Bangkok Transportation

Now that you are here in Bangkok it makes sense that you don’t want to spend all your time in your hotel room, after all, you’ve downloaded a whole bunch of great Get Me To discount coupons and now it’s time to get out and enjoy the savings, see the sights and enjoy everything this vibrant city has to offer.

Bangkok is notorious for its traffic; however, when it comes to getting around – especially central Bangkok – there is perhaps the widest choice imaginable of any city in the world.

Tuk-tuks (pronounced took-took) have been plying the streets of Bangkok for more than 50-years and have their origin in Japan. Costing between Bt95,000 and Bt150,000 ($US2,859 and $4,515) each, the motorized tricycles owe their name to the sound made by their small-capacity, two-cycle engines.

Tuk-tuks can be hired for a single trip or by the half-day or full day. There is no meter so all fares are by negotiation with the driver.

Many hotels and shopping centers also have their own custom built tuk-tuks to ferry people around, with some of them capable of carrying up to a dozen people at a time.

Get Me To travel tip: A common occurrence is for tuk-tuk drivers to offer to take tourists somewhere for free, provided they can take you to a variety of different types of shops – tailors, gem stores, handicrafts outlets, etc – where they claim they will be given a fuel voucher. Unless you have unlimited time it is best to avoid these operators and if they wont take you to where you want to go for for a negotiated fare, get out and take another tuk-tuk.

It’s doubtful if any other city in the world has as many taxis cruising its streets at any one time as Bangkok. Hailing one is simply a matter of walking to the roadside and waving your hand. Don’t worry about things such as clearway’s and the like as the drivers won’t if they see you.

All Bangkok taxis are air-conditioned and fitted with meters. Flag fall is Bt35 ($US1.05) and covers the first 2km and increases in Bt5 (about 15 cents) increments. Tipping is not necessary though most people tend to round the fare up to the nearest Bt10 or Bt20.

Note that many Bangkok taxi drivers have limited English language communication skills so it is beneficial if you can get your hotel to write down where you wish to go, or ask the doorman to tell the driver.

Motorbike taxis can be found on almost every street corner with the operators readily identifiable by their colored vests. They are a great way to get through the Bangkok traffic in a hurry, though not recommended for the feint-hearted. Fares generally start at Bt20 (60 cents) for a very short journey.

Bangkok is well serviced by an extensive fleet of buses covering just about every corner of the greater Bangkok area, with prices ranging from just a few baht to a maximum of Bt25 (75 cents). Buses range from non-air conditioned mini buses to modern air conditioned models and tend to become crowded during peak times. The majority of destination signs on Bangkok buses are written in Thai so if opting to take the bus attempt to find out which number buses you need first.

Bangkok’s overhead BTS "Skytrain" is the envy of many other countries. The one line runs down the main Sukhumvit Road between On Nut and Mo Chit, while a second line branches off from the northeast line and proceeds above Silom Road terminating in Thonburi.

There are a total of 23 stations along its 28.7km length (17.8mile), with fares starting at Bt15 (45 cents). Tickets are dispensed through coin operated dispensing machines at each station.

Get Me To travel tip: Rather than purchasing individual travel tickets and having to worry about change and joining sometimes lengthy queues, visitors who will be spending a lot of time traveling around the inner city area should consider buying either a 20, 30, or 40 trip prepaid pass, or a BTS SKY SmartPass that can be topped up as needed. There is a non-refundable Bt30 (90 cents) issuing fee for all BTS Skytrain passes.

Bangkok’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line comprises a semi-circular loop with 18 stations along its 21km (13mile) route between Bang Sue and Hua Lamphong. The service commenced operation in 2004 and is efficient, smooth and clean, with trains running at five minute intervals during peak periods and every seven minutes at other times. Fares range from Bt16 to 41 (48 cents to $1.25) in addition to providing air conditioned comfort and mobile phone access, the MRT also has three interchange stations with the overhead BTS Skytrain – Silom, Sukhumvit and Chatuchak Park stations.

Get Me To travel tip: Visitors who think they will make extensive use of the MRT are advised to purchase a one-day, three-day or stored value travel pass which is fully refundable, minus a Bt30 (90 cents) issuing fee.