BKK Airport tips:
ATMs:
Thai ATMs give the cash out first before your card.
Be aware of this as once you take your cash you have a limited amount of time to remove your cad before it is swallowed back by the machine.
Always best to use a ATM attached to a bank in case it happens as they should be able to retrieve it for you.
Withdrawal fee of 220 THB + is standard and limit of between 10,000 and 20,000 can be withdrawn.
Money Exchange:
Exchange money on basement level near the Airport Rail Link (ARL) ticketing office.
Many exchange booths with Super Rich Orange being very popular even though others next to it give same or in some cases a better exchange rate.
All booths are close enough to walk around and check and then take your pick.
Quick way of seeing on the ground exchange rate for various currencies
https://daytodaydata.net
SuperRich Green
The Best Currency Exchange Rates | Super Rich Thailand
SuperRich Orange
http://www.superrich1965.com
Value+Plus
Value Plus Exchange
Vasu
http://www.vasuexchange.com
SuperRich Green and Orange have smart phone apps which also show location of exchange booths.
Very handy to use when landing into BKK airport, jump on the free WiFi while waiting for your bag to appear and check rates before heading to basement level to exchange some cash.
Immigration:
There is 2 Immigration areas on arrival.
If 1 is busy then it might be worth checking the 2nd which in my experience has been quicker.
Transport:
Taxi: Always ask for meter BEFORE putting luggage in or you getting in; meter fare starts at 35 THB.
Taxi fare from BKK airport to lower Sukhumvit area will be approx. 200 to 300 THB depending on traffic etc. plus the tolls if taking the highway and an airport departure fee of 50 THB.
Tolls are 50 THB + 25 THB
Total is between 325 to 425 all up.
Toll booths must by law give change of any note given to them, a 1000 THB note can be broken down to smaller denominations this way.
Taxi's will only have a small amount of change, so smaller notes are best to have for the trip.
I recently took a taxi in opposite direction, Four Points Soi 15 to BKK airport no highway / tolls and fare was 212 THB.
Train:
On the basement level there is the Airport Rail Link (ARL) which runs from BKK airport into the city stopping at Phaya Thai station.
The ARL links up to the MRT and SRT where you can then head to other parts on Bangkok.
The ARL is open from approx. 6am to midnight and trains run every 12 to 15 minutes approx.
To get to the lower Sukhumvit area (Asok / Nana) there is 2 options.
ARL Suvarnabhumi to Makkasan = 25 minutes 35 Baht
Then walk approx. 10 minutes to Phetchaburi MRT station.
MRT Phetchaburi to Sukhumvit = 5 minutes 16 Baht
If travelling with luggage stand on right hand side of train near the doors in direction of travel to make exiting easier as at times the carriages can be full.
ARL Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai = 30 minutes 45 Baht
Then walk approx. 5 minutes to PhayaThai BTS
BTS Phaya Thai to Asok = 12 minutes 34 Baht
The MRT trains run every 5 minutes approx. and the BTS trains around every 3 minutes during peak times.
WiFi:
Many stores have free WiFi and the airport itself provides free WiFi for 2 hours.
You enter an email address and a passport number and away you go.
BKK City:
coughtail Bars:
There is a large range of coughtail bars in BKK along with hidden bars in places you would not expect.
10 Best Bars in Bangkok 2018 - Our Favourite Places to Drink in Bangkok
10 Secret Bars In Bangkok Hidden Behind Phone Booths, In Alleys & Railway Carriages
Thon Lo Soi 55 has The Rabbit Hole, J. Boroski and Rewind Bar all with a couple of minutes of each other.
Start at The Rabbit Hole, go to J. Boroski in the nearby alley then cross the street to find Rewind Bar then make your way down Thon Lo Soi 10 and find even more bars and places to eat such as Myst Ekamai Soi 5 just before you get to Soi 63.
You will most likely be the only westerner there and will only hear Thai music played but it is all part of the experience.
Depending on the bar some will ask for ID no matter what your age... yep I was asked by the security guy who was half my age at one establishment.
Rooftop Bars:
Top 20 Rooftop Bars in Bangkok 2018 - Bangkok Nightlife
Bangkok has a variety of rooftop bars all at varying price levels.
The higher the bar the higher your credit limit needs to be
Cheap Food:
Most shopping Malls will have a food court.
5 Best Food Courts in Bangkok - Bangkok Magazine
Terminal 21 (T21) has Pier 21 food court on 5thfloor where meals start at approximately 30 THB.
Amarin Plaza near Chit Lom BTS is around the same pricing.
EmQuartier next to Phrom Phong BTS has the food hall located at the basement level with pricing slightly higher than Amarin and T21.
All of the above work in the same fashion, you go to a counter to load a pre stored value card and use the card at each food outlet to pay.
My partner and I spend less than 200 THB at T21 for 4 dishes and 2 bottles of water, from memory we even got a cup of ice cream and still received change.
Once finished return to collect any unused amount.
Along the road side you will see food carts and meals will be around 30 THB for a plate of rice with chicken, soup and water.
Thai BBQ:
Something to try is a Thai BBQ where you cook your meal at the table.
In T21 there is BBQ Plaza where you order various dishes and cook but the best experience is out in the areas where the locals eat.
Near Phetchaburi MRT station is an open buffet style restaurant where for approx. 200 THB it’s all you can eat seafood and various meats with salads etc.
A bowl with hot coals and grill is placed on the table with another hot plate allowing you to cook what you wish.
Taxi:
35 THB flag fall and always flag down a moving taxi.
Before getting in ask meter and if they want fixed fare then decide to take it if in a hurry or say no and hail down the next taxi.
Tuk Tuk:
Fixed fares only and higher than taking a taxi.
Well know scams where they want you to to do a tour with them to tailors and jewellery stores in return for a low or no fare.
Best avoided.
BTS/ MRT:
There is a network of above (BTS) and underground (MRT) trains running in BKK along with the ARL.
Each use their own ticketing system and in the future a ticket system (Mangmoom or Spider card) is planned and in limited roll out and testing at the moment.
The BTS has the Rabbit card which you can buy and load with pre stored value from 100 THB upwards.
This card can also be used to pay at McDonalds and some other retailers.
The MRT also have their stored value card but I believe only the new Mangmoom card is now being issued and only to Thai nationals - I reserve the right to correct this at a later stage if I am wrong
7-11:
In Lower Sukhumvit area you will always be within minutes of a 7-11 store and in some cases seconds, they are everywhere.
You might find you are given stamps with your receipt and these are used to get a discount or redeem for an item when you have enough of them to do so so if you are not going to be collecting enough pass them on to a Thai and they will appreciate it.
Tops Supermarket:
Next to The Westin Hotel is Tops's Supermarket where you can pick up items that you forgot to pack such as shampoo etc, snacks and if you are in a near by apartment with cooking facilities meat, fish, fruit and vegetables.
The Grand Palace or Temple is closed scam:
When approaching you might be approached sometime one saying are you looking to go there and if you say yes they advice it is closed but can take you to another temple etc.
FYI it never closes except on death of the King.
Watch salesmen on the street:
Pretty obvious you are not getting a genuine Rolex
