Getting There By Air:Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Tel: (02) 132 1888/3888.
Website:
www2.airportthai.co.th Bangkok International Airport, located 30km (19 miles) east of the city center, is operated by the
Airports Authority of Thailand. Opened in September 2006, to replace
cramped Don Muang Airport, it is a major gateway to South-East Asia.
Approximate flight times to Bangkok: From London is 11 hours 20 minutes; from New York is 19 hours 25 minutes; from Los Angeles is 9 hours 5 minutes; from Toronto is 19 hours 40 minutes and from Sydney is 9 hours 20 minutes.
Airport facilities: These include 24-hour shopping, duty-free, restaurants, snack bars, postal services, bureaux de change, tourist information, hotel reservations, left luggage and medical service. Car hire companies include
Avis and
Budget.
Business facilities: There is a business center and Internet facilities. There are several executive lounges and services including limousine hire.
Transport to the city: Taxis can be pre-paid for at the Arrivals Hall in the airport; visitors should expect to pay up to B1,200 to the city center (journey time - 40-90 minutes) including road tolls. Airport Express buses operate four different routes into the city. Route AE1 goes to the Silom Road business district, AE2 goes to Banglamphu, AE3 goes to Sukhumvit and AE4 goes to Hualampong Railway Station (journey times - about 1 hour). An overhead city rail link is currently under construction and is expected to open in mid 2009.
Getting There By Road:Thailand has a reasonable network of roads and highways throughout the country, designated by numbers. Traffic drives on the left and the wearing of seat belts is compulsory with on-the-spot fines for offenders. The speed limits are 60kph (37mph) in the city, 90kph (56mph) on main country roads and 120kph (74mph) on expressways. A national driving license or International Driving Permit are required but long-term visitors staying over three months would need to obtain a Thai driving license. The minimum age for driving is 18 years. It is illegal to drink and drive in Thailand.
Driving in Thailand is not for the faint-hearted as drivers tend to take risks and overtake on bends and hills, while buses and lorries drive as if they own the road. Driving at night is to be avoided as most heavy trucks travel at this time. The incidence of traffic accidents is high and, when foreigners are involved in accidents, it is always assumed that it is they who are at fault and they are expected to pay the costs. Having said all that, driving is the best way to see the country and reach out-of-the-way places.
Emergency breakdown service: There is no national breakdown service but all car hire companies will provide a telephone number to their clients for use in case of a breakdown or emergency.
Routes to the city: The national highways are all designated by numbers. National Highway 4 goes south to Hua Hin; National Highway 3 goes east to Pattaya; and National Highway 32 and 11 go to Phitsanulok.
Approximate driving times to Bangkok: From Hua Hin - 3 hours; Pattaya - 3 hours; Phitsanulok - 5 hours 30 minutes.
Coach services: Bangkok has three main bus terminals serving different areas of the country. Both air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned buses operate, but the air-conditioned ones tend to be faster and to make less stops en route. Buses south to Hua Hin, Phuket and the Thai-Malaysian border operate from the Southern Bus Terminal, Boromratchonnani (tel: (02) 435 1199). Buses to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north and Ubon Ratchathani and Nong Khai in the northeast operate from the North/northeastern Bus Terminal, Kampaeng Petch 2 Road (tel: (02) 9362 85266). Buses to Pattaya and Trat in the east operate from the Eastern Bus Terminal, Soi 40 Sukhumvit Road (tel: (02) 391 8097).
Getting There By Rail:The
State Railways of Thailand (tel: (02)
222 0175; website:
www.railway.co.th) operates four lines, all terminating in Bangkok. They run trains with air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned carriages. The main station in Bangkok is Hualampong, Rama IV Road (tel: (02) 223 3762
or 224 7788, advance bookings), which serves most of the long-distance routes. Facilities at the station include cafes, bureau de change, ATM, left luggage, post office and hotel reservation service. It is advisable to book tickets for long-distance trains in advance. Noi
station across the river in Thonburi (tel: (02) 411 3102) serves Kanchanaburi and a few destinations to the south so visitors should check which station to depart from.
Rail services: The four lines run from Chiang Mai in the north, Nong Khai in the northeast, Pattaya in the east and from Surat Thani and Butterworth (Malaysia) in the south. Direct trains take from 3 hours 40 minutes to Pattaya, 12 hours to Chiang Mai and 21 hours 10 minutes to Butterworth. The
Thailand Rail Pass is available and is valid for 20 days in second and third class.
Transport to the city: Each station is served by numerous buses to the city. The subway system starts at Hualampong station and the National Stadium Skytrain station is relatively close.
Getting Around:Public TransportThe public transport system within Bangkok is plentiful and cheap, although most visitors use the taxis or the three-wheeled
tuk tuks (see below). An
elevated monorail, called the Bangkok Transit System (tel: (02) 617 6000; website:
www.bts.co.th) but known as the
Skytrain, operates on two lines across the city. The Sukhumvit Line runs from On Nut along Sukhumvit Road to Siam Square, Phaya Thai Road, Victory Monument and Mo Chit. The Silom Line starts at Saphan Taksin and runs through Silom's business area, Siam Square, ending at the National Stadium. Since opening, the efficient Skytrain has vastly improved the time it takes to move around the city. The government has approved extension of the lines across the river and to the south, but there is no news on an opening date yet. Trains operate frequently 0600-0000. Tickets should be purchased from automatic ticket machines.
Passes can be bought for 20, 30 and 40 journeys, to be used within 30 days. A one-day pass is available for unlimited trips.
The Bangkok
Metro (tel: (02) 354 2000
or 624 5200; website:
www.bangkokmetro.co.th), opened in 2004, covers parts of the city not served by the Skytrain. Its one route starts at Hualampong station and finishes at Bang Sue in the north of the city. There are 18 stations in total with three intersecting with the Skytrain. The service operates 0600-0000. Tokens should be purchased from automatic ticket machines; fares depend on the distance traveled.
Passes can be bought for one day and three days.
The
Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (tel: (02) 246 0973; website:
www.bmta.co.th) runs a comprehensive and highly complex
bus system, which operates across the city 0500-2300. Fares depend on the distance traveled and the type of bus. The yellow and orange Euro II air-conditioned buses use fuel-efficient engines to attempt to reduce air pollution in the city. Microbuses have guaranteed seats. There is also a limited night service (cream and red buses). Bus route maps are widely available in hotels and bookshops.
TaxisTaxis can be hailed on the streets. If they are metered taxis, they will have a taxi meter sign on the roof. Visitors should check that the meter is turned on. If stuck in heavy traffic, the meter will start increasing by the minute. There is a minimum charge for the first couple of kilometers. There are also unmetered taxis where the fare must be agreed upon in advance. Passengers always have to pay for any road tolls incurred and should ensure they have plenty of small change to pay the taxi fare. Many people arrange a taxi through the concierge at their hotel where the rate is fixed and paid to the hotel before departure. It is also possible to hire a taxi for longer trips. In these cases, a fare should always be agreed in advance, even with metered taxis. Tipping is not expected but much appreciated.
Tuk tuk These three-wheeled taxis ply the streets and are ideal for short journeys. Fares must be negotiated before getting in and depend on the distance traveled. The number of tuk tuks in the city is decreasing but they can still be found around hotels and visitor attractions.
River taxis Numerous river taxis, operated by
Chao Phraya Express Boat (tel: (02) 623 6143; website:
www.chaophrayaboat.co.th), travel upstream and downstream on the Chao Phraya River, acting more like buses than taxis. Some special express boats operate only during the morning and evening rush hours with limited stops. The destinations/stops are indicated by different colored flags. Other smaller boats shuttle from one side of the river to the other. A service operates from Sathorn Pier near the Saphan Taksin Skytrain station to 10 piers near major attractions and ends at Phra Arthit Pier. The service operates daily 0930-1600, with departures every 30 minutes, and a one-day unlimited pass costs B120.
Motorcycle taxis As a result of the gridlock experienced during the rush hour, motorcycle taxis are now popular as they can maneuver between the cars to reach their destination more quickly. It is compulsory for passengers to wear helmets, which are supplied by the driver. Drivers wear colored tabards for identification and wait at road intersections.
Driving in the CityDriving in Bangkok requires a great deal of patience and a certain stubbornness. Few visitors attempt to hire a car, as good knowledge of the city is required to be able to drive around. The density of the traffic and the number of lanes mean that drivers always need to know which lane to be in. There are a number of expressways crossing the city with clearly signposted exits but traffic is often gridlocked during rush hour (0700-0900 and 1600-1800). Traffic direction and entry/exit locations change during the day without warning. Bangkok drivers, in particular taxis, buses and motorbikes, are very aggressive and unlikely to give way.
For those who do risk driving, many of the large shopping complexes and hotels have a car park attached and a convenient location is the Siam Center on Rama I Road, which is open 24 hours.
Car HireMany visitors to Thailand now choose to hire a car, although few hire one within Bangkok because of the difficulties of moving through the constantly heavy traffic. Car hire companies vary but drivers must be at least 21 or 23 years old and have held a driving license for one to two years. A national license is required. It is compulsory to purchase Collision Damage Waiver and Theft Protection and these are generally included in the hire price. Payment must be made by credit card.
Avis have an office at 2/12-13 Wireless Road (tel: (02) 255 5300; website:
www.avisthailand.com), and
Budget at 19-23 Building A, Royal City Avenue, New Petchburi Road (tel: (02) 203 9294; website:
www.budget.co.th).
Bicycle HireOn Rattanakosin Island, footpaths have been converted into cycle paths, which pass places such as the Royal Grand Palace and Sanam Luang. Bicycles can be hired from
Spice Roads (tel: (02) 712 5305; website:
www.spiceroads.com). Cash or credit card deposit of THB20,000 is required.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
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Related Thailand Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
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