Transportation from BKK during rush hour
 

My flight arrives at 6:40 am on a weekday morning and I am wondering how best to get to the Chinatown area. I will be travelling alone (female if it matters) and will have 1 suitcase and a carryon.

Is traffic horrendous? My guidebook says the ride is anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours depending on traffic.

Thanks in advance. I am leaving in January for Thailand and Cambodia and will have lots of questions.

Lynnie

Traffic isn't as bad as it used to be, and the new airport is connected to the city by some rather heft expressways.

While yes, the trip can take 3 hours on the worst day, I'd say an 'average' commute at that time of the morning is around an hour.

If siting in a car doesn't thrill you, you could go up one level from arrivals, pick one of the coffee shops (Caffe Nero, S&P or Starbucks) and have a nice cappuccino. By the time you finish, it will probably be after 9:00 and the traffic will be much lighter.

Are you going to your hotel or to Chinatown for shopping?

It will take you about 45-1 hour to clear immigration and get your bag. So you are leaving in the mist of everything.

When in January are you coming as if the Thai schools are still out, traffic will be much less.

There are so many variables that make a difference in the traffic here.

An interesting question.

I have no plans to visit BKK in the pipeline but have passed thru often in the past, and will doubtless do so again.

From the old airport there were two buses that left from outside the international terminal and passed by domestic - one of which terminated at Banglamphu. It was by far the cheapest option for a solo traveller on a budget.

So has such a service been introduced from the new airport?

I'd say to give yourself an hour to Chinatown. I arrive at the same time when I arrive into Bangkok since I take the non-stop flight out of L.A.
It takes me about 35 minutes to get to the apartment building where I stay, but it's in east Bangkok...Emporium Mall...area. But the new freeway is handy to the expressway. Happy Travels!

I am arriving on 1-14-08 and the hotel is in Chinatown. THe main portion of my Bangkok trip is 01-19 thru 01-25 with a quick swing back thru on 02-03 before my return to LA.

Thanks for the info.

The above should have read," But The new AIRPORT is handy to the expressway."
Happy Travels!

The journey will probably take you 90-120 minutes. Chinatown is one of the worst places for traffic, especially weekends.

A 73 or 204 bus from Chinatown will get you to Siam Square and other shopping centres.

In Feb., I did what you propose to do, travelling alone (I'm a "Senior Female")
I found the "departures" hall, as advised by other Fodorites, ignored the touts, and had no trouble getting an ordinary taxi, and asked him to put the meter on. It was less than 300 Baht, but I paid him quite a bit more, because he hadn't asked for it! Plus tolls, of course.
Mt hotel was just at the end of the expressway (Twin Towers) and from there I walked to Chinatown one day, so your fare shouldn't be much more, and it took about half an hour. Not sure of the time anymore.