Around the Cities: The best ways to travel inside the cities are by tuk-tuk, by bus or - by Taxi-meter because of the "not so fresh" air. As for the cost tuk-tuk fares can be equal to, or even higher, than taxi fares. Therefore taxis are probably the cheapest way, if you do not like to take the buses. To get the best price in a tuk-tuk make sure to talk to the driver before you get into the vehicle, if you just get a ride and ask for the price after, you will get charged an arm and a leg. It is more expensive to ride a tuk-tuk during the rush hour and a lot cheaper late at night after the public transport system shuts down.

In Bangkok additional means of public transport are the Express Boat Service (cheap and a good way to do some sight-seeing, the Skytrain and the Metro (both very comfortable, but relatively expensive).

You will have to use a combination of any or maybe even all of the above ways of getting around, but it does pay off to learn a bit about every possibility, because Bangkok is a massive city spread out on a large area.

Between places: For long distances take the plane. THAI Airways International has reasonable fare prices and is very good. Other ways for long distances: the train (almost free, so you can afford "first class") or buses. Buses are not really comfortable. Air conditioned buses are good and also cheap, however.

Around the Islands: Taxi- meters which can bundle in up to 8 people and you can haggle the price depending on the length of the journey. Its always a good idea to check what other people are paying in the taxi.

Jeeps/Land Rovers. These are a lot of fun as you sit on the open bit on the back and hang on for dear life, as the roads are very uneven. Watch out for falling out. Again these can cater for up to about 8 people and you can haggle the price.

Mopeds/Bikes to hire are a lot of fun and very cheap to rent, however it is one of the most notorious things in Thailand for accidents. More people die every year in motorcycle accidents than they did in the Tsunami last year. You may come away with a Kho Pangnan tattoo, either an exhaust pipe burn or a scrape from falling off. However you could come off a lot worse and no one wants to spend time in a Thai hospital. So be careful on the roads and with the alcohol in take!
It helps knowing your way around after about 7:30pm when it gets completely dark too, there is no lighting along the roads and it is a lot harder to find your way around or find a place to get some gas after dark. The dogs that are running around free day or night are a bit of a danger as well. They don't seem to bite, but they have no fear of people or traffic.

Transportation Methods

By Car; Thailand has a good up-to-date network of well-maintained roads and highways between all main centres. Much of the north-south route is dual carriageway. Road signage follows international convention and usually are in Thai and English. Often the smaller roads, known as Sois, are in Thai only.

Night driving is not recommended on the open road due to heavy truck traffic, which tends to have little respect for cars. Motor bikes can also be a hazard, particularly as they are often ridden into oncoming traffic. Driving on the most of the major routes outside Bangkok and around resort areas is both a safe and an enjoyable experience. A self-drive holiday offers the opportunity to experience wonderful Thai culture and the opportunity for travelers to stop as long as they like at the many points of interest in the Kingdom.

Most cars in Thailand use unleaded petrol, which is sold by the litre. While vans use diesel. Both fuels are freely available throughout Thailand and gas stations are plentiful and most of the larger ones accept major international credit cards. In more remote locations cash will be required.

Road Rules - Thailand uses the left-hand system. The maximum speed limit in cities and towns is 60 km/h (35 mp/h) and varies between 100 and 120 km/h (60-72 mp/h) on expressways and country roads.

Police regularly check motorists' speed. Wearing of seat belts is compulsory and drunk driving laws apply. All insurance is invalid if drivers exceed the legal alcohol limit.

Car Rental - While there are numerous car rental companies as well as comprehensive self drive holiday packages available it is worth noting that rentals from many of the smaller companies are not covered by insurance and you will be liable for any damage to the vehicle regardless of who is at fault.

Several Internationally recognized car rental companies either have offices in Thailand or have allocated agents here. While these companies are generally more expensive they do tend to offer better insurance coverage.

By Plane: Bangkok Domestic airport terminal is 25 km north of the city. Airport departure tax is required at domestic departures. Domestic passengers have to pay 60 baht/person. Thai Airways maintains an extensive network to any place of importance in the kingdom. Alternatively you can check with Bangkok Airways Bangkok, Samui, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hua Hin and Ranong.
Taking a plane to or from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Ko Samui is highly recommended. Prices are very cheap and they are a number of dialy flights allowing the traveler a lot of flexibility. The best bargain is probably the flight Chiang Mai-Mae Hong Son.

By Scooter: Though not recommended in cites or other high-traffic areas, Scooters, or Mopeds, are a cheap, fast, and easy way to get around small villages and beach towns in Thailand. At a low cost of about 200-500 Baht a day, you can tour around beach towns, highways, and backroads; which can lead to much more interesting adventures than if you simply took a standard tour.

Some smaller islands along the Andaman coast have only Scooters, no cars or busses are available, so you either have to rent a scooter to get around, or ride a motorbike taxi for a mere 10-80 Baht depending on your destination and how much you barder ;)

By Bus: Modern and comfortable air-conditioned buses provide reliable service to every province and all the major towns. Regular and local buses, while usually slower and less comfortable, are extremely reasonably priced. You can buy ticket at every bus terminal (Please note: in Bangkok there are different bus terminals!) or contact any local travel agent to help with purchasing a ticket. Besides that there are minibuses leaving from Khao San Road to nearly any spot of tourist interest. There are very cheap, direct, but very often very uncomfortable. Besides that you will not meet any local people. Last but not least - coach tours are available with most travel agents.

By Train: Trains are a great way of travelling and the country takes pride in a well-maintained rail system that reaches almost every corner of the country. Several different classes of train travel are available, from coach to private sleeper, and from regular to express service. Most people tend to buy a sleeper train. The route from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and to the South are the most popular with the foreign visitor. For the train in Thailand, no advance reservation is available, however if you are traveling during weekends on popular routes it is recommended to buy your ticket a few days ahead.. You have to go to the train station to purchase the ticket or ask a local travel agent to do so. Luggage Allowance - 1st class 50 kg; 2nd class 40 kg; others 30 kg.