Hello all. I have a few questions related to our upcoming trip to Bangkok in February. The first is, what's the best way to get from suvarnabhumi airport to the hotels? Our hotel is right near both a skytrain and subway stop - do either of these operate from the airport. Or should we plan to take a taxi?

The second question is this; how can one spend 18 hrs in Bangkok. We'll be in the city for 4 days on the front end of our trip, then we're going to siem reap in cambodia for 4 days. We're coming back to bangkok on a flight arriving at 2:20 pm, then leaving the next day to fly back to the states at noon.

Can anyone recommend hotels and activities sort of near the airport? I would think we'd have enough time back in the city so as not to have to stay right near the airport, but maybe not? Any advice appreciated.

Plan to take a taxi from a public taxi stand outside the airport. Look the meter, plus you pay the tolls (80bt?). Less than 500bt to most hotels in BKK.

I'd stay in BKK if I arrived around 1430.

The new skytrain route from the airport to the city is not yet finished. The subway doesn't go that far either. So, you will need to take a taxi into your hotel. There are plenty of them so not a problem. I always just get in the line for the public taxi. Tauts will try to get you to take their taxi service as you are walking through the airport lobby. I always walk right by, telling them no, and then heading to the queue for the public meter taxis. The price for the public taxis is usually under 200 baht, but you also add a 50 bt service charge to the meter, AND you pay the driver the money for the two tolls on top of that. You will want small change in baht (20s, 50s and 100s) rather than trying to break 1000 bt notes. There is an exchange counter in the baggage area, just after you clear immigration.

As far as staying by the airport, I would not do that. The trip from the airport into the city isn't that bad, and there is plenty to do in the city. Have a nice dinner; take in a movie at one of the lux Gold Class theaters; shop the night markets. There is nothing to do if you stay out by the airport!

Carol

the airport is about 35-50 minutes outside bkk....neither the subway nor the skytrain go there yet...

so you can travel by taxi or limo...limos are just regular sedans...most taxis are toyota corollas...

if you have not been to bkk before i suggest you take the limo on your first arrival....AOT, the official limo company of the airport has stands all over the arrival area...it costs more than a taxi but is more reliable in many ways and has more room... i always use the limo even after 12 trips to bkk and maybe 40 arrivals....i do use taxis also but only with a small amount of luggage and when i don't mind if i might get aggrevated with the driver---some are good, some are terrible and have no idea where they need to go...

there are tons of things to do in bkk....lots of sightseeing: grand palace, wat arun, jim thompson house, other wats, prasart museum.....shopping....visiting markets....great restaurants...

i have a restaurant listing if you are interested ask for it at:

[email protected]

there is only one hotel near the airport just now and it is the novotel at the airport...

stay in town!!

The AOT counter is right inside the baggage claim. What I do is before picking up my luggage, I just walk over to the AOT counter and tell the rep that I want the cheapest car- the 850 Baht car. My serviced apartment building is in Sukhumvit, a 35 minute ride. Then I pick up my luggage, walk out, and the car is ready.

Also, before I leave the apartment building to go back to the airport, I have the desk, at my building, call AOT and tell them that I want the 850 baht car unless I've decided to take a taxi back to the airport.

Once the taxi cost me 229 baht (meter on) plus toll #1 cost 40Baht and toll number #2 cost 20 baht. So, a total of 289 baht. My building is at Prom Phong skytrain station (Emporium Mall) The freeway entrance is very nearby. So, under 300 baht by taxi.

The taxi driver tried to negotiate a flat rate of 300 baht, plus tolls....so 360 baht. But, I told him to turn on the meter, knowing that my building is near the freeway and then it's straight out to the airport. Happy Travels!

I always recommend that you go into the city as there is nothing but the airport in the area of the airport. We did stay at the airport when we arrived at midnight and had to be back at the airport at 8:00 am. The Novotel is perfectly adequate, but that's all. For the price you pay you could get a much better hotel in the city. And since there is nothing out by the airport to see/do, you will enjoy it more if you go into the city. It takes 20-30 minutes to get from the airport to my hotel on the river.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

As for staying at the Novotel the night before your departure a lot depends on what time your flight is that morning. If its real real early then you do save time by staying the night before at the Novotel. We did that on our last trip. We were able to arrange a late checkout- now if you can do the same, checkout and leave your bags with the bellhop and spend the early evening in BKK then head out to the Novotel in the evening - that may work out for you. The Novotel is not cheap so thats another consideration. For us the time saved in the morning was really important as well as insuring that we did not have to worry about traffic, cab not showing up, cab getting lost etc. Yes the odds of that happening are small - but hey it could happen!