Getting Around
There are many ways to get around Thailand. Although most travelers choose to fly between the major tourist centers of Bangkok, the northern hills and the southern beaches, there's something to be said for the alternatives. There are still some special and out of the way places you can't get close to by plane, not to mention that most tourist cities have been turned into something which is not quite Thailand. To see the "real" Thailand you need to get outside the major tourist areas, which you can easily do by bus or train.
Here are links to the major transportation methods for inter-city travel. For information on getting around specific destinations, see city city guides.
In this section
Air travel is by far the quickest and easiest way to get around Thailand and travel between the major destinations. There is frequent service between Bangkok and the big provincial cities, and several carriers to choose from in both the full service and budget categories.
After the year 2000, the number of domestic air carriers has practically exploded, with as many as half a dozen carriers, depending on who is actually in business at the moment.
Thailand still has an extensive network of inter-city buses, which is probably how most Thais get around the country. Bus service is available in two classes. Second class is not air conditioned, while first class services have air conditioning, and often much more. A few of the longer routes, such as Bangkok to Chiang Mai, even have a sort of super-first class service with fully reclining seats and other amenities.
Driving yourself around Thailand isn't something I'd recommend, although traveling by car definitely has its advantages. The roads in Thailand, mainly due to the poor driving habits of a large proportion of Thais, are not very safe for those unfamiliar with the unwritten and haphazard rules of the road. However, the good news is that you can generally rent a car with a driver for the same price or less than you would pay for a car rental in North America or Europe.
The State Railway can be the cheapest way to get around in Thailand. The third class fare between Bangkok and Ayutthaya is just 20 Baht. There is a trade-off for the cheap price, since trains are also the slowest way to get around. Additional drawbacks are the rather dilapidated state of most trains, as well as being habitually behind schedule. However, if you're willing to put up with the drawbacks, traveling by train can be a great way to see some beautiful country-side.
