Getting Around In Thailand

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Eastern Bus Terminal

Sukhumvit Rd, Bangkok Tel: (66) 2391-2504
For Buses to ..
Aranyaprathed
Chantaburi
Kanchanaburi
Ko Chang excluding ferry ticket
Ko Samet excluding ferry ticket
Rayong
Trat

Local Transport

There are two kinds of local transport your own or hired.
Buying a Car or Bike

You will need a long term visa  OA, O or B or a few brave souls register it in a Thai natives name but be aware it then belongs to them!
Cars are expensive in Thailand due to high import duties, some makes are cheaper as they are manufactured in Thailand these are
Ford  Honda  Isuzu  Mitsubushi  Toyota.

Application for Temporary Driving License for Car or Motorbike

Many people use their own countries license for driving this may work long term but it is advisable to obtain a Thai license. When applying for your driving license ensure that you have all the necessary documentation to avoid delays. Applications are processed at the local license offices.
Expatriates from certain countries (UKandUSA included) will need the following:
A current valid home country driving license with more than one year to expire;
A passport with a non-immigrant 12 month visa, or a 12 month extension to a visa, and copies of the relevant pages;Proof of address (obtained from the local immigration office);
Photographs of the correct size (25 mm square);
A medical certificate obtainable from most clinics (some provinces).
Dependingupon the province, it may be necessary to take a colour blindness test and a reaction test.
Should you not have a current valid home country driving license (or a license from a country not on the transport authority’s list), then a test will have to be taken.

The test consists of a written multiple choice exam and a short practical drive around a private area or car park. The documentation requirements are as above with the exceptionof the home country license. You must be over 18 years old to apply for either a car or motorcycle license except in the case of a motorbike of engine capacity not more than 90 cc in which case the age limit is 15 years old.

Taxi

These are metered in Bangkok and again are cheap the driver may try to make a set fair rather than the meter but this would always be for his advantage, meter is the way to go, if he doesn’t switch it on when you get in ask him to, point your finger at the meter.

Otherwise he will make up the farewhen you get to the destination. Taxi’s run 25 hours a day 8 days a week so don’t worry about staying out to late. At closing time at Nana Plaza the number of taxi’s queuing make Manhattan’s taxi’s look like an extinct species.

Fares are very good 35  including the first 2km and  5 per km after that. So even a long journey across the city usually are not over 100 . A surcharge is added in traffic jams around 1 per minute, meaning at night  they’re definitely the best way of getting around.
All taxis are green and yellow or blue and red or occasionally another colour but it should always be very obvious by the paintwork and phone numbers prominent on the outside of the car.

Phone number for taxi is 1661 ask anyone to help you call

Bus

Long haul buses run every day to every corner of the Kingdom, Bangkok is usually the ’hub’ if you need to change buses on route. Fares are very cheap by western standards.

Southern Bus Terminal
Boromratchchonnani Rd, Bangkok Tel: (66) 2435-1200, 2434-7192
For Buses to …
Cha-Am
Chumphon
Hua Hin Hat Yai
Krabi
Narathiwat
Pattani
Phang Nga
Phattalong
Phuket
Ranong
Ko Samui excluding ferry ticket
Satun
Sugaiko Lok
Suratthani
Trang
Yala Thung Song Victory Monument is a good place for a mini bus to the cities of Hua Hin and Cha Am there is a skytrain stop above the bus terminal.

Getting Around

New Cars Cost New aprox
Honda Jazz  650,000
Ford Focus  730,000
Mitsubishi Lancer 570,000
Toyota Vios 520,000
Big Pick ups 4X4s 1 to 1.5 million
Finance is hard to obtain especialy without a work permit so cash is the only realistic option.

Used cars, the problem with pre owned cars in Thailand is they don’t seem to depreciate in value a car several years old in good condition can be worth three quarters of the new value which realistically makes a new car a good option for several reasons mostly it costs not a lot more than a decent old car and will not loose a third of its value when you drive it off the forecourt as it would in the west.

Insurance is cheap and can be obtained from the dealer or an agent. Insurance is essential because any accident you have will be almost certainly be your fault, no matter what the circumstances, no point arguing or thinking ‘that’s not fair’ it is one of the few downsides to life in Thailand.

If you are hit by a beat up old car or a bike it may be worth giving the driver a couple of thousand baht to avoid the hassle. A Thai license is reasonable easy to obtain and you should preferably have one. Cars can also be hired long term for
20-30,000 per month.

Motor Bikes
Mostly 100cc and 125cc bikes are the ones you see everywhere in Thailand they are cheap 40-45,000 new or 25-30,000 for a good years or 2 old bike. You can buy a bike with an AO, O or A visa or put it in your Thai girlfriends name as it’s not such a big financial risk as a car, in your own name you will first need to go to immigration with your passport and proof of address such as a lease if you rent, if you can persuade.

Your Thai landlady to go with you this should speed the process as Thai officials have a lot more respect for an older Thai lady than they do for you.

They will give you a slip of paper to give to the bike dealer and insurance. Not a big problem. One advantage of a bike is they are astoundingly cheap to repair and service, parts cost next to nothing.

The obvious disadvantage is safety  always wear a quality helmet and it is probably best not to hold back , take your time let everyone past, this sounds safer in theory but in practice it confuses local drivers it is best to go with the flow and within reason do as the locals do. Big bikes such as Harleys and big Honda’s are also readily available.

Rules of the road inThailand

Thai’s obey traffic lights and police that’s about it, many rural people do not have a license have no training and don’t follow any rules. If you are involved in an accident especially one that involves injury to a Thai you will almost certainly be held responsible, that is just the way it is, so get proper full insurance for your vehicle.
For those of you that insist on the niceties here are the rules of the road.
General Rules

Motorcycle Riders
On all journeys, the rider and pillion passenger on a motorcycle must wear a protective helmet. Helmets must be fastened securely. (note: certain provinces require only the rider to wear the helmet).
You are not to carry more than one pillion passenger and he/she should sit astride the machine on a proper seat and should keep both feet on the footrests.

(note: these rules are rarely enforced – it is common to see three persons and sometimes more on a motorcycle and the passenger(s) may be riding ‘side saddle’).Whether driving in daylight or at night, headlights and tail lights must be on at all times.

All Vehicle Drivers

You must use a seat belt in cars, vans and other goods vehicles if one is fitted.
Do not drink and drive as it will seriously affect your judgment and abilities.
You MUST NOT drive with a breath alcohol level higher than 50 milligrams/percent. It is advisable not todrink alcohol at all if you intend to drive.

Penalty 3 months in jail which may soon become a year
You MUST NOT drive under the influence of drugs or medicine.You must obey signals given by police officers.

You must obey all traffic light signals (in most instances turning left at a traffic light showing red is permitted provided it is done with caution and other road users are given priority).
You must obey all traffic signs giving orders, including temporary signals & signs.
Flashing headlights: Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. If another driver flashes his headlights never assume that it isa signal to go. Use your own judgment and proceed carefully.

(Local drivers are renowned for using flashing headlights to warn other drivers that although the flasher is in the ‘wrong’, he/she will be continuing anyway).
You must use headlights at night and when visibility is seriously reduced
You must obey speed limits at all times. Unless there are signs showing another limit, the speed limits for cars, vans and pick-ups are generally:  Open roads – 90 kph Towns/villages– 50 kph Local Transport Bangkok
Bangkok has the most varied choice of transport in Thailand with very modern mass transit systems.
Best is probably the Skytrain quick, convenient, cheap and no traffic jams. Cost 10 to 40 also multiple journey tickets cut the cost considerably, many of the major tourist destinations and shopping malls are located at the stations.
Opened in 1999 by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) or Skytrain has 23 stations on 23km’s of track and two linked lines 1 The Sukhumvit line runs from north to east across the city, 2 The Silom line plies the central business district, the lines connect at Silom station. Trains are very frequent and very efficient.
At this time costruction of extensions to the line are unway in particular a link to the new airport.  The other mass Transit system in Bangkok is the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) which is a Metro/Underground/Subway system. Opened in July 2004. As with the Skytrain it is fast efficient and cheap and also avoids Bangkok’s horrendous traffic, fares are around 15-40.

The system covers 18 stations and 21km’s The system is disabled friendly with lifts/elevators and ramps at all stations. There are two interconnected lines the blue line and the purple line. Security is good with cctv and uniformed guards at stations and on trains. Unlimited one day pass 120, or 30 days 800.

Tuk Tuk’s

Three wheeler pollution machines, drivers can be.. lets say.. difficult, they always want to overcharge and on occasion drive like maniacs, you need to negotiate a price before getting in.

Once he has moved you are at his mercy, when the price for a 10 minute ride sounds like what you would pay in Paris its probably to much. One thing the drivers have in common with taxi drivers is they can always recommend a restaurant, travel agent, gift shop or any other service these are not necessarily the best places to go just the ones where they get best commission.

Many westerners living in Bangkok will not use Tuk tuks because they are no cheaper than a taxi and the hassle of bargaining with the driver is frustrating but if you are in Bangkok for a few days it one of those ‘must do’ things.

Motor Bike Taxis again you have to negotiate a price but they tend to be reasonable, this is the quickest way to get around by road. Especially at rush hour, but the rider need’s to get you there asap so he can pick up another fair and make more money so anything goes in his pursuit of a quick journey so this is not for the faint hearted.

Bus

Local buses are cheap but at the mercy of the traffic which means slow, air-conditioned models (pale orange or blue and white} cost around 12  no air buses are red and cost 5 great if you want to save 7 baht and get lung cancer through the open windows and leaking exhaust system. On the 3 cool days of the year walking is the cheapest and most interesting way to go.

Local Transport other area’s

Other towns and cities have a mixture of  Tuk Tuks , motor bike taxis, taxis so the same rules apply. Also you may find Songtaew’s or baht buses little pick up trucks converted to carry jump on jumpoff passengers these are usually shared during the day and evening for a few baht on a set route and then hired by individuals like taxis at night again you have to negotiate a price before boarding.

Nationwide Travel

By Air over the past few years no frill airlines have sprung up in Asia aterm familiar to European travelers, basically they are cheap flights, the sooner you book the cheaper they are, sometimes they can be very cheap indeed maybe 300 from Bangkok to Udon Thani  or 700 to the far south these airlines operate on the bare minimum no food and no frills but who cares when a 2 hour flight is 2000. Try to book early either online or through a local agent in Thailand.
Three domestic airlines operate from Don Muang Airport see our Airport Button.

Northern Bus Terminal also North Eastern Terminal
Kampaengphet 2 Rd, Bangkok Tel: (66) 2936-3660
For Buses to ..
ChiangMai
Chiang Rai
Chiang Saen
Chiang Kham
Chiang Khong Kalasin
Lamphon
Mukdahan Nakhon Phanom Nan Nong Khai Mae Sod Phayao
Phitsanulok
Phrae Roi Et Sakhon
Sukhothai Surin
Tak Ubon Ratchathani Udonthani Utaladit Yasothon

Trains
Usually classed as express (regular) or sprinter which are often overnight trains usually have sleeping berths or reclining seats.
Many destinations served such as Chang Mai 2 exp 2 sprinter per day.

One of the most popular rides is the old Burma or death railway at  Kanchanaburi, where trains still run over the “Bridge on the River Kwai”.
Trains also run down to Malaysia and the southern resorts.