Thailand Travel Guide

By Plane

When you plan your trip, consider that Thailand has more than one international airport. While most international flights arrive in Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport (airport code BKK), you can also fly directly to Phuket, Koh Samui, and Chiang Mai from certain regional destinations like Singapore or Hong Kong.

Flights from North America -- Thai Airways International (tel. 800/426-5204; www.thaiair.com) flies daily to Bangkok from Los Angeles; also check their new direct flight from New York. United Airlines (tel. 800/241-6522; www.ual.com) and Northwest Airlines (tel. 800/447-4747; www.nwa.com) can connect pretty much any airport in North America to Bangkok via daily flights. Canadian Airlines International (tel. 800/661-2227; www.cdnair.ca) flies to Bangkok from Vancouver via Hong Kong daily. Also check for connecting flights with EVA Air, Japan Airlines (JAL), and Korean Air.

Flights from Australia -- Thai Airways (tel. 300/651-960 toll-free within Australia, 7/3215-4700 in Brisbane, or 8/9322-7522 in Perth) services Bangkok from Sydney daily and from Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth three times a week. Qantas (tel. 13-12-11 toll-free within Australia; www.qantas.com), in addition to two dailies from Sydney and a daily flight from Melbourne (both direct), can also connect with Adelaide, Brisbane, and Canberra daily. For budget fares, Qantas' subsidiary Jetstar (www.jetstar.com) is now flying direct to a few points in Asia. British Airways (tel. 2/8904-8800 in Sydney, 7/3223-3123 in Brisbane, 8/9425-7711 in Perth; www.ba.com) flies twice daily from Sydney.

Flights from the United Kingdom -- Two or three daily, nonstop flights from London to Bangkok are offered by British Airways (tel. 0870/850-9850 from anywhere within the United Kingdom; www.ba.com).

By Bus

Private buses link Singapore and Malaysia with Had Yai in southern Thailand, but be aware that violent insurgencies in south Thailand are becoming a real cause for concern. In Singapore, call the Singapore Tourism Board at tel. 800/334-1335, and in Malaysia, contact the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (tel. 603/293-5188) for more information. Thai buses stop at the Thai border at Nong Khai from where pedestrians pass through to Laos. Tuk-tuks (three-wheeled, motorized, open vehicles, also called Jumbos) connect travelers to Vientiane. Call Laos Tourist Information in Vientiane at tel. 856-21/212-248.

By Train

Thailand is accessible via train from Singapore and peninsular Malaysia. Malaysia's Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTM) begins in Singapore (tel. 65/222-5165), stopping in Kuala Lumpur (tel. 603/273-8000) and Butterworth (Penang; tel. 604/323-7962), before heading for Thailand, where it joins service with the State Railway of Thailand. Bangkok's Hua Lampong Station is centrally located on Krung Kasem Road (tel. 02223-7010 or 1690). Taxis, tuk-tuks, and public buses wait outside the station and access to the MRT (subway) is a few steps away.

The Eastern & Oriental Express (www.orient-express.com) operates a 2-night/3-day journey between Singapore and Bangkok that makes getting there almost better than being there. The romance of 1930s colonial travel is joined with modern luxury in six Pullman cars, seven State cars, a Presidential car, plus two restaurant cars, a bar car, a saloon car, and an observation car. Along the way, stops are made in Penang (Georgetown) and Kanchanaburi (River Kwai) for light sightseeing. Current fares are per person one-way $1,860 (65,100B/£1,001) for a Pullman superior double. At certain times of the year, promotions will include overnights at the Oriental Bangkok and its sister property, the Mandarin Oriental, Singapore. Call tel. 800/524-2420 in the U.S., or 65/392-3500 in Singapore.

By Ship

Sun Cruises and Crystal Cruises are the two main cruise ships that visit the region. They call by Pattaya or Phuket before steaming on to Singapore or Malacca. These floating resorts have endless restaurants, Jacuzzis, pools, fitness centers, spas, deck games, and all manner of bars and lounges. Contact 888/722-0021 for information on Crystal Cruises or check the website, www.crystalcruises.com. Sun Cruises can be contacted through Pacific Leisure (156/13 Phang Nga Rd., Phuket, 83000; tel. 07623-2511, fax 07623-2510; www.pacific-leisure.com).

By Car

Currently, it is almost impossible to pass from Thailand to any of its neighbors by rental car unless you have a vehicle import license, tax registration form, and other documentation. I don't recommend it.