Getting around Bangkok, or Thailand for that matter doesn’t need to be expensive. In fact, we think it is super cheap and easy to do on a budget. However, there are some things you need to know first, mainly about taxis and tuk-tuks, and the scams involving them.

TAXI

• Taxis in Bangkok are cheap.
• Price – Taxi fares begin at ฿35, and taxi fare for few kilometres is around ฿50 (AUD $2.25/USD $1.61 (see below)). 
• The available taxis are indicated with the red vacant sign.
• Taxis are usually easy to get, but you will experience longer waits during rush-hour and when it rains.
• Make sure the driver puts on the meter. If he doesn’t get out of the taxi and hail another one. You should not negotiate the fare, but there is a possibility the driver will refuse to take you where you want to go if he doesn’t want to put on the metre. Unless you are in a hurry, or desperate, get another taxi.
• Taxis standing in front of hotels are renown for not turning on the metre, and for wanting to take you anywhere but where you want to go.
• Sometimes taxi drivers will refuse to take you where you want to go, perhaps they have no desire to go in the direction you wish to, or the fare is not far enough… who knows? Sometimes they want to take you to gem shops and tailors where he will get a commission.
• Watch out for amicable taxi drivers who offer to take you to the best places, the cheapest market etc.

Photo credit – Phaya Thai around midnight By Tony

TUK TUK

• Tuk-tuks are not cheaper than taxis.
• Price – Fares start at ฿30 for a short distance. But this varies a lot depending on whether you have a fair driver and such things as traffic conditions.
• They usually end up costing you a fortune unless you are armed with the following essential knowledge…
• You must negotiate the price before getting into a tuk-tuk; otherwise, you will be given a ridiculously high price when you get to your destination.
• When you negotiate the price do haggle, as the first price you will be given will be heavily inflated.
• If a tuk-tuk driver tells you he will take you to a better market, or temple etc., decline his offer. In fact, best to get out of the tuk-tuk and get a taxi or another tuk-tuk as this driver is planning on taking you for a ride (excuse the pun!)
• Watch out for scams! Even the savviest travellers can be taken in by these scams. Here is the most common tuk-tuk scam…

• • • Being offered a tour of Bangkok for ฿20. This sightseeing tour will simply consist of you being taken to gem, tailor and souvenir shops where the driver will insist or beg, that you go in and look. He gets a commission if you buy something…. nothing wrong with that, but if you allow this, you will NOT be taken anywhere you want to go, and you will be seen as an easy mark for the other scams.

Photo credit – Tuk Tuk by Waldemar Merger

MOTORBIKE TAXI

• Price – fares start from ฿10 for a short trip.
• You must negotiate the price before accepting the transport, otherwise, you will be given a ridiculously high price when you get to your destination.
• Only use a registered motorbike taxi driver. You will recognise him/her by the distinctive orange vests he/she wears (photo).
• Motorbikes are one of the fastest ways to get around Bangkok, but not the safest.
• Always wear a safety helmet. The obvious reason is – you like your brains in the position they currently reside! And secondly, it is compulsory to wear a helmet. If you are pulled over without a helmet on it will cost you a considerable amount of money.

Photo credit – Sathorn 15 Alley by m-louis .®

River Ferry

• The Chao Phraya River provides access to many popular visitor attractions including – Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaeo
  and the National Museum of Royal Barges.
• Price – ฿10 to ฿25
• Operating hours – 06:00 – 19:30
• Avoid rush hours. During rush hour the ferries are more frequent but busier. Outside of rush hours, ferry boats come every 20 minutes.
• Express boats, river taxis and tail-boats – different types of boats offering various services. For more information on the boats available and how to recognised them click here.
• If you want to cross the river, there are ferries which cost less than ฿5 available at several boat landings. 
• The Central Pier is called Tha Sathorn and is located close to the Saphan Taksin Skytrain station.
• The docks are (usually) clearly signposted in English as well as Thai. Docks to the north of the Central Pier are indicated with an ‘N’ and the pier number. Docks to the south of Central Pier are indicated with an ‘S’ and the pier number.
• Route map – click here or here.

Photo credit – Khlong Saen Saep Express Boats, Bangkok, Thailand by David McKelvey

Canal Taxi

• Price – ฿10 and ฿20
• Operating Hours – 05:30 – 20:30 (7.00 p.m. on weekends)
• Busy rush hour; avoid if possible.
• Dirty canal and can stink dreadfully.
• In an interesting way to travel and sightsee.
• If you sit by the side of the boat be prepared to lift the tarp as other boats pass to avoid being splashed with canal water (see blue tarp in the picture below).
• Route map – Click here or here.  

Photo credit – River Boat in Bangkok by Michael Rehfeldt

BTS – Skytrain

• Price – ฿15 – ฿52
• Tickets are bought from coin-operated machines at the stations.
• Operating hours – 06:00 to midnight
• Frequency – 3 – 6 minutes (last train leaves between 23:30 and 23:50)
• 2 lines – the Silom Line and the  Sukhumvit Line.
• Route map – Click here or here

Photo credit – Skytrain 1146 BKK 12-8-14 by Paul Sullivan

MRT (Mass Rapid Transit)

• Known as The Underground
• Price – ฿16- ฿42
• Operating hours –  06:00 – midnight
• Frequency –  5-7 minutes
• Fast and efficient
• 18 stations along 20 km
• MRT connects to the BTS Skytrain at Sukhumvit and Silom stations.
• All stations have lifts for disabled people
• Route map – Click here, here or here.

Photo credit – Jack Wilshere Bangkok MRT by Graham C99

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