Ayuthaya Travel Forum

Hi,

My family (me, hubby, 3-yr old son) will be visiting bangkok this augusta nd are planning to visit Ayutthaya, too. I've read in several posts here that train is the best way to go to ayutthaya. Are the trains comfortable also for children? How much is the fare for children? When we arrive at Ayutthaya, how do we go around the different tourist spots? Is there a taxi there that we can rent to tour as around the area? How much would it cost?

Thanks in advance for all you replies. :)

Well, if you are taking a train, you should take the FAST train (slightly expensive than local) which takes about an hour and a half to reach Ayuthaya. If you take the local, you would be wasting a lot of time sitting on the train. Besides, the local trains are almost like cardboard boxes on wheels. The FAST trains are reasonably good. Otherwise, you can actually take the BUS which takes pretty much the same time as trains depending on the traffic and stops. Thai Government buses are quite good and comfortable and inexpensive that you would be better off going by a bus than train. The roads from BKK to Ayuthaya is very good and so the buses wont bounce around like in other places which should make the trip comfortable.

As for touring around Ayuthaya, since you a small kid, avoid hiring a MOTO though its cheaper than taxi. The motos are 3 wheeled vehicles with a cage like structure at the back where you sit. Its covered at the top but NOT airconditioned. Its a fun ride if you are on your own. The MOTO drivers also would tell you that its a fixed 200 BAHT for one hour (rate fixed by the tourist police) but you should be able to bargain it down. If you are going in the offseason, its even better. Taxi costs are a bit higher but the same bargaining applies to them too. If you were hiring the taxi for the whole day, try getting it for about 600-800 BAHT. Remember, the distances inside Ayuthaya are not that big and so you dont even need them for the whole day.

Thanks a lot for the reply.
Where can I rent a taxi to go around? Are there taxis available outside the train station? Where can I get information on the schedule of the fast trains?

Well, you can rent them outside the Ayuthaya rail station. The moment you walk outside, you will be surrounded by tuk tuk drivers. However since you are traveling with a small kid, I suggest you avoid them and look for taxis instead. There arent any specific taxi agencies that cater to the tourists as taxis are individually operated. You can flag one and bargain with them.

The other option that I would advise is try and get one from Bangkok itself since you would anyway be paying for the Train/Bus to and fro for 2-3 people. This way, you can avoid that and strike a deal with a taxi company to take you there for the whole day and bring you back to Bangkok.

The train fares are quite expensive to Ayuthaya if you take the fast trains. Its about 235 Baht one way on the fast train, buses charge about 50 Bahts per person each way. Besides, to reach the train station at BKK, you will have to take a taxi. All the costs might actually add up and you might be better off and more comfortable renting a cab from BKK to Ayuthaya and back for the whole day. Just a thought.

Not sure if it is your thing, but we went on a coach trip from Bangkok which was air conditioned, did all the major sites in Ayuthaya and included the summer palace too. We got dropped at the river at about 1pm and had a river cruise back with a nice lunch on board. It was run by the Shangri La hotel but anyone could book it. Depends what you fancy or what you're budget is I guess. I think it was about 15 GB pounds each which is quite a lot in bangkok.

Is it possible to travel around Ayutthaya by foot or bicycle within 1 day?