6 1/2 hrs stop-over in BKK: stay or walkabout

[legroom]

Hello

I have a 6 1/2 hrs stopover in BKK coming up (with access to TG F lounge FWIW).

What would you do to pass the time: stay in the lounge or head to the city taking into account traffic jams and whatnot ... ?

Sort of a grey zone really - too long in lounge but at the same time too short to leave !

Your thoughts ?

Thanks

Cheers

 

[boomy]

I had 6 hours layover a few times in BKK and always stayed in the F lounge. It's one of the best lunges in the world IMO and between the one hour complementary massage, relaxation in a private room, ordering some Thai food from the menu with a few coughtails, time goes by very quickly.

 

[RooFlyer]

I couldn't stand that long in a lounge if there was any option. (Edit: I'd forgotten about the massage option boomy mentions - that is worthwhile)

There are others far more expert on BKK than me (almost anyone, probably), but based on similar situation last year, I'd exit the airport and go on the 'Airport Rail Link' into the city, but with no particular objective I mind. Just time it out, with time to return, immigration etc. Some fresh(-ish) air and a diversion rather than sightseeing is what I'm suggesting.

You might get some ideas on airport rail etc here. (but based on a different scenario from you).

 

[legroom]

I am inclined to think along the same line.

3 hrs seems OK but 6 1/2 hrs, I am not so sure.

Boomy seems happy to pass the time with massage / foods there so it is an option.

I couldn't stand that long in a lounge if there was any option. (Edit: I'd forgotten about the massage option boomy mentions - that is worthwhile)

There are others far more expert on BKK than me (almost anyone, probably), but based on similar situation last year, I'd exit the airport and go on the 'Airport Rail Link' into the city, but with no particular objective I mind. Just time it out, with time to return, immigration etc. Some fresh(-ish) air and a diversion rather than sightseeing is what I'm suggesting.

You might get some ideas on airport rail etc here. (but based on a different scenario from you).

 

[hummel]

6 hrs is plenty of time to get into the city and if you've done the whole F thing before I'd be inclined to get into the city...

 

[snabbu]

If it's somewhere I hadn't been before then for sure I'd get out and see what I could. However if it was a transit I'd done many times before and had seen the city I'd probably just hang around in the lounge and pass time eating/drinking/watching tv on ipad/etc.

Specifically BKK I'd not bother heading into town as

a. have spent a lot of time in BKK
b. you will come back needing a change of clothes
c. it's not exactly getting out in the "fresh" air.

YMMV ofc.

 

[boomy]

it's not exactly getting out in the "fresh" air.

Haha so true!
If you miss the Bangkok air you can just visit the smoking lounge, no need to go out of the terminal

 

[Alanslegal]

Sort of a grey zone really - too long in lounge but at the same time too short to leave !

Definitely a grey zone indeed. Too long for the lounge, a little bit too short to leave. At 8 hours I would easily say go into town though, anything less might feel really rushed. That said, if you plane gets in earlier than normal, go for it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

6.5 hours is right on the edge. The other option might be to consider a hotel close by with a pool. $40 will secure you a room plus return transfers (they'll meet you at the arrivals hall). Or the Novotel has walk up rates (apparently much better than can be booked on line), but in the $100 range.

 

[craven morehead]

6.5 hours is right on the edge. The other option might be to consider a hotel close by with a pool. $40 will secure you a room plus return transfers (they'll meet you at the arrivals hall). Or the Novotel has walk up rates (apparently much better than can be booked on line), but in the $100 range.

Yep I'd be inclined to go for a swim and relax over at the Novotel

 

[snabbu]

Yep I'd be inclined to go for a swim and relax over at the Novotel

Is there a cost to go for a swim? Considering the OP has access to TG's famous First Lounge with a good 1 hour massage, coughtails, great food, etc all for nothing, heading over to the Novotel is not really leaving the airport imho.

 

[craven morehead]

Is there a cost to go for a swim? Considering the OP has access to TG's famous First Lounge with a good 1 hour massage, coughtails, great food, etc all for nothing, heading over to the Novotel is not really leaving the airport imho.

You would most definitely have to pay unless you were a little cheeky and new where you were going.

 

[joyvee]

Be aware that if it is peak hour traffic it will take you well over an hour and sometimes two, to get into town. I have spent one hour to travel one block in the CBD. The airport rail link can be sometimes late and it will still take you about an hour to get from Payathai sky train to airport train and then into check in again. Think you will have to go through immigration again and may have to pay an additional departure tax once you leave airport. Sounds like a hassle to me. I would stay in lounge and avoid the stress of possible traffic jams, car accidents to and from airport.

 

[dajop]

Assuming as you are travelling in F you will be whisked through immigration so delays for departing flight will be minimal. What about inbound, do you have access to express card? If so, immigration delays should be minimal at both ends, and it can't hurt to head into town. I've had a five hour layover once, and had no problems heading into town via airport rail link (on the non-express version of the train), wandering around Chatuchak and returning for (minimal) lounge time, although my connection was to a domestic flight, so I had to clear immigration anyway.

As nice as the F lounge probably is, it doesn't hurt to mix it up a little, you could always do a lounge crawl . No not really, the J lounges aren't very good, but if you do stay airside, pop into the SQ lounge if it is open, for slightly different fare to break up the monotony.

 

[Pushka]

Unless you have a purpose in BKK then I'd stay put. The trip in a couple of weeks ago took over an hour then the driver allowed more than double that to get back in case the traffic stalled. My son had a stopover of a few hours and went to an airport hotel and had a swim. He didn't have lounge access.

You don't really see much on the trip in. It's a big city with lots of traffic.

 

[Cynicor]

I'd hit town. Done it 4 times last month and the airport rail link takes nothing like 1 hour. It's closer to 35 min airport to phaya Thai, 45 baht each way. Regular and runs most hours through til 11ish pm IIRC. You'll have express path immigration each way too, so that makes things very quick to get in and out.

The express airport rail link has been suspended indefinitely so now it is the city link only. I think this helps things run on time.

Can get a decent feed of real Thai food, maybe shipping, go to a park. I went for a run near ploen chit on my last stopover. I couldn't sit in a lounge for 6 hours unless there was really nothing else to do. Food, massage etc just helps you get fatter!

 

[legroom]

45 min each way for the train (allowing for waiting time)

90 min before departure (immigration + some lounge time incl shower post city sojourn)

That leaves some three hours at Phaya Thai to walk about.

I'd be tempted to do that instead of slumping in the lounge for 6.5 hours.

Yes, I'd have express passes both ends (arriving in J, departing in F).

Now, need to find 100 THB for the carry on to be looked after ! I think I can cope with that.

Should I stop at Phaya Thai (ease of getting on/off) or should I be more adventurous and climb on the BTS to another stop for say better foods ... ? Bear in mind I have only three hours for the exposure.

Been in Bangkok before but that was some 5 yrs ago !

 

[Alanslegal]

Should I stop at Phaya Thai (ease of getting on/off) or should I be more adventurous and climb on the BTS to another stop for say better foods ... ? Bear in mind I have only three hours for the exposure.

Been in Bangkok before but that was some 5 yrs ago !

Transfer to the Phaya Thai BTS and head two stations away to Siam. I would go get a cold drink at Siam Paragon Department Stores (or if you have a lazy AUD$600K to spend, you can go buy a Lamborghini Huracan inside the showroom on level 2?). If you aren't afraid of heat (and traffic noises) I would suggest walking from Siam all the way to Asoke. It's about 3kms. You'll pass quite a few shopping centres, will be quite busy with people and street vendors. Passing through Nana might be very interesting. At Asoke, there's Terminal 21 Shopping Centre which is my fav centre and within my budget. Their food court is cheap and food quite good. Nearby there is Soi Cowboy if you need another drink (and to pick up locals lol). From Asoke, you can catch the train to Makkassan, which then takes you back to the airport.

 

[Fifa]

Like boomy, we have also spent around 6 hours in the TG F lounge and the time passed very quickly broken up by a massage in the middle.

 

[legroom]

Transfer to the Phaya Thai BTS and head two stations away to Siam. I would go get a cold drink at Siam Paragon Department Stores (or if you have a lazy AUD$600K to spend, you can go buy a Lamborghini Huracan inside the showroom on level 2?). If you aren't afraid of heat (and traffic noises) I would suggest walking from Siam all the way to Asoke. It's about 3kms. You'll pass quite a few shopping centres, will be quite busy with people and street vendors. Passing through Nana might be very interesting. At Asoke, there's Terminal 21 Shopping Centre which is my fav centre and within my budget. Their food court is cheap and food quite good. Nearby there is Soi Cowboy if you need another drink (and to pick up locals lol). From Asoke, you can catch the train to Makkassan, which then takes you back to the airport.

I'm certain I will be lost along the way and be late !

Not that good with navigation I'm afraid.