Bangkok Transportation

Bus

Public buses are plentiful and cheap, with a minimum fare of 3.50 baht to most destinations within metropolitan Bangkok. Air-conditioned buses have minimum and maximum fares of 8 and 18 baht, respectively. Air-conditioned micro-buses charge a flat fare of 25 baht all routes. A Bus Route Map is available at bookshops and the TAT office.

Taxi

Taxis cruising city streets are metred. They charge a minimum of 35 baht for the first 3 kilometres, and approximately 5 baht per kilometre thereafter. Make sure you have change, as taxi drivers often dont! Passengers must pay tolls in the case of using an expressway.

Tuk-Tuks

These three-wheeled open-air motorised taxis are popular for short journeys. Fares must be bargained in advance. Minimum fares, for journeys of up to 3 kilometres, are approximately 30 baht.

BTS Sky Trains

BTS sky trains ply along Sukhumvit, Silom and Phahonyothin roads. The routes connect Bangkoks leading hotels and major shopping areas such as Siam Square, Silom, Ratchaprasong and Chatuchak Weekend Market. The fare ranges from 10-40 baht according to the distance. For more information, contact the Bangkok Mass Transit System at tel: 0 2617 7300 or visit www.bts.co.th

Boat

Taxis that are even more unusual, though equally convenient, are the river taxis that ply the Chao Phraya River. Some are just cross river ferries, but others serve the many landing stages on both banks and cover a route that goes up as far as the northern suburb of Nonthaburi.

Air

Bangkok's Don Muang airport is as busy as any major international airport anywhere in the world and there are flights leaving and arriving every minute.

A word of caution: The Bangkok airport has more than its share of hustlers out to make a quick baht, who often wear uniforms and tags that make them seem official. They will try to get you to change your hotel to one that pays them a large commission, perhaps claiming your intended hotel is overbooked. They will hustle you into overpriced taxis or limousines. Do not get taken in. This is a genuine warning, not a 'competitors' wrangle.

For more information on flight timetables etc. telephone the department you require as follows: International Flights: (Bangkok) 5351111, Domestic Flights:(Bangkok) 5351253, Arrivals: (Bangkok) 5351301 and Departures: (Bangkok) 5351386

Airport - Limo When arriving in Bangkok International look for the Airport Associate Limousine / Taxi counters. There are two services operating out of the Airport, the Airport Associate Limousine service or the Thai Airway Limousine. The cars are generally clean and the drivers reliable. The toll way for the highway is not included but the expressway below it is. Ask for a bonus card and for each 650 Baht you spend they will give you a stamp, when you complete the card with a total of 5 stamps, you will be entitled to a one way trip in either direction free of charge (if you take the return trip at 1,150 you will only get one stamp).

Airport - Taxi Taxi's are readily available. Only take the taxi's which are in the official taxi queue and only those that will show you the meter is working before you get in. A ride from the airport to central downtown should cost between 200/350 Baht