When In Thailand, Shall I Drive Or Go By Public Transportation?

Submitted by: Sakprasit Meeharn

Driving a car in Thailand is relatively fun. Behind the wheel, Thai people are as friendly and easy as we are famed for. You wouldn t hear lots of honking and yelling on the streets. Road signs usually comply with the international standard or at least they are quite obvious and effective with bilingual signing. As good as it sounds, but foreigners should bear in mind that there are a few things you should be careful about when driving in Thailand.

First, always remember that some Thais don t take traffic rules seriously. They regard a yellow light as a sign to speed up to pass that intersection before the light turns red. If you see the yellow, check with the rearview mirror before you decide to stop. Other drivers who follow you closely may be accelerating and won t be able to stop unexpectedly. Second, you should know that it is not unusual to see motorbikes or cars drive in the opposite direction (drive on the roadside against the traffic direction). Some people would think that it saves time and gas to do so instead of making their way to the next u-turn. The third warning is to watch out for the drunk drivers especially during the festivals such as New Year and Songkran. Thai people love to celebrate and often neglect the safety rules. Finally, you should also be aware of the road conditions. Normally, most roads are in an excellent condition. Chances are slim but it could happen that you will occasionally experience an uneven road surface or drive on a road which has inadequate lights at night-time.

Public transportation in our country is incredibly cheap. In Bangkok, there are various choices to go by from air-con and non air-con buses to public vans and many forms of taxis (cars, motorbikes, Tuk-tuk or three wheelers and converted mini trucks). More often than not, you will find that the buses in Bangkok are very crowded and we have no timetables. So it depends mostly on luck. Skytrain and subway are very useful to avoid Bangkok s heavy traffic. In short, you can conveniently travel in Bangkok using any of these services. Meanwhile, in other provinces, choices for public transportation are few and usually inefficient, even in the big tourist cities like Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, etc. Relying upon the public services in the provincial towns may be inconvenient and may take a long time to wait. Therefore, in tourist cities, some visitors prefer to use hotel services or hire a taxi or rent a car as it is more convenient. Some car rental companies in provinces such as Phuket offer their car rental services right at the airport and can give cheaper rental rates.

In conclusion, whether to drive or to take public transportation, it depends on the location. In Bangkok, self-driving is not recommended. It can make you feel frustrated. You can just take the public transportation or call a cab; that would be easier. Use the skytrain or subway during rush hours can save time and money. On the contrary, taking public transportation in other provinces like Phuket, Chiang Mai, etc., can be quite tiresome due to lack of services. It may be a good idea to rent a car and drive. On the grounds that the roads are not as busy as in Bangkok and there are a number of reputable international car rental companies in Thailand. You can also choose a private local car rental company for cheaper rental rates. Just make sure that the company is trustworthy and offers insurance coverage.

About the Author: Phuket Car Rental (Maikhao Car Rent) has been in the car rental business in Laguna Phuket for over 5 years with the international standard service. So, when looking for a rental car in Phuket, you can always trust us, visit

thaiwaysmagazine.com/phuket_ad/phuket-car-rental/

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