BANGKOK
Chanthaburi, Ko Chang, Nong Khai (for the Lao
border), Pattaya, Rayong, Trat and Udon Thani.
It can be reached from the airport by a free
shuttle bus. Minivan
Privately run minivans, called rót đôo, are a fast
and relatively comfortable way to get between
Bangkok and its neighbouring provinces. The
biggest minivan stop is just north of the Victory
Monument (Map p 97 ), with departures for Aran-
ya Prathet (for the Cambodian border; 230B,
3½ hours, from 6am to 6pm), Lopburi (130B,
two hours, 4.30am to 9pm), Mae Klong (Samut
Songkhram – for Amphawa; 70B, one hour, from
5.30am to 9pm), Muak Lek (for Khao Yai; 120B,
2½ hours, from 8am to 8pm), Nakhon Pathom
(60B, one hour, 6am to 9pm) and the Southern
bus terminal (35B, one hour, 6.30am to 9pm).
Directly east of the monument are lines to
Ayuthaya (60B, one hour, from 5am to 8.30pm),
Ban Phe (for Ko Samet; 200B, 2½ hours, from
6am to 9pm), Pattaya (97B, two hours, from
6am to 8pm) and Suvarnabhumi International
Airport (40B, one hour, from 5am to 10.30pm). Train
Hua Lamphong station (Map p 76 ; %0 2220
4334, general information & advance booking
1690; http://www.railway.co.th; Th Phra Ram IV; MRT
Hua Lamphong) Hua Lamphong is the terminus
for the main rail services to the south, north,
northeast and east. See p 776 for information
about train classes and services.
Bookings can be made in person at the advance
booking offi ce (just follow the signs; open from
8.30am to 4pm). The other ticket windows are
for same-day purchases, mostly 3rd class. From
5am to 8.30am and 4pm to 11pm, advance book-
ings can also be made at windows 2 to 11. You
can obtain a train timetable from the informa-
tion window. Avoid smiling ‘information’ staff
who try to direct all arrivals to a travel agency in
the mezzanine level.
Hua Lamphong has the following services:
shower room, mailing centre, luggage storage,
cafes and food courts. To get to the station from
Sukhumvit take the MRT to the Hua Lamphong
stop. From western points (Banglamphu,
Thewet), take bus 53.
Bangkok Noi station (Map p 60 ; next to Siriraj
Hospital, Thonburi) Bangkok Noi handles infre-
quent (and overpriced for foreigners) services
to Nakhon Pathom, Kanchanaburi and Nam Tok.
The station can be reached by river ferry to Tha
Rot Fai. Tickets can be bought at the station.
Wong Wian Yai station (Map p 56 ) This
tiny station is the jumping off point of the
Mahachai Shortline commuter line to Samut
Sakhon (see p 152 ).8 Getting Around
Although Bangkok’s rush-hour traffi c is the
stuff of nightmares, seemingly random acts of
embouteillage can impede even the shortest
trip, any day, any time. If it’s an option, going
by river, canal or BTS is always the best choice;
otherwise assume a 45-minute journey for most
outings. To/From the Airport
At the time of research were still two functioning
airports in Bangkok; the vast majority of fl ights
are from the shiny new Suvarnabhumi, but some
domestic fl ights still fl y in and out of the old Don
Muang Airport. If you need to transfer between
the two, pencil in at least an hour, as the two
airports are at opposite ends of town. Minivans
run between the two airports from 6am to 5pm
(30B to 50B).
SUVARNABHUMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The following ground transport options leave
directly from the Suvarnabhumi terminal to
in-town destinations: metered taxis, hotel
limousines, airport rail link, private vehicles
and private buses. If there are no metered taxis
available kerbside or if the line is too long, you
can take the airport shuttle to the taxi stand at
the public-transport centre.
The public-transport centre is 3km from Su-
varnabhumi and includes a public bus terminal,
metered taxi stand and long-term parking. A free
airport shuttle bus running both an ordinary and
express route connects the transport centre
with the passenger terminals.
LOCAL BUS Several other air-conditioned local
buses serve the airport’s public-transport cen-
tre. Bus lines that city-bound tourists are likely
to use include 551 (Victory Monument), 554
(Don Muang) and 556 (Th Khao San), and mini-
van line 552 (to On Nut BTS station) – fares start
at 25B. From these points, you can continue on
public transport or by taxi to your hotel.
Intercity buses to destinations east including
Pattaya, Rayong and Trat stop at the public-
transport centre, also reached via the free shut-
tle from the airport.
From town, you can take the BTS to On Nut,
then from near the market entrance opposite
Tesco take minivan 522 (25B, about 40 minutes,
6am to 9pm) or AE3 (150B) to the airport.
AIRPORT RAIL LINK In 2010 the much-delayed
elevated train service linking central Bangkok
and Suvarnabhumi International Airport was
fi nally completed. The system is comprised of
a local service, which makes six stops before
terminating at Phaya Thai station (Map p 97 ; 30
minutes, 45B), connected by a walkway to BTS
at Phaya Thai station, and an express service
that runs, without stops, between Phaya Thai
and Makkasan stations and the airport (15 min-