Next time I'm in Bangkok, I'd like to take some trips using the public bus system.

Public buses cover every inch of Bangkok but unfortunately very little information in English is provided. There are many good points to travelling by bus, and it’s definitely cheaper than any other means of transport available in the city. But you need the patience of Mother Teresa. It’s best to avoid peak hours when the buses are crowded and there are no seats. Pollution is another concern especially when you travel through traffic-congested areas.

The BMTA official web site (www.bmta.co.th/en/index.php) is the place to start. The website is in Thai and English and matches city landmarks with bus numbers. 

It’s a good idea to take a bus that runs in a circular route and takes you back to where you start. For this, bus number 56 is very good in covering the old Bangkok. It starts from Bang Lamphu, which is near Khao San Road, goes to Rajdamneon Road passing Victory Monument, then to Charoen Krung Road, the first road built in Bangkok, to China Town, then Pahurat, or little India, before crossing the Chao Phraya River via Phra Pokklao Bridge to Thon Buri. It allows you to view the more peaceful Thon Buri, passing Siriraj Hospital, then crossing back to the Bangkok side via Krung Thonburi Bridge, and then back to where you started. It’s also possible to get off at Siriraj Hospital and take a ferry back to Tha Chang, the pier near the Grand Palace instead.

Other buses in Bangkok that run in a circle are the 53, 54, and 57.

If you stay along Sukhumvit, it’s also easy to find buses that take you into old Bangkok. Bus number 25 has two routes: the short one will take you from Sukhumvit, Siam then to Rama IV Road before finishing at the edge of China Town. The long route will take you further into China Town, then turns to Charoen Krung Road towards the Grand Palace and ends at Tha Chang Pier. 

If you want to see more of Thon Buri, get on a number 40. It will take you from the heart of the city to Thon Buri, ending its run at the Southern Bus Terminal.

 

 

I need advice on family train travel. My partner and I along with three children will be travelling overnight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. I want to book first class, but it seems the cabins are for two people only. Is it possible to get all of us into two cabins? Thanks for your advice. Roy

 

I can see it might be tricky to fit your family into two first class cabins. There are two beds in each berth on the first class train. No matter how old your children are, the State Railway of Thailand offers 50 per cent off tickets for children based on their height. If you kids are not taller than 150 cm, they are entitled to a half price ticket and are also allowed to share a bed in your own private cabin.

This means, you would be permitted to have two cabins for five people provided one of your children is less than 150 cm in height. Otherwise, the SRT will not allowed you all to stay in two cabins. If the two smallest kids can share a lower bed (which is slightly bigger than the upper one) and the bigger one has the upper bunk, that wouldn’t be a problem. 

However, you need to specify this to an SRT staff member when you purchase the tickets. It’s not possible to specify about sharing a bed when making an online reservation. You can purchase tickets online for five people, and then specify your sleeping arrangements in a follow-up e-mail. Alternatively, call 1699 when you are in Bangkok and before travelling to Chiang Mai.

The adult ticket price for upper bed is Bt1,253 and Bt1,453 for lower bed, while a child pays Bt957 for upper bed and Bt1,157 for lower bed. However, SRT allows one passenger to book the entire compartment at Bt1,953 for adult and Bt1,657 for a child. 

You could also look at the air-conditioned second class train, which has 40 seats with upper and lower beds opposite each other. It can be good fun for family travel as well.