Sawaddii!
You have to take a Tuk Tuk ride in Thailand! Getting to where you are going truly is half the fun on a Tuk Tuk (for those of you that are wondering what a Tuk Tuk is, we’ll get to that). The ever-present Tuk Tuk is an image (and sound) that is synonymous with Bangkok – in fact part of the lobby of the W Hotel in Bangkok is devoted to Tuk Tuk taillights!
But Tuk Tuks are not the only way to get around; there are a lot of ways to get to where you want to go in Bangkok. Many of the ways you experience in any large city but several are a truly unique Thai experience. There are traditional taxis, a monorail (the BTS Skytrain), a subway, the aforementioned Tuk Tuk’s, motorcycle taxis, and water taxis (more on each of these in a moment). You will find something that fits your comfort level whatever that may be.
Traditional Taxis
Fun fact: there are more taxis in Bangkok than New York City! You will see them everywhere, and this makes taxis easy to hail and a great transportation option. Thai taxis are all on meters, so there is no haggling over the cost of a fare. Travel tip: bring the name of the place you want to go on a card in the Thai language (the hotel will provide this), most taxi drivers will understand the major tourist attractions in English but this will ensure you get to where you want to go.
Your typical taxi in Bangkok, with a thumbs-up driver!
Tuk Tuks
This is where the fun really begins! The Tuk Tuk is the three-wheeled auto rickshaw that is ubiquitous in Thailand. You will hear the sound of their two-cycle engines everywhere. Brightly colored and lighted, they are open sided with a hard top, and most have seating for three, maybe four adults (or as many as you can pile in!). Fares are negotiated and not standardized, but most trips should be in the 60-100 Baht ($2-$3) range. Not suited for longer distances (take a taxi), the Tuk Tuk is pure excitement for medium distance trips – feel the wind in your hair and watch Bangkok whiz by on the plastic covered seat of a Tuk Tuk. Travel tip: Take a ride in one just to take a ride in one (even if your destination is within lengthy walking distance)! There is no Western equivalent!
The CEO and President of Tuk Tuks!
Motorcycle Taxis
As their name implies, these are motorcycles (sometimes scooters, etc.) for hire. You will see groups of these drivers at the intersections of major streets resting on bamboo benches and can easily recognize the drivers by the uniform colored vests/jerseys each group wears. Like Tuk Tuks, fares are negotiated, but generally are less than a comparable Tuk Tuk ride. You jump on the back of the motorcycle, hold on to the driver or a handle, and away you go – quickly. Travel tip: This mode of transport is only for the adventurous – but is another great way to beat Bangkok traffic as you lane split and weave your way through the lines of cars!
My other motorcycle taxi is a Harley.
Water Taxis
Bangkok has been called the Venice of the East. As many of you were in Venice with us on our last convention, don’t make the mistake of thinking Bangkok is anything like that city. But the nickname does highlight the fact that a vast network of rivers and canals wind their way through Bangkok. Water taxis are actually more like water buses, they run regular schedules at designated pick up/drop off locations all along the river. They are an extremely efficient way to get to where you are going, so long as it is connected to a river or a canal – which many of the significant temples in Bangkok are. Travel tip: Pay close attention to color of the flag on the water taxi, this designates the route and stops the water taxi will make, they are not all the same.
Next week: Monorail, Subway, and Trains …
-Andrew Quist
