|
Home |
 |
| Resorts & Excursions |
| Introduction |
| Bangkok |
| The Interior |
| The Coast of Thailand |
| City Guide |
| Bangkok |
| Airport Guide |
| Bangkok International Airport |
| Country Guide > South-East Asia > Thailand |
|
Travel - Internal Air Thai Airways International (TG) (website: www.thaiairways.com) runs services to all major towns, using a total of 22 airports. Bangkok Airways (PG) (website: www.bangkokair.com) flies seven additional routes. Discounts are available in off-peak seasons and during special promotional periods. Departure tax Bt50 for all domestic flights, Bt400 for domestic flights from Samui Airport. Children under two years are exempt. River Thailand has, depending on the season, up to 1600km (1000 miles) of navigable inland waterway. Services operate between Thanon Tok and Nonthaburi, and luxury cruises are available on the Oriental Queen. Long-tailed motorboats and taxi-boat ferries also operate. Strong competition on all of the major routes ensures that fares are kept low. Reduced services operate during the monsoon season from May through to October along the east coast and Andaman coast, and from November through until January on the Gulf coast. The more remote spots become inaccessible in these periods. Rail The excellent railway network extends over 4600km (2860 miles), linking all major towns with the exception of Phuket. It is run by State Railways of Thailand. It has recently been extended to serve centres on the east coast. There are four main trunk routes to the northern, eastern, southern and northeastern regions, and also a line serving Thon Buri, River Kwai Bridge and Nam Tok. There are several daily services on each route, with air-conditioned, sleeping and restaurant cars on the principal trains. The journeys are leisurely and comfortable, and travelling by train is certainly one of the best ways to get around the country. The Southern Line Express stops at Surat Thani for those who wish to continue by bus and ferry to the islands off the east coast. Most railway timetables are published in English. Road There is a reasonable road network comprising many highways and 52,000km (32,300 miles) of national and provincial roads. All major roads are paved. Traffic drives on the left. Bus: There are inter-urban routes to all provinces. Fares are very cheap and buses very crowded. Privately owned air-conditioned buses (seats bookable) are comfortable and moderately priced. Taxi: There are plenty of taxis, which operate day and night. There are three types: taxi-meter; taxis which are unmetered; and 3-wheeled, open-air tuk-tuks. Where there is no meter, fares should be agreed before departure. It is sometimes possible to agree fares for longer trips even in taxi-meters. It is also possible to take a motorbike taxi. These are especially useful in Bangkok's horrendous rush-hour traffic. Taxi drivers do not always carry change, so it is important to have the correct amount. Passengers are also expected to pay for any motorway tolls. Car hire: Available in all main cities. Passports may be held as a form of deposit. Motorcycle hire is also available, especially on the larger islands. Documentation: International Driving Permit required. IDPs are valid for three months, after which a Thai driving licence is required. Urban Conventional bus services in Bangkok are operated by the Government Mass Transit Authority, but there are also extensive private minibus operations and passenger-carrying trucks. Premium fares are charged for air conditioned and express buses. Fares are generally low and are collected by conductors. Ferries and long-tailed motorboats operate on the Chao Phraya River which are a quick and cheap way to get about. Bus maps of the city are available, on arrival, from the tourist office at Don Muang Airport. The Skyrail, an elevated mass transit system in Bangkok, runs from 0600-0000. Travel Times The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Bangkok to other major cities/towns in Thailand.
|