Travel Advice

Rush Hour

Traffic is most intense in Bangkok between 7am-9am and 5.30pm and 8pm. During these hours it is advisable to avoid road travel as at times traffic can be standing almost completely still. When travelling between the Bang Lamphu (Khao San area) and Siam, Central World, Panthip, Platinum et cetera use instead the khlong boats. Get off at Hua Chang Pier for going to MBK, Siam and siam square and get off at Pratunam (the interchange station) to go to Central World

Get on the Bus in the Right Direction

When a bus route traffics a location in both directions it can be hard to know on which side of the street to get on the bus. Buses in Bangkok normally do not have a sign stating the direction it is currently travelling in. The best way is to know the Thai name of your destination and to ask the driver.

Important spots with a different name in Thai than what is used in English

Some important locations that have a different name in Thai than in English are Victory Monument - "Anusawaree Chai Samoraphum", or written in Thai อนุเสาวรีย์ชัย, and Democracy Monument - "Anusawari Prachathipatai", in Thai writing อนุเสาวรีย์ประชาธิปไตย. Drivers normally do not know the names for these places that are used in English.

Taxi Between Central Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi Airport

When traveling from Suvarnabhumi airport taxi drivers outside the arrivals hall will try to charge you a fixed price or add a fixed service fee to the meter price. Try to catch a cab outside the departures hall two floors up that has just let passengers off instead. Ask them to switch on the meter. These drivers are happy to get new passengers immediately and will almost never charge passengers anything extra.

Sometimes the taxi driver will pay the road tolls for you and then try to add an amount to the meter price higher than the total tolls. Make sure you pay the tolls (by handing money over to the driver when approaching the pay station) or keep track on the total amount of the tolls as it is stated on signs at the pay stations.

Changing Between Khlong Boat and Sky Train

Change at Hua Chang Pier. Walk either straight forward after you have left the pier to National Stadium BTS or cross the bridge and walk to Ratchathewi BTS station.

Changing Between Khlong Boat and MRT

Take the Khlong Boat to Asok/Phetchaburi. As you leave the pier walk straight for about 100m and Phetchaburi MRT station is on your right.

Changing Between Chao Phraya Express and BTS

This can be done at Sathorn pier. Take the escalators as you walk from the pier and you are at Saphan Taksin BTS station.

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Going to the largely popular Chatuchak weekend market by MRT is a good option. Get off at Kampheng Phet (not Chatuchak park) as this station has its exit inside the market itself.