Transport in Bangkok
Taxis: Hotel taxis have
fixed tariffs. Taxis cruising the streets of Bangkok have meters and start up
from 35 baht for first 2 Kms. Express ways charges and airport exit fees not including.
If outside downtown of Bangkok, passenger has to inform to taxi driver
to get acceptance and additional charges might be happened which depended on distance.
"Tuk-Tuks" or three-wheel
taxis are quite popular among tourists for short journeys inside Bangkok. Fares
range from 30 Baht to 150 Baht for this means of transportation.
Car
Hire: The Bangkok Yellow Pages lists local and international automobile
rental companies Self-drive and chauffeur-driven automobiles are widely available.
Car hire companies also operate in Pattaya, Hat Yai, Phuket and Chiang Mai. Those
possessing valid International Driver Licenses may prefer to hire automobiles.
Buses: Bus transport in Bangkok is cheap and reasonably
comfortable. There are non-airconditioned red and green buses (any destination
3.5 Baht), airconditioned blue buses (fare depending on distance) and air-conditioned
televised microbuses with free newspapers (20 or 30 Baht, very comfortable for
longer trips within the city). Red and green buses operate 24 hours a day (night
fare 5 Baht).
Motorcycles: The fastest vehicle to whisk you out of a traffic
jam, it require a somewhat adventurous disposition. Fares range from 15 to 100
Baht. Basically they do not go for long distances. Wearing helmet is obligatory
and usually the driver will provide you with one.
The Skytrain is Launched: As
promised the BTS Skytrain service was launched on 5th December 1999, to celebrate
the 72nd birthday of the King of Thailand. The first day was marred by the failure
of the automatic resulting in long queues and waiting time of up to one hour.
But
this was not to deter Bangkokians, as it seemed despite the delay and the cost
everyone wanted to try the service. The section from Sukhumvit Rd to Morchit was
particularly popular with families combining a ride on the skytrain with a visit
to the Weekend Market.
As an example, it takes just 19 smooth and comfortable
minutes to travel between Emporium shopping mall to Morchit at a cost of Baht
40.
For the frequent user a Stored Value card worth Baht 300 has been introduced.
As a special promotion the normal Baht 30 deposit has been waived reducing the
cost to Baht 270.
For more details about BTS Skytrain visit http://www.bts.co.th/
Next >>
|
