Thailand Transportation

Thailand Transportation Tips

Transportation: Getting around in Thailand

Don’t plan to hire a car while you are in Thailand, it is expensive and there is almost no point. Once you see a typical intersection you will thank the stars that you aren’t driving in that madness anyway.

As a budget traveler, you will find yourself on motorbikes (either riding passenger or on your own), tuk-tuks (3 wheeled psychodelic deathtraps with pushy drivers stoked up on Red Bull), taxi cars, trains, in the backs of pickup trucks, and even on bicycle. If you are in the islands, you will no doubt end up on one of the famous longtail boats going somewhere.

Statistically, moving from point A to point B is your number one chance at getting hurt in Thailand. However, traveling second class across the country which isn’t really that big is still far smoother than doing so in places like India. Stay positive, there is some order to the chaos and it presents a great opportunity to see daily life just a little.

Thai Time

Remember that things in Thailand move at a different pace. My train from Bangkok to the Laos border hit a water buffalo that decided to face down the train. (you can guess which one won – but we were delayed for hours) A peace corps friend had her train actually derail and catch on fire (no one was hurt). Do yourself a favor and get into the mai pen rai attitude before you start a journey or you might find your blood pressure raising quickly.

Read some basic Thailand travel tips for getting around.
You will definitely be using Tuk-tuks to get around the cities. Do yourself a favor and read up on the scams in Thailand these fast talking drivers pull.

Hiring a motorcycle in Thailand can be a fun and cheap (less than $5 – $10 a day) way to see a place. Even if you have never ridden, the automatic scooters are a breeze.