Airport to Chatuchak
 

Our itinerary has us flying from Phuket to Bangkok on Saturday, arriving at 2:20pm. We then overnight at the Novotel Suvarnabhumi before taking a 6:40am flight back to Chicago. Do we have time to get to the Chatuchak Market, and would it be worth the effort?

Thank you.

You wouldn't get there until at least 4pm. Shops will still be open, but you'll be rushed, then have to drive all the way back to the airport to your hotel. If it were me, I would stay in the city instead of the airport. I've had 6am flights out of BKK, but never wanted to stay at the airport. If you do stay there, then make sure to go into town for dinner/shopping then back. Not much going on out at Suv.

try going into town to the nite market instead

One possibility might be to get a driver who'll take us directly to the market, hold onto our luggage for a few hours, and then take us to check in at the hotel. This should give us about two and a half hours at the market (3:30 to 6:00). Also, given a driver, we would have access to Bangkok's many restaurants. I guess my question is whether or not the market experience would be worth the expense.

JJ market is OK, but you may just want to go to Lumpini night market. Its closer and seems to be more fun. Then you can go hang out at vertigo bar in the Banyan tree.

Thanks, Mango7. We may, indeed, try out the Lumpini market. Sadly, my wife and I are not much at hanging out at bars.

A couple of questions: (1) what might the taxi cost, (2) how long is the drive, and (3) are there any good restaurants in the area?

i should think the taxi might be about 250-300B...there is food at the nite market...depending on traffic the drive could be 35-60 minutes

Perhaps this will change your mind about Vertigo.

http://www.banyantree.com/bangkok/dining_vertigo.htm

Haha. He probably thought I was referring to a hooker bar.