With the skytrain, travelling and getting around central Bangkok
has become a lot more comfortable.
Between 6.30 and 10.00 am and 4.00 till at least 7.00 pm weekdays
(especially bad on Fridays), the traffic can be close to gridlock.
Motorcycle taxis are the only sure way to break through the traffic
and although dangerous, they are prevalent and cheap.
Buses
Buses are frequent and cheap. Air con buses are never more
than 15 baht to anywhere on their route. These are yellow or
blue. Non air con buses are only 3 and a half baht. These are
usually red. Microbuses run some routes and are twenty baht
with a guaranteed seat.
Taxis
Meter taxis are omnipresent. Cheap and air-conditioned, they
can often offer a mini haven from the often oppressive heat
of Bangkok They start at 35 baht and move up slowly.
Tuk-tuk
I would recommend these for only short journeys. If a journey
is going to cost over 35 baht in a Tuk-tuk, why not take a taxi?
They're fun for a ride but it really seems their time is almost
over.
The Sky Train
Getting on a Sky Train, you will almost certainly experience
a different side to the city. On a busy Saturday lunchtime from
Siam Square to Chatuchak weekend market in the north of Bangkok,
the travel time was less than 20 minutes. To struggle through
the busy traffic would have taken at least 1.5 hours.
The trains are three carriages long and run at frequent intervals.
The cars are spacious and the journey is relatively smooth with
air-con comfort. The sky train is not often packed and everything
runs very smoothly.
The sky train obviously has speeded up travel times in and
around central Bangkok. The price ranges from 15 baht to 40
bath. You can also buy a card worth 500 bath which is for 30
travel times in a one-month period. This costs about 18 bath
per trip to any destination.
The River
If your journey is anywhere near any of the river-boat stops
on the Chao Phraya, I would highly recommend the river Express
Boat. This acts as a highly used reliable means of transport,
running daily at fairly regular intervals. It certainly beats
hanging around in traffic. Also a good way to see a different
side of Bangkok. For a glimpse of the past, jump in a long-tailed
boat and take a tour of canal side Bangkok.
