Bangkok (BKK) Stopover Tips

[Dr Ralph]

Does anyone have suggestions for cheap & chearful hotels close to BKK?

What's your budget?

 

[JohnK]

Does anyone have suggestions for cheap & chearful hotels close to BKK? We have been caught up with TG schedule changes and now have 8hrs on way over and 13hrs on return. Have stayed at Novotel previously just looking for a cheap spot this time

I have stayed at the Regent Suvarnabhumi hotel many times. Superior room ~$30-$40/night including transfers from/to airport. Rooms and hotel are a little dated but more than adequate for 1 night and is quiet. Breakfast not so great. Friendly service.

I have also stayed at the Convenient resorts.

 

[RB]

What's your budget?

Booking dot com has about 50 hotels under $50 so I figure some of those will do the job. Both times will be daytime in BKK so no luxury required

 

[Hvr]

When I arrived on Tuesday all arriving pax were required to provide a full set of fingerprints. The machines are on the immigration officer's desk.

 

[theblank]

Stopover tip: Dont go playing Night Golf if arriving from East Coast of Austraia.
Cos, it means hitting off around 7pm bangkok time, and finish around midnight, but for your body clock, its 10pm start, 3am finish.

I dunno about you lot, but I am too old to be playing the back 9 after midnight, all i wanted to do was crawl under a rock and die.

 

[Daver6]

Hasn't been mentioned, but I gather there is no Uber/ride share available from the airport?

Am I correct that cash is therefore a must for a taxi for both payment of the driver as well as tolls? I'll need to get from BKK to the W on a Sunday evening (landing 8:40pm).

If cash is a must, I gather just taking some AUD cash and exchanging at the airport is a better option than cash out at an ATM? Rough cost of a taxi for this?

I gather the lounge QF uses isn't the greatest. Other OW lounges are better, is that correct? I also have PP lounge access. Main thing I'll want is a decent shower when departing. Any recommendations?

First time to BKK, so all new to me.

 

[jase05]

Hasn't been mentioned, but I gather there is no Uber/ride share available from the airport?

Am I correct that cash is therefore a must for a taxi for both payment of the driver as well as tolls? I'll need to get from BKK to the W on a Sunday evening (landing 8:40pm).

If cash is a must, I gather just taking some AUD cash and exchanging at the airport is a better option than cash out at an ATM? Rough cost of a taxi for this?

I gather the lounge QF uses isn't the greatest. Other OW lounges are better, is that correct? I also have PP lounge access. Main thing I'll want is a decent shower when departing. Any recommendations?

First time to BKK, so all new to me.

As a rule I usually use one of the airport ATM’s to withdraw some cash but it doesn’t hurt to grab some smaller notes. Exchange rates are similar to what you would find in the city. If you are after a taxi head to level 1 and ignore the touts that will swarm to you. Head to the dedicated taxi stand and tell them where you want to go they will organise the taxi and give you a little slip of paper with the details. DO NOT give this to the driver as it has the rego and other details on it which can be used in the unfortunate case of something going wrong. Ask the driver to use the meter and if they refuse threaten to get out, this should force them to comply. The driver may ask for change at the toll booths but most will simply add the tolls and airport tax to the final bill. I have no idea where the W hotel is but most of the city hotels would be in a 20-30km distance from BKK so a fare of 250-500 THB ($10-20) should be adequate.
As far as airport lounges go we normally use the CX lounge which has good views, comfortable seating and a good noodle bar but alas no showers. We have also used the EK lounge which does have shower suites and is quite nice. There are a couple of others you could use such as the Miracle lounge and JL Sakura lounge I think but haven’t used them before. We have been in the WY lounge which is small and only has 1 shower but it’s quite and comfortable and I believe is a PP lounge. I can’t comment on any other PP lounges so sorry in that regards

 

[Happy Trails]

JL and QR lounges are not open for QF24's departure.
CX is my preference, if only for the comfort of the seating, but it can get very busy at times and, as mentioned, has no showers.
EK is probably your best bet if you have access.
The Miracle 'First Class' lounge on concourse 'D' is OK too and does have showers.

 

[Daver6]

Can one pay for taxis with a credit card or cash only?

 

[jase05]

Can one pay for taxis with a credit card or cash only?

Cash only. Try to take smaller denominations as some will claim not to have change. A lot of drivers still speak little to no English

 

[Hvr]

Cash only. Try to take smaller denominations as some will claim not to have change. A lot of drivers still speak little to no English

When you book your hotel there will be a directions page in Thai. Print it off and show it to the driver. Ensure that the hotel phone number is on the page, they will ring if they need further guidance.

If you need to go via the freeway have a 100THB note in your hand. As you approach the first toll gate (you'll see it) the driver will ask for the toll. Give them the note, they'll pay the toll and give you the ticket and change. Same deal at the second toll gate if you go through both of them.

If you must change money at the airport then wait until you've cleared immigration. The airside rates are simply atrocious.
The best land side rates are in the lower level near the railway station. Look at SuperRich and the surrounding money changers.

 

[Daver6]

I actually have to transit through SIN on the way to BKK. I'm thinking I might change AUD to THB there. One less hassle when I get BKK.

 

[Hvr]

Where ever you change it, SIN or BKK airports there is nothing wrong with just changing A$100 worth and then doing a larger transaction in Thailand.

 

[Daver6]

Another question. Seems power sockets are listed as either European or US. Does this mean sockets contain both or are either/or?

 

[Hvr]

Another question. Seems power sockets are listed as either European or US.

The US adapters always work for me. Although it is rare for even the cheapest hotels to not have at least one multi-use power socket.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I actually have to transit through SIN on the way to BKK. I'm thinking I might change AUD to THB there. One less hassle when I get BKK.

Using an ATM will attract a fee of 150-220 THB. So I agree that changing money at a money changer either at BKK or in SIN is the way to go (even with the lousy exchange rate you'll probably be much better off).

I hand the 100 for tolls to the taxi driver as soon as we start off, otherwise the driver might start to take the non-toll roads and that can add significant time to the journey.

Going to the W could cost 250-400 (at the high end) on the meter, plus your 100 for tolls. If it starts to creep above that there could be a problem with the route/taxi driver or meter. Going back to the airport should be 100 for tolls and around 220-250 on the meter.

The Cathay lounge is an ok lounge. I think about the best of the OW picks.

 

[Daver6]

Thanks to all for the advice. Made life easy. A couple of things.

Changing $100 at the airport in BKK for taxis was painless and definitely a good option. Having a print out of the hotel directions in Thai was brilliant advice too. I landed about 8:30pm and there was no one in the APEC/VIP immigration line, so straight through. Also, barely any traffic on a Sunday evening. 35 minutes to the W Bangkok. Cost was 460 THB including tolls and airport fee.

Ride sharing using Grab is available in BKK. Can be used for taxis (although not from the airport I believe). Means avoiding cash.

CX lounge did the job. I love the noodle bars as a lighter meal before a flight and is always tasty. I didn't bother checking out the EK lounge which is literally next door.

 

[JohnK]

I actually have to transit through SIN on the way to BKK. I'm thinking I might change AUD to THB there. One less hassle when I get BKK.

The THB exchange rate in SIN will not be too much worse than the BKK airport exchange rate which is atrocious.

Beware of ripoff taxi drivers. They're not afraid to try it on now. Train is also an option and that's what I'd do if travelling alone.

As far as lounges go I'd rate EK top. Not a fan of the CX lounge. Miracle lounge at G2 can be ok at times.

 

[drron]

Hawker Chan's branch in Terminal 21 in Bangkok is good for a good quick cheap lunch.