Northern Thailand - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 967

(instead of the out-of-town bus stations) and can sometimes deliver guests directly to their
hotel.
CAR & MOTORCYCLE
Cars, 4WDs or vans can be rented in most large cities. Always verify (ask to see the dated
documents) that the vehicle is insured for liability before signing a contract. An Interna-
tional Driving Permit is necessary to drive vehicles in Thailand, but this is rarely enforced
for motorcycle hire.
Thais drive on the left-hand side of the road (most of the time!). The main rule to be
aware of is that smaller vehicles always yield to bigger ones.
Motorcycle travel is a popular way to get around Thailand. Dozens of places along the
guesthouse circuit rent motorbikes for as little as 150B a day. Motorcycle rental usually
requires that you leave your passport, and many provinces require you to wear a helmet.
Recommended car-rental agencies:
Avis ( www.avisthailand.com )
North Wheels ( www.northwheels.com )
Thai Rent A Car ( www.thairentacar.com )
LOCAL TRANSPORT
Motorcycle Taxi
Many cities have motorcycle taxis. Rather than cruise the streets they cluster near busy in-
tersections. Fares range from 10B to 50B.
Săhm·lo ́ r & Túk-Túk
Săhm·lo ́ r, meaning 'three wheels', are pedal rickshaws. The motorised version is called
túk-túk because of the throaty cough their two-stroke engines make. In tourist centres,
Bangkok especially, many túk-túk drivers are unscrupulously greedy, inflating fares or di-
verting passengers to places that pay commissions.
You must bargain and agree on a fare before accepting a ride, but in many towns there
is a de facto fixed fare anywhere in town.
So ̆ rngta ̆ aou
Sŏrngtă aou (literally, two rows) are small pick-ups with a row of seats down each side. In
most towns so ̆ rngta ̆ aou serve as public buses running fixed routes.