Types of Transport
Add link from website about getting around Bangkok.
http://www.khaosanroad.com/getting_around_bangkok_from_khao_san_road.htm
Outside Bangkok, there are fewer transport options and
in many places you need to have your own transport. However,
motorbikes and bicycles can be found in most places and
are cheap to hire. Motorcycle taxis are usually available
in most parts of Thailand, even in small towns. Look out
for clusters of young men wearing orange jackets with
numbers printed on the back in Thai. Remember to agree
the price before you get on the back of the motorbike.
Meter taxis are usually only available in large cities
such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket. In the
rest of the country many interesting alternatives are
available. Buses are available throughout Thailand. However,
outside Bangkok the destinations are rarely printed in
English and you cannot expect the conductor to speak English.
The best way to make sure that you arrive at you destination
is to ask someone (preferably at a travel agency or tourist
café) to write the address in Thai and teach you how to
pronounce it correctly. Also, most buses fill up quickly
and are crammed to bursting point. In order to guarantee
a seat, get on at a bus station. Intercity Coaches are
a fine, cheap way to travel around Thailand. The good
road system means that they are quite comfortable and
travel between most cities, large towns and tourist destinations.
Much cheaper than the train (a journey of 220 kilometres
costs around 90 Baht) as with local buses it is best to
embark at the bus station to guarantee a seat. Songthaew
means ‘two rows’ in Thai, referring to the two rows of
wooden benches that line the walls of these small, open-backed
mini vans. Very common in small towns and villages, songthaews
follow a designated route which is not always obvious.
It is best to flag down the driver, state where you want
to go and add the word ‘mai?’ to the end. Fares typically
cost between 6 and 20 baht. Saburus are a more modern
and comfortable version of the songthaew, with padded
seats. Expect to pay about double the price of a songthaew,
although many people say the comfort is worth the extra
few baht. Known as Samlaews, these are the same as the
bicycle rickshaw, which can be found all over India. Not
exactly the fastest or most comfortable form of transport
and only recommended for short journeys, although they
can be a nice way to get to know a place or enjoy a romantic
sunset ride.
Thailand
Northern Thailnd
Chiang Mai
| Chiang Rai
| Mae Hong Son | Sukhothai | Lumpang | Petchaboon | Phitsanulok
| Tak North
North Eastern Thailand
Khon Khen | Buriram | Loei | Nakhon Ratchasima | Nong
Khai | Nakhon Phanom | Ubon | Ratchthani |
Udon Thani | Uthai Thani
Eastern Thailand
Pattaya | Chonburi | Rayong | Trat
Central Thailand
Bangkok |
Ayutthaya | Sukothai | Kanchanaburi | Phetchaburi
| Prachuap | Khiri Khan | Lop Buri | Nakhon Nayok | Nakhon
Pathom | Ratchaburi | Samutprakarn
Southern Thailand
Koh Samet \ Phuket \ Krabi \ Phang-Nga Phuket \ Ranong
\ Songkhla \ Surat Thani \ Trang \ Chumphon \ Nakhon Si
Thammarat \ Narathiwat
