Thailand Transportation Method

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Thailand is an easy country to travel. There are many different kind of transportation to choose from. Depending on your budget, you can choose to travel by local Bus, Tourist Bus, Minibus, Train, Taxi, Hired Car, Boat, Ferry, Plane and Low cost Airlines.

Short Distance

Public Bus: Every big or small City of Thailand offer a Local Bus Service. There are plenty of buses running within the city ( if big town ) and connecting also all the small villages around the cities. This is the cheapest way of transportation in a short distance. You can catch the bus at any bus stop along all the main roads of Thailand and choose between air condition bus or normal bus. The ticket can be purchased directly on the bus, the fares is charged depending on the distance.

Songthaew ( collective truck ): It is a pick up truck or a small truck converted as a kind of bus. The backside of the truck is covered with a plastic roof and two benches are placed on the 2 side of the truck. The Songthaew is the most used kind of transportation and can be found in every city of Thailand. The fares is generally asked at the arrival. In the touristic areas, the Songthaew driver tend to charge the tourist more than the real fare. Be sure to ask the driver the price before you get in the Songthaew.

Rickshaw: It is a 3 wheels bicycle. The driver seat on the back of the vehicle and 2 ( small ) passengers can sit in front on a bench. This kind of transportation is rare to find, but it is still possible to see few bicycle rikshaw in more remote areas of Thailand

Motor Rickshaw ( Tuk Tuk ): It is a small 3 wheels motor vehicle which can be found in several Thailand Cities. a Maximum of 4 persons can be carried. Alway agree on the fare before you get into the Tuk Tuk

Motor Taxi: Are available in every Towns, Cities and villages of Thailand. It is the most used public transportation in Thailand for very short distances. The Motor Taxi drivers wear a jacket with a number written on the back and they are usually standing in a row beside the foot pass near markets and main roads. Always agree on the fee before you get into the taxi.

Taxi: Taxis can be found in every major City and touristic areas of Thailand. There is not a phone call service for taxi, you can find them all around the main centers. If you ask at the hotel reception for a taxi they will provide the service with a private car from the hotel which is usually charged a bit more than the taxi.

In Bangkok all the taxis are called "Taxi Meter" in fact all of them have a meter and the fee is charged according to the fare written on the meter. Often happen that the taxi driver don't want to use the meter and looks like that all drivers agree not to use the meter ( especially from the airport ). Remember alway to ask the driver to use the meter before you get in the car. If they don't want to use the meter ( which happen very often ! ), it is very important to agree on the fare before you get into the taxi.

All the major touristic area and cities of Thailand also offer Taxi service. Some of them call them self "Taxi Meter" but the meter is "never working" so be sure always to agree on the fare before you get into the taxi

Motorbike for Rent: There are many Agencies, especially in the touristic area which offer a motorbike rental service. The fee is charged generally daily ( 24 hours ) with unlimited kilometers. Many agencies ask you to leave your passport as a guarantee. In case the bike is damaged or it get stolen, or you get an accident, the agency can refuse to give you back the passport until you pay for the damage. Like everywhere in the world there are honest people who will charge the right price for the damage ( which it is never too much in Thailand ) and there are people who will try to get more profit from your accident by overcharging for repairing the bike.

The safer way to Hire a bike is through the hotel you're are staying. First they will not ask you to leave your passport in deposit and second they are less interested in cheating their own customers. The cost will be probably a bit higher than the agency but the motorbike will be probably in better condition. If the Hotel you're staying is not offering motorbike rental service, ask at the reception where is safe to Hire a bike. Tip: always check the bike before renting it. If there is some small damage before you start renting the Motorbike make clear with the Bike owner about a damage made from a previous customers.

The most used Motorbike for Hire are 100cc or 110cc 4 stroke engine Motorbike with gear and automatic clutch. There are also 100cc scooters with automatic gear. Very often you will see 3 or 4 persons on one of this bikes. The Thai law allow to seat up to 2 persons only, so do not imitated the locals or you will get a fine. You should also wear helmet while driving the bike ( only front passenger ). Remember that in Thailand the traffic is running of the left side of the road. Same as UK or Australia, but opposite than the rest of Europe or USA. International Driving license is never asked from the agency or the hotel who rent bikes but could be possible that some policeman will ask for it. If you don't have a driving license, and the local police catch you, They will issue a fine to pay ( approx. 500 Baht ). Renting Bike it is not recommended for people who do not have bike driving experience; the traffic is more chaotic than in the west, the road rules and signs are often ignored, on the beach areas there is sand on the road.

The positive part in renting a Motorbike as transportation is that it is very cheap, you are free to explore and look around where you want and when you want and you don't have to bargain every time you get a taxi.

It is recommended to make a Travel Insurance before you leave your country. With little more money you can start your holiday more relaxed and safe. Check for the online rates.

Car for Rent: Many agency offer Car Rental Service. The fee is charged per day ( 24 hours ) with unlimited kilometers. Some agency will ask to hold your passport as a guarantee. In case of accident, damage of the vehicle, or stolen car, the agency will ask you a sum of money for cover the damage of the car ( can be cheap or expensive, depending on the honesty ) and if you don't agree they will hold your passport. In Thailand there is an obligatory government insurance for the car. In case of accident you have to pay a small sum of money and the rest is cover by the insurance. The insurance cover only if you have an International driving license. A saver place to rent a car is through the hotel you're staying. It maybe a bit more expensive but better Car condition and you don't have to leave your passport in deposit.

To rent a Car in Thailand totally insured , there are some worldwide companies like Avis, Hertz, Budget. They have agencies located in the major Thailand airports and tourist destination areas. The Car Renting Fee is charged by day ( 24 hours ) with unlimited kilometers. The Rental fee is a bit more expensive than the local agencies. The advantage is a full cover insurance ( you need international driving license ), almost new cars are used and the possibility to pick up the car for example in Bangkok and give it back in Chiang Mai. Check online for the available Avis, Hertz, Budget offices in Thailand.

Very often, in the touristic areas and busy cities especially in the hight touristic season, there is a shortage of vehicle. To make sure you got your vehicle for the holiday is a good way to Reserve your Car online.

It is recommended to make a Travel Insurance before you leave your country. With little more money you can start your holiday more relaxed and safe. Check for the online rates.

Long Distance

Bus: is the most used kind of transportation in Thailand. Every small and big cities are connected with Bus traveling several times an day. Government Companies offer the cheapest Bus fares which connect all Thailand cities. For long distance transportation are used air condition Bus only. VIP bus are more comfortable with bigger seats and toilet inside. The tickets can be purchased ( also in advance ) at all the Bus Station around Thailand.

There are also hundreds of small and big private companies who organize transportation by Bus between all the major Thailand destinations. The Bus are generally more comfortable, the fares are more expensive and the service is better than the Government Bus companies. The tickets can be purchased in many travel agency located in every tourist locations and major cities around Thailand. Be careful when you buy a ticket to make clear that a real bus is used ( Big Bus ). Some agency avoid specify which kind of bus is used and you may risk to find yourself in a 12 seats Minibus which it is not comfortable for long distance

Minibus: is a big van with 12 seats. The Minibus is used generally for short distance transportation and occasionally for long distance. In every cities there are minibuses which offer transportation within the city ( if large city ) or between close cities. The Minibus is used as a collective taxi and the fare is charged by person. They are generally faster than the normal local bus or city bus. As always, ask for the fare first. All the minibuses in Thailand are air conditioned.

Travel Thailand By Train

Thailand as a good railway system it is divided mainly in 4 line: The North line which start from bangkok to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, The East line which goes from Bangkok up to Nong Khai ( Lao border ), The West line which start from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi and the South Line start from Bangkok and goes all the way to the South to Malaysia and Singapore.

There are trains between the major cities several times a day. The tickets can be purchased also in advance directly at any Railway Stations or through travel agencies.

Travel Thailand By Boat

There are plenty of Slow Boat, Speed Boat, Car ferry service which are used to reach all the island destination in Thailand. Are generally private company who operate several times a day and connect all the islands between each others. On East coast ( Gulf of Thailand ), a nice boat trip start in Chumphon province. Take a speed boat which goes to Koh Tao, from Koh Tao you can take a Boat to Koh Phangan, from Koh Phangan there is a boat goes to Koh Samui and from Ko Samui there is a speed boat or car ferry which goes to Suratthani. There are at least 2 boats a day which goes up and down, so you can stop in any island and continue the day you feel like.

Another beautiful boat trip in on the West Coast ( Andaman Sea ) start from Phuket. Take a boat which goes to Koh Phi Phi, From Phi Phi take a Boat to Koh Lanta and from Koh Lanta take a boat to Krabi. There service is running at least 2 times a day and you can decide to stop in any island and continue the day you feel like. The ticket can be purchased at the harbor ( pier ) or in any travel Agency.

The boat safety standard in Thailand is not the most secure. Often the boats ( in the hight touristic season ) are overloaded of passengers and most of the times the life jacket are not enough for everybody. Security is not a big concern in Thailand. Avoid to take Speed boats or passenger boats during the monsoon season and rough sea because of the reasons just explained above. If you need to travel in rough sea condition, take the car ferry option instead which is much more comfortable and safe.

It is recommended to make a Travel Insurance before you leave your country. With little more money you can start your holiday more relaxed and safe. Check for the online rates.

Travel Thailand Low Budget Airlines

Another way of transportation in Thailand is by Low Budget Airlines. In the past years more and more Low Cost Carrier are expanding their destination within Thailand and between the most important cities of South East Asia countries. The tickets can be purchased Online o directly at the Airport. Check the Low Cost Airline linkpage

Travel Thailand By Air

Thai Airways is the leading national airline which is a state company. It connect all the major cities of Thailand. There are others private Airlines like Bangkok Airways, Phuket Air, which connect all the major touristic destinations. Check the Thai Airline linkpage.

Travel Thailand By Join Tickets

Many Travel agency in Thailand use to sell Join Tickets. They are actually package of different tickets all in one. For example if you want to go from Bangkok to Koh Samui by Train you can purchase a join ticket which include: Train Ticket to Suratthani, Bus Transfer from the train station to the Boat harbor and Boat ticket to Samui.

This is an excellent way to travel without the risk to get lost at some point. You just have to show the ticket to the personal and they will direct you. Transportation in Thailand it is really well organized and cheap. It is save and easy to travel even for a woman alone or for people who speak very little English.