Wow - everyone here has been so helpful as I pull together a true dream vacation. Have a few more questions though:

1. On our last day, we are returning home on a 10:30 p.m. flight out of BKK. That day, we plan to fly from Phuket to BKK in the afternoon - if I budget 3 hours between flights will that be enough? Do the domestic and int'l flights all take place in the same airport?

2. We are going to be spending 4 nights at the Sarojin (happily booked through Sawadee - thank you again fodorites) - we have a Garden room, are there any particular rooms that we should request, or are they all equally spectacular?

Thanks! Sara

can't remember your travel dates, but todays posting about the new airport says it will open on 9/28 so if you are around that date none of us have experience in changing flights there of course....

theoretically you should be fine with 3 hours at the old airport....myself i would never do it however....suppose the phuket flight is delayed...i always return to bkk the nite before...others will disagree, but i have read too many horror stories in the past....also you have to change buildings probably in bkk at the old airport....that takes approx 30 minutes give or take...you can walk it...30 minutes is gate to gate...

I also recommend that you return to Bangkok the night before you leave. Flights can get delayed/cancelled for any number of reasons. In 2000, we experienced a flight cancellation (mechanical problems) in Chiang Rai, missed our flight to Koh Samui and ended up spending the night at an airport hotel in Bangkok rather than on the beach. Since then we have always played it safe. Missing your flight home would be much worse than our situation. However, I think that in theory, 3 hours is enough time between flights assuming everything runs on schedule.

Thanks for all the advice - although I always view missing the flight home perhaps the best part of the vacation

I think we are going to go the middle ground with this one, not going back to BKK for the night, but giving myself 4 hours between flights instead of 3.

Sara

i now see todays posting that the new airport opens on july 28...if this is the case then flights will not depart in a very orderly fashion...its thailand remember....4 hours will help but i would not sleep the nite before...remember re-scheduling an international flight is not easy and they may fine you if your domestic flight is not on the same airline as is the interntional flight...it would be considered a missed flight i believe???