Thailand By Bus Or Train

Public buses are the cheapest and easiest way to travel short distances, but take blue A/C buses for longer transits. These buses generally cost twice as much, but make fewer stops, and are mostly used by tourists.

The State Railway of Thailand (☎+66 02 621 8701; www.thailandrailway.com) operates an efficient, cheap rail system with three main train routes starting in Bangkok: north to Chiang Mai, south to Malaysia and Singapore, and northeast to Nong Khai and Ubon Ratchathani. Minor routes connect Bangkok to Kanchanaburi and cities north of the eastern seaboard such as Si Racha and Aranyaprathet. For long rides (over 3hr.), third-class travel is not ideal. Train fares given in this book are usually for third-class travel on regular trains; depending on the type of train and class of travel, your fare may vary. Second-class sleeping berths carry an additional charge of 350-430฿ above standard second-class rates (depending on the type of train, fan or A/C, and upper or lower bunk) and often sell out. Rapid (140-190฿ extra), Express (160-210฿ extra), and Special Express (80฿ extra) trains come next in price and are speedier than ordinary trains.

Aircraft Safety. The airlines of developing world nations do not always meet safety standards. The Official Airline Guide (www.oag.com) and many travel agencies can tell you the type and age of aircraft on a particular route. This can be especially useful in Southeast Asia, where less reliable equipment is often used for internal or short flights. The International Airline Passengers Association (US ☎+1-800-821-4272, UK +44 20 8681 6555) provides region-specific safety info. The Federal Aviation Administration (www.faa.gov) reviews the airline authorities for countries whose airlines enter the US. US State Department travel advisories (☎+011-202-647-5225) sometimes involve foreign carriers, especially when terrorist bombings or hijackings may be a threat.