East or South East, go to Morchit terminal
(Tel : 0 2271-0101-5, 0 2279-4484 up to 7) which is out of town going North, about half way to the airport. Your taxi
driver will understand 'Morchit', or jump on the BTS and head out to the end of the line to Morchit, then take a taxi.
The terminal is brand new and very well organized. Air conditioned buses leave throughout the day and evening, but you
should check with a travel agent or your hotel to find out what time buses leave for your destination. Buses leave for
Pattaya every 30 minutes, and the luxury air-conditioned buses travelling to Pattaya on the Motorway leave every hour
from early morning until 5 p.m. The motorway buses cost just a few Baht more, but offer a comfortable ride in brand new
vehicles. It generally takes 1.5 hours to Pattaya.
You can also catch buses from Ekamai Terminal (Sukhumvit Soi 63 Tel : 0 2391-2504, 0 2392-2521) to
Pattaya, Rayong (the jumping off point for Koh Chang) and points South East.
To travel South to Koh Samui, Krabi and Phuket, take a taxi over the river to the Southern Bus terminal
(Boromaratchachonnani Road, Bangkok 10700 Tel : 0 2435-1199, 0 2434-5558). Ask your hotel receptionist to write the
address in Thai for the taxi driver.
Train Travel out of Bangkok: Rail travel in Thailand is safe and
reliable, and well worth the price for long distances. The trains differ in speed and comfort. The train timetable
available from any station, or at Hua Lampong main station designates trains: ORD:
Ordinary Train; stops at most stations and is extremely slow. Good if you are not in a hurry and want a taste of true
Thai travel: RAP: Rapid Train; stops at designated stations and is reasonably fast: EXP: Express Train; stops at very few stations and is very fast: DRC: Diesel Railcar; is used for short journeys and is comfortable and fast: SP: Special (Sprinter); is very fast, air-conditioned, and has a stewardess for each carriage to
serve snacks and drinks.
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