Tuk Tuk in Bangkok
Tuk Tuk’s can be fun but strangely are usually more expensive and do NOT have a meter so you must negotiate the fee. Unlike Taxi’s they are not air conditioned and you also have to breath in the fumes of the other vehicles. They can be great fun though.
Sometimes in Tourist areas the charges can be much higher than a Taxi.
- Always agree a price first and be prepared to bargain if it sounds expensive. Tuk Tuk’s don’t have a meter
- Taxis can often be cheaper.
- You are exposed to the heat and pollution in a Tuk Tuk
- Tuk Tuk’s can be a fun way to see the city.
- Tuk Tuk’s can’t go on the Freeway so don’t use them for long distances.
Top Tip: Tuk Tuk drivers often offer a cheap one-hour tour of the area. They will then stop at a tailors or a gem shop at the end of the trip. They will then be paid a small fee by the shop for bringing them a prospective customer.
Whilst this might seem like a real hassle, one of the best one-hour trips I had around the city was very cheap, and by agreement, we only stopped at one tailor shop. In fact, I had wanted a couple of shirts made, so I returned a few days earlier and made sure the tuk-tuk driver got his extra commission.
MRT and BRT
Bangkok has a metro or underground system called the MRT https://www.transitbangkok.com/mrt.html It uses a different card to that of the BTS although it works in the same way. It is clean and frequent and often adjoins BTS stations (like at Sala Daeng near Lumpini park)
The BRT is a a Rapid Bus Transport in which Buses runs in special lanes.
Some of the new MRT stations are beautiful and almost works of art. MRT transport is very clean compared with London’s Underground or the Subway in New York.
Other Useful Information
Roof Top Bars
Hidden Gems
Art and Culture
Temples
Parks and Gardens
Wat Paknam
Chinatown
