I call it “Asian wildlife” and I’m probably not far from the truth. According to statistics, Thailand is the second in the ranking with the highest number of deaths in traffic accidents. No wonder. I was twice that even when I was getting into the city bus, I missed a motorcycle or a scooter about 5 cm.
If you come here for your holiday, be sure to go to the left. You will also need an international driving license. The local police check often the scooter drivers because there is a lot of tourists. If you want to rent a scooter, they don´t usually care if you have the relevant papers or not, but the police check everything (even if you have a helmet on your head). And here is one big difference from the Czech Republic.
If you have a driving license in the Czech Republic for Group B (a car), you can drive a small motorcycle at the same time. The same stamp will give you an international license, but other countries don´t know that Group B is also valid for a motorbike. You must have a stamp on a motorbike, otherwise, you drive without a valid document. Of course, it also depends on the policeman who controls you. Here it is true that if he wants to give you a fine he will always find something for you. But you can also catch a policeman of comfort and papers will not be solved. And here’s one recommendation: Never argue with the police about the fine. Always try to solve the situation in peace and with a smile on your face.
Tuk Tuk or motor tricycle
Previously, it was great to catch this type of transport with the price of a few bahts. Today it is mainly an attraction for tourists with a price many times higher.
Songthaew or city bus
These are so-called mobile cars. Everyone has their own route, where they travel all day. You can stand near the road, stop this type of transport, get on and go. You can get off the bus anytime – you only have to ring the bell. A price for 1 person is 10 THB. But if you wanna know his route or what is the price and whether it’s paying in advance or starting to explain where you have to get – this car will change for you in the TAXI and you will automatically pay more (around 200 THB ). Many tourists have no idea.
Taxi, Grab, Uber
Regarding classic taxis, if you need to, always check that taximeter is turned on before driving. If you have internet on your mobile (you can buy a local sim card – there is an incredibly cheap internet pack), download the Uber or Grab app, where you can see the price before calling.
Bus
There are several classes in which you can go. We tried a VIP, a golden middle way, a city line bus and also a bus called “maybe it will not fall apart during the trip”. Everyone had their magic, but if they have air conditioning and not just open windows – it’s much better!
Skytrain
We had this experience in Bangkok. When you travel with Skytrain, you travel like in the fridge. I was very surprised about travel cards. On several routes, they have chips instead.
