Travel time to Bangkok Airport

[RB]

Can anyone give some idea on travel times from Bangkok hotels to Suvarnabhumi Airport? We will be arriving 10.50pm on a Wed and depart again at 11.50am next morning. Novotel at the airport seems an obvious but a much more expensive option. Any recommendations on hotels and estimated travel times would be great as we have not used the new airport.

 

[Gazza]

Can you tell us where you want to stay? Bangkok is a big place and if you have a hotel in mind people here will probably be able to speak from past experience as to travel time.

I can tell you that from the Intercon to the airport is about 45 minutes to 1 hour at those time of the day.

PS make sure the driver has the meter on and the trip should cost about 300 TBT (including tolls and tip)

Gazza

 

[BlacKnox]

Tolls are 40 TBT from memory. A private car arranged through a 3*-4* hotel would cost around 800 TBT - 1000 TBT. A limousine (e.g. Mercedes) would set you back around 2,500 TBT. But the taxi option is fine. I've found usually 30 - 40 mins depending on how far your hotel is from the expressway. I normally leave BKK central area around 2 hours before the flight and have never had a problem, either with the old or new airports; though YMMV. Although you could catch a bus from the airport to town (maybe 80-100 TBT), I wouldn't risk it returning to the airport.

There are lots of great (relatively) cheap hotels in BKK. What's your budget? Cheers.

 

[RB]

Thanks Gazza. Not locked into any area to stay as I have been thinking Novotel because some forums are saying it can be 1-11/2 hrs to clear airport at that time. Thought I had seen a post on here re a hotel (part of a chain)not far from airport but close to a few facilities without going right into the city. Happy to pay up to $100 for easy access hotel if needed

 

[BlacKnox]

Thanks Gazza. Not locked into any area to stay as I have been thinking Novotel because some forums are saying it can be 1-11/2 hrs to clear airport at that time.

If it took more than 30mins to clear the airport arriving 10.50pm, I'd be surprised. Of course, your flight could be delayed... For a 11.50am flight, I'd be leaving central BKK around 9.30am. Traffic's not too bad at that time, and I'd guess 30-40mins to airport. Why not go downtown and enjoy BKK for the night. Its a great city! Cheers.

 

[BlacKnox]

Happy to pay up to $100 for easy access hotel if needed

You can go here for some ideas in your price range:

Bangkok Hotels Thailand, Bangkok Hotels Accommodation, Bangkok Hotels Discount, Cheap Hotels in Bangkok, Hotel in Bangkok

 

[serfty]

At that time of night it should be no more than ¾ hour to most of the city around the river.

There are normally two toll booths to negotiate, THB25 and THB40. Normally you hand the Taxi driver the tolls to pay - they will hand back any change (and a receipt from the toll booth if you asks for one).

There's a THB50 surcharge to take a taxi from the airport. There is NO surcharge to the airport (even though driver have tried to charge it on each of the last three trips of mine).

Ensure they put their meter on - be insistent.

Maximum fare from the Airport (including THB50 surcharge) would be ~THB270 + THB65 in tolls.

To the airport should be less, although I have not travelled at that time of the morning.

 

[meloz]

The times you mention would normally not be a problem.

During the last 3 weeks I used BKK on 8 ocassions and travel times varied due to the water festival and an early start to the Kings 80th Birthday celebrations, which offically starts on the 5th. My last taxi ride took well over 100 minutes and had me checking in 5 minutes after the official close of check in.

My advise would be to ask 30 locals re: what is happening that day and average the 8 worst reports, then add 30 minutes as a safety buffer. Specify you wish to use the expressway and hand the driver some cash at the start of the trip to get the point across. Some drivers will use alternate semi freeways and try and charge tolls. As Serfty mentioned, tolls will amount to 65 Baht.

Meloz

 

[JohnK]

Water festival! Surely that means Loy Kratong at this time of the year....

Bangkok is such an unknown I would never take anything for granted. A projected 30 minute trip could literally take 2 hours. And by the way most hotels are only 30 minutes from the new airport anyway. Even the old airport is only 30 minutes from new airport. Tolls in Bangkok should never cost more than 65 baht from new airport and taxi fares would normally be around 230 baht + 50 baht airport surcharge, only if going from airport, plus tolls. Always ask for highway and they understand.

Just as a reference I travelled from Ding Daeng, close to Victory Monument, to the elephant zoo on the outskirts of Bangkok on what was close to a 1 hour trip for around 240 baht. Do not ever pay more than 250 baht on the meter regardless of where you are going in Bangkok.

And yes I know, I have heard of many times, people who have paid 800-1000 baht for a meter taxi for a simple airport trip to city hotel. That is ludicrous. Up to you....

 

[RB]

Thanks for the thoughts so far. Further searching means I have come across a "new" hotel the Siam Piman that is apparently pretty close to the new airport. Seems to be a reasonable compromise & much cheaper than Airport Novotel. Any experiences with hotels near the airport?

 

[stryker]

Even the old airport is only 30 minutes from new airport.

Hi John, I think this is stretching things a bit far. I visit BKK several times a year (was there for 5 days last week) and BKK to DMK is 30 mins only if your driver is suicidal and it is 3 am (and even then I doubt it could be done).

As for me, I always stay at the IBIS hotel in Huamark, 20 mins from the airport (and shouldn't be more than 150 Bt on the meter). Best priced hotel in Bangkok, IMHO.



OP please note...

 

[JohnK]

Hi John, I think this is stretching things a bit far. I visit BKK several times a year (was there for 5 days last week) and BKK to DMK is 30 mins only if your driver is suicidal and it is 3 am (and even then I doubt it could be done).

Not exaggerating! Most of the trip is on the expressway and as it is only ~46kms away it is quite possible. I was not talking about peak hear traffic, more like midnight, and most taxi drivers drive between 100-120kms/hr anyway so only stop would be for tolls.

By the way I will be there again in 5 days for a two week trip....

 

[stryker]

Not exaggerating! Most of the trip is on the expressway and as it is only ~46kms away it is quite possible. I was not talking about peak hear traffic, more like midnight, and most taxi drivers drive between 100-120kms/hr anyway so only stop would be for tolls.

By the way I will be there again in 5 days for a two week trip....

Enjoy your trip, wear the seatbelts in the taxis (whoops, there aren't any) and stay off the Chang's...

 

[RB]

JohnK I have read quite a few of your posts so I am interested to know which hotel/s you have used in Bangkok.
To all experienced Bangkok travellers, please estimate a travel time from "downtown" to catch 11.50am flight-flying business on Finnair on Qantas award flight.

Cheers RB

 

[JohnK]

JohnK I have read quite a few of your posts so I am interested to know which hotel/s you have used in Bangkok.

I have stayed in mainly 3 star hotels. President Park, City Lodge Sukhumvit Soi 19, Century Park, Dynasty Inn, Quality Hotel, Holiday Inn Silom. I did stay in an apartment in Din Daeng twice in 2003 for 2 weeks each time. Now I have discovered Hilton Honours and Priority Club I will try to stay in these hotels more often. I have just booked a reward stay for the 22nd at the Intercontinental for only 5,000 PC points.

To all experienced Bangkok travellers, please estimate a travel time from "downtown" to catch 11.50am flight-flying business on Finnair on Qantas award flight.

Assuming you want to get to the airport around 10:00am at the latest then you need to leave around 8:30am. I usually leave around 4 hours before my flight to allow for inconsistent BKK traffic and to have some time in the Lounge.

 

[Alanslegal]

:!:

I usually leave around 4 hours before my flight to allow for inconsistent BKK traffic and to have some time in the Lounge.

I just love it when "nature calls" and you see people on the kerbside on the expressway doing their natural business in broad daylight!

 

[meloz]

At least the Thai's face the kerb when relieving themselves, unlike the French.

 

[JohnK]

I wouldn't recommend farangs, foreigners, to relieve themselves out in the open in Thailand. There has been more than a few incidents where the Thais have taken offence and a group of them have beaten the farang senseless. It makes no sense but as always TiT....