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Below we offer you some useful tips when arriving in Bangkok and travelling around within this city.
Bangkok SKYTRAIN : Transport in Thailand, especially in Bangkok has just undergone one of its most important changes in many years. No the cars have not disappeared, nor have the road works stopped, instead you will be able to look down on the traffic whilst pondering what is for dinner, when you arrive home in 15 minutes, a trip that previously would have taken an hour or two. The BTS, LRT, Skytrain, call it what you like has just opened. Stretching from Sukhumvit Soi 77 all the way to Chatuchak, with one leg that runs (which opened 5 December, 1999) from Erawan intersection to the Chaopraya river, just next to the Shangri-la Hotel. This futuristic sky train is a much needed force and a very welcome addition to the weary fight against traffic pollution. You can buy individual tickets along with monthly, yearly, and a few other alternatives. We will soon be adding a map of the Skytrain, and more information on the pricing structure to this page so it should help when choosing a hotel to stay at. Of course the train actually reaches most major places in Bangkok, covering most of Sukhumvit, Silom, Ploenchit and Phiyathai roads.
This addition to Bangkok does raise some very important questions such as will it reduce the traffic problems below it, what will the Thai people do with all this extra time that the train should bring. Possibly this may even cause a baby boom, or possibly even increase in individual spending and what will happen to the divorce rate ? Of course some of these questions are more frivolous in nature if not very serious in meaning. The traffic situation may not change that much, although if you do live and work along the train system you may indeed be tempted to take advantage of it. However the train stations at each end such as Sukhumvit 71, Chaopraya, and Chatuchak do not yet have car parks to allow people to drive to the station and then drop their car off in preference for the ease of the train. Mr. Andrew Cornelio, Assistant Director of Sales for the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Hotel said "..that although the train system is an enormous benefit to Bangkok, it still needs to iron out a few of the finer details such as the need for carparks. For tourists though it will give tourism in Bangkok a much needed breath of fresh air, they can now choose a hotel by its quality and not purely its location. As this hotel has a train station close by we do anticipate a large increase in business, as we attract guests from areas that were previously too far away. People know the quality and luxury that is expected of a Crowne Plaza so we are looking forward to the benefits it will offer us all, but most importantly the guests." We could not agree more, now you can take your pick of any of the hotels in Bangkok that run along the train system, unless of course you enjoy sitting in traffic.
Taxi : The most common and convenient way of getting to your hotel from the airport is by taxi. Registered metered taxis form a queue directly outside the arrival hall. Passengers state their destination at the taxi stand before getting in the yellow taxi. Make sure the driver uses the meter. If you are not staying at a major hotel, sometimes drivers will pretend they know where they are going, but in fact don't. It's a good idea to carry the hotel's phone number with you in case the driver needs to call for directions.
Luxury Taxis : Inside the arrival hall are several stands which offer a more luxurious transport service. Passengers have a choice of Mercedes Benz, Jaguar, Mini vans and other vehicles to transport them to their hotels. Of course these services cost more than the regular taxis, but are reasonable when compared to most other countries.
Tuk Tuk : The name relates to the sound they make. Some resemble modified motorized tricycles, others have four wheels, either way they are noisey and open to exhaust fumes. They are okay for very short distances, but for longer trips you're better off using an air-conditioned metered taxi. Tuk-tuk's have no meter and are notorious for overcharging tourists. Alternatively, a quick ride can be part of a hilarious Bangkok experience!
Boat : There are two types of boats plying the waters of the Chao Praya River. One is the ferry that crosses the river, costing only one baht per person per crossing. The other boat travels up and down the river stopping at various piers. The fare for this depends on the distance travelled and is paid on the boat, usually between 3 and 10 Baht. They offer a fun, exotic, and traffic-free way to get around and explore. Two lines are available: the Chao Praya Express and Laemtong Express.
Bus : Buses within Bangkok offer cheap transport. However if you don't know where you are going, stick with the taxi or Skytrain as bus drivers tend not to speak much English.
Buses to destinations outside Bangkok are found at three main bus terminals. Northern/Northeast Bus Terminal often referred to as Morsit, serves Chiang Mai and the north. The Southern Bus Terminal on the Thonburi side of the river, is for Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Phuket and points south. The Eastern Bus Terminal (Ekkamai) located on Sukhumvit Road, Soi 40 is for Pattaya, Koh Samet, Koh Chang and points southeast, to Rayong and Trat province.
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