Bangkok – Getting There/Around
Bangkok International Airport (BKK)- 15 mi E of downtown Suvarnabhumi (pronounced Sue-wonna-poom)
Floor /Chan 2 is arrivals and Floor/Chan 4 is departures. Ordinary bus into city, exit the bldg on this same floor/2nd. Outside you find a white Express Shuttle Bus to the bus terminal. For taxi or the Airport Express, go down to level #1. Contact Airport Express Counter Level 1, near Entrance 8 Public taxis at each exit; Airport Express bus is @ same end as Gate C.
From the Airport
A/O 2011– BKK AIRPORT HAS A NEW TRAIN FROM AIRPORT ; TRANSFER TO BTS
TRAIN:
TRAIN: Hua Lampong Train Station (+66 2 223 3762), located on Rama IV Road.
BUS TERMINALS:
North/NE Bus Terminal/ Saathanii Mo Chit: buses: Chiang Mai (19 daily, 10-11hr), Mae Hong Son (2 daily, 18hr), near the Laos border and Lampang.
SKYTRAIN
Daily- 6A-11:57P, Fare: less B40, Runs every 3 min @ peak hrs. 3-day Tourist Pass @ 280 B for tourists or One Day Unlimited for 200 baht.
MTA ‘lot fai dtai din’,- All OW fares cost less than B20. Runs : 5a until 11p. it links with the skytrain in 3 places – Chatuchak Station (transfer to the Mo Chit Skytrain station), at Sukhumvit (transfer to the Asok Skytrain station) and at Si Lom (transfer to the Sala Daeng Skytrain station).
THAILAND TRANSPORTATION:
Transportation in Thailand- timetables and routes
Modes: Airplane, Train, Elephant Ride, River rafting, Riverboat cruise, Longtail boat
Public System: Bus/Van, Tuk-tuk, Songtaew, Motorcycle taxi, bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, BTS Skytrain, Metro/Subway, Rivertaxi
Thai Railways website * accurate time schedule.
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BANGKOK Accommodations
- Under $15
The Urban Age Hostel $6 (Dorm/Hostel style * location in Silom, Pros: clean, free foot locker & bed linens, very helpful staff, available day tours, conveniently located near Skytrain & BTS, GREAT location; Cons: basic hostel & shared showers are dungeon-like)
Suk 11 $13 
(Boutique hotel- single room. Pros: free continental breakfast, clean, exotic modern style, great location near Nana stop on BTS, 20s-30s crowd, great location. Con: internet is pay-per-minute *have many 10B coins on hand)
Khao San Road is backpacker central . A bit older and not as convenient to get to (there’s no metro). Many hostels and tours there at cheaper prices but no BTS access.
CHIANG MAI Accommodations – Under $10
Gongkaew Guesthome $6 (Dorm/Options: Resort-like Pros: like staying at a resort or B&B, convenient location, clean, free internet- 4 terminals, helpful owners, cheap bike rental @50/60B *5-10min walking distance from Sunday walking streets) Read my review blog.
PAI - Under $20
Beung Pai Fish Farm (bungalow *catch-n-release fishing resort) Pros: clean, nicely designed, nice new furniture, free fishing without cruelty, your own private bungalow w/ outside hammock, resort style with open air bungalows for relaxation, friendly young owners, Vegetarian options & homemade yogurt granola. Cons: located a little outside of Pai (get there by scooter or taxi)
SUKHOTHAI Accommodations – $10
No. 4 Guesthouse (bungalow * Lonely Planet recommended) Pros: your own private bungalow at a cheap price, 5 min walking distance from bus station & located across the field next to bus station* (do not listen to touts at the bus station- leave station and look for the guesthouse sign), mosquito net, located close to bus stop. Cons: no internet, surrounding water is marshy & looks dirty, clean but doesn’t look it.
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ACTIVITIES TO DO IN THAILAND
Bangkok’s Floating Markets & Wats
Ayutthaya Park
Sukhothai Park
Trekking in Chiang Mai
Visit Maesa Elephant Camp
Temple/Retreat Stay
Other excursions to try:
Medical Tourism (Bangkok, Chiang Mai)
• make an appointment with a doctor or dentist & get some great work done at 1/3 the cost of the U.S.
Wat Doi Suthep Meditation Retreat- Fee: Donation
• Retreats are 3+ days and follow a strict Buddhist/Wat lifestyles • Accomodations & Food provide • Reservations in advance (limited openings)
• Approx. 100B to get there from Central Chiang Mai (take the red truck/songteuw to Wat Doi Suthep)
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COMMUNICATIONS IN THAILAND:
1-2-3 Go SIM (SIM card for GSM phones can be bought at the airport and 7-11 stores)
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MAPS FOR THAILAND
General Maps of Thailand
BTS- Skytrain Map (Bangkok) > more info
MRT- Subway Map (Bangkok) > more info
Chao Phraya Express Boat Routes
FAVORITE THAILAND WEBSITES
Travelfish.org (travelers forum)
visit-chiang-mai-online.com
Bangkok Sawadee.com
55 Tips to help you when traveling to Thailand (Travel Happy *excellent page for article links on anything you’d like to know as a traveler)
11.2009- Packing Tips for Thailand (THAILAND*)
9.2009- Bangkok-hotels-link.com (Website with info about Thailand)
My Related blogs:
The Good, the Bad & the Inevitable of a Beginner Solo Traveler .
Learning to Ride a Motorbike in Thailand (Pt II): 6 Tourist Safety Tips to Riding a Bike Abroad & a Monk’s New Robes .
Learning to Ride a Motorbike in Thailand (Part I)
Vidoes:
Short Clips:
Thai Movie filming in Sukhothai’s Wat Mahathat
• Man operated Ferris Wheel at Suntichon Village (the Chinese Village), Pai
• Karen Hill Tribe Children singing at night
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Vegetarian Expressions
So ‘kin jay’ (eat vegan) just about covers it.
