I wanted to let you know, whoever is looking for a simple way of getting to Bangkok immigration, there is a bus #166 from VICTORY MONUMENT, that goes all the way in the shortest way right to the door of the immigration. And it's free.

When you get off the BTS heading to VICTORY MONUMENT, take the stairs to the left, walk left to the next street, cross the street, and there is a bus station for bus #522. #166 also stops there.

Are you sure bus No. 166 is intended to be free? Perhaps there was by chance no fare collector on the bus you took.

Ummmmm.........

Was it a red and cream colour bus???

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Any way does not matter. Good for you for getting a free ride and if it was red an cream colour then well done as thats an expressway bus aircon and one of the most exspensive.

Btw sorry to deflate there are no free busses there.

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It is NOT free. The #166 fare to Chaengwattana from Victory Monument is 18B, as detailed in this thread.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/567696-in-bangkok-need-to-go-to-immigration-easy-way-if-poss-minimize-taxi/#entry6747947

The OP must be in a daze!

The bis was blue and white, n aircon.

Ir was free both ways, but maybe only today. I don't know.

The fare was the quickest I ever went because it went the shortest way with no stops.

OP got a good deal.

OP can I come travel with you next time????

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Many buses on various routes are indeed free. Not all #166 buses are free but the last one I took was free as well. Look for the sign in the window.

I deleted my post as some people are reporting the bus is sometimes free. Seems unlikely but I have no evidence that it isn't.

EDIT: Had a quick search and it turns out there are a lot of free buses in Bangkok, some journeys on some routes, to help poor people. Who knew!? Thanks to OP for pointing this out, although this route is definitely not free ALL the time.

Edited August 28, 201312 yr by partington

Interesting news, CPT.

Ok. But does it realy matter?????

OP rode for free and thats it. Only other point to the thread is that ppl should not expect a free ride so be prepared to pay if needed.

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OP got a good deal.

OP can I come travel with you next time????

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Sure can!

The reason I brought it up was mainly because I, like the rest of us, used to take a van, and then either a shuttle bus or motorcy to the place. This bus get all the way to the door of immigration. No hussle. The free ride is a bonus, and I don't mind paying the fare if needed!

I understand when they introduced the free third class rail travel they also made some free busses.

there is that so difficult. where the 166 bus stop is at victory monument

you also need to look for this sign in the window: because there are two different routes for that 166 bus more info and bigger image at this thread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/662104-chaeng-wattana-immretirement-extension-trip-report-aug-2013/page-2#entry6741355

Edited August 28, 201312 yr by john baah jumper

I'm beginning to wonder whether this free non-stop bus to the government complex in Chaeng Watthana is intended for government employees working there. We'd have to analise all the Thai writing on that bus to know.

I'm beginning to wonder whether this free non-stop bus to the government complex in Chaeng Watthana is intended for government employees working there. We'd have to analise all the Thai writing on that bus to know.

writing says top line: sooni ratch garn

which is "government center"

bottom line: aanoosarvaree choy

which is "victory monument"

so it have nothing to do with restrictions just tells where the bus is going.

the other 166 bus without the covering yellow sign in the window goes to impact stadium/muang thorn thanee

Edited August 28, 201312 yr by john baah jumper

Thanks, john baah jumper, also for posting those maps and the photo of the bus.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Free-bus-train-fares-to-continue-through-March-30191606.html

however the paper wwe cannot mentioned said they were extended a further 6 months...I do not know if there was a further extension.

So there were, and perhaps still are, a number of free bus routes in Bangkok for the general population.

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So there were, and perhaps still are, a number of free bus routes in Bangkok for the general population.

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Still are. I saw one tonight on Ratchaprarop. The signs are in the front window and often over the door as well. It is sheer luck as to whether you can find one when you want it or not. I don't know of a line that is entirely free, I have only seen/riden seemingly random buses that are free. On popular routes they are often packed, when I rode a free #166 I was one of four people on board. I think the idea is to be able to advertise that politician X brought X number of free buses to the public without any messy record keeping that might actually be verifiable and tarnish someones reputation. They don't seem to be particularly useful to those who genuinely need them due to their random nature but perhaps there is some pattern I am missing.

The 203 that runs on Piboonsongkram to the boat jetty in Nonthaburi is sometimes free. It also has a sign in the front. But if you don't read Thai,you'll miss it

Aircon buses are never free. The conductors are not particularly active in getting the fares though. The system relies on people being honest.

Aircon buses are never free. The conductors are not particularly active in getting the fares though. The system relies on people being honest.

yeah those blue buses are aircon and i've never seen a free one either. only free ones i've seen are the red ones with a white sticker with thai writing along the whole top of the windscreen. so were tossing up on around 18 baht here for this trip. think ive had only one free trip on a non-free bus that was on a very crowded bus for about 500 meters trip. plus she yelled in agony something like "you cant get off, you havent paid" from somewhere deep within the impenetrable crowd as i was getting off. she simply didnt have time to collect all the oncoming fares for the short trip duration. was afternoon rush hour. i got off anyway and the bus took off a second later.

Edited August 29, 201312 yr by Bounngou

What about the return trip ? From the same bus stop that you alighted ?

Return is from the exact same entrance where it arrived.

Return is from the exact same entrance where it arrived.

Oh...nice to know. I used to take a taxi from Mochit BTS to Immigration.

I'll try 166 the next time.