Traveling without a car – Thailand

The past few weeks I have been backpacking through the north of Thailand with my son. An absolute must do! Traveling with your son or daughter, or with your father or mother is a great opportunity to get to know each other in a completely different way.

Nowadays you can book a plane ticket cheaply, at least a lot cheaper than when I was 18. Back then such a trip was unthinkable. All the more fun to do something like that when you are 48.

It gets really fun when your son has actually saved too little money to make such a trip. That means sleeping on bunk beds (with rock-hard mattresses) in cheap hostels, eating cheap, traveling as cheaply as possible. But that is all possible in Thailand.

I feel for our tenants who don't have a car themselves, but rent one from time to time. You start thinking much more carefully about how you want to get around. A list of the choices I made.

Of course I can rent a car. But yes, in Bangkok cars drive on the left side of the road. And it is quite busy.

I know enough about damage and paying your own risk. But don't do it.

You can also take a taxi in Bangkok.

Or the subway.

Or a bus.

Or a tuk-tuk.

Or a boat, as you can see in the video below:

By train to Chiang Mai

We travel by night train to the north. A journey of about 10 hours. I think: let's make sure we get to the station on time. You never know how punctual the Thai railways are. When we arrive at the station, it is already announced that the train will leave half an hour later. Later, another fifteen minutes are added. And another fifteen minutes. And then another fifteen minutes.

So I have all the time to talk to people. My friend O has never been outside Thailand, but knows something about Dutch footballers (like most Thais).

Almost an hour and a half after the scheduled departure time we are on our way. And we are complaining about our NS!

The train dates from the 70s, I guess. It doesn't go fast, I think about 50-60 km/h. No wonder we have to drive 10 hours for 500 km.

When it's bedtime, the couches are folded into beds and neat curtains are hung.

Luckily I can sleep in a bunk bed at the bottom, they have a bit more space than the top beds. There is even a power outlet to charge your phone!

But the journey is absolutely worth it. After sleeping well (I'm starting to get used to the rock-hard mattresses), the landscape has changed completely.

Rent a scooter in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand. Also busy, but not as busy as Bangkok. It is just wedged between mountains.

If you want to do something, it's a good idea to rent some scooters to explore the area. And that's a lot of fun!

As a landlord, I am of course curious about how to rent a scooter in Thailand.

Reservations are not necessary - there are enough rental companies in a street. A driver's license is not requested, although they are quite fast scooters. Maximum speed around 100 km/h. Strange.

And the damage that is already there? We are asked to take a few pictures ourselves.

Also the fuel, which you have to return at approximately the same level (the tank was of course empty).

And then driving! That is quite an experience. From the hustle and bustle of the city into the mountains. Many bends, but excellent roads. A great way to get to know another country!

Back to the city. As I just wrote, the rental company does not ask for a driver's license.

But yes, if you drive into a police trap, of course an officer wants to see your driver's license. And I don't have it with me.

Well, that will mean a fine.

Pay immediately.

I ask what will happen if I get pulled over again. Then I can just show the ticket instead of a valid driver's license.

And that for 400 Bath. Converted to 10 euros. Bargain!

No vans

Adrem rents out quite a few vans. I am surprised that you hardly see any vans in Thailand. There are a huge number of pick-ups. These pick-up cars are often used to transport people (backpackers), but also goods.

It must be the weather. If it hardly ever rains, you don't need to transport your stuff in a closed van.

By bus to Pai

For a small fee you can take a bus to the town of Pai (in the north). A road through the mountains with more than 700 bends. On backpacker sites they warn about nausea as a result of the driving style of Thai drivers. But that is not too bad.

Because these minibuses can carry up to 15 people, the luggage is tied to the roof. I hope my shoes are still hanging from my backpack when we arrive.

What I find special is the pictograms on the side of the bus. They state what you are not allowed to do.

Rent a bike in Pai

My son's travel budget has shrunk considerably. So we no longer rent scooters (he also got a ticket for driving without a license), but both a mountain bike. Also fun, and better for your fitness!

But Pai is also wedged between mountains. If you want to do something fun (to waterfalls, hot springs, or the Pai canyon), you will have to climb. And I am not (anymore) used to that.

I promise myself never to complain about the hills in Limburg again. Or about the weather. Cycling in Thailand sometimes causes near-death experiences. Not only because of the climbing, but also because of the inhuman temperatures. I get a text message from home that it is 9 degrees below zero in Maastricht. That means it is 50 degrees warmer here!

tuktuk

Thailand is famous for the many tuktuks that drive around. In addition to renting bicycles and scooters, we of course also use them. It is smart to negotiate the rate before the driver races you somewhere - afterwards you have no leg to stand on.

Traveling without a car

If you travel by plane, you will not have a car at your destination (unless you rent one).

It is quite adventurous to always choose which transport you are going to take. Especially if you do not have the money to always take a taxi. It teaches me to think better about which transport I will use when at home.

As a car rental company I also feel obliged to think about which modes of transport we offer. If you have ideas on how we can do that better, I'd love to hear your reaction!

A van or rent a passenger bus in Echt and surroundings? That is possible at Adrem!