Bangkok is a sprawling metropolis that spans as far as the eye can see. The fun part is sights are all over the city and not necessarily close to one another. There are however easy and affordable ways to get around, especially without breaking the bank. Here are some of the ways I figured out how to get around Bangkok!
Grab
Grab is their version of Uber, but you can also call for a scooter. If you are traveling throughout southeast Asia, you may want to keep this app, as it is available in most countries in that region. It also has the food delivery option, which is nice after a long day exploring. It works very similar to your other rideshare apps, where you set your pick-up location and then your destination. Once they find you a driver, it will tell you exactly how much it will cost for the ride. The only difference is you must pay cash when you reach your destination, and it is also polite (but not mandatory) to try and have as close to exact change as possible, since they don’t carry around a ton of money. Pros of using grab would be that it is cheaper, you can type in your destination, and it is safe. Some cons are that the local taxi drivers and scooter taxi drivers are not fans of this service, so they may get angry. One last note, sometimes, when you initially download the app, you don’t get priority to the closest drivers because it is earned the more you use it. Drivers can/will then cancel the ride before they get there, so give yourself enough time to get to your destination.
Taxis and Scooters
If you want to grab a regular taxi or scooter, they’re everywhere. The only difference is you will have to haggle the price, and being a tourist makes it hard. They will give you a high price, and tell you it’s because of the distance. In reality, they know you don’t know how far away your destination really is. They will haggle, but usually, it’s a lot higher. What I would do is pull out my Grab app to see how much they would charge, and try to get it as close to that number as possible. You will definitely pay more, but sometimes they know shortcuts so it makes it a bit quicker. What I usually do if I plan to use cabs throughout my day is call a Grab from the hotel to go to my first destination, and use the regular taxis for the short jumps between places. If you are solo and don’t have any luggage, use the scooters. Yes, it is a bit terrifying, but these guys have been doing this for years and truly are experts. They weave in between stopped traffic and get you where you want to go much quicker! The scooter drivers are usually wearing an orange vest with a license on the back. The cabs and scooters are a great way to get around, but just make sure you are not being ripped off!
TUK TUKS!
Do it once, but that is enough! The tuk tuk drivers know they are a tourist trap and charge way more than most cabs! If you only have a short distance and think it may be worth your while, then it is worth the price. Again, you should haggle hard. If the first driver doesn’t give you a good price, there are plenty that will give you a better price! Like I said, it is worth it for a one time thing, but don’t make them your main source of transportation, especially if you’re trying to save some money.
Ferries
A lot of the temples and other sites most people want to see are right off of the river. One good way to get to them is to use the ferries. Not only is it pretty cheap, but it also provides a good way to site see. There are a couple options to choose from when it comes to ferries. There are tourist ferries that take you directly to all the tourist attractions and allow you to hop on and off. These are more expensive, but when you think about it, paying 40-100 baht is only between $1-4 USD. However, if you want the more local feel, which is what I prefer, you can use the local ferry. The local ferry is indicated by an orange, or yellow flag on the back of the boat! The local ferries cost around 10-20 baht, which is under a $1 USD.
Hopefully, this can help you on your visit to Bangkok. It is a beautiful city with a lot to offer, and it makes it much easier when you know how to get around without spending too much.