Gleamingly modern, Savarnabhumi

The majority of international flights arrive at the new Savarnabhumi International Airport, though some budget airlines still use the older Don Muang Airport. If you wish to go immediately to Don Muang (maybe you wish to fly to Chiang Mai, Phuket or Krabi, there is a free shuttle bus from Exit 6 which departs every 20 minutes or so. Go to the top floor, outside for the drop off point and you’ll see the shuttle bus stop. To get to Suvarnabhumi Airport from Don Muang, just do the reverse and leave from the similarly numbered Exit 6.

Back in Suvanarbhumi Airport, when you leave immigration and customs, take a right into the entrance hall and change some money if you don’t already have any Baht. You might want to buy a cheap SIM which will give you fast 4G internet and calls. Ignore ANYONE who approaches you for transport of any kind. We shall discuss this in a moment.

 YOUR OPTIONS 

When you arrive at Suvanabhumi Airport, your following options depend on whether:

1) You have pre-booked online a hotel which may offer a shuttle service.
Go to the second floor, to the right of Exit 4 and left of Airport Information. You’ll see a pang board area with the names of many hotels posted clumsily on a barrier. Ask any of the staff manning this area and they will ensure you get your lift to the hotel.

2) You are going to fly on a domestic flight within Thailand.
There is a free shuttle bus to Don Muang, the domestic airport. Go to the top floor outside to find the stop. NB. If you are flying with Thai Smiles, then go to the domestic departures area to the left of the airport.

3) You have booked a five star hotel.
Book a limousine collection to your hotel. This might be free if you are at a five star hotel.

4) You are hiring a car to ‘do-your-own-thing.
There are enough car hire booths scattered around the airport concourse.

5) You want to get into town but are on a budget.
Head down to the basement of the airport to find the BTS skytrain Station. The airport line ends at Phaya Thai with connecting stations to other lines in between. See the section on Sky Train.

6) You’ve no hotel booked or any idea where to go.
Don’t panic. You are in the same boat as the majority of backpackers. Go upwards (see tip below) and take a taxi to Khao San Road (if you are 18-25 years old) or Sukhumvit, if older. There are plenty of hotels in these tourist abundant areas. To date a taxi costs about B500 to Kao San Road and if you can find other travellers it could be split.

Whatever you do, leave the airport. There is nothing in the vicinity of interest except a few expensive hotels. Even if you are flying off the next day it is better to get a taxi into the city or to a nearby budget hotel, that might be just 10 minutes or so away. The new road that joins the airport is rapid and transports people into the centre in a short time.

Accordingly there is the BTS Skytrain, only opened in 2011 which is cheap and fast.

If you have already booked a Hotel then they will normally provide a minibus transfer.

NOW CHOOSE YOUR TRANSPORT OPTIONS

By now you should have decided where you are going. Please read your option choice below carefully. We will guide you painlessly through the process.

Taxis
Taxis are the best way to get around Bangkok as they are cheap, comfortable and air conditioned. Not good however during rush hour, so check your times and traffic reports before hailing a taxi. You could be paying for sitting in a taxi for hours.

As you leave immigration and enter the main arrival hall you will see many official people waiting to offer you a taxi into the city. If you take up their offer you will be purchasing a voucher to use for a taxi. Of course there are two commissions involved. They will send you to the lower floor where you will join the long queues of tourists waiting for a taxi.

TAXI TIP: Our advice is to use the normal metered taxis which could be a fraction of the price. Take the escalators or lifts UP to the very top floor and exit by the main doors. Walk across the road and you’ll see many taxis waiting for business.  They have now put turnstiles across the pavement to discourage tourists from using cheap taxis but these are easily passed without the security men batting an eyelid.

The only difference between the different coloured taxis are the companies that own them. They are generally safe, clean, comfortable and air conditioned. Most taxi drivers speak some English but don’t over tax them.

Always make sure that your taxi is metered. Do NOT negotiate a price with the driver at any time. Before he helps you put your luggage in the boot ask ‘Meter?’. If he says yes then he will start it immediately. If not you GET OUT! I have found taxi drivers to be mostly trustworthy and helpful, but some are opportunistic.

Do not tip. It is not generally accepted that one must tip a taxi driver, but he certainly won’t refuse one.

Hiring a car
It is quite expensive in Thailand to hire a car (because import duties can be 80% of the car’s value) but it is vital if you have a time restraint or wish to visit inaccessible places. Whilst there is a vast network of buses, trains and planes in Thailand, you can waste much time waiting for said transport and if you have limited time then hiring is best. The usual companies are there – Hertz, Avis Budget etc but I would choose the Thai companies as they will be slightly cheaper. Rental costs rise all the time so I will not give any guidelines here. You can easily look up the appropriate companies online before you leave for Thailand.

In Thai law you must be able to show a valid driving license. An international license is fine but I have never seen any objection to my standard UK one though the authorities are supposed to be tightening up. There is only one road out of the airport, so just drive until you reach the city. It is well signposted in Thai and English. More on motor driving later.

Driving in Bangkok is not too hazardous. UK citizens will relish the left hand driving. However once you leave Bangkok, particularly in the North East, most Thais are oblivious to the law, i.e. speeding, motor cycles that are almost invisible without rear lights, motor cycles driving on the wrong side of the road, pedestrians in dark clothes on motorways they shouldn’t be on and dogs. I would dissuade you from travelling on ANY minor road after dark. Street lights are sparse and road markings are in pale yellow that cannot be seen too clearly if at all.

BTS Sky Train
There are two city transport systems, BTS (Skytrain) and the subway MRT which does not reach Suvarnabhumi Airport. There is no method of obtaining a joint ticket for both systems. Also, the Airport Line from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phaya Thai is a separate fare from the other BTS lines. On this line the link to the MRT is at BTS Makkasan Station (walk outside for MRT Phetaburi Station). Going north from Phetaburi will take you to the huge Sunday market Chatuchak (see later) or south to the popular tourist area of Sukhumvit and Hua Lamphong Railway Station if you are traveling to the north of Thailand.

http://www.transitbangkok.com
http://www.bangkok-maps.com/bts.htm

Local Buses
There is a free shuttle to the airport bus station but you must ensure you know which bus to catch. There are too many for us to cover here and we only recommend this for the expert or those who speak fluent Thai. It is however the cheapest option.

NEXT: WHERE TO STAY