Travel to Thailand and Getting around Thailand

Getting to Thailand
Arriving in Thailand
Getting around Thailand

Once you arrive in Thailand you will find getting around the country is easy and convenient. Thai Airways International’s domestic service covers major destinations in the Kingdom and there is a comprehensive network of highways and roads linking the main cities and outlying areas.

Travelling by train is a good way to explore the country as well. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) provides a nationwide network with trains with several tiers of cost and comfort.

In Bangkok, there are plenty of airconditioned buses, taxis, tuk tuks, motorcycle taxis, river ferries and water taxis for daily travel in and around the city. There are also the Skytrain and Metro light rail systems serving key central areas.

Travel on public holidays and weekends, particularly to popular destinations, should be booked well in advance for all modes of transport. This is especially true during the Songkran and New Year holiday period.

Thai Airways (TG), the national carrier, has 12 domestic routes out of Bangkok to Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phitsanulok, Phuket, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani.

A local boutique carrier, Bangkok Airways, runs flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Pattaya Beach, Phuket, Samui, Sukhothai and Trat in Thailand. Its international routes include Angkor Wat (Siem Reap) and Phnom Penh in Cambodia; Guilin, Hang Zhou and Xi’an in China; Luang Prabang in Laos; Yangon in Myanmar; Fukuoka, and Hiroshima in Japan, and Singapore, Hong Kong and The Maldives.

There are several independent budget airlines operating regular flights to locations within the Kingdom, including Nok Air, Air Asia, Orient-Thai Airlines and PB Air. Their average oneway cost to most destinations is around the 1,000- to 2,000-baht mark, with special offer, “ticketless” flights ordered by Internet that can cost as little as 99 baht. Check-in time for all domestic flight is one hour prior to departure time, and departure tax whas been added to your ticket fare.

• Thai Airways International Head Office: 89 Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Bangkok 10900, Tel: 0 2545 1000. Hot line: 1566. www.thaiairways.com.
• Bangkok Airways Head Office: 99 Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Tel: 0 2265 5678. www.bangkokair.com.
• Nok Air: 11th Floor, One Pacifi c Place, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110. Tel: 1318. www.nokair.com.
• AirAsia: 19th Floor Juthamard Boulevard, Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Bang Khen, Bangkok 10900, Tel: 0 2515 9999. www.airasia.com.
• One-Two-Go by Orient-Thai Airlines: 18 New Phetchaburi Road, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Tel: 0 2229 4260. www.orient-thai.com
• PB Air: 17th Floor, UBC II Building, Sukhumvit 33 Road, Bangkok 10110, Tel: 0 2261 0271. www.pbair.com.

BY RAIL

An extensive rail network radiates from Bangkok, and train journeys in Thailand are inexpensive and comfortable by Asian standards. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) operates four train routes – Northern, Northeastern, Eastern and Southern lines. The Eastern line runs from Bangkok, passes through Chachoengsao and Prachin Buri and continues to Aranyaprathet on the Cambodian border.

Trains are classified as Special Express, which is the fastest, then Express, Rapid and Ordinary. First-class carriages are available on Express and the Special Express, which has individual, air-conditioned cabins. Secondclass carriages have individual seats which convert into curtained-off beds, and a choice of fans or airconditioning. Third- class carriages have wooden benches each seating two or three passengers. They are cheap, but not recommended for long distance journey. On every train, toilets and washing facilities are at the end of carriages.

SRT also organises one- and twoday economy tours to several destinations on weekends and holidays. Railway schedules can be obtained from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong main railway station. Train tickets of all classes can be purchased 90 days in advance at main stations and at the booking Office at Hua Lamphong station, Tel: 0 2220 4444 or contact the relevant stations in the provinces.

• The State Railway of Thailand Head Office: 1 Rong Muang Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Tel: 0 2222 0175. Hua Lamphong station, Tel: 0 2220 4334. www.thailandrailway.com.

A modern highway system extends to all points of the country, with buses and coaches connecting Bangkok to every province and one province to another. Visitors can travel by standard air-conditioned coaches or VIP air conditioned coaches where refreshments are served. Bookings can be made through hotels and travel agents.

There are three major bus terminals in Bangkok:

• Bangkok Bus Terminal: Kampaengphet 2 Road, Tel: 0 2936 2852-66 8 ext 311, and 0 2537 8055.
• Southern Bus Terminal: Pinklao-Nakhon Chaisi Road, Tel: 0 2435 1199.
• Eastern Bus Terminal: Sukhumvit Soi 62, Tel: 0 2391 2504.

Public transport: Buses are plentiful and inexpensive, with a 7 baht minimum and 12 baht maximum fare for all places within metropolitan Bangkok. Fares on airconditioned buses rise from a minimum of 12 baht to 22 baht depending on distance. A bus route map can be obtained from most hotels, bookshops and the TAT Office, and the number to call for bus route information is 184.

Taxis & tuk tuks: Metered taxis can be hailed anywhere in Bangkok, but make sure that the meter is switched on before you start. Taxi journeys start with a set fare of 35 baht for the first three kilometres, then approximately five baht for every additional kilometre. When travelling on the expressway, passengers must also pay the toll.

The three-wheeled mini taxis known as tuk tuks are cheaper and suitable only for shorter trips during off-peak hours. They can cost from 20 baht to 100 baht depending on the length of the journey, and fares must be agreed before the journey starts as there is no meter.

Motorcycle taxis: Motorcycle taxis are by far the best deal when the streets are jammed, but the journey may be nerve-racking if you are not used to being a pillion passenger. The drivers, wearing numbered orange jackets, wait in clusters at designated street corners. Fares are negotiated before departure, but there is sometimes a chalkboard price menu. Be sure that the driver hands you a helmet, not only for your own safety but also because it is against the law to ride a motorcycle without one.

River taxis: Another convenient, fast and enjoyable way of travelling in Bangkok is by boat, and there are many types of craft navigating Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River. Long-tail boats are fast and will take you on a tour of the city’s fascinating canal network. A two-hour private tour will cost about 500 baht. There are also ferry boats crossing the river at almost every landing stage. Meanwhile, the major riverside hotels provide their own shuttle services.

The Chao Phraya Express Boat Company runs its long, white express boats as a regular river bus service, and also charter boats. There are four express boat routes:

• Local Line round trips between Nonthaburi Pier and Wat Ratchasingkhorn, a riverside temple in Yannawa area. Boats call at 34 piers and the service is every quarter of an hour from 6 a.m. to 8.40 then.
• Orange Flag Express round trips between Nonthaburi Pier and Wat Ratchasingkhorn stopping at 18 piers from 5.50 a.m. until 6.
• Yellow Flag Express round trips between Nonthaburi Pier to Thon Buri’s Ratburana Pier stopping at 10 piers from 6 a.m. till 8 and 3 p.m. till 7
• Blue Flag Express round trips from Nonthaburi Pier to Sathon Pier, stopping at three piers from 7a.m. till 6.

Chao Phraya Express Boat, 78/24-29 Maharaj Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok 10200. Tel: 0 2222 5330, 0 2225 3003. www.chaophrayaboat.co.th

Skytrain: The Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited (BTS) runs a light elevated railway or Skytrain system every day from 6 a.m. till midnight. There are two lines, Sukhumvit and Silom. The Sukhumvit line runs between Moh Chit station near Chatuchak market and On Nut station at Sukhumvit Soi 77. The Silom line runs between Saphan Taksin station by the Chao Phraya River and the National Stadium station on Rama I Road.

The two lines connect at Siam Square station with two platform levels. The stations are usually reached by stairs, but there are also lifts, and more escalators being added. Trains run every few minutes and the fares range from 10 baht to 40 baht, depending on the number of stations. A useful variety of daily and weekly passes for tourists and commuters are available, and are advertised on the stations.

BTS Tourist Information Centres are open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Siam, Nana and Saphan Taksin stations. For more information, call 0 2617 7340 or contact the Help Line posted on the Information Board at the station concourse level.

Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Co Ltd: BTS Building, Phahonyothin Road, Bangkok 10900. Tel: 0 2617 7300. Fax: 0 2617 7133. www.bts.co.th.

Bangkok Metro: The Metro, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), is Bangkok’s underground system built by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand and run by Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited. The MRT is officially known in Thai as rot fai fah maha nakhon, the metropolitan electric train, but it is more often known as rot fai tai din, the underground train.

MRT trains start at 5 a.m. and run until midnight. The line extends in a wide loop from the Hua Lumphong, the main rail station, then back via the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre to the smaller rail station of Bang Sue to the north. It connects with the BTS Skytrain at Silom, Sukhumvit and Chatuchak stations.

Station entrances are above ground, and equipped with built-in floodgates and all have escalators, lifts and ramps. Tickets cost from 15 baht to 39 baht depending on the distance travelled and there are also One-Day, Three-Day and 30-Day Passes available. If you are over 60, you can travel at half price.

The main Bangkok MRT stations are:

• Hua Lamphong: Bangkok’s main railway station serving all provinces.
• Silom: Major shopping area, walking distance to Patpong nightlife and street market area. Change here for the BTS Skytrain at Saladaeng station.
• Lumpini: Close to the Lumpini Thai Boxing Stadium and several foreign missions, including the Australian, Austrian, Belgian, Danish, French and German embassies.
• Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre: Bangkok’s main venue for exhibitions and trade shows.
• Sukhumvit: Interchange with the Asoke skytrain station.
• Rama 9: Fortune Town shopping centre, IT Mall and Tesco Lotus.
• Thailand Cultural Centre: Bangkok’s major international concert venue.
• Chatuchak: Chatuchak Park, a large green space and not the famous weekend market, which is the next stop. Interchange with the Moh Chit BTS Skytrain station.
• Kamphaengphet: This is the stop for Chatuchak Weekend Market. Bangkok Metro Public Company Limited, 189 Rama IX Road, Huai Khwang, Bangkok 10310. Tel: 0 2354 2000. Fax: 0 2354 2040. www.Bangkokmetro.co.th.

Private transport: There are plenty of international and local car rental firms listed in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory, and many are to be found around the Ploenchit end of Sukhumvit Road, and on Rama IV and Sathon roads. The larger companies have Offices in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Hat Yai. Hired mini-vans are a good idea if you are travelling as a group.

Car rental companies

• Avis Rent-a-Car, Tel: 0 2255 5300-4
• Grand Car Rental, Tel: 022482991-2
• Klongtoey Car Rent, Tel: 0 2250 1930
• Lumpini Car Rent, Tel: 0 2255 1966-8
• Prabhirarb Transport Co, Tel: 0 2535 2634
• Budget, Tel: 0 2203 0250
• Don Muang Airport: Tel: 02552 8921 ext 8107
• Chiang Mai Airport: Tel: 0 5320 2871
• Chiang Rai: Tel: 053740442
• Hua Hin: Tel: 03251 4220
• Krabi Airport: Tel: 0 7563 1682
• Pattaya: Tel: 0 3872 0612
• Phuket Airport: Tel: 0.76205396
• Samui Airport: Tel: 0 7742 7188
• Udon Thani Airport: Tel: 04234 1885