8 Hr Layover in BKK
Nov 12th, 2007, 07:41 PM
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8 Hr Layover in BKK
Due to a schedule change on Thai Air, I now have an 8 hour layover on Bangkok before my flight up to Hanoi. I have reserved a day room at the Novotel in case I am exhausted after the 20 hour flight from LA. Assuming I am not too tired, I am wondering if it makes sense to head in to Bangkok for a couple of hours and see some of the sites (I will be spending 1 1/2 days in Bangkok on my way home so this will not be my only stop in Bangkok). If it makes sense, what would you recommend that I see and how much time do I need to leave to get back to the airport and clear security? Would it simply make more sense to hang out at the Novotel pool for a couple of hours and relax? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Nov 12th, 2007, 08:09 PM
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8 hours is really short for a trip into the city and back and it will cost you as you will now have to pay the departure tax of about 700 B too....
if you do it i would hire a driver and have him stay with you the whole time....maybe you could do something for 4 hours, but personally i would just rest....what time of day will it be...??
if you do it i would hire a driver and have him stay with you the whole time....maybe you could do something for 4 hours, but personally i would just rest....what time of day will it be...??
Nov 12th, 2007, 08:37 PM
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Thanks for the information. We arrive at 9:00 a.m. and leave for Hanoi around 5:30 p.m. I assume we would have to pay the departure tax if we went to the Novotel as well...correct? Would you suggest just staying in the airport as the best alternative? We are flying Biz Class so we would have access to the lounge if that has an impact on your opinion. Thanks again!
Nov 12th, 2007, 09:53 PM
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With an 8 hour layover and a 9 am arrival time, IMO, you may have a tough time. Assuming you arrive on a weekday, you will be arriving at prime rush hour don't forget, so if you want to head into Bangkok, you are looking at a drive of at LEAST 1.5 - 2 hours and probably more to get any place down in the Sukumvit area or on the river. (It once took me almost 3 hours to get to the Peninsula hotel during rush hour.) And you better leave plenty of time for the way back in case you run into traffic on that end.
If you are not able to get a boarding pass for your Hanoi flight in the US, you will have to get on at the transfer counter which is in the main concourse area before you get to Immigration; make sure you have your onward boarding pass before you leave the airport, as sometimes the lines at the transfer counter can be very long and you don't want to leave it until later (and you will need to show a boarding pass when you come back through Immigration later in the day anyway).
With the potential traffic issues, I would stay at the airport or go to the Novotel. If you decide to stay at the airport, first thing I would do now is see if you can get a booking at the Thai Airways spa across from the main business class lounge on Concourse D for a massage and use their showers. (This is the Royal Orchid Spa, it is mostly for First Class, but if they have room they will take you. I transit through this airport a lot on my way to India and generally do not have a problem getting a booking, IMO you should not either esp with such a long layover.) It is quite easy to spend 2-3 hours there. If you can't get an appointment, you might be able to get a walk-in. Bring a change of clothes on the plane. The main lounge on Concourse D also has showers. Then have a meal somewhere in the airport. (Food offered in the lounges is not much, mostly tiny sandwiches and cookies, don't plan on having an actual meal in any lounge.) Then relax a little in the lounge itself, the main lounge on Concourse D has internet terminals so you can check e-mail. (The smaller satellite lounges nearer to the gates do not have terminals, at least they did not the last time I went through them about 3 weeks ago.) There are like 6 Thai lounges at the airport, the main one on Concourse D near Immigration, and about 4-5 smaller ones nearer to the other concourse/gate areas. Note that the main lounge is quite a walk to the gates, so leave time, about 15-20 minutes is what I usually need.
If you do leave the airport, note that there is a special Immigration line for Thai Business Class all the way over on the right, it is part of the diplomatic line; it is not often manned an you may have to get someone to open it up; but this will save you a lot of time if the lines at Immigration are long when you arrive (and they often can be) When you return to the airport, and have to come back through Immigration, note that there is a special Immigration line for Thai Airways Business Class, it is much shorter and faster than the other immigration lines, it is to the left of the other Immigration lines. Use these lines.
If you are not able to get a boarding pass for your Hanoi flight in the US, you will have to get on at the transfer counter which is in the main concourse area before you get to Immigration; make sure you have your onward boarding pass before you leave the airport, as sometimes the lines at the transfer counter can be very long and you don't want to leave it until later (and you will need to show a boarding pass when you come back through Immigration later in the day anyway).
With the potential traffic issues, I would stay at the airport or go to the Novotel. If you decide to stay at the airport, first thing I would do now is see if you can get a booking at the Thai Airways spa across from the main business class lounge on Concourse D for a massage and use their showers. (This is the Royal Orchid Spa, it is mostly for First Class, but if they have room they will take you. I transit through this airport a lot on my way to India and generally do not have a problem getting a booking, IMO you should not either esp with such a long layover.) It is quite easy to spend 2-3 hours there. If you can't get an appointment, you might be able to get a walk-in. Bring a change of clothes on the plane. The main lounge on Concourse D also has showers. Then have a meal somewhere in the airport. (Food offered in the lounges is not much, mostly tiny sandwiches and cookies, don't plan on having an actual meal in any lounge.) Then relax a little in the lounge itself, the main lounge on Concourse D has internet terminals so you can check e-mail. (The smaller satellite lounges nearer to the gates do not have terminals, at least they did not the last time I went through them about 3 weeks ago.) There are like 6 Thai lounges at the airport, the main one on Concourse D near Immigration, and about 4-5 smaller ones nearer to the other concourse/gate areas. Note that the main lounge is quite a walk to the gates, so leave time, about 15-20 minutes is what I usually need.
If you do leave the airport, note that there is a special Immigration line for Thai Business Class all the way over on the right, it is part of the diplomatic line; it is not often manned an you may have to get someone to open it up; but this will save you a lot of time if the lines at Immigration are long when you arrive (and they often can be) When you return to the airport, and have to come back through Immigration, note that there is a special Immigration line for Thai Airways Business Class, it is much shorter and faster than the other immigration lines, it is to the left of the other Immigration lines. Use these lines.
Nov 13th, 2007, 08:15 AM
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Both of your posts have been extraordinarily helpful and I am most grateful. Based on your comments, I think we will simply stay at the airport rather than risk heading into town. Do either one of you know how one goes about making a reservation at either the day rooms at the mini-hotel or at the Thai Air Spa? I've look in a number of places on on-line and have had no luck so far. Again, thanks very much.
Nov 13th, 2007, 08:34 AM
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My flight also arrives in BKK at 9 am due to a schedule change. I need to take a taxi to the Rama Gardens Hotel near the other airport. Does this 1 1/2 to 2 hour estimate apply for this as well?
Thanks,
Lynnie
Thanks,
Lynnie
Nov 14th, 2007, 01:23 AM
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Bowdoin, you can try to make a booking at the Royal Orchid Spa through the main business class lounge at the airport in Concourse D, call 66-2-134-5435 or 5439. The English of some of the people there is a bit limited (this is the time I reveal that one of the assistants in our office speaks Thai, which helps greatly..). One thing you might do is call and ask for a fax number or e-mail address first rather than trying to make a booking over the phone with a person who may not be able to help much in English. I find that this often works better (in hotels, etc)as your message can be passed on to someone who is more comfortable with English and you will get an appointment for the right date, time, etc.
