Get Lost !

[JaySonic]

Hi all. I've become keen on Thailand after many years of refusing to go there. Heading back in a couple of weeks, which will be my third trip in under a year. Actually keen on the idea of living there if I can get my small business off the ground. 

 

So in February it will be my first time in Bangkok and Ive given myself six days before flying elsewhere. Im a solo traveller and intend to get lost in the city most days, jumping on and off the various transport options and see where I end up. For the first time in many years i will have a guidebook but I dont really want to be depending on it for my every move. 

 

Tell me... theres a daily unlimited ticket for the BTS, but is there one for the MRT? Or, even better, a combined pass for both? 

 

And are there songtheows in the city? 

 

 

[Argus Tuft]

Get a Rabbit Card for the BTS, and the equivalent stored value card for the MRT.

Not sure if the combined pass is available yet (has been planned for some years)

 

As for buses, they are everywhere and cheap.

[bkkcanuck8]

There is no combined passes that I know of - each has one for their own line.

 

There is a one-day pass for the MRT - 120 baht

 

That is a lot of short trips.... if your just hopping around.... before you save anything on stored value cards.

 

16 minutes ago, Argus Tuft said:

Get a Rabbit Card for the BTS, and the equivalent stored value card for the MRT.

Not sure if the combined pass is available yet (has been planned for some years)

 

As for buses, they are everywhere and cheap.

An example of buses was taking the 25 bus from Nana to On Nut (I thought it went all the way out to Pak Nam -- though I guess there are some that do and some that don't).... cost 9 baht......  Hopped on the 511 Air Conditioned bus to Pak Nam -- cost of 17 baht from On Nut.  Hopped on the 511 bus back and it cost 21 baht from Pak Nam to Nana (would have been faster transferring to BTS at first chance but it would have meant the hassle of transferring and it would have cost more and I was in no rush.  The AC bus was not congested at all -- no problem getting a nice seat.

[fruitman]

Don't forget the riverboats.....

[bkkcanuck8]

1 hour ago, fruitman said:

Don't forget the riverboats.....

 

Orange flag one is safe, there is also an express.... but avoid the tourist ones.... they will just give you a headache....

[samsensam]

 

unfortunately unlike many other major cities there is no common strategy for  the various means of public transport in bangkok. you have to pay as you go. as far as i'm aware there are no daily or monthly tickets except for the daily 150 baht riverboat pass - the value is debatable as normal boats cost 15 baht per trip and the tourist boat 40 baht and there's not that many stops the average tourist will use.

 

what you should do is get a repaid card for the mrt and bts to avoid the queues, it is completely baffling to me that locals who use the bts and mrt regularly do not have these preferring to queue and buy tickets every time they travel. in the past you had to queue twice; once to get change and again to buy the ticket, common sense seems to have prevailed this seems to have changed now.

 

if you have time it's fun to get on a bus and just see where it takes you.

[JaySonic]

I have all the time in the world. Six days, no itinerary, not obliged to be anywhere but at Don Mueng on day 7... 

 

The Rabbit card is what I was thinking of. A bit of research (thanks wiki) indicates that the preloaded card can be used on both the BTS and the BRT networks. That's great, because it means I wont need to tell a ticket attendant where Im going (because, um, I wont know where Im going!)

 

If theres a preloaded MRT card I shall get one of those too, as there are a couple of live music pubs I may wander into (that are nowhere near where Im staying! FYI im basing myself in a quiet alley about 10 minutes walk from Asoke station). 

 

10-4 on the local riverboat suggestion. Ive not pored over endless reams of info, preferring to work it out as I go, but a mate tells me that boat goes down an open sewer.... regardless he said its a great way to go.

 

If any other solo travellers or expats, male or female, want to catch up for a beer and a chat, hit me up via PM. (Im a mid 40's Aussie guy). My first stretch in the city will be between 9th and 15th Feb. Im coming back towards the end of Feb but will likely head down to Kanchanaburi (on the train, of course!) Would be great to get some inside info from those who know the city well, as newbie travellers tend to miss a lot. 

 

Thanks for all the info so far, keep 'em coming :)

 

Edited January 19, 2017 by JaySonic

[JaySonic]

Oh and how's the spirit of the city's locals lately? I was in Phuket in November when the month of mourning concluded. A lot of the grieving shown on Thai TV was in Bangkok. In Phuket, not really any big deal, apart from every sexond store selling black attire and the govt buildings adorned in billowing black amd white sashes.

 

Are there any sights, wats etc that I should respectfully avoid? I've got no problem steering clear of venues to give people their time to mourn. Plenty of other stuff to see and do, right.... no need for me to be the nosy falang tourist watching people cry

[dave2]

3 hours ago, samsensam said:

as far as i'm aware there are no daily or monthly tickets except for the daily 150 baht riverboat pass

 

errrrr ummmm errrr ... im afraid your wrong !

 

the bts has a 140 baht day pass ... here ya go :)

 

dave2

[JaySonic]

Indeed. There appears to also be a one day, 3 day and 30 day pass available for the MRT

 

http://www.bangkokmrt.com/mrt-smart-cards.html

 

Although this, along with the BTS card, seems redundant due to the Rabbit card, where a traveller can preload credit to use on BTS, MRT and the BRT busses. 

 

I guess I have answered my own question :)

[JaySonic]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_Card

 

Edit: although the wiki page says so, Rabbits official page does NOT list MRT. Confusing. Giess i will find out for myself

 

https://card.rabbit.co.th/en/where-use-top-rabbit

Edited January 20, 2017 by JaySonic

[alantheembalmer]

If you want to travel by BMTA buses, you can get a weekly pass for 200 baht that covers both ac and non ac buses. There are 4 weeks in a month from 1-7, 8-14, 15-21 and 22nd to the end of the month. You can buy them on the bus itself, but it can be difficult asking for one. The best place to buy one is at Victory Monument. There you will see sellers sitting at small tables with the tickets in front of them. The major advantage, for yourself, is that you can get on the bus, not knowing where it is going, and just show the clippy your pass, and that's it. If you want any more information, just post it here.

[oldcarguy]

I like taking the bus , but you need to know when to bail out and take the BTS

 

it took 40 minutes to go from  Siam and Asoke on the bus , it would have been less than 10 minutes if I got off and took the BTS

 

But another thing you can do is start early and take one of the buses to the last stop and work your way back during the day ,

same idea on the canal boats.......

[JaySonic]

2 minutes ago, oldcarguy said:

But another thing you can do is start early and take one of the buses to the last stop and work your way back during the day ,

same idea on the canal boats.......

 

That's a really good 'getting lost' strategy, thanks ! I could even do the same on the train, go to the furthest suburban station and spend the day trying to get back to my hotel. 

 

FYI I'm staying at the bottom of Suk Soi 18 (well, an alleyway roughly around there) about 10 minutes walk from Asoke BRT

[oldcarguy]

The bus is neat because you are above the traffic and can see all the shops along the way ,

 

when I head back I walk a lot of it so I can see the small shops and side streets......

 

I always take the cheap bus that the windows will open , they are 8-9 baht and many are free , the 48 bus goes out past Bang Na , the 40 bus goes to Soi 71 and turns left , and the 25 bus goes to at least On NUt

 

you can get on google map and it will tell you what buses will take you back.........

 

its a BIG city and you are never going to see it all ,  but its good fun and better than sitting in a shopping mall :)

 

 

[JaySonic]

Not that transport is going to be a budget-breaker, but free bus sounds pretty neat. That's getting right in amongst it with the locals. 

 

I too walk a lot, and it wouldn't be unusual for me to rack up 15kms a day when I travel (weather permitting). So my days won't be a series of waiting around for the next bus or train to come. And it's unlikely I'll set foot in a single shopping mall. Not my scene. 

 

Thanks again for your input

[oldcarguy]

going the other direction bus 25 goes to the palace , bus 48 to Wat Po , bus 40 to main street Chinatown and beyond ,

 

I  just take the cheap bus or the yellow airco bus . same numbers and routes , whichever comes first if I am trying to get somewhere ,

the AirCo yellow bus charges by distance , but its still only about 20 baht or less..... the non AirCo red bus ( some are pink) is just a fixed price to the end of the line.

 

enjoy the wooden floors and get a window seat !

 

[NoshowJones]

On 1/19/2017 at 3:13 PM, samsensam said:

 

unfortunately unlike many other major cities there is no common strategy for  the various means of public transport in bangkok. you have to pay as you go. as far as i'm aware there are no daily or monthly tickets except for the daily 150 baht riverboat pass - the value is debatable as normal boats cost 15 baht per trip and the tourist boat 40 baht and there's not that many stops the average tourist will use.

 

what you should do is get a repaid card for the mrt and bts to avoid the queues, it is completely baffling to me that locals who use the bts and mrt regularly do not have these preferring to queue and buy tickets every time they travel. in the past you had to queue twice; once to get change and again to buy the ticket, common sense seems to have prevailed this seems to have changed now.

 

if you have time it's fun to get on a bus and just see where it takes you.

I used to avoid the BTS when possible because I hated the system of queueing twice, unlike the MRT.

So what has changed?

[oldcarguy]

58 minutes ago, oldcarguy said:

going the other direction bus 25 goes to the palace ,

 

oops the #2 bus goes to the palace.......I think.......

[ThaiWai]

MRT and BTS are packed all day long now.  Be prepared to be packed like a sardine and forget about sitting down.  

Taxis will not take you anywhere if the ride is either too short or too long which seems to classify all destinations.

The riverboats are obviously confined to the rivers but are at least open air and more fun to take once you learn them.

All the tuk tuks sitting outside the main shopping areas also play the "too far too close game" and have no meters so it's "spin the ripoff wheel" even if you get one to take you.

Taxi motorbikes are a fast trip to the hospital.

Walking is hot and dangerous as even the sidewalks have motorbikes racing in both directions.  

The busses are not too bad if you can figure them out some have ac some don't but they are cheap or even free, and good for people watching.  

So...If you live there, you are screwed.

However if you are just visiting, and can plan an actual itinerary I would recommend hiring a taxi for the day at a fixed rate.  Most cabs have a "menu" of destinations hanging in the back seat and you will see the daily or half daily rates printed there.  Make sure you get the drivers phone number or he speak at least some of your language.  

Last bit is don't book a hotel for the whole six days.  You may want to stay in another part of the city after you get here.  You can always find a room but can't always get out of a reservation.

[Argus Tuft]

30 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

I used to avoid the BTS when possible because I hated the system of queueing twice, unlike the MRT.

So what has changed?

 

Why do you have to queue twice for the BTS? 

[bkkcanuck8]

2 minutes ago, Argus Tuft said:

 

Why do you have to queue twice for the BTS? 

 

If you don't have change for the machine you have to go to the window (potentially queue one), and they give you change but do not do tickets.  You take the change to a machine and put the right amount in, and push the appropriate button and out comes your single journey card.  (this is for people that forgot their pass or don't want one because of whatever reason).  If you have to do this at a place like Asok, it could actually be 3 lines.... one for the change, two for the card, and then still a line up to get through the gates.

[Argus Tuft]

Just now, bkkcanuck8 said:

 

If you don't have change for the machine you have to go to the window (potentially queue one), and they give you change but do not do tickets.  You take the change to a machine and put the right amount in, and push the appropriate button and out comes your single journey card.  (this is for people that forgot their pass or don't want one because of whatever reason).  If you have to do this at a place like Asok, it could actually be 3 lines.... one for the change, two for the card, and then still a line up to get through the gates.

 

I understand the system very well, thanks very much for the elaborate and detailed explanation of the ticketing system however.  It highlights my point even further....

 

My question was, why do you HAVE to queue twice (when there is the total convenience and time saving option of a Rabbit card, or having the correct change for the ticket machine if one insists on still using the single use tickets)

Nobody HAS to queue twice at the BTS.

 

Confounds my brain whenever I see someone who is a regular user of the BTS who still uses single ride tickets.  I have an expat mate who has lived in Bangkok a long time, and I dread going out with him on the BTS, as I know:

1.  He still won't get a Rabbit Card (we all have told him many times, and he sees us using ours all the time)

2.  Never remembers to bring change with him, even though there is a stack of coins in a bowl next to his front door, and he knows he is about to go and get on the BTS

 

Anyway - getting off topic here.

 

OP - google maps in Bangkok is very good for the bus routes - most stops are listed, and clicking on them shows which bus numbers pass that stop.

Couple that with the BMTA pdf maps and you can go and get lost anywhere

 

[JaySonic]

Hi ThaiWai. Thanks for your thoughtful post, but I am specifically trying to avoid making an itinerary for my BKK stay Rather, i'll just go where the wind (and my will) takes me. 

 

To be honest, ii'm not even paying attention to the suggested bus routes haha. Its the first trip for many many years where Im going solo, so im avoiding any obligations ! 

 

I think ive chosen a pretty good home base from which to bounce from. Close (ish) to both the skyrail and the subway train. And ive already booked a hotel for the whole 6 day... but when I return to BKK (from Kanchanaburi)  Im going stay in a whole other area called Ratchethewi

Edited January 21, 2017 by JaySonic

[JaySonic]

Argus.... google maps and pdf printoffs will *stop* me from getting lost very day ! No fun in that :) 

 

 

[Suradit69]

On 1/19/2017 at 1:56 PM, fruitman said:

Don't forget the riverboats.....

 

Good map here:  http://www.chaophrayaexpressboat.com/en/services/map-print.asp

 

And some touristy places available by boat : http://www.bangkok.com/attraction-waterway/chao-phraya-river-chao-phraya-river-pier-guide.htm

[Argus Tuft]

8 minutes ago, JaySonic said:

Argus.... google maps and pdf printoffs will *stop* me from getting lost very day ! No fun in that :) 

 

 

 

Not suggesting you print out maps mate - but sometimes 'getting lost' to explore a new place is a little better with at least some kind of idea of checking what's out there before you go wandering, and what bus routes might take you past some interesting areas finding your way back, right?

Edited January 21, 2017 by Argus Tuft

[NoshowJones]

52 minutes ago, Argus Tuft said:

 

Why do you have to queue twice for the BTS? 

If you need change, which in most cases people do, then to get your ticket. Am I wrong?

[JaySonic]

She'll be right :) I'll probably take my smartphone and if I get really stuck, or tired, just call an uber ! There are no rules to the adventure. With any luck I might even befriend a local or two on the trains or bus and get some inside knowledge. I'm fairly open to that sort of thing. In fact its not unusual for me to not speak with a single farang when I go abroad. 

[Argus Tuft]

Just now, possum1931 said:

If you need change, which in most cases people do, then to get your ticket. Am I wrong?

Not wrong, just being pedantic.

Take change with you before you go to the BTS, then you don't need to queue twice.  Simple.  Cost of my helpful advice = free.

Or get a stored value card, and then you don't need to queue at all. :)