Overnight at BKK airport - Novotel or Louis Tavern?

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wafliron

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Later this year I have an awkward overnight transit at BKK - arrive on TG J at 10.50pm and leave on TG F at 8.00am the next day.

As I see it, I have two options (assuming I don't want to sleep on the floor): the landside Novotel, or a 6 hour booking at the airside Louis Tavern. The former is about $140, the latter about $100.

The Novotel is clearly a nicer option - and not much more expensive - but I'm concerned about how much time I will "waste" clearing customs / security twice during such a short layover.

Therefore I'm thinking Louis Tavern is probably a better idea, but would like to hear the opinion of anyone who has done a similar BKK transit. How long it is likely to take me to get from airside -> Novotel and vv the next morning? How bad is Louis Tavern (seems to get very mixed reviews online)? Is the Novotel that much nicer that it's worth the stuffing around and extra $40?

Thanks!
 
I would Novotel. 3 days ago, we breezed BKK in about 10 minutes from alighting to exiting with the Hilton person. Sometimes you just get lucky. The Novotel is a nice hotel within walking distance and if you book exec the breakfast in the lounge is pretty good.
 
I've done the Novatel before and found it to be quite good and most importantly, consistent.

Haven't done the Louis Tavern but if inconsistent then you might miss out on sleep and part of the F experience on TG.
 
About two years ago I had a similar timeframe and stayed Airside.

The Louis' Tavern rooms are quite large with good facilities. The only issue with sleeping I had were the muffled announcements for boarding with a nearby OMG hour flight.

I had booked for 6 hours and reception called the room with 30 minutes to go to remind me.

There also a basic continental breakfast included.
 
Shuttle bus for Novotel runs from Gate 4 very easy to get, saves lugging bags and free shuttle back in the morning. Of course how much are you going to relax in such a short time. Maybe the LT option may suit and earplugs can be used for sleeping? CM :mrgreen:
 
The Novotel is clearly a nicer option - and not much more expensive - but I'm concerned about how much time I will "waste" clearing customs / security twice during such a short layover.
...
How long it is likely to take me to get from airside -> Novotel and vv the next morning?

The Novotel is a nice hotel within walking distance and if you book exec the breakfast in the lounge is pretty good.
Exec breakfast starts at 6am. Which, I think, is quiet doable (for a quick entree bite at the hotel, before eating in the lounge) with an 8am* departure in TG F, unless you want to get checked in early and try for a quick spa treatment before the flight. (TG F lounge is a la carte, you order off an ipad menu. Onboard there is heaps of food too, so you may not even want to bother with the hotel food in the morning.) *8am, means that someone will come and collect you from your seat in the TG F lounge at ~ 7:40am, to escort you to the aircraft door, where you will be the last to board without any gate queues. There are no obvious visible departure displays in the TG F lounge, because the staff all know who you are and when/where you are flying, so you don't need visual displays. Which may be a bit disconcerting if it's your first time, but if you need information you can always ask someone (the staff to customer ratio in that place seems to be ~ 4 to 1, so there's always someone around).

From Hotel to First Class Lounge is SWIFT, the longest part of the journey is the (mostly underground) walk (if you walk) from the hotel to the check in area. Once there, you are greeted by the concierge as you approach, who takes your travel documents and guides you to a seat (where a cold towel is offered) then moments later the concierge is back with your documents and boarding pass as well as your escort for the "arduous" journey to the lounge.

The first class security screening point is just at the end of the First Class check in area, if there is a queue it is likely to be just one person ahead of you. Five metres round the corner (with escort still in tow) and you're at the premium immigration control desks (again more than likely no queue). Once through, your escort will usher you straight down and onto their waiting golf cart. And off you will speed straight into the business class lounge, which has a purpose built "golf cart lane" down its side for first class golf carts. People in the rather large business class lounge will stare at you as you whiz past them in your "royal whatever-it-is" cart, which eventually pops out the other end of the business class lounge, rounds a corner, past the spa and drops you at the entry to the first class lounge.

All up hotel door exit to lounge door entry for me was circa 30 minutes last month.

The TG First Class check in "experience" at BKK is definitely an experience!
 
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I'm at the Novotel as I type this. I would be happy to use it again. The shuttle is fast in both directions. A dip in the pool between flights is relaxing. If you use the premium inbound security line it takes us usually about 7 mins from exiting plane to baggage belt. The shuttle is on level 2 near gate 4. There is a little desk before you exit the terminal. If the shuttle isn't there they radio for it. Personally we use this hotel each time we transit via BKK where we have 5 hours or more. Rates booked in advance can be very cheap. WiFi is THB290 for 12 hrs on 3 devices.
 
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Thanks for the info and advice everyone, really appreciate it.

Exec breakfast starts at 6am. Which, I think, is quiet doable (for a quick entree bite at the hotel, before eating in the lounge) with an 8am* departure in TG F, unless you want to get checked in early and try for a quick spa treatment before the flight. (TG F lounge is a la carte, you order off an ipad menu. Onboard there is heaps of food too, so you may not even want to bother with the hotel food in the morning.)

I don't think hotel breakfast is a good idea - would much rather have something in the F Lounge, and more importantly, save space for the food onboard :) Ideally I'd probably try and get to the F Lounge around 6.30, which will leave plenty of time for a leisurely (but light!) breakfast before the flight. Not going to bother trying to cram in a spa treatment - I have a 7 hour transit in BKK two weeks earlier on the outbound, plenty of time for the spa then.

*8am, means that someone will come and collect you from your seat in the TG F lounge at ~ 7:40am, to escort you to the aircraft door, where you will be the last to board without any gate queues. There are no obvious visible departure displays in the TG F lounge, because the staff all know who you are and when/where you are flying, so you don't need visual displays. Which may be a bit disconcerting if it's your first time, but if you need information you can always ask someone (the staff to customer ratio in that place seems to be ~ 4 to 1, so there's always someone around).

I've done the TG F transit at BKK once before, know exactly what you mean about them coming to get you being a bit disconcerting the first time - especially when your flight is a little delayed (and of course no screens to tell you this), and they still haven't come to get you ~5 minutes before the scheduled departure! I did go and check with the staff that they hadn't forgotten me at this point :).

From Hotel to First Class Lounge is SWIFT, the longest part of the journey is the (mostly underground) walk (if you walk) from the hotel to the check in area. Once there, you are greeted by the concierge as you approach, who takes your travel documents and guides you to a seat (where a cold towel is offered) then moments later the concierge is back with your documents and boarding pass as well as your escort for the "arduous" journey to the lounge.

The first class security screening point is just at the end of the First Class check in area, if there is a queue it is likely to be just one person ahead of you. Five metres round the corner (with escort still in tow) and you're at the premium immigration control desks (again more than likely no queue). Once through, your escort will usher you straight down and onto their waiting golf cart. And off you will speed straight into the business class lounge, which has a purpose built "golf cart lane" down its side for first class golf carts. People in the rather large business class lounge will stare at you as you whiz past them in your "royal whatever-it-is" cart, which eventually pops out the other end of the business class lounge, rounds a corner, past the spa and drops you at the entry to the first class lounge.

All up hotel door exit to lounge door entry for me was circa 30 minutes last month.

The TG First Class check in "experience" at BKK is definitely an experience!

Thanks for posting this detailed info, very helpful.

Given what you've said about the speed of everything, plus the positive recommendations for Novotel from others, I think I'll go this route - it doesn't sound like there's any significant difference in how much sleep I'll get with either option (given Louis' Tavern would only be 5.5 hours sleep max from a 6 hour booking), and probably a higher chance of getting good sleep at the Novotel. Plus, while I've had the TG F "transit" ground service experience before, I haven't had the "check-in" experience - might as well try that while I have the chance :)

This does raise a few new questions though - a little OT for the title of this thread, but not worth starting a new one I don't think:

1) Given my transit in BKK is part of a multi-segment journey back from Europe (FCO-xFRA-xICN-xBKK-SYD), I assume I will be checked in for all flights at FCO. So what do I do at BKK when "checking in" after my overnight at the Novotel? Just tell the F check-in that I'm already checked in and just exited the airport for the overnight hotel stay, and otherwise it should be as you described above?

2) Despite the long transit, again I assume that I can get my bags checked all the way from FCO to SYD? I won't need them for the short overnight in BKK and would much rather not have to collect them / re-check them!

3) I assume there's no issue with someone travelling on an Australian passport exiting the airport for only a few hours, given no visa required for Australians in Thailand? Just clear customs both directions like normal?

4) Disembarking from TG J with the technically-a-transit connection to TG F the next morning, will I get the "F" ground experience when I disembark from the TG J flight - i.e. escort and buggy? Not a big deal, of course, but I figure it will help expedite customs / security clearance and get me to the hotel faster, which would be nice.


Thanks again everyone!
 
i like that u get the room for 24 hours from when you check in what ever time it is......
i'm overnighting from syd - cdg in may and checkin at 11pm and out about 8pm.. awesome!!!!!
 
So what do I do at BKK when "checking in" after my overnight at the Novotel?
Personally & regardless, I would just show my passport to the check in concierge and say that I'm off to Sydney. You may not have received your BP for the final leg yet anyway.

I assume there's no issue with someone travelling on an Australian passport exiting the airport for only a few hours, given no visa required for Australians in Thailand? Just clear customs both directions like normal?
No issue, BKK is a major transit hub, Thai officials know this.

Disembarking from TG J with the technically-a-transit connection to TG F the next morning, will I get the "F" ground experience when I disembark from the TG J flight - i.e. escort and buggy?
I have done a J connection to F on TG with an overnight at BKK, and when getting off the arriving J flight there was no buggy waiting at the end of the aerobridge. (However, I had not already been checked in for the following F segment.)
 
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If me id louis tavern in this instance and front up at the lounge at 6 for full body massage.
 
Ok we timed out Novotel BKK hotel check out to being in the BA Flounge ... 37 mins hotel room to Airport lounge.
Main delays were ... 3 mins at Novotel check out, 2 mins to wait for shuttle, 8 mins waiting in line at QF J counter to check in.

We've used this hotel many times and will continue to do so. Makes a great break to a EU journey even if flying in J all the way.
 
Hi there nonpop
Just a quick question about nonotel bkk rates. Where and when do you book to get the inexpensive rates? I have stayed there several times and he another overnight coming up in march but always find the rates to be about the same?
Cheers
Timmi
 
Hi there nonpop
Just a quick question about nonotel bkk rates. Where and when do you book to get the inexpensive rates? I have stayed there several times and he another overnight coming up in march but always find the rates to be about the same?
Cheers
Timmi

The regular Accor 50% off global sales would have been a possibility??
 
Hi there nonpop
Just a quick question about nonotel bkk rates. Where and when do you book to get the inexpensive rates? I have stayed there several times and he another overnight coming up in march but always find the rates to be about the same?
Cheers
Timmi

Accor promo pricing, Expedia etc.
Our last two stays Dec 2012 & Jan 2013 pricing was AU$89 (Dec) & $99 (Jan) inc breakfast for 2 pax via expedia ... but no changes allowed and had to be pre-paid. We did book approx 5 months in advance.

So We just keep our eyes open and when we're happy with a price, we lock it in. It's nice that you get a full 24hrs from when you check in vs the usualy 3pm in and out by 10am rubbish.

I also have Accor Platinum status (via the free sign-up scam) which seemed to offer no extra things as far as we could tell.
 
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