Thailand has many exotic sites, tropical white sand beaches, lush and green country side and many national parks. One of the advantages of living in Bangkok is its proximity to beaches and national parks. Popular weekend getaways for KIS teachers are Hua Hin, Koh Samet, Kanchanaburi, Koh Chang, Khao Yai National Park to name only a few. We recommend buying one of the many good travel guides about Thailand. Traveling in Thailand is easy and convenient. You can go by car, bus, train, plane and even hire a taxi with driver. English is usually spoken at all tourist destinations. But when you get off the beaten track, you will find that speaking Thai or having a Thai speaking person with you comes in handy.
Apart from palaces, temples, delicious food and famous smiles, Bangkok is famous fo
r its heavy traffic. There is only one way to describe it: unpredictable. What takes 20 minutes on most days, may take an hour or longer on other days. Bangkok’s bad traffic and the pollution that comes with it are the top two things most teachers don’t like about Bangkok, according to our staff survey. Fortunately Bangkok has two well working public transport systems, the sky train (BTS) and the subway (MRT). They certainly make getting around the city much easier, especially during rush hour.
Using the “Grab” app, will help you to always find taxi, car and motorcycle transportation options. You will never need to negotiate with the driver.
Another form of transportation are tuk-tuks as auto rickshaws are called in Thailand. Since they are open, you will have to tolerate the heat and exhaust fumes.
Another transportation option are motorcycle taxis. The drivers are experts in weaving through any kind of traffic, however, it’s not for the faint hearted. Motorcycle drivers are usually experts in the local area of their “station”. Unlike taxis and tuk-tuks, motorcycle drivers do not cruise around Bangkok looking for customers but wait in groups at their station. You have to negotiate the price for both tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis before your journey.
And last but by no means least, Thailand also has transportation by boat. There are klongs taxis that serve along Bangkok’s klongs (canals) and the Chao Phraya Express Boats that operate on the Chao Praya river between Bangkok and Nonthaburi, the province immediately to the north. Depending on where you live, this can make traveling around Bangkok quite fun.
