By Josh Butterworth. Josh is Impact Teaching’s Thailand Program Coordinator, and he lives in Thailand.

 

Who am I to write this article and why should you listen to me? Well, I’ve lived in Thailand for over 18 months and have travelled from the rolling mountains of the north to the white sandy beaches of the south. I’m Josh and I live in Chiang Mai, I am the Thailand Coordinator for Impact Teaching and was once a teacher in this wonderful country. But enough about me, let’s get into it!

 

Motorbikes
The best way to get around in Thailand is undoubtedly on a motorbike, or a moped to be more specific. It’s hands down the most cost-efficient form of transport and is how the majority of Thais get from A to B.

Renting a bike usually costs between £40 and £60 a month, and fuel is incredibly cheap. This option is good because the person or company you rent the bike from will fix any issues for free. However, buying a bike for between £300 and £600 means you can eventually sell it on and get some of your money back. This is more cost efficient in the long run but means you have to cover the costs of any problems, and go through the process of buying and selling.

You can find places to rent a bike online, ask a friend or someone at your school. Facebook Marketplace is a good way to find bikes for sale but I recommend getting someone who knows something about them to go with you and check it out first, and maybe someone to help you translate too.

Having a bike will give you freedom and independence, we strongly recommend getting one to ensure you have the best experience possible. But if you have never ridden one before or are not confident, take your time and practice a lot before hitting the road. Drive around carparks and when the roads aren’t busy to build yourself up, but it’s not difficult and you’ll get there in no time. Always wear a helmet and drive carefully. Get a Thai licence as soon as you can because police in bigger cities can stop and fine you. And consider some lessons in your home country, or in Thailand, to make sure you’re ready for the road.

Grab, the Asian equivalent of Uber

But there are some people who just don’t want to ever ride a bike, and that’s fine, there is a solution. Grab taxis are a great way to get around. Grab is effectively the Asian equivalent of Uber. You can choose either a car or a bike, the latter is of course slightly cheaper and more fun. A short trip is very inexpensive, you won’t pay more than £1.50 for a five-kilometre trip on the back of a bike with an experienced driver, whose hands you will be very safe in. However, these trips can add up, which is why renting or buying a bike is more cost efficient. But if Grab is your chosen method of transport, we recommend buying a good helmet to take with you, because drivers don’t always have them.

Other options

Other modes of transport that you may be familiar with in your home country, that are not as good of an option in Thailand, are walking, cycling, driving a car and public transport. It’s incredibly hot for most of the year in Thailand and pavements aren’t always available, walking short distances is ok but it’s not advisable for your two feet to be the only way you get around. Cycling is also made difficult because of the heat, and if you’re willing to do it, getting a moped would be a better idea. Buying and renting a car is very expensive, it’s not feedable on a teacher’s salary unless you have a lot of savings and we wouldn’t recommend it unless you are planning to stay for several years. Public transport outside of Bangkok is not great and causes more stress than joy, other than long distance coach and train travel.

In summary, renting or buying a moped in Thailand is your best option. If you don’t want to do that, getting Grab taxis and walking will be your next best bet. And for long journeys, getting on a coach, train or even flying will get you way you need to be efficiently and without breaking the bank.

We hope this article has given you the information you need to start thinking about how you will travel in Thailand. To start your teaching adventure in the Land of Smiles today, sign up here.