Travel

Travel Warning: Political Protests - Security Concerns Anti-government protests continue to be held in Bangkok despite the election of a new prime minister, Somchai Wongsawat. The violence escalated on October 7, the day the new government was sworn in, with People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)demonstrators setting up another blockade outside the parliament building. A car bomb exploded outside the building, police were stabbed, and eventually troops were called in to control the protestors. The violence led to the resignation of the deputy prime minister. In recent months, demonstrations forced the closure of three airports - Phuket, Krabi, and Hat Yai. Travellers should expect disruptions at airports and rail stations. Most visits to areas outside Bangkok are trouble-free but travellers should be aware that there are serious security concerns in the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla due to ongoing violent insurgency. On 15 March, a car bomb exploded in the parking lot of a Pattani hotel, killing two people and injuring 13. The Thai-Myanmar border is also potentially volatile.

Bangkok International Airport is located some 22 kilometres north of Bangkok. The Domestic Terminal and Cargo Terminal are also located nearby. A regular coach and private limousine service for transfers between Bangkok and the airport are provided. The Limousine Service Counter is located at the Arrival Hall on the Ground Floor of the International Passenger Terminal on the Southern side. All vehicles are air-conditioned and the rates reasonable. Taxis are available for hire at the authorized Public Taxi Stand next to the Meeting Point south of the Arrival Hall in the International Passenger Terminal. Taxi drivers are only permitted to pick up passengers at these authorized stands and they are not allowed to offer their services to passengers in the terminal building. Fares are between 50-300 baht per trip depending on destinations. Fares to various destinations are posted at the taxi stand as a guideline to foreign commuters. Passengers are strongly advised not to use the services of private car drivers who may not be insured to carry passengers and are not licensed to ply for hire. All authorized taxis carry a yellow license plate and a rooftop TAXIMETER sign. No tip is expected.

Conventional bus services in Bangkok are operated by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, but there are also extensive private minibus operations. Premium fares are charged for air-conditioned (cream and blue buses) and express buses. The ordinary buses are cream and red or white and blue and charge a flat rate regardless of distance travelled. Fares are generally low and are collected by conductors. In Bangkok, taxis displaying the TAXI-METER sign are metered. Samlors or tuk-tuks are three-wheeled taxis without a meter; the fare must be negotiated before the journey commences. These are cheaper than taxis but are only suitable for short distances. There are express, rapid and ordinary motorboat services operated by the Chao Phraya Express Boat on the Chao Phraya River between Nonthaburi pier to the north of Bangkok to Rajburana pier in southern Bangkok. The express boats, marked with yellow, blue or green and yellow flags, are more expensive than the rapid orange-flag-flying boats. The ordinary flagless boats are the cheapest. The Skytrain (BTS), an elevated mass transit system in Bangkok, runs from 0600-2400. The Metro runs from Hualamphong to Bang Sue. Trains leave every five to nine minutes between 0600 and 2400. Chiang Mai public transport was limited to red minibuses (songtaews), tuk-tuks, rickshaws and taxis with meters but now there is a limited bus service in operation.