Thailand Customs and Face Spa
 

My husband and I arrive in Bangkok at about 11am (if things are on time). Is the custom's process in Thailand particularly arduous, or can it be quick and painless like it is in HK.

Only reason I ask is that I would like to schedule massages for us at the Face Spa upon arrival. Do I need reservations at Face, or can we walk in? If we need appointments, how much time should I allot from expected landing time (assuming on time arrival for argument's sake)?

Or is this just a silly idea and I shouldn't let my OCD take over like this. :)

Thanks!

We found the customs process to be relatively quick/painless. Getting into town from the airport, however, may take awhile depending on traffic.
And your OCD just makes you one of the crowd here! :-)
Karen

You do need an appointment at Face.

I don't know what to tell you in terms of time to allot as I always get in about midnight so immigration and customs are quick. It will also depend on where you are staying, as you'll have to allow time to get checked in and get to the spa.

If it were me, I'd allow a lot of time so I could get settled in my room first. I'd choose perhaps a 4:00 time (all their treatments are 2 hours) so I'd be relaxed and ready for dinner there at 6 or 6:30.

are you coming from the west? if so i would not schedule anything but a nice swim and a relaxing afternoon and a nice dinner on day one....you will be quite tired ....

while a massage would be nice to have you will not get the full enjoyment out of it i don't feel....

kathie's point about where you are staying is a good one also....you could schedule one at your hotel for just before dinner....

you mention customs, but i believe you mean immigration and customs....immigration is the place it takes time....lines can be long but they move along quite quickly...it depends how many flights arrive at the same time....i find that once i come into the immigration room that if i continue walking a bit i find lines with less people....the area is huge...

luggage collection is on the floor below the immigration lines....free carts are to be found under the elcalator between floors..

customs is just a walk through....i have never seen tourists stopped....often there is no one in sight....they are behind the frosted windows watching, i am sure...

then you emerge into a huge hall with hundreds of people waiting and drivers, etc....turn left....

i suggest that you have pre-arranged transportation to your hotel...i prefer AAC limo---700-800 B to most hotels...the driver will be to the left holding a sign with your name on it...

my plane usually arrives at bkk at about 11:30PM, which is a busy time....i am usually in my room at the marriott by 1:15AM.....but i know the tricks of moving fast....luggage comes through fairly quickly...

i should add that a noon arrival is a busy traffic time and that will delay your trip into town a bit...plan on one hour depending on where you are staying...

Thanks for all your input. Perhaps just before dinner is the way we'll go...or the next morning. I was thinking that we would need to kill some time before checking in anyway, but if immigration/customs (I did mean the both, thank you!) and travel to the hotel will take a couple of hours anyway, it makes sense not to feel rushed right off the bat.

Thanks again, all! Your input in invaluable!

You should be able to check in to your hotel as sson as you get there. You wouldn't want to schlep your bags to the spa anyway...

We always get in about 11:30 pm, and I made spa reservations for the next morning about 11 am. We had lunch afterwards.

-there are lots of flight arriving during midday mainly asian flight.
-midday car trafic is also terrible

just go with the flow.