By Plane -- Thai Airways (tel. 1566; www.thaiair.com) has two flights daily to Phitsanulok from Bangkok, leaving at 6:05am and 8:40pm (flying time: 56 min.). The Thai Airways office in Phitsanulok is at 209/26-28 Boromtrailokanart Rd. (tel. 05528-0060). Taxis cost 50B (US$1.40/75p) into town from the airport.
By Train -- About 10 trains per day travel between Phitsanulok and Bangkok. The trip time is about 7 hours and costs 369B (US$11/£5.70) for an air-conditioned second-class seat. "Rapid" trains can take up to 9 hours, so it is worth the expense to go "sprinter" or "express" class -- the difference being that express has sleeping berths. There are eight daily connections between Phitsanulok and Chiang Mai (7 hrs.; 440B/US$13/£6.75). For information and reservations, call Bangkok's Hua Lampong Railway Station (tel. 1690), Chiang Mai Railway Station (tel. 05324-5363), or the Phitsanulok Railway Station (tel. 05525-8005).
In front of the station in Phitsanulok, throngs of samlors (pedicabs) and motorcycle taxis wait to take you to your hotel. The station is right in town, so expect to pay just 50B (US$1.45/75p) to get where you need to go. The bidding will start at around 100B (US$2.85/£1.55); smile and get ready to haggle.
By Bus -- Standard air-conditioned buses leave daily every hour for the trip to Phitsanulok from Bangkok from 7am to midnight (trip time: 7 hr.; 277B/US$8/£4.25). The V.I.P. bus leaves at midnight and is about the same price; the wide seats recline enough to get a decent sleep, and the overnight trip is a time saver. Buses depart from Chiang Mai in similar numbers. Frequent non-A/C buses connect with Sukhothai. The intercity bus terminal in Phitsanulok is 2km (1 1/4 miles) east of town on Highway 12 (about 50B/US$1.40/75p by tuk-tuk or taxi). Contact Bangkok's Northern Bus Terminal (tel. 02936-2841), the Arcade Bus Station in Chiang Mai (tel. 05324-2664), or the Phitsanulok Bus Terminal (tel. 05521-2090).
By Minivan -- Travel to Sukhothai or on to Mae Sot can be arranged with Win Tour (tel. 05326-0295).
