From our previous blogs we shared travel tips, famous locations in several province in Thailan, delicious food spots, and hiking/camping tips. But to travel to those locations you need to know how to get there, so today I’m writing this blog to share transportation tips in Thailand to make sure you take the right kind of transportation to your destination.
Thailand transportation system is as diverse as the country’s landscapes, you can see tuk-tuk, overnight train, bus, and many more in Thailand. This guide will help you go through the best way to travel to each location, whether you are exploring Bangkok, Island hopping, or trying to go to as many provinces as possible.
Exploring the capital city Bangkok
There are many ways you can travel through Bangkok, you may have heard of tuk-tuk or motorcycle taxi, these are just the fastest ride on the street to get to the destination. Mostly Thai people use Grab as their main transportation choice today and I suggest you use it too, since you never know if your taxi would scam you or not. Here are the transportation systems used in Bangkok.
- BTS Skytrain & MRT metro: These are fast and clean rides to get to many famous locations. They are Bangkok main transportation to go around the city and lifesavers for those who want to avoid traffic. But at a certain point these trains can be crowded, we suggest avoiding working hours like 8.00-9.00 AM and 6.00-7.00PM.
- Tuk-Tuks: The Thailand only ride you cannot find anywhere else, it’s fast but make sure you negotiate be for you hop in since they will charge foreigners more.
- Motorbike taxis: Known to be the fastest way to get to a short distance destination, most Thai people use this kind of transportation during rush hours.
- Grab: Affordable and easy ride if you are afraid of being overcharged by taxis grab is the alternative.
- Taxis: Another choice of transportation at an affordable price but make sure they use the meter to avoid scamming.
- Buses: Bus is one of the most usage transportation in Bangkok, there are many lines that get you from your location to your destination. Be careful to check which bus number you need to take to get to your destination, sometimes it’s confusing since there are so many of them. And remember when you take a bus in Bangkok, you always need to carry coins or small bills with you.
- Car rental: If you are looking to try exploring things on your own you can always look for car rental services mostly, they will have many companies’ booths at the airport. You can also check out our car rental service on the website to help you decide, here at Siam Travel we offer reasonable prices for our car rental services. Siam Travel Car Rental
Traveling between cities
To travel between cities, you will need to take different transportation rather than those mentioned above, because it’s a long-distance journey and those are not providing this service. Fortunately, Thailand offers you many ways to hop from city to city, these are the systems provided.
- Train: A slower but scenic way to travel, there are many routes you can travel by trains, but the most famous one is Bangkok- Chiang Mai overnight train.
- Buses: Affordable and reliable ride with many routes and options to choose from, some VIP options offer comfort and snacks during your journey.
- Flight: Budget airlines like Thai AirAsia make hopping between Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Krabi quick and cheap. You can also travel to many other cities by airplane to explore more than just popular cities.
Island & Coastal
Islands are one of the top attractions in Thailand and there is no other way you can travel to these islands except by sea transportation. Since this is one of the most crowded landscape, Thailand offers you different type of sea transportation to get you to your destination.
- Ferries and Speedboats: This is the most common and easiest way to reach popular islands like Phi Phi Island, or Koh Samui. You can find and get your tickets at the pier.
- Long-Tail Boats: It’s a wooden boat you see on most postcards or travel websites. It’s an alternative way for short island hops and beach transfers.
Quick tips to make your travel smoother than ever.
- Always carry small bills and coins with you when you are using public transport in Thailand, sometimes they are not carrying enough changes for you if you pay with 1000 THB bill.
- Remember to negotiate before taking Tuk-tuk ride.
- If you are choosing to take a taxi, always check if they are using the meter. If there are not and offer you a specific price, avoid that taxi immediately.
- If you decide to take a long-distance journey, always get your ticket at the official station to avoid scammers who are trying to sell you expensive tickets.
- For those who are choosing rental vehicles, please check the vehicles’ condition before you rent and check your travel insurance coverage.
Taking each kind of transportation in Thailand offers you different experiences, some of them you may only be able to experience in Thailand. If you are looking to travel in Thailand, we hope this guide will help you. And if you are looking to rent a car to travel around, think of Siam Travel.