Long Layover in BKK from 1pm till midnight - what to do?
Sep 6th, 2003, 04:54 AM
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Long Layover in BKK from 1pm till midnight - what to do?
Has any of you any idea what to for 10 hours at or around BKK airport after a loooooong flight on TG from Europe? It should not cost that much.
Do you know how long lounges are open at BKK?
Any suggestion is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Do you know how long lounges are open at BKK?
Any suggestion is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Sep 6th, 2003, 07:06 AM
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Take a look at the Destinations guide for Bangkok put together by Fodors on this site. (Click on Destinations above, then scroll down to Asia and click on Bangkok.) This will give you and idea of what there is to see and do and can help you plan what you might want to see
Although you probably don't want to sit on a bus, you could probably find a bus tour of the city. Given traffic in Bangkok, you would probably spend more time on the bus than actually seeing anything.
Assuming you don't have any luggage, you could consider one or more of the following options. The fastest would be to get a taxi from the airport for these destinations:
1. Grand Palace, this is the #1 site in Bangkok. You can tour yourself or hire a guide inside, you would need about 2 hours. (No shorts, even on men, no open shoes, read other posts on this site about dress codes.) I believe the Palace closes around 4 pm, so you would need to do this first.
2. A trip up the river by public water taxi or hiring a long-tail boat for 1-2 hours. The river is the life-blood of the city and is always busy with boats. You can pick up the water taxis next door to the Oriental Hotel, or a short walk from the Grand Palace on the river. Hiring your own long-tail boat (basically a canoe with a motor, although wider and more comfortable) and driver would be better, IMO as you can stop off at the Temple of the Dawn and take a tour down the canals (klnogs) off the river. I have done this, but always through a hotel. You light want to search around to see if there are tour companies offering long tail boat tours of Bangkok; I am sure there are. Maybe post another thread here.
3. Lunch and/or dinner along the river at one of the hotels: Penninsula, Shangri-La, Oriental or Sheraton Royal Orchid. All have outdoor cafés along the water. This would give you a good chance to see life along the river.
4. Thai massage or other spa treatment. The Oriental and Peninsula have excellent spas. Look on their website. If you are interested, you would need to book ahead. You can also have an inexpensive massage at the Wat Po Temple (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) near the Grand Palace, which has a massage center. The temple is worth a visit if you have time.
5. Jim Thompson's House. This is a beautiful traditional Thai house along a canal. It was built and owned by Jim Thompson, an American who revived the Thai silk industry in the 1960s. The house if beautifully furnished with antiques and has a pretty small garden. There is a shop here selling reproductions of some items as well as Thai silk gifts, there is also a small restaurant for lunch. If Thai silk, antiques and houses appeal to you, this would be an interesting trip. You could also head over to the main Jim Thompson shop for more shopping. There are also smaller shops in the Penn and Oriental that are worth a look if you are at either hotel. Website for the Jim Thompson house is www.jimthompsonhouse.com, and it has links to their shops as well. I belive the last tour is around 4 pm, so if you want to do this, you should do it first. You may not have time to do both this and the Grand Palace.
The website for Bangkok Airport is http://www.airportthai.co.th. Click on Bangkok. According to the website, you can hire a dayroom (4-hour minimum) with a bed. Day rooms are available for passengers on the 2nd and 4th floor of Terminal 1&2 at reasonable rates. Advance reservation of rooms can be made by yourself through the telephone number 0-2535-3710-7.
Take a look at the Thai Airways website at http://www.thaiair.com/. They have both business and first class lounges, which I believe are open 24 hours. However, unless they have re-done the lounges in the last 2 years, neither lounge is really much beyond sofas and a limited buffet. Only the first class lounge has showers. IMO the business class lounge is not really that comfortable, and has no windows. With a long layover, I think I would look into paying for a Day Room.
The Amari hotel is adjacent to the airport and is connected by a walkway. It gets mixed reviews here, but if you are looking for a place to put your head down and take a shower, this may be an option. They may offer rates by the hour, take a look at their website at www.amari.com
If you head into the city, give yourself at least an hour to get back to the airport. Traffic will thin out the later in the evening you return, but an hour would give you a good cushion just in case.
Although you probably don't want to sit on a bus, you could probably find a bus tour of the city. Given traffic in Bangkok, you would probably spend more time on the bus than actually seeing anything.
Assuming you don't have any luggage, you could consider one or more of the following options. The fastest would be to get a taxi from the airport for these destinations:
1. Grand Palace, this is the #1 site in Bangkok. You can tour yourself or hire a guide inside, you would need about 2 hours. (No shorts, even on men, no open shoes, read other posts on this site about dress codes.) I believe the Palace closes around 4 pm, so you would need to do this first.
2. A trip up the river by public water taxi or hiring a long-tail boat for 1-2 hours. The river is the life-blood of the city and is always busy with boats. You can pick up the water taxis next door to the Oriental Hotel, or a short walk from the Grand Palace on the river. Hiring your own long-tail boat (basically a canoe with a motor, although wider and more comfortable) and driver would be better, IMO as you can stop off at the Temple of the Dawn and take a tour down the canals (klnogs) off the river. I have done this, but always through a hotel. You light want to search around to see if there are tour companies offering long tail boat tours of Bangkok; I am sure there are. Maybe post another thread here.
3. Lunch and/or dinner along the river at one of the hotels: Penninsula, Shangri-La, Oriental or Sheraton Royal Orchid. All have outdoor cafés along the water. This would give you a good chance to see life along the river.
4. Thai massage or other spa treatment. The Oriental and Peninsula have excellent spas. Look on their website. If you are interested, you would need to book ahead. You can also have an inexpensive massage at the Wat Po Temple (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) near the Grand Palace, which has a massage center. The temple is worth a visit if you have time.
5. Jim Thompson's House. This is a beautiful traditional Thai house along a canal. It was built and owned by Jim Thompson, an American who revived the Thai silk industry in the 1960s. The house if beautifully furnished with antiques and has a pretty small garden. There is a shop here selling reproductions of some items as well as Thai silk gifts, there is also a small restaurant for lunch. If Thai silk, antiques and houses appeal to you, this would be an interesting trip. You could also head over to the main Jim Thompson shop for more shopping. There are also smaller shops in the Penn and Oriental that are worth a look if you are at either hotel. Website for the Jim Thompson house is www.jimthompsonhouse.com, and it has links to their shops as well. I belive the last tour is around 4 pm, so if you want to do this, you should do it first. You may not have time to do both this and the Grand Palace.
The website for Bangkok Airport is http://www.airportthai.co.th. Click on Bangkok. According to the website, you can hire a dayroom (4-hour minimum) with a bed. Day rooms are available for passengers on the 2nd and 4th floor of Terminal 1&2 at reasonable rates. Advance reservation of rooms can be made by yourself through the telephone number 0-2535-3710-7.
Take a look at the Thai Airways website at http://www.thaiair.com/. They have both business and first class lounges, which I believe are open 24 hours. However, unless they have re-done the lounges in the last 2 years, neither lounge is really much beyond sofas and a limited buffet. Only the first class lounge has showers. IMO the business class lounge is not really that comfortable, and has no windows. With a long layover, I think I would look into paying for a Day Room.
The Amari hotel is adjacent to the airport and is connected by a walkway. It gets mixed reviews here, but if you are looking for a place to put your head down and take a shower, this may be an option. They may offer rates by the hour, take a look at their website at www.amari.com
If you head into the city, give yourself at least an hour to get back to the airport. Traffic will thin out the later in the evening you return, but an hour would give you a good cushion just in case.
Sep 6th, 2003, 10:32 AM
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Wow, Cicerone, what a terrific and informative post! I would only add that there are also some hotels quite near the airport that are much less expensive than the Amari. I think one that has been recommended here and by friends of mine is called Rama Gardens.
If I were in your situation, coolgerald, I would want to spend part of that 10 hours sleeping in a real bed.
If I were in your situation, coolgerald, I would want to spend part of that 10 hours sleeping in a real bed.
Sep 6th, 2003, 08:11 PM
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in short there is nothing much to do around the airport...you will be very tired i am sure...perhaps find yourself an hotel room and sleep for 4 hours and then swim in their pool for the rest of the time...i can't imagine touring after that flight and no real rest...
have a nice meal and a shower and swim...pick one of the 4 star hotels where it is very nice....you must allow 1 hour to and from the airport if you go into town by taxi..
the amari would seem really to me to be the best bet...room, swim (i think they have a pool), shower, another meal and back on the plane....hope it isn't a long trip
have a nice meal and a shower and swim...pick one of the 4 star hotels where it is very nice....you must allow 1 hour to and from the airport if you go into town by taxi..
the amari would seem really to me to be the best bet...room, swim (i think they have a pool), shower, another meal and back on the plane....hope it isn't a long trip
Sep 6th, 2003, 10:00 PM
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well if you don't have much gear or cash too throw around head off too Khoa San road (SP) .. and chill in one of the bars where you can have cheep beer, watch boot leg movies for most of the day and you can drop your head on the tables and take a nap while no one bothers you.. plus the grand palice and other sites are around the corner...
only prob hailing taxis out of that area can be a pain in the neck especialy if raining... plus trafic you will have too leave for airport fairly early in eveing ..
or maybe go too nana aria rent a room for a couple of hours take nap.. check out night sceen untill 9 pm and hall out..
or mabye rent a taxi and guiede for day thay'll take you anywhere for negotated price..
only prob hailing taxis out of that area can be a pain in the neck especialy if raining... plus trafic you will have too leave for airport fairly early in eveing ..
or maybe go too nana aria rent a room for a couple of hours take nap.. check out night sceen untill 9 pm and hall out..
or mabye rent a taxi and guiede for day thay'll take you anywhere for negotated price..
Sep 20th, 2003, 04:18 PM
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Do not get turned off with Bangkok while you are riding from the airport to the center of the city. The surroundings were a bit despressing, but once we arrived at the hotel and toured the city, I fell in love with the city.
