Bangkok (Lonely Planet) - Andrew Burke [204]
Reliable car-rental companies include the following:
Avis (Map; 0 2251 1131, 0 2255 5300; www.avisthailand.com; 2/12 Th Withayu)
Budget (Map; 0 2203 0225; www.budget.co.th; 19/23 Bldg A, Royal City Ave, Th Phetchaburi Tat Mai)
Hertz (Map; 0 2654 1105; www.hertz.com; M Thai Tower, All Seasons Pl, 87 Th Withayu)
Phetburi Car Rent (Map; 0 2318 8888; 2371 Th Petchaburi)
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TAXI
Bangkok’s brightly coloured taxis are some of the best-value cabs on earth. Most are new, air-conditioned Toyota Corollas and have working seatbelts in the front seat, though less often in the back. You can flag them down almost anywhere in central Bangkok. The meter charge is 35B for the first 2km, then 4.50B for each of the next 10km, 5B for each kilometre from 12km to 20km and 5.50B per kilometre for any distance greater than 20km, plus a small standing charge in slow traffic. Freeway tolls – 25B to 70B depending on where you start – must be paid by the passenger.
Taxi Radio ( 1681; www.taxiradio.co.th) and other 24-hour ‘phone-a-cab’ services are available for 20B above the metered fare.
During the morning and afternoon rush hours taxis might refuse to go to certain destinations or, in some touristy areas, refuse to use the meter; if this happens, just try another cab. You can hire a taxi all day for 1500B to 2000B, depending on how much driving is involved. Taxis can also be hired for trips to Pattaya (1500B), Ayuthaya (800B), Hua Hin (2300B) and Phetchaburi (1700B), among others; see the Taxi Radio website for fares. If you leave something in a taxi your best chance of getting it back (still pretty slim) is to call 1644.
Motorcycle Taxi
Motorcycle taxis serve two purposes in Bangkok. Most commonly and popularly they form an integral part of the public transport network, running from the corner of a main thoroughfare, such as Th Sukhumvit, to the far ends of sois that run off that thoroughfare. Riders wear coloured, numbered vests and gather at either end of their soi, usually charging 10B to 20B for the trip (without a helmet unless you ask).
Their other purpose is as a means of beating the traffic. You tell your rider where you want to go, negotiate a price (from 20B for a short trip up to about 150B going across town), strap on the helmet (they will insist for longer trips) and say a prayer to whichever god you’re into. Drivers range from responsible to kamikaze, but the average trip involves some time on the wrong side of the road and several near-death experiences. It’s the sort of white-knuckle ride you’d pay good money for at Disneyland, but is all in a day’s work for these riders. Comfort yourself in the knowledge that there are good hospitals nearby.
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TRAIN
Bangkok has three different forms of rail transport. Old-style (and just plain old) trains rattle their way to a few outer suburbs and beyond, but for visitors they are largely useless for getting around the city. In contrast, the underground Metro line and the elevated Skytrain are modern, comfortable and very useful.
Metro
Bangkok’s first underground railway line is operated by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA; www.mrta.co.th) and is known locally as rót fai đâi din or ‘Metro’ – no one understands ‘subway’. Metro plans see a series of lines running more than 150km, but for now the 20km Blue Line runs from Hualamphong train station north to Bang Sue and features 18 stations. Fares cost from 15B to 40B; child and concession fares can be bought at ticket windows. Trains run every seven minutes from 6am to midnight, more frequently between 6am and 9am and from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.
The Metro is more useful to residents than visitors, unless you’re staying in the lower Sukhumvit area. Useful stations (from north to south) include Kamphaeng Phet and Bang Sue for Chatuchak Weekend Market; Thailand Cultural Centre; Sukhumvit, which links to Asok BTS station;