If you live in the enormous, sprawling city of Bangkok, chances that you and your partner would work near one another are slim. But there’s no reason why you can’t get where you need to be efficiently, as Bangkok also offers many different transportation options.
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BTS Sky Train:
Probably the most efficient and westerner-friendly mode of transportation around Bangkok is the BTS Sky Train. The BTS is clean, fast and refreshingly uncomplicated; just find the stop you want to go to on the map next to the ticket machine, and insert the amount of money listed. Your ticket will have a map on the back that you can refer to if you’re unsure at any time which direction you should be travelling in. If you’re still confused, the staff behind the change counters generally speak good English and are available to answer questions. Once you’re on the train, listen out for English announcements at each stop.
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MRT Subway Line:
Similar to the BTS but more limited in where it travels, the MRT is Bangkok’s underground subway system. The MRT is equally simple to use as the BTS, also offering English signage and announcements and connecting to the BTS at several stops throughout its route. Transferring between MRT and BTS does require buying a ticket for each system though; a paper ticket for the BTS and a black token for the MRT.
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Airport Rail Link:
A combination of the above ground BTS with the token system the MRT uses, the Airport Link travels from the centrally located Phaya Thai BTS stop eastward to the Suvarnabhumi Airport. You can grab the local train, which runs about every 15 minutes for inner-city transport, or catch the express train from the Makkasan stop if you want a quick ride to the airport.
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BRT Bus:
The BRT, or the Bus Rapid Transit system is a quick way to get around Bangkok, but only if the line already goes where you want. With its own lane, the BRT never waits in traffic but its route is limited to a single line in the southern half of the city. If you happen to have your condo or house by it though, it does connect to the Chong Nonsi BTS station and shares the same ticketing system.
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BMTA Bus:
One of your cheapest ways of getting around in Bangkok is by the BMTA, or Bangkok’s regular bus system. The bus system is quite extensive and complicated, so before you start using when you have places to be, make sure you have small change (large bills may not be accepted) are equipped with a bus system map. Buses are not only numbered but are coloured as well. Two buses with the same number but different colour may have different routes or may run at different times of day.
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Tuk Tuk: These open air vehicles on three wheels are considered a novelty form of transportation to many foreigners, as they are often equipped with bumping sound systems, flashing lights and colourful interiors. They can zip around cars on main streets and can take you down small sois, so are a good option if you’re going somewhere a little off the beaten path and don’t mind being surrounded by exhaust for your entire journey. Tuk Tuks only accept (negotiable but typically expensive) flat rates, so you can be sure they will get you to your destination as quickly as possible, often resulting in reckless driving.
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Songthaews:
Something between a bus and a Tuk Tuk, a Songthaew translates as a “two-row taxi,” and is typically a large red truck with two rows of benches and an overhead canopy. They are as cheap as a bus (pay the fare through the driver’s window when you get out) and take just as long. Their routes are predetermined but will stop whenever a passenger rings the bell. These are good options for those looking for a cheap ride down one of the smaller sois, as the Songthaews are not meant for transportation on main roads, which are often jammed with traffic anyway.
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Motorcycle Taxi:
Convenient, cheap, fast and exciting the motorcycle taxi sounds is a preferred mode of transportation for many. They are usually used in situations where you don’t need to travel a tremendous distance, but can’t be bothered to walk and don’t mind shelling out 10-30 baht for a quick ride. You can distinguish the taxis from regular motorcyclists by their orange or green vests. While there are many pros to taking a motorcycle taxi, especially when you’re in a pinch for time, but be aware that these rides can be very dangerous because of how reckless the drivers are, swerving around moving cars and driving on the wrong side of the wrong against traffic. The drivers do usually have an extra helmet in their front basket but many refuse to let you wear them. Think twice about taking one if it’s rainy season. Read more about how to hail a motorcycle taxi and stay safe:
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Taxi:
Taxis, or private hired cars with a meter payment system will be your most convenient option if you don’t know where you’re going and can’t be bothered to figure it out. Levels of English speaking abilities vary greatly with taxi drivers, so it’s good practice to provide the driver with either a map, the address written in Thai or to get someone on the phone who can provide directions in Thai. Be aware that taxi drivers who can sense you don’t know where you are or where you’re going may take an unnecessarily long route or one that they know will be filled with traffic to hike up the meter, or just insist you pay an expensive flat rate from the get-go.
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Water Taxis:
Bangkok’s major waterway, the Chao Phraya river is a cheap way to travel from north to south via boat. Bangkok also has many canals that run throughout the city and can be an efficient and traffic-free way of getting from point A to point B. Be aware that the river water isn’t the freshest there is and may be splashed onto passengers!
What’s your preferred method of getting around Bangkok?