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Main Feature
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BUSES
There are three types of public
buses in Bangkok -- the ordinary red-stripe or blue-stripe buses,
the air-con blue or orange buses and the red microbuses. The fares
of the ordinary buses are 3.50 or 5 baht for the whole route.
For the air-con buses, the fares range from 8 baht up to 18 baht.
The microbus, charging a flat rate of 25 baht, is the most favored
as it stops taking up passengers once every seat is filled. During
rush hours, however, it is rather difficult to get on a microbus
unless you take it at or near its terminals. Although traveling by
bus is the cheapest, you should be careful with your belongings
while riding, especially on a crowded ordinary bus.
AIRPORT BUSES
Four bus routes between the city and airport:
No.1 Airport-Silom Road., No.2 Airport-Sanam Luang, No.3 Airport-Sukhumvit
55 (Soi Thong Lo), and No.4 Airport Hua-Lamphong Railway Station.
There is a bus leaving from and for each terminal every 15
minutes, from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. Fare 70 baht per person.
AIR-CONDITIONED CITY BUSES
The bus network within the metropolis is very efficient and
economical. It is also a wonderful way to tour the city cheaply.
There are several kinds of city buses: air-conditioned, and
regular buses with different ranges of capacity, route and fare.
Depending on the distance, usually Bt3.50-Bt5 for regular buses,
and Bt6-Bt20 for air-con buses. Routes can be determined from most
city maps.
MICROBUS
Special private run buses that share the route of the city buses,
the microbus guarantees seats and TV viewing. Seats are wider than
the regular buses, providing greater comfort on longer trips. The
bus size is smaller though. Fares are a flat rate of Bt20 per trip |
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BTS Skytrain
The Skytrain or the Bangkok Transit
System consists of two lines.
Mo Chit (Northern Bus Terminal) - Onnut Line or
Sukhumwit Line
This line is 17 kilometres in length with 17 stations,
passing Chatuchak Market, Victory Monument, Siam Square, Ploenchit,
Sukhumwit and Ekkamai (Eastern Bus Terminal).
National Stadium - Taksin Bridge Line or Silom Line
With a length of 6.5 km and 7 stations, this line passes Siam
Square, Ratchadamri and Silom Road.
Passengers can change their routes at the Interchange Station at
Siam Square. Apart from being the fastest means of transportation,
the skytrain has two more advantages -- it offers a panoramic view
of Bangkok and it stops at several prime shopping centres lying
along Silom, Ratchadamri, and Sukhumwit roads. The fares range
from 10 to 40 baht based on the distance travelled. The trains run
daily from 6 a.m. to midnight.
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Taxi
Taxis in Bangkok are fixed with a meter and have a
sign "TAXI-METER" on the roof. The minimum fare is 35 baht for a
distance of no more than 2 km. Then the rates are 4.50 baht per km. for
the next 10 km., 5 baht per km for 13 to 20 km. and 5.50 baht per km.
for any distance over 20 km. There is a surcharge of 1.25 baht per
minute for traffic congestion when the taxi moves no faster than 6 km/
hour. The rates only apply to trips within the limits of Bangkok, which
include Don Muang Airport. A toll of 40 - 60 baht for expressway or
Toll-way must be paid by the passenger. |
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Mortorcycle Taxi
A new form of transport provides a faster, albeit riskier answer for
commuting during peak traffic hours. You can find them anywhere in
Bangkok, especially at the tops of Sois, and they can go anywhere in
Bangkok, but remember to negotiate the fare beforehand. Fares are very
similar to those charged by the Tuk-Tuk drivers.
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Tuk-Tuk (Samlor)
This is a three-wheeled taxi without a meter or
air-conditioning. Fares must be negotiated beforehand. They are normally
a little cheaper than ordinary taxis and are suitable for short trips
only. |
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Long-Tailed Boats
A very famous mode of transportation along the Chao Phraya River and
inner canals, the long-tailed boat travels on established intricate can
systems within the city. Fares depend on the distance travelled. There
are boat piers located near major commercial districts such as Sukhumvit
and all the way to the World Trade Center. Long-tailed boats can also be
hired for special river tour. |
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Chao Phraya River Express
There is a motorboat service on the Chao Phraya
River called "Chao Phraya River Express Boat". The boats run between Wat
Ratchasingkhon (near Krungthep Bridge) and Nonthaburi province. There
are two main types of express boats: the standard express boats, running
daily from 6 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. at charges of 4 to 16 baht, and the
special express boats, running from Monday to Friday, 6 - 9 a.m. and 3 -
7 p.m. at charges of 10 to 25 baht.
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Cross
River Ferry
From almost every boat landing in Bangkok, there
are cross-river ferries that ply back and forth across the Chao Phraya
River. The standard fare is two baht and usually collected at the
entrance to the landing.
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