Destination Thailand
- Location
- When to Travel?
- How to Travel?
- Who Is My Guide?
- Hotels and Restaurants
- Preparations & Expectations
- Health & Safety
- Visas
How to Travel in Thailand?
Arriving
Thailand is well served by International Airlines and this method of travel is how most visitors arrive. Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai are the major airports. Land border crossings are possible between Malaysia (road and train), Laos (road and boat) and Cambodia (road and air). To and from Myanmar is possible only by air at present.
Most arrivals to Thailand are at Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport on the outskirts of Bangkok. Transfers into the centre of Bangkok to most hotels would be around 30-40 minutes at best depending on traffic conditions and time of day. The airport is served well by two major freeways on either side of the airport which link to different parts of Bangkok.
The new airport location on the South Eastern side of Bangkok, allows for easier travel to the Eastern Seaboard including Pattaya, Rayong, Chantaburi and Trat. The reduced travel time to Pattaya – one of Thailand’s major tourist destinations – has resulted in an increase in new hotel development and a resurgence of interest in Pattaya as a destination for all.
For those transferring further afield to locations such as Hua Hin, travel time increased initially due to the airports location, however, new road developments between Hua Hin and Bangkok have resulted in a reduction in total travel time.
Moving on
Getting around Thailand is relatively easy as there is a well used transport network servicing most destinations. Domestic air, train and bus services are reliable and cost effective way of getting around. Flight times between major centres such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai or Phuket, is usually just over one hour and overnight trains provide an easy and safe alternative to Northern, North Eastern or Southern destinations from Bangkok.
Flexibility
Thailand is quite an easy place in which to travel due to it’s well developed infrastructure and modern forms of transport to major tourist destinations. Venturing off the beaten track will still bring the traveller in contact with forms of transport as only locals know them. Small towns and villages are usually linked by a network of lesser roads along which amble sometimes old rattling buses full of locals on their way to visit relatives or to the market in a nearby village. To experience this form of transport is to experience the romance of Asian travel. The term ‘bus’ may also refer to ‘songthaew’ which is a pick-up truck with covered rear area and two rows of seats for passengers. Songthaews vary in size and are a fun way to travel over short distances.
In order to fully appreciate the romance of Asian travel, we need to be flexible in many ways. Timetables may be apparent, but not closely adhered to as buses may stop for all and sundry even when the bus seems to be so overcrowded and the tyres might pop at any minute. So if we are prepared for the minor differences we will experience the warmth and friendliness of the local people through our interactions.
