Last week, we touched on just a few transportation options offered in Bangkok. From the famous Tuk Tuk to the adventurous Motorcycle Taxis, you will be able to see Bangkok by any means possible. But we’re not done yet …
Monorail (BTS Skytrain)
For those of you that have been to Disney World, you know what a monorail is all about. The BTS Skytrain (as it is called in Bangkok) is the Thai version and has two major lines that more or less run North/South and East/West and has prominent English signage throughout. Most all of the major shopping destinations in Bangkok are easily accessed from the BTS Skytrain, with many being directly connected. Our hotel, The Peninsula, has a complimentary shuttle boat leaving every 10 minutes that will drop you off at a BTS Skytrain station on the other side of the river, so while our hotel is not located on a Skytrain line, we have direct access to this transportation – very convenient. Travel tip: the BTS Skytrain is a fantastic way to beat that notorious Bangkok traffic!
Subway (Bangkok MRT)
This is basically an underground extension of the BTS Skytrain so I will not spend much time on it. The MRT almost connects a ring around the BTS Skytrain lines and has three stations that offer transfers into the BTS Skytrain system.
Trains
If you plan on extending your trip to see anything North of Bangkok, a train ride is a great way to get there. With a price of $10-50, traveling by train in Thailand is quite affordable. There are multiple options out of Bangkok during the day, or you can even book a private sleeper room for overnight travel. I don’t mind sharing a sleeper car with total strangers – there are privacy curtains. However, for those of you who do not wish to share, the First-Class private sleeper room is usually around $50 per person for double occupancy, and it is very nice.
How you get around Bangkok and Thailand is up to you, but one thing is certain, you’ll have no shortage of easy and convenient options for you to choose from. Just make sure you take at least one Tuk Tuk ride – I promise you won’t forget it! See you in the back of a Tuk Tuk.
-Andrew Quist
