How to make sure that you get off at the correct bus stop in Thailand?
I find it extremely difficult to get off at the correct bus stop in Thailand, mainly for the reasons as:
The bus stop usually doesn't have a recognizable sign on which stop it is.
Thai characters and its words are pretty hard to make out within just a few seconds for non-natives, while Google Maps only show the name in Thai.
The bus doesn't make an announcement to inform passangers of the next bus stop. This is unlike countries like Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, which have also a language barrier but make an announcement in English.
There is no such app available like CityMapper in Bangkok. This is also unlike in Tokyo and Seoul.
There is no electric bulletin board in the bus, that displays where the bus is right now and which is the next station, etc... (unlike Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan).
Counting a number of bus stops might work at times, but this has two main problems as well;
You must keep concentrating on the counting
A bus doesn't stop at every single stop, if no person gets on nor off.
A bus conductor doesn't speak English at all.
Moreover, in some buses you pay to a conductor a varying amount of fares depending on your destination. Thus you should not get off at the wrong bus stop once on board, as it might turn to a different amount of fares.
For me it is a nightmare to take a bus in Thailand (I'm in Bangkok, if it is relevant). How can you, a non-native tourist, make sure you get off at the correct stop? The only clue seems to be that you keep gazing on the Google Maps with GPS turned on, and use your gut instinct to get off at the correct stop...
Best Answer
Notice that the main thoroughfares in Bangkok are all called Thanon something (where Thanon is sometimes anglicised as Road), and they all have small streets, often dead ends, sprouting off them all the way along, which are called Soi something (anglicised as Something Alley), and they are usually also numbered sequentially along the Thanon, with odd Soi numbers along one side of the Thanon and even Soi numbers on the other. It's not quite as regular as Manhattan's streets and avenues, but it's half way there!
So let's say you're looking for Sukhumvit Soi 57, i.e. the 57th side street off Sukhumvit Road. Jump on a bus that goes along Thanon Sukhumvit and look out for numbered Soi signs. You notice Soi 30, so you know you need to look out of the opposite side of the bus for the odd numbers. Here's the blue sign that tells you you're at Sukhumvit Soi 53, so hop off at the next stop and you won't have far to walk.
Enjoy Bangkok!
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How to Request a Stop and Exit
More answers regarding how to make sure that you get off at the correct bus stop in Thailand?
Answer 2
Write the following phrase in Thai script on a piece of paper:
"Please tell me when when we reach < insert destination >"
Then show this piece of paper to the conductor/driver when paying your fare.
The phrase in Thai script is: ???????????????????? < insert destination here > ????
Example, if you are going to 'Sukhumvit Rd' you would write:
???????????????????? ??????????? ????
??????????? being Sukhumvit Rd
My advice is to print this phrase in large font(for the long sighted as many Thais don't wear glasses even if they need) or store on your phone, then just insert the destination name for each journey.
If you feel brave you can try to pronounce it, here are the Thai phonetics in Latin alphabet:
róp guan bòk p?m long rót tâa t?ung < insert destination here > láew
Be sure to research the tonal markings shown above the letters to ensure proper pronunciation ...
Answer 3
As far as I am aware, the Public Transit Navigation option never made it back into Google Maps but Citymapper and Moovit both will happily warn you with a voice to get off the bus.
Answer 4
Some possibilities:
- Count blocks instead of stops.
- How good are the buses at keeping to a schedule? Use the original mobile device, the one on your wrist.
- Find out the latitude and longitude of your destination, then use a (not necessarily phone-based) GPS.
- Look for numbers, rather than words, on signs. (A bit of pre-research with the "street view" on Google Maps might help.) All I can say is, my God, Manhattan has the right idea: it's a shame that not literally every other place with roads follows it!
Answer 5
As of July 2017, many buses (including the non-air-conditioned ones) in Bangkok have a television installed in the front. Though the font size is small, you can see the name of the next stop in Thai and English from anywhere in the front half of the bus.
I have read that they will install the television with a ticket machine that supports the subway/skytrain cards by the end of 2017.
Answer 6
Some of the buses have conductress. Sometimes I ask the conductress to remind me to get off at the right place. And sometimes I ask young people nearby if there is one. Thai people are friendly. They always help me and give me the direction.
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