Surviving in Bangkok with Must-Have Apps to Simplify Your Life
Bangkok… A Perfect Life Awaits
Where did this slogan come from? Just this morning, I woke up and had to think long and hard about how to get to work. The roads are congested, the skytrain is packed tighter than a can of sardines, and the buses never arrive on time. Oh my, a perfect life indeed! For those of you who face this frustrating morning routine, don’t you ever get tired of it? Today, Rabbit Finance will guide you on how to survive in Bangkok with apps that make your life easier.
These apps are not just for the survivors of Bangkok; even foreign tourists can be survivors in Bangkok too! So, let’s not wait any longer and check out the apps that will save us from the traffic in Bangkok.
Via Bus: Waiting for the Bus with Hope
Even though Bangkok has a skytrain that makes our travels smooth and quick, there are days when it just doesn’t cooperate. That means the survival game in Bangkok has begun. The first thing to do is to rush to the bus stop with your fellow commuters. But after waiting endlessly, the bus still hasn’t arrived.
We have a solution: just download the Via Bus app, which brings a glimmer of hope to your bus wait by allowing you to select your bus stop. The app will show the bus routes that pass by. Once you select a bus route, it will display the bus's location via GPS, indicating how long until it arrives.
You can also set your destination, and the app will show you the bus routes that will take you there.
Pros: The bus location and real-time updates are quite accurate, helping you plan your life better.
Cons: Some buses are not equipped with GPS, and there is no English language support (foreigners might have to figure things out a bit).
BMA Traffic: Your Magical Eye
If you have your right hand as your vehicle, then you need your left hand, the BMA Traffic app, which acts as your magical eye to monitor traffic conditions in real-time through CCTV cameras across Bangkok. This way, you can always find new routes.
Simply open the app and select the Map menu, which will display the traffic conditions. The special feature of this app is that we can view real-time traffic conditions through CCTV cameras installed throughout Bangkok.
But wait, there’s more! This app also shows the locations of accidents, which helps you decide whether to risk your life on that road or take an alternative route. With this app, your life on the road will definitely change.
Pros: The real-time feature helps you decide on routes and shows accident locations.
Cons: No cameras in the outskirts, some cameras are not positioned correctly, some cameras have issues and cannot be viewed, and while there is English support, street names are still in Thai.
EXAT Traffic: The Go-To App for Expressway Enthusiasts
If you don’t want to risk your life on the roads, just hop on the expressway! But sometimes, the expressway isn’t as fast as its name suggests, as traffic can start right at the entrance toll booth. On days like this, you need the powerful EXAT Traffic app.
This app will inform you about traffic on the expressway. Go to the Journey Planner menu, and it will display the expressways in Bangkok and the surrounding areas, showing traffic density with colors. It also provides information about toll booths, including prices and cash lane arrangements.
And the EXAT Traffic app also has the magical eye feature that monitors real-time traffic conditions on the expressway. This will help you decide on your travel route since sometimes taking the expressway doesn’t necessarily get you to your destination faster.
Pros: Provides detailed information about the expressway and shows real-time traffic images.
Cons: No English support, and some CCTV cameras are not functioning.
Bangkok MRT: The Fast Subway
If you regularly travel by subway, you need the protective gear of the Bangkok MRT app, which provides complete details about the MRT. You can be sure you won’t get lost or board the wrong station.
Whether it’s the route map that allows you to specify your starting point to your destination or the special feature that calculates travel time, you can easily determine what time to wake up for work each morning without worrying about being late.
For those who don’t often take the MRT, the app also provides fare rates and has signs indicating the routes, so you won’t get lost. Importantly, this app is also suitable for foreign tourists as it has clear English explanations, so you’ll be just fine!
Pros: Available in English, detailed information about the MRT and nearby places at each station.
Cons: It should include notifications for when the MRT will arrive at the station.
Grab is Here to Save You
This is a professional rescue app that never disappoints, as it will be your hero on days when you need to survive the traffic in Bangkok or on days when taxis refuse to help you.
Grab is a public transport app that will assist you in times of crisis, whether it’s on rainy days when you can’t leave home or on Mondays when traffic is backed up from the first intersection. Grab will help you out because within the Grab app, you can request a private car, taxi, or motorcycle, making it a comprehensive solution.
Additionally, it frequently offers promotions, so it’s no surprise that students, office workers, and others often seek its help. A little tip: foreign tourists can also use it, and Grab services are available in other ASEAN countries too, making it super convenient!
Pros: Frequent discount promotions, English language support, no fear of being refused, and fairly accurate time estimates.
Cons: Some situations may lead to drama with local motorcycle taxi drivers and taxi drivers.
If you plan to survive in Bangkok, don’t even think about it without these five essential apps. So hurry up and download them! Let’s make sure we can live a good life in Bangkok at last. We must be the winners!
Thanks for the information from rabbitfinance.com
