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Bangkok Transportation
International and Domestic Travel
International Travel
Flying is the most convenient mode of transportation for most visitors traveling to Thailand. Domestic flights are also easy an convenient, cutting down on journey time.
Air
With Bangkok serving as the international travel hub of SE Asia, the Suvarnabhumi International Airport serves as the landing port for numerous international airlines, most with direct flights from their destinations. Some chartered and regional flights may land at one of the other international airports within Thailand, consisting of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai
, Hat Yai, Phuket, and Ubon Ratchatani. Thecountry’s national airline is Thai Airways. Airport departure taxes for international departures costs 700 baht/person. The check-in counters open 2 hours and close half an hour prior departure time.
Domestic Travel
Domestic travel during public holidays and on weekends, particularly to popular destinations, should be booked well in advance for all modes of transportation. Booking is particularly difficult during the Songkran Holiday and New Year’s Holiday.
Air
Local carriers Thai Airways(TG) and Bangkok Airways (PG) fly to most major provincial airports beyond 250 km distance from Bangkok. Thai Airways’ 2 most popular routes are Chiang Mai and Phuket. Services to Koh Samui and Sukhothai are only provided by Bangkok Airways. Other smaller local carriers include Angel Air and PB Air which flies to fewer destinations. Air Andaman services is limited to the Southern cities only.
Another carrier is SGA scenic airline of Thailand which flies to Hua Hin everyday, and also provides air charter service in the region.
The domestic terminal is located at the southern end of the Bangkok International Airport. Normally, check-ins for domestic flight is one hour prior to departure time and closes half an hour before flight time. Departure tax has already been added to your ticket fare.
At the local level, diverse forms of transportation are provided: provincial buses, city buses, bts sky trains, subway (metro), taxi,
tuk-tuks, boats, and even rental cars.
Bus
Public buses are plentiful and cheap,
with a minimum fare of 7 baht to most destinations within metropolitan Bangkok.Air-conditioned buses have minimumand maximum fares of 10 and 22 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 taxiare popular for short journeys. Fares must be bargained in advance. Minimum fares, for journeys of up to 3 kilometres, areapproximately 30 baht.
BTS Sky Train
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.
Subway (Metro)
The city’s subway system, or MRT, connects many of the top tourist attractions with the accommodation areas, markets, and the business district. Fares range from 14 to 36 baht. The trains run from 6 a.m. to midnight, daily.
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.
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