Insight Guides Southeast Asia

Insight Guides

• Publisher: Insight
• ISBN:
  9781780057422
• Edition: 4
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Travel

Southeast Asia is a firm favourite on the long-haul travel trail, thanks to its unrivalled range of amazing experiences and unforgettable sights - from the northern hills of Thailand to the dragons of Komodo, frenetic Manila to laid-back Vientiane, the sands of Ko Samui to Balinese temples and the ruins of Angkor. And travelling around the region has never been easier.
The new edition of Insight Guide Southeast Asia is a comprehensive full-colour guide to this fascinating region, and is full of inspiration and information to plan a memorable trip. It covers Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
This book is packed with stunning photography on every page that brings to life these countries and their people. Our Best Of Southeast Asia highlights the region's top attractions, such as the Andaman Coast, Bangkok's temples and floating markets, the Northern Highlands of the Philippines, Luang Prabang, the former royal capital of Laos, and much more.
Detailed, high-quality maps throughout will help you plan your itineraries, while the travel tips provide all the essential information for organizing your journey, such as transport, accommodation, climate and festivals.

Thailand Travel Tips

Fact file

Situation Thailand is bordered by Malaysia to the south, Myanmar to the west, Laos across the Mekong River to the northeast and Cambodia to the east.

Area 514,000 sq km (198,455 sq miles), nearly the size of France or twice as large as England, with 2,600km (1,600 miles) of coastline.

Capital Bangkok.

Population 67 million, of whom 75 percent are Thai and 11 percent Chinese.

Time zone 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), so New York is 12 hours, Los Angeles 15 hours and London 7 hours behind, Australia 3 hours ahead.

Currency Baht, approximately B31 to US$1.

Electricity 220 volts, with flat-pronged or round-pronged plugs.

International dialling code 66.

Transport

Getting there

By air

Bangkok is a gateway between east and west and a transport hub for Southeast Asia served by major airlines. In addition to Bangkok, Thailand has four other international airports: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket and Hat Yai.

Thai Airways International (THAI; www.thaiairways.com) flies to more than 70 cities worldwide. Bangkok Airways (www.bangkokair.com), AirAsia (www.airasia.com) and Orient Thai (www.orient-thai.com) operate routes between major tourism centres in Thailand and Asian cities. A direct flight (such as on British Airways, EVA Airways, Qantas and THAI) from the UK and Europe takes about 12 hours. From the west coast of the US, it takes about 18 hours (not including transit time) and involves a connection in North Asia – Japan, Korea or Taiwan. The east coast route via Europe takes about 19 hours. From Australia and New Zealand, the flight is about 9 hours.

By sea

Star Cruises (www.starcruises.com) operates luxury cruises around the Asia-Pacific. Its various cruises around Southeast Asia, set off from Singapore and call at Phuket.

By rail

Trains operated by the State Railways of Thailand (tel: 1690, www.railway.co.th) are clean, cheap and reliable, albeit slow. There are only three entry points into Thailand, two from Malaysia on the southern Thai border and one to Vientiane, Laos.

A daily train, the International Express, leaves Butterworth, the port opposite Malaysia’s Penang Island, at 11am and 2.05pm, arriving in Bangkok at 9.05am and 11.10am the following day. There are second-class cars with seats that are made into upper and lower sleeping berths at night. There are also air-conditioned first-class sleepers and dining cars. Trains leave Bangkok’s Hualamphong Station daily in the early morning and mid-afternoon for the return journey to Malaysia.

By road

Malaysia provides the main road access into Thailand, with crossings near Betong and Sungai Kolok. It is possible to cross from Laos into Nong Khai via the Friendship Bridge, or by river ferry into Chiang Khong. From Cambodia, visitors can cross at Poipet into Aranyaprathet.

Bangkok’s waterways

Chao Phraya River express boats (tel: [phone]) run regular routes at 15- to 20-minute intervals along the Chao Phraya River, between Tha Nonthaburi pier in the north and Tha Wat Rajsingkorn near Krungthep Bridge in the south. The service runs from 6am to 7pm. Fares are collected on board.

Ferries also cross the river at dozens of points and are very cheap. They begin operating at 6am and stop at 10pm or later.

It is also possible to catch a long-tail taxi to many points along the Chao Phraya or the canals.

Getting around

On arrival

Suvarnabhumi Airport

Bangkok’s international airport, Suvarnabhumi (tel: [phone], www.suvarnabhumiairport.com), lies approximately 30km (19 miles) east of the capital and is linked to the city by a system of elevated highways. Road travel to most parts of Bangkok averages 45 minutes.

Arrive in style

The Eastern and Oriental Express (www.orient-express.com) is Asia’s most exclusive travel experience. Travelling between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, the 22-carriage train, with its distinctive green-and-cream livery, passes through spectacular scenery. It’s expensive but classy.

Limousine service

Airports of Thailand Limousines (AOT, tel: [phone]) operates a variety of vehicles that can take you to the city centre for about B1,000. Luxury cars like a top-end 7-series BMW will cost B2,200. Rates to Pattaya start at around B2,600, depending on the vehicle used.

THAI Airways Limousines (tel: [phone]) also operates a premium car service. Prices are similar to those charged by AOT.

Airport bus

The Airport Express bus services have closed. City bus service leave from the public transit centre. Line 555 (to Rangsit, stopping at Don Muang airport, 60 minutes, 3.30am–10pm, B23) and line 556 (to the Southern Bus Terminal, 90 minutes, 6am–9pm, B23). Both the buses and public vans with the same number drive the same route.

Taxis

Operating 24 hours daily, all taxis officially serving the airport are air-conditioned and metered. Contact the taxi counter at exits 3 or 10 on the second level. Alternatively, take the express shuttle bus to the Public Transportation Center’s taxi stand.

At the arrival hall’s taxi desk, a receipt will be issued, with the licence plate number of the taxi and your destination written on it in Thai. At the end of your trip, pay what is on the meter plus a B50 airport surcharge. If the driver uses the expressway (with your consent), toll fees also apply.

Depending on traffic, an average fare from the airport to the city centre is around B300, excluding toll fees and airport surcharge.

Bangkok taxi talk

Thai taxi drivers are not renowned for their fluency in English, so it is often wise to have your destination written in Thai to hand to the driver.

Note that in Bangkok, Wireless Road, home to many embassies, a large hotel and several banks, is more commonly known by its Thai name, Thanon Witthayu. Similarly, Thanon Sathorn, a main thoroughfare divided into north and south, which runs between Lumphini Park and the river, is often referred to as Sathorn Neua (north) and Sathorn Tai (south).

Don Muang Airport

In 2012 the government changed its single airport policy and is encouraging low budget carriers to use Bangkok’s old Don Mueang Airport (tel: [phone], www.donmuangairportonline.com), which was reopened for international flights. Air Asia moved its entire operation to Don Mueang late the same year. A small number of THAI domestic flights and all domestic flights operated by Orient Thai and Nok Air (www.nokair.com) were already using Don Mueang.

Chiang Mai Airport

Chiang Mai’s airport is a 15-minute drive from the city centre. There is no bus service, visitors should choose between one of the following services:

Taxis: If you have not made arrangements with your hotel to pick you up, airport taxis are available for the 15–20-minute ride to the city for B100.

Phuket Airport

Travelling to Phuket Town from the airport takes about 45 minutes, while Patong Beach can be reached in around half an hour.

Taxis: Airport taxis and limo...