Teaching in Thailand - Accommodation & Transportation

Accommodation and Transportation

In relation to teaching salaries, Housing in Bangkok is quite expensive. Rent varies from 5,000 to 10,000 baht per month, or more. Bangkok is the most Westernized city in Thailand, and the types of housing available reflect this trait. Modern apartment buildings with air-conditioning, hot water, telephone lines, and Western-style bathrooms are offered. However, these apartments have limited cooking facilities, if any. Most places have a refrigerator, and some have a hot plate or stove. Generally, apartment rentals don't have much in the way of a kitchen. Food stalls and markets provide cheap and delicious Thai food at all hours for as little as 15 baht a dish. The starting price of some apartment complexes near Siam Square, on Rama I and Phayathai Roads vary from 5,000 to 6,000 baht on a monthly basis.

Another housing option is the guest house; many of them have long-term rentals for expats. Monthly rent ranges from 9,000 to 15,000 baht per month and provide all the modern amenities. Wendy Guest House and A-1 Guest House are popular places in Siam Square, and cost 9,000 and 10,000 baht respectively. Phra Arthit Mansions in Banglumphu near the Chao Phraya River costs 15,000, and boasts of air-con, hot water, daily maid services, refrigerator, and cable TV. There are a lot of guesthouses in Banglamphu with basic accommodations for those on a budget. Basic rooms will have a ceiling fan, and may have basic furniture such as a nightstand or dresser drawer. Shared bathrooms will be in the hallway. Rooms cost about 75 to 80 baht for a single, and the monthly rate will be 2,100 to 2,400 baht depending on the discount. Most guesthouses provide monthly discounts of 10% or 20%. Guesthouses also have their own kitchen with Western and Thai dishes.

Those preferring a less sterile ambiance can rent old Thai houses in the Sukhumvit area, where a lot of expats live. You might have to find a connection in the expat community to live here, since houses are shared with two or three people, and modern apartments are for one or two people at the most. These antique-style houses are quite pleasant, with teak floors and traditional decor. However, they may not have air-conditioning, hot water, or Western bathrooms, unless they have been converted. Rent can be quite high, especially if you have maid service, which a lot of people who live in these houses do. But if you want to live with roommates in a more spacious and traditional setting than modern apartments, this is a good option.

There are many modes of transportation in large Thai cities, but Bangkok is notorious for traffic jams, and even Chiang Mai is becoming more congested. Living near your school would be a good option to avoid commuting and getting stuck in traffic snarls. Bangkok bears a resemblance to Los Angeles in its physical structure-there is no center or downtown, but many different neighborhoods that are spread over a large area. The best way to get around is by public transportation. There are red, blue, and green buses that cost a few baht and cover many parts of the city. There are also more luxurious air-conditioned buses-the blue and white ones range from 8 to 16 baht depending on the distance traveled, and a new fleet of red and grey buses charge a flat rate of 25 baht and have TVs.

Taxis are another way to get around-the cars are new and air-conditioned. The meter starts at 30 baht and goes up quite slowly-better than New York cabs! But it is better to be wary of traffic since it can be maddening to be stuck in a taxi watching the meter go up. Taxis are a better option for going out or going home at night. If you are traveling short to medium distances with minimal traffic, the fare will be 60 to 80 baht.

The tuk-tuk, is an open-air, three-wheeled taxi. However, these are being phased out for new fleets of taxicabs, but there are still some around. Unlike taxis, you can bargain the price, but if you don't speak Thai very well, chances are you will be taken for a ride, so it may not be worth it. But they are a fun way to ride around the city, even though they emit noxious fumes. Short distances will start at 30 to 40 baht, and going all the way across town may cost 100 to 140 baht or more.

The motorcycle taxi is another way to get around, which should be preferably avoided for safety reasons. If you really need to get to the bus station on time in rush-hour traffic, this may be a more surefire way than taking the bus, and they are cheaper than taxicabs or even tuk-tuks. Riding in chaotic Bangkok traffic without a helmet or crash pads is very dangerous, and accidents are recurrent. Most fares start at 20 baht for short to medium distances, and acceptable to bargain.