Transportation in Songkhla

Songkhla's transport is built around three practical choices: the blue songthaew trucks that loop the city and beaches for pocket-change fares, motorcycle taxis that dart through Old Town's narrow lanes, and metered taxis that wait at Hat Yai International Airport. No rail or metro exists here, so the songthaew network is what you'll use, flag one anywhere along the main ring road. They run all day and cost a fraction of a private ride. First-timers should download the Grab app before landing; it's the only reliable way to price a ride in advance and avoids the airport taxi queue's "special tourist rate." Skip the tuk-tuks parked outside Samila Beach, they look charming but charge triple what the songthaew does for the same trip. If you're heading straight to the city from the airport, the official taxi rank on the ground floor is the honest option. Insist on the meter or book via Grab to keep it moderate rather than a splurge.