Best way to travel in thailand: A complete guide
Thailand is very well connected, which is good news for many tourists who want to explore this Southeast Asian country outside of Bangkok. Whether you’re heading to an island north or south of the Chiang Mai mountains, there are flights, trains, buses, minivans and boats ready to get you there. And even better, most of these options are efficient and good value.
To help you plan your route and transportation options, we’ve put together this guide to getting around Thailand.
“Flying is the speediest way to get around Thailand”
Best way to travel in thailand, Planes are the most effective way to get around Thailand, in spite of the fact that clearly not the most economical choice. The country’s extensive air network connects Bangkok to all the major tourist destinations – Chiang Mai, Ko Samui, Phuket and Krabi – as well as almost every provincial capital you’ve never heard of. And if your destination is an island, some low-cost carriers also offer airport-bus-ferry transfers.
Note that Bangkok has two airports, with Don Mueang International Airport serving as the de-facto budget/domestic hub and Suvarnabhumi Airport serving as the primary international hub. The fastest way to get to central Bangkok from any airport is by taxi. Expect to pay at least 350B for the fare, plus the mandatory airport fee of 50B and an additional fee for toll roads. “Both airports are connected to Bangkok’s urban train network, and there is a shuttle bus that runs between the two airports”.
The main domestic operators are AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion Air and VietJet Air. Competition means domestic flights are relatively cheap, but some of these airlines are primarily budget airlines, so they can be sticklers when it comes to luggage weight and size – you’ve been warned.
Trains are a slow but steady way to see Thailand
If you’re not in a hurry, and if rail takes you where you want to go, Thailand’s State Railways offer a cheap, comfortable way to get around Thailand. The country’s rail network spans four main long-distance lines – North, North-East, East and South.
Bangkok’s shiny new train station, Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, north of the city center, opens in 2024. It is also connected to the terminus of the North, Northeast and South lines and the metro network. With the completion of this station, there are plans to crisscross the nation with high-speed trains, counting a course to Nakhon Ratchasima beneath development. The former terminus of Chinatown, Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong), is a hub for local, commuter and tourist trains as well as all Eastern Line trains.
To avoid scams or overpayments, buy your ticket directly at one of the stations mentioned above, or via the State Railway of Thailand website or hotline (1690 from within Thailand). There are different types of seats, outlined below.
1st class
Accessible as it were on Overnight Express and Uncommon Express trains, To begin with Lesson tickets incorporate an air-conditioned cabin, two twin beds, a private lavatory and a lockable entryway.
They are ideal for a couple or a family looking for privacy.
Book several days in advance, especially during peak season (November to March).
2nd class
The most popular option and available as a seat or sleeper depending on the route.
One can opt for a more expensive air-conditioned cabin or one with a fan
Great for solo female travelers – some trains have women-only sleepers available.
3rd class
Recommended for short distances.
No wooden seats with air conditioning.
A awesome elective for those on a tight budget
Save cash by taking a transport or minivan
Best way to travel in thailand, Buses and minivans form Thailand’s most extensive – and cheapest – transport network. There are different types of bus companies, but the most reliable are the government-subsidized transport companies. “Buy tickets online or in person at the bus station to avoid scams”. In particular, be wary of buses that run directly outside tourist centers such as Bangkok’s Khao San Road, as there have been cases of luggage theft and extortion.
As with most transportation in Thailand, there are varying levels of luxury.
VIP, Super-VIP, and 1st-class buses are recommended for overnight trips as they have plenty of reclining space and a toilet on board. “Some even have meal vouchers and bus stewards”. Don’t forget to bring a sweater and maybe earplugs, as sub-zero air-con and full-blast movies are other “perks” in this class.
Second class means air-conditioned, but no on-board toilet, and possibly a few more stops.
“Normal” non-air-con buses are a dying breed these days, although they are still available in more rural areas. “These buses are very slow, with frequent stops”.
For increasingly short and medium-distance routes in Thailand, minivans are outstripping buses Both private and run by transport companies, they are cheap and fast, but passengers are usually jammed like sardines and drivers can be reckless.
“For more freedom, consider a car or motorcycle”
While renting a car in Thailand can seem daunting, driving is a great way to explore the country outside of city areas. That said, there are some dangerous roads in Thailand and it’s essential to take things slow and be extra careful.
Cars can be rented from both local companies and the usual international chains in most major cities and airports. Motorcycles can be rented from guesthouses and small mom-and-pop businesses. For the latter, most businesses ask you to leave your passport as a deposit. Before driving, check the condition of the motorcycle and ask for a helmet (which is required by law).
In hypothesis, short-term guests who wish to drive any vehicle (counting cruisers) in Thailand require an universal driving allow. In hone, this run the show is seldom upheld.
Take a long-tail boat for short distances and a ferry for longer trips
Thailand has a variety of boat tours, spanning both rivers and seas. For short distances, including trips along Bangkok’s canals, the ideal mode of water transport is the open-air long-tail boat. Usually you have to haggle for an upfront price. Large, roofed, inboard engine boats are used for trips of up to an hour or two. Hydrofoils, ferries, and larger, more comfortable speed boats make long boat trips to the islands.
Use motosai, tuk-tuks and taxis to explore Thai cities
Best way to travel in thailand, A common way to get around major cities in Thailand is by motosai (motorcycle taxi). You’ll find jacketed drivers on street corners, from where they ply routes, usually short distances for fixed rates, or you can negotiate for a ride elsewhere – a clever solution when traffic is bad. “Hang on for dear life, and don’t forget to wear a helmet”.
Although still common in Thai cities, three-wheeled open-top vehicles known as tuk-tuks are less of a form of public transport these days and more of a novelty. “You need to haggle with the driver before getting in; Starting rates are usually astronomical for non-Thais”. Also, beware of drivers who take you on a detour to their “friend’s shop”. This is a common scam for drivers who get kickbacks from shop owners for taking tourists to their businesses.
Taxis are available in most major provincial capitals, although in some destinations, fares may be set higher. To avoid communication issues, download the Grab app (Uber does not work in Thailand).
Bangkok is the as it were Thai city with an urban rail system. The Metro (MRT) and Skytrain (BTS) are convenient and extensive, and the network continues to grow. Fares begin at 15B and increment depending on how distant you travel. Trains run from 5:30 am to midnight.
Accessible transportation in Thailand is limited
Thai buses and trains generally do not have facilities for disabled passengers, and Bangkok is the only place in the country that has some provision. 17 of the 36 stations in the Bangkok mass transit system have elevators; The metro is also more accessible as all stations have a lift and locks for wheelchairs.
Best Ideas for Thailand
Best way to travel in thailand, Nevertheless, the wide range of transportation options makes traveling around Thailand as easy as anywhere else in Southeast Asia. Buses are fast, cheap and frequent, and can be quite luxurious; Trains are slower but safer and offer more opportunities to sleep during overnight journeys; Moreover, traveling during the day allows you to follow more scenic routes by rail than by road. Inter-city songhouses, air-conditioned minibuses and share-taxis are convenient, and ferries provide easy access to all major islands. Local transport comes in both public and chartered permutations.
Thinking of traveling to Thailand? Also read about how to get there.
Best way to travel in thailand Intercity bus
Best way to travel in thailand, Buses, overall the most convenient way to get around the country, come in four main categories. In ascending order of comfort, speed and cost, they are ordinary buses (Rot Thammada; not air-conditioned, usually orange) and three types of air-con buses (Rot Air or Rot Thua; usually blue): Second Class, First Class and VIP. . Common and many air-con buses are operated by the government-controlled transport company Bau Khao (BKS), while privately owned, licensed air-con buses (Rot Rum, usually translated as “Jein Bus”), some of which operate From Baw Khaw Saw Terminal, the most popular long-distance routes also operate. It should be noted that overnight long-distance buses, in which some drivers are rumored to take amphetamines to stay awake, seem to be involved in more than their fair share of accidents; For this reason, some passengers prefer to travel overnight by train and then connect a short bus to their destination.
General and Second Class
Best way to travel in thailand, On most routes, including almost all services to Bangkok, second-class (Bao Sang; see “2” on the side of the vehicle) air-con buses have now replaced ordinary buses as the main workhorse of the Thai bus system, although you still see plenty of the latter on shorter routes in more remote areas of the country. will get Air-con or not, these basic buses are incredibly cheap, usually run frequently during daylight hours, pack as many people as possible, and stop frequently, which slows them down considerably.
It is best to ask locally where to catch your bus. Something else, assigned transport stops are frequently stamped by salas, little, open-sided wooden structures with seat seating, found at interims along major long-distance transport courses through the city or at the edge of a decent-sized settlement, for example the edge of a city. The main highway that does. Where there is only one bus shelter on the “wrong” side of the road, you can be sure that buses traveling in both directions will stop there for any waiting passengers; Leave your bag on the right side of the road to alert the bus driver and wait in the shade. But if you are in the middle of nowhere without a sala, any ordinary or second-class bus will stop for you if you flag it down.
First Class and VIP
Express services with fewer stops are mostly operated by first-class (baw neung; see “1” on the side of the vehicle) and VIP (usually written on the side in English) buses. These are your best options for long-haul journeys: you’ll usually be assigned a specific seat, have a toilet, and on the longest journeys you can get blankets, snacks and non-stop DVDs. First-class services have fewer seats than second-class and more leg room to recline, while VIP services have fewer seats. Other designations are also used for top-of-the-range services, particularly by private “joining” companies: “999”, “Super VIP” (with even fewer seats), “Gold Class” and confusingly, sometimes even ” First Class” (modeled on airlines, with only eighteen large, well-appointed seats).
Private “connecting” buses on many long-distance routes are indistinguishable from public buses and operate from the same Bau Khao bus terminal. Major private companies, such as Nakhon Chai Air (t02 936 0009), Sombat Tour (t02 792 1444) and, operating from Chiang Mai, Green Bus (t053 266480), have roughly similar fares, though naturally with more price range. Differentiate, and offer comparable benefits and service quality. The opposite is unfortunately true of many small, private, unlicensed companies, which have poor reputations for service and comfort, but cater to overseas travelers with bargain fares and convenient schedules. Long-distance tour buses from Banglampur’s Thanon Khao San to Chiang Mai and Surat Thani are a phenomenon. Although promised VIP buses, passengers on this route often complain of hideous furnishings, non-functional air-conditioning, unhelpful (even aggressive) drivers, delays and an appalling lack of security awareness – and there are frequent reports of luggage theft on the route, even the spraying of “sleeping gas” Hand luggage can be rifled without hindrance. Usually traveling from the main bus terminal with a government or licensed private bus company (who have a reputation for catering to their regular Thai customers) or taking the train instead – the extra comfort and peace of mind is well worth it baht.
Best way to travel in thailand Tickets and schedules
Best way to travel in thailand, All bus tickets can be purchased from the departure terminal, but it is usual to buy on board for general and second class air-con buses. First-class and VIP buses may run from a separate station or office, and tickets for more popular routes should be booked a day in advance. As a rough indication of fares, a 700km trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai costs B600–800 for VIP, around B500 for first-class air-con and B400 for second-class air-con.
Long-distance buses often leave in clusters at the same time (for example, early in the morning or late at night), leaving five or more hour intervals with no service during the day. Local TAT offices sometimes have up-to-date bus timetables, but the best source of information apart from bus stations is wthaiticketmajor.com, which carries timetables in English for 360 routes as well as useful information on how to buy tickets. Advance options include buying online through the site; by calling t02 262 3456 (make your payment within five hours at any 7–Eleven branch); And they are being purchased at 83 major post offices (listed on the site), including GPO in Bangkok, Ratchadamnoen Post Office in Banglamphu and Thanon Na Phra Lan Post Office opposite the Grand Palace entrance in Ratankosin.
Songthaews, share-taxis and air-conditioned minibusses
Best way to travel in thailand, In rural areas, the bus network is often supplemented by songhouses (literally “two rows”), which are open-ended vans (or occasionally cattle trucks) whose drivers squash as many passengers as possible onto two facing benches, leaving latecomers behind. Swing off the running board behind. In addition to their essential role within the city (see Local transport), gunthaews ply routes from large cities to their surrounding suburbs and villages, and between smaller towns where there is no call for a regular bus service: some destinations are written in Thai, but few in number. In most cities you’ll find the Songthaew “terminal” near the market; Just flag it to pick one of the destinations. To indicate to the driver that you want to get out, the usual practice is to rap firmly with a coin on the metal railing as you approach the spot (or press the chime if there is one).
In the deep south they operate with a bit more style – share-taxis connect many major cities, although they are being replaced by more comfortable air-conditioned minibusses (rot to, meaning “wardrobe car”). Scores of similar private air-conditioned minibus services are now cropping up around the country, usually operating from small offices or sidewalk desks in city centers – or the streets around Bangkok’s Victory Monument. Some of these services have a timetable, but many aim to depart only when they have a full complement of passengers; Then again, some companies publish a schedule but exit when it’s full – either before or after the published time. They cover distances faster than buses, but often at poor speeds and can be uncomfortably cramped when full – they’re not ideal for passengers with bulky rucksacks, who may need to pay extra. These services are usually licensed and should maintain their reputation with regular Thai passengers but, as with full-size buses (see tickets and timetables), you should be wary of unlicensed private companies that only offer minibusses from Bangkok to Thanon Khao for farang. San.
In many cases, long-distance ganthaew and air-conditioned minibusses will drop you off at the right address (for example a specific guesthouse) if you give them enough advance notice. As a rule of thumb, inter-city Tsingtao costs are comparable to air-con buses, perhaps a little more than air-conditioned minibusses.
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