Thailand Guide
Getting around
By local transport
In rural areas and within towns, fixed-fare local transport is often supplied by pick-ups (literally "two rows"), which are open-ended vans (or occasionally cattle-trucks) onto which the drivers squash as many passengers as possible on two facing benches, leaving latecomers to swing off the running board at the back. In most towns, you'll find the pick-up "terminal" near the market; to pick one up between destinations, just flag it down, and to indicate to the driver that you want to get out, press the bell, shout, or rap hard with a coin on the ceiling.
Named after the noise of its excruciatingly un-silenced engine, the three-wheeled open-sided tuk-tuk is the classic Thai vehicle. They are fast, fun and inexpensive: fares start at around B20 (B30 in Bangkok), regardless of the number of passengers. Tuk-tuks are also sometimes known as samlors ("three wheels"), but the real samlors are tricycle rickshaws propelled by pedal power alone. Samlors still operate in many towns, though not in Bangkok, and drivers usually charge a minimum fee of around B10, adding B10 per kilometre, possibly more for a heavy load. Even faster and more precarious than tuk-tuks, motorbike taxis feature both in big towns and out-of-the-way places; prices are higher but they can halve journey times during rush hour. Motorbike taxis should come with helmets for the pillion passenger.
With all types of taxi, bar Bangkok's metered taxis, always establish the fare before you get in.