After presenting you the “normal” ways Getting around in Bangkok (I), it’s time to show you the more unique ways of getting around.
Tuk-tuks
Bangkok – Tuk Tuk
Tuk-tuk or auto rickshaw is a usually three-wheeled cabin cycle. You can hire them like a taxi.
Never ask for a price, otherwise they tell you a fantasy price or take you on a “shopping tour” across Bangkok. Tell them a price that you think is right.
When bargaining remember that transportation is cheap in Thailand. A ride across the city with the BTS skytrain costs ruffly 50 Baht.
Motocycle taxis
Bangkok motor bikes
First of all, use this type of transportation only if you want to kill yourself.
Motorcycle taxis are for short distance journeys. They drive between car rows and there’s basically no safety/protection. Like with the tuk-tuks, you have to know the fare otherwise you pay the farang price.
You can recognise them by the orange vests they’re wearing.
They usually wait in groups near the same shops and restaurants and corners of main streets during daytime.
Have a look at the following video about Motorcycle taxis by Tony from Thai-faq.com
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5UKuxypXNQ
Stay tuned for more upcoming posts about Bangkok and Thailand.
When you think about Bangkok and getting around in this big city, 2 things come into your mind.
“Tuk-tuks” and the dangerous moto-bikes.
But there are far more ways getting around in the city of angels known as Bangkok.
BTS Sky train
this is a train service that runs through many parts of the city.
Bangkok – Nana BTS station
It runs on tracks above the streets. The fares start at 10 baht for a single journey. Take the stairs from street level to the station.
Go to a ticketing machine select the fare for your route and pay, receive your paper ticket, go through the fare gate.
Next take the stairs or escalator up to the trains. Board the train, get off and exit the station through the fare gate.
Day passes are also available for 150 baht. You can purchase them only at the ticket counters located at some stations.
There are currently 2 lines running through the city, you can use your ticket on all lines.
The government of Bangkok is still working on extending the existing ney network. E.g the trains don’t run to the northern districts yet.
MRT
Bangkok also has an underground/subway train service.
There’s an interchange with the BTS Sky train at the Asok BTS station. The MRT network is still very simple. There’s one line and it runs from the north to the south.The Bangkok goverment is still expanding the network.
Taxi
There are two different types in Bangkok. Taxis and metered taxis.
The metered taxis work like in most other countries. But you can also find taxis without meter. Then you have to know the price for they journey and know how to negotiate with the driver.
You can recognise the difference by searching for a sign on the roof of the car. As Thai people write things differently in english, look for “Taxi-meter”.
If you just want to get around, take a metered taxi. Please make sure that the driver starts the meter. Otherwise you may end on a jewellery and tailor shopping tour through the whole city. 😉
Bus
Bangkok traffic – Buses
Getting around by bus can be a unique experience in Bangkok.
There are not only modern air-conditioned buses, you may see some of the older ones that look like, they’re from the 1960.
Get on the buses at bus stops that consist of signs with the buses’ numbers on them. Make sure you give a sign to the driver that you want to get on the bus.
Tickets are bought on board the buses. Show the driver you want to get off the bus by standing up approaching the doors.
Stay tuned for part 2 of Bangkok – Getting around, in which I write about more Bangkok styles of getting around.
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