You may have seen my previous Instagram post about scooters with sidecars; a new favorite mode of transportation. If you don’t want to brave driving one yourself you can totally rent one with a driver, or hail one on Grab. The Grab app is similar to Uber, and is super safe and super easy. Along with Grab, you can download Bolt and InDrive to call or schedule anything from a 2-wheeler to a 12-passenger party van. Thailand also offers a public bus system, a skytrain, tuk tuks, river boats, taxis, and a railway system.

We made our way from Bangkok to Chiang Mai on the day train. (Check out my Instagram Reel for more images.) The seats were clean, comfortable, and spacious and there was more than enough storage for all of our luggage. I was not however, impressed by the restroom. It may have been slightly cleaner than one on a bus, but definitely a tight and dirty space. There’s no avoiding bumping against all the things when trying to help a little person navigate going potty. Food is not free. During our ten hour journey we were offered one meal, one time, that we had to pay for. Though you can’t really go wrong with Thai basil fried rice topped with a fried egg, we were unimpressed by the food service and even had to pay for water. Definitely pack snacks and beverages for the excursion. The scenery was a highlight. I hadn’t realized how beautiful, green, and diverse the geography is. If you’re lucky enough to get a first row seat there’s an outlet that you can use to power your devices throughout the trip. Overall, the day train was worth the experience, though I’m not sure I’d ever do it again, particularly since the ten hour ride was only slightly less than the cost of a plane ticket at $160 one-way.

Going back to Bangkok I flew on Thai airways and it was fantastic. We also flew Thai into the country and I think the experience is comparable to Qatar, and I’d probably rank it above Turkish. The food may have been some of the best airline food I’ve eaten (though Ethihad remains in first place). I rode on one of the wide as well as one of the narrow body planes. Though the smaller didn’t have screens or charging ports, the seats on both were comfortable and spacious. Our longest flight was only three hours and while the above and beyond hospitality that we always experience on Qatar would be hard to match, the flight attendants were attentive and helpful.

Navigating the skytrain was pretty straightforward and at each of the ticket booths I approached, the staff spoke English and were able to help me to identify my destination. The skytrain is very crowded and I wouldn’t recommend it for a long haul, but it was a quick, easy, and very inexpensive way to bop around Bangkok.

If you’re traveling to Thailand, rest assured, there are several easy and cost effective options for transportation, plus a few fun options worth experiencing.