Thai Busses

So far, my experience with the bus system has been consistently inconsistent. There are soooo many different ways to reach your destination, none of which take the same amount of time or cost the same amount of money. It's very difficult to know exactly what you want to do and actually make it happen. Thus far, this is what I have that might be of assistance.

Local Busses: These stop a lot. A lot. They will wait in certain spots for more passengers to fill the bus, even if it takes 30 minutes. On one of these busses, you really never know when you will arrive at your destination. It's also difficult to tell until you're on the bus if this is what you've done until you make your first stop.

Express Busses: These usually go faster, and have fewer stops. When they do stop they pick up people already there and move along. They offer a slightly more reliable time table.

VIP Busses: I know these exist, but I have yet to take one. More details on the benefits as they come.

Vans: These are usually more expensive, but not much at all. If you can find one and are willing to pay an extra 20 baht (about 75 cents), go for it. It's almost always worth it to sit on a non-stop, high speed, airconditioned van with only a few people.

If you are in a station, often you can find out what you are getting yourself into, as many things are marked in English. You won't be so lucky if you are on the street. Either way, eventually, you'll get there.

Some of the busses are big, similar to what I think of as a coach bus. These usually come with A/C and some form of entertainment (wanted or not). This might include a movie, music that is waaaaay too loud, or Thai music videos. I'd recommend an ipod or ear plugs. Others are simply school busses that have been painted. These often have fans attached to the roof that spin around offering a bit of a breeze for your ride. They also make quite a few stops, but usually don't wait for people.