Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BANGKOK TAXI TIPS
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Never agree to take a taxi that won't use the meter; usually these drivers park outside hotels and in tourist
areas. Simply get one that's passing by instead.
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Bangkok taxi drivers will generally not try to 'take you for a ride' as happens in some other countries; they
make more money from passenger turnover.
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It's worth keeping in mind that many Bangkok taxi drivers are in fact seasonal labourers fresh from the
countryside and may not know their way around.
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If a driver refuses to take you somewhere, it's probably because he needs to return his rental cab before a
certain time, not because he doesn't like how you look.
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Very few Bangkok taxi drivers speak much English; an address written in Thai can help immensely.
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Older cabs may be less comfortable but typically have more experienced drivers because they are driver-
owned, as opposed to the new cabs, which are usually rented.
Boat
River Ferries
The
Chao Phraya Express Boat
( 0 2623 6001;
www.chaophrayaexpressboat.com
) operates the main ferry service
along Mae Nam Chao Phraya. The central pier is known as Tha Sathon, Saphan Taksin or sometimes Central Pier, and
connects to the BTS at Saphan Taksin station.
The service runs from 6am to 10pm. You can buy tickets (10B to 40B) at the pier or on board; hold on to your ticket
as proof of purchase (an occasional formality).
The most common boats are the orange-flagged express boats. These run between Wat Rajsingkorn, south of
Bangkok, to Nonthaburi, north, stopping at most major piers (15B, frequent from 6am to 7pm). A yellow-flagged tourist
boat (40B, every 30 minutes from 9am to 10pm) runs from Tha Sathon (Central Pier) to Tha Phra Athit (Banglamphu)
with stops at six major sightseeing piers and barely comprehensible English-language commentary. Vendors at Tha Sa-
thon (Central Pier) tout a 150B all-day pass, but unless you're doing a lot of boat travel, it's not great value.
There are also dozens of cross-river ferries, which charge from 3B to 3.50B and run every few minutes until late at
night.
Private long-tail boats can be hired for sightseeing trips at Tha Phra Athit (Banglamphu), Tha Chang, Tha Tien and
Tha Oriental.
