Boutique airline with all the frills and other Bangkok, Thailand Transportation Tips

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: We have had quite few flights with Bangkok Airways - in and out of Thailand. This little airline is so efficient - we have had many flights which have left early, as everyone is present! The airports have excellent passenger lounges for all passengers, including free refreshments. Some airports have also had free refreshments in the departure lounges. There is a free internet service, and a loyalty programme.

We have always bought Asia Airpasses, wherein we have had multiple flights, and the costs are extremely cheap.

The whole experience with this airline is excellent.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Don't ever get into a Bangkok taxi until you have it absolutely clearly established that they are a "meter" cab. Don't even stick your foot in! Some have an amazingly evasive way of geturing you in without answering, and then saying "no meter" - make sure you get the answer clearly and see the meter going. Quite artful in some instances - leading to confrontations and physically awkward departures from the vehicle!

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'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: We booked flights with Air Asia for the first time on our recent holiday - flew from Bangkok to Yangon and Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

The price difference between the other airlines and AA for the flight to Yangon, in particular, was huuuuge - ie. it was less than one third of the fare!

We found this airline to be fine to use - not a lot of legroom, as shown, but we are thankfully, rather short people. The planes seemed to be in fairly good order, staff were efficient and pleasant and the timetable was adhered to quite well. We did not purchase any snacks, but the food we saw others buy looked quite reasonable.

One tip for first time users is that there is no seating allocation on this airline - so its a case of first on the plane gets the best seat etc. If you are being ferried out to the plane by bus, which we were from the new airport, remember that last on the bus is first on the plane!!!

Adult human behaviour can be very interesting to watch whilst travelling - particularly when it comes to stampeding to get somewhere first! We used to laugh - get on the bus last, and, unless we got trampled on the way to the plane, got good seats! And - we all got there in the end.

Another note re this airline is that there IS a 20kgs luggage limit - and it IS applied. We saw plenty of people forking out for excess baggage! This is particularly enforced at the moment, due to fuel prices.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: The ferry system is the cheapest way of getting around Bangkok - provided you are along the river route. The trick is ensuring you know which ferry to catch - and which direction you are going - I've managed to lose my bearings and make both errors! No fuss from me though - its all good fun, and a cheap mistake.

The ferries run at roughly 15 to 20 minute intervals, from piers (Tha), but do not necessarily stop at all stops, unless someone is waiting to get on or off - and they don't stop for long! So, make sure you are at the back of the ferry waiting, and hustle when it stops!

Services start at 6.00am and run til 7.30pm on weekdays - be aware that they stop at 6.30pm on weekend days.

Routes are designated by different coloured flags - colour coded on the easy to read route maps at the piers.

Tickets cost between 9 and 13Bt, and are purchased on the ferries - so have coinage to make the purchas easy.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: Designated by their light blue flags, these ferries run between Sathorn - deparing every 30mins from 9.30am til 3.00pm - Banglamphu (start at 10.00am every 30mins) - and stop at all the major piers where attractions are located - the Oriental Hotel, Rachawongse (Chinatown) neat the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. There is a free connecting boat from Banglamphi across to the Royal Barges Museum. A 4Bt connection from Rachawongse across to Wat Arun is also available.

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