Many ask for alternatives to the overpriced Novotel. Here's a list of hotels, guest houses and hostels which have surfaced:

Sananwan Palace (http://bangpli.com/sananwan.htm), very nice and friendly almost-new guesthouse about 20 min by taxi from the terminal, with pool under 500 Baht.

Floral Shire Resort (http://www.sawadee.com/hotel/bangkok/floralshire/pictures.html) is just on the edge of the airport, maybe 5 minutes from the terminal. 1200-1300 baht. Brand new. No pool. Sort of motel-style.

Queens Garden Resort (http://www.queensgardenresort.net/room-rates.html), only 5 min. from the airport. New, no pool, 900 baht.

Grand Inn Come (http://www.r24.org/thailand1x1.com/bangkok/grandinncome/pictures/), sort of a typical Thai small-town hotel on a loud street, no pool, 20 min. from airport, 1800 baht "Let out professional masseuses treat and pamper your stiff and stressed."

Avana Hotel (http://www.avanahotel.com/index.php), sort of the kind of suburban upscale hotel where Thais hold weddings and conferences. Pool and all the usual amenities, 1200 baht. Maybe about 30 min. from the airport.

Ibis Hotel Huamak (http://www.ibishotel.com/ibis/fichehotel/gb/ibi/6297/fiche_hotel.shtml) Chain hotel about 30 min from the airport with reportedly small boxy rooms and gruff, unfriendly staff. Pool, 800-1200 baht.

Ratchana Place (http://www.ratchanaplace.com/), a hostel off the Bangna-Trat highway AWAY from the city centre, self-described 25 min. from the airport, 350 baht. Free WifFi.

On Nut Guesthouse (http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/SukhumvitOnNutGuesthouse-Bangkok-16044), backpacker hostel about 35-40 min. from the airport and within walking distance of the end station of the Skytrain/BTS line.

Nasa Vegas Hotel (http://www.nasavegashotel.com/index.html), many recommend. Said to be 15 min. from the airport. 590 baht, 900 baht rooms have a jacuzzi. No pool.

Thanks for the links! Stayed in the Queens Garden Resort, double bed, Aug 13.

PROS
New
Cheap (airport Novotel being a ripoff at US$186)
10 min from airport, just needed to call when arrived for pickup (150 baht each way)

CONS
Sure as hell isn't a "resort"
Shower right next to toilet config, drain didn't work for a few hours
Bathroom "window" was taped up newspaper
Used, (!) hairy soap in soapdish
A bit noisy- didn't seem to be due to airport


In the end, despite the drawbacks, it was worth it. We came into BKK around midnight and had a flight out the next morning, so, after FT consultation, it was not worth going into the city, and the airport luggage lockers are apparently theft-prone.

1600 Baht total for a shower, a little sleep, and timely airport transfers. Just don't expect much more than that.

For about half that price, you could have stayed at the much-nicer Sananwan including an airport pickup. Admittedly, it's further from the terminal (about 20 min. away).

Something to look forward to next Spring

https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3031

For about half that price, you could have stayed at the much-nicer Sananwan including an airport pickup. Admittedly, it's further from the terminal (about 20 min. away).I looked at that website and was a bit nervous. In retrospect, though, I could see it being a better choice.

It's not the greatest website, but it's a beautiful place.

Something to look forward to next Spring

https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3031

Le Méridien Suvarnabhumi Golf Resort & Spa - Open March 1, 2009

I think it is not a bad idea to stay in the airport if you only have a few hours.

Has anyone found cheaper pricing for the Novotel Suvarnabhumi than booking at the Novotel site directly? Clearly overpriced for what it is, but all things equal I'd rather book a night there, especially if I can pay less than the US$165 they're asking (prepaid is slightly less).

gleff, what's the Novotel rate in baht?

Asiatravel is quoting THB5000 + 17.7% tax, which sounds about what you quoted as the Novotel direct rate.

Looks to be about the same. Just seems so impossibly high for what it is, I mean it's the Novotel not the Pen or the Oriental. :o

But I'll be in BKK for all of 12 hours overnight, not really enough time to enjoy on of the better properties. And I'll be flying out in First, so I'll probably get to the airport a bit early to enjoy the spa anyway. ;)

davis - from $120
metropolitan - from $150
four seasons - from $205

While researching these hotels, I discovered an allegedly new one 5 minutes from the airport called Thong Ta Resort. Double room including breakfast is 900-1000 Baht and airport transfers are 150 Baht. It doesn't look too bad and the bathroom appears to have an actual shower as opposed to the all-in-one shower/toilet/bathroom in the Queens Garden. Does anybody know anything about this place?

Here are two new ones which have surfaced since I started this thread.

Convenient Resort (http://www.asiatravel.com/thailand/prepaidhotels/convenientresort/index.html) (great name!). Newly-built 4-story hotel at Lat Krabang, about 5-10 min. drive from the airport. 1000-1200 baht.

SP Powerlodge (http://www.sppowerlodge.com) New entry on Lat Krabang. Basic rooms, no pool. Price of 1300-1900 includes 2-way airport transfer.

By consensus, on other forums I've posted on, the Sananwan Palace gets the best rating. Everybody who's stayed there seems to love it.

I've attempted to book at Sananwan Palace several times the past week through their booking site and have received no reply. Also tried emailing without any luck. Does anyone know if they're still there?

Is it safe to stay in the airport (air side) at night during TG lounges closing time? I am a woman. :confused:

This would also be a few hours for me, from the time the Royal Orchid First Class lounge closes at night to the time it re-opens in the early morning as they don't have a 24/24 F lounge like the SKL at Changi Airport. :(

I would not mind finding a place to stay close to the airport if my flight did not leave so early in the morning. There is no way I can miss it :rolleyes: so with the jetlag situation I would rather stay air side if it's safe.


I think it is not a bad idea to stay in the airport if you only have a few hours.

It is pretty safe in the airport and there are always a lot of people stay over in airport at night.

Have you considered staying at the airside hotel? They offer 4 hours blocks, I believe? Check with the TG staff as they might have some recommendations for your ~ 01:00 - 05:00 free time.

Hi Transpac,
long time no see! :)
Thank you for your ideas!

Have you considered staying at the airside hotel? They offer 4 hours blocks, I believe? Check with the TG staff as they might have some recommendations for your ~ 01:00 - 05:00 free time.

I am booked at the Convenient Resort late on the nite of April 8th. Has anyone actually stayed here yet? And do they really have 24 hour airport pickup as advertized?

Have you considered staying at the airside hotel? They offer 4 hours blocks, I believe? Check with the TG staff as they might have some recommendations for your ~ 01:00 - 05:00 free time.

Is it possible to remain airside? Is there a transfer desk? I'll be arriving at 1am, and leaving on the 6am NW flight to NRT; staying airside would be nice (I do like the Novotel, but it's hardly worth the money for a 3-hr stay). In case I have to claim and re-check baggage, when does check-in start?

Is it possible to remain airside? Is there a transfer desk? I'll be arriving at 1am, and leaving on the 6am NW flight to NRT; staying airside would be nice (I do like the Novotel, but it's hardly worth the money for a 3-hr stay). In case I have to claim and re-check baggage, when does check-in start?

Not enough details to make recommendations. Flying to BKK from where? (Int'l? Dom?) Airlines? Checked bags? Single ticket? Baggage interlining?

My best guess is that you have checked bags, that you are flying into BKK from outside Thailand, that you cannot check them through to your final destination and that you are on two tickets? You'll have to clear Immigration, retrieve bags, clear Customs. Figure that gets you to 02:00, NW probably opens for check-in at 04:00.

I am booked at the Convenient Resort late on the nite of April 8th. Has anyone actually stayed here yet? And do they really have 24 hour airport pickup as advertized?

I'm pretty sure this is the place you can see on the right as you enter the airport. It appears to be directly under the approach/departure for the current single active runway (1L/19R). Could be noisy, perhaps more arrivals than departures in the 00:00 - 05:00 time-frame, possibly from the south so noise would not be a factor. Since it's nearly on the airport property I can't imagine it taking more than 5 minutes to make the drive.

Is it possible to remain airside? Is there a transfer desk? I'll be arriving at 1am, and leaving on the 6am NW flight to NRT; staying airside would be nice (I do like the Novotel, but it's hardly worth the money for a 3-hr stay). In case I have to claim and re-check baggage, when does check-in start?

Yes you can. I did just that in January. Just caught a few winks in the lounge. Check in for your NW flight online and print your BP (not that it's really needed) would be helpful. An itinerary may be enough to check in at the gate.

Thanks for the advice, transpac and YVR Cockroach! I'll be arriving on EK (on a separate ticket), and I don't think they interline with NW. If they do, I'll check my luggage through and stay airside; if they don't, I'll spend my night waiting for the NW check-in counter to open.

I've attempted to book at Sananwan Palace several times the past week through their booking site and have received no reply. Also tried emailing without any luck. Does anyone know if they're still there?
Lots of times these little operations are easier to contact by phone. You might even try texting one of their mobile numbers. It's about US$0.07 using Skype.

I started a Google Map of billp's hotels/guesthouses that's here (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=104204655440792142432.0004481bc77d6c2bec92d&ll=13.752308,100.627384&spn=0.033015,0.065575&z=15).

It's open for editing, so feel free to add locations or move the placemarks to better positions. Several are off and a couple are probably *way* off (thanks to the terrible or non-existent maps the hotels provide).

Thanks for the advice, transpac and YVR Cockroach! I'll be arriving on EK (on a separate ticket), and I don't think they interline with NW. If they do, I'll check my luggage through and stay airside; if they don't, I'll spend my night waiting for the NW check-in counter to open.

Once land-side your options are a bit limited. Maybe head down to the food-court on level 1, far right-hand side if outside facing the building, or up to level 3, where there is plenty of seating and a bunch of eateries. I'm assuming at least a few might be open.

Royal Orchid Holidays Accommodation Options at/near BKK (http://www.thaiairways.com.au/vwm/upload/fabpics/A97_SUVARNABHUMI_AIRPORT_ACCOMMODATIONv2.1.pdf)

I stayed in that airport for about three hours in September. No problems about safety. There is a free economy class lounge. BE VERY CAREFUL because if you don't bring a heavy sweater you will freeze to death from the air conditioning.

I'm sorry for asking the similar questions again as I ask on behalf of my friend.

Let's say if he / she flying CX into BKK & staying approximately 24 hours & taking another CX flight out. Or flying SQ into BKK & staying approximately 24 hours & taking another SQ flight out.

If he / she arrive by CX (Marco Polo Silver) / SQ (PPS Solitarie), can they stay at the CX / SQ lounge at the Suvarnabhumi Airport until the lounge close at night? Provide they have the onward connecting flight boarding pass on the next day. Does anyone know what time is the CX / SQ lounge will close?

After the CX / SQ lounge closed, I believe he / she will look for a seat & sleep at the airport till the next day morning so that he / she will continuing entering CX / SQ lounge again, Does anyone know what time is the CX / SQ lounge will open?

In case it's useful, my photo trip report of the Novotel BKK here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9487328&postcount=28

Am at the Convenient Resort near the Bangkok International Airport right now. Perfectly adequate for about $25 a nite. They have two nice computers near the front desk and the rate for internet access is cheap. They only give you one towell. And the fee for transport to the airport is reasonable. Clean and adequate. Not overpriced like the Novetel.

Cab from the airport to hotel should be about 150 baht.

Would you please provide address/phone/email information on the Convenient Resort. A web link to a map would be great, too, as well as landmarks (major streets, Big C, whatever).
Thanks.

My partner's nephew likes the Queen's Garden Resort which claims to be 5 minutes away.

Available through www.wotif.com

Ok, more information about near by BKK hotels is becoming available so I've updated the map (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&attrid=&ei=zCb-R5P3N5y4igPOwrXKCQ&view=text&hl=en&msa=0&msid=104204655440792142432.0004481bc77d6c2bec92d&ll=13.714538,100.783596&spn=0.06604,0.131321&z=14&iwloc=0004481c47dcb22ee28ab) and also partially corrected some inexact place marks.

Three just to the north seem especially convenient:

Convenient
Queen's Garden
Flora Shire


Here's another map (http://www.agoda.com/MapManagement/Map.aspx?area_id=27717&hotel_id=78263)of the general area.

Any recent reports for lower end places that don't show up on the Asiatravel (http://www.asiatravel.com/thailand.html)site, including whether they:

offer free or paid airport transfer

one way or round trip

offer free breakfast
aren't subject to aircraft noise
have a bar that's open late?


or any other observations worth relating?

How about you take a look here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thailand/892394-hotels-near-bkk.html) ... ?

How about you take a look here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thailand/892394-hotels-near-bkk.html) ... ?
Thanks. All of those and a few more are on the Asiatravel site with full details. I was looking for more of the Sanawan Palace class (200-500B) that people may have uncovered.

Stayed at the Convenient Resort after arriving in BKK late. Found it was quite adequate at about $21 a night U.S. While it is close to the airport runways, the way the freeways are laid out it is about a 10 minute taxi ride away from the arrival building.

Internet in the lobby. Air conditioning in the rooms (fairly rudimentary). They will serve you breakfast early on an outdoor terrace.

Much better value than the overpriced Novetal in the airport complex. Available to book on Agoda.

Any recent reports for lower end places that don't show up on the Asiatravel (http://www.asiatravel.com/thailand.html)site, including whether they:

offer free or paid airport transfer

one way or round trip

offer free breakfast
aren't subject to aircraft noise
have a bar that's open late?


or any other observations worth relating?

Why would anyone want a hotel near the airport and then complain about airport noise?

Breakfast in some places is only around a dollar US in town, maybe all the way up to $3 in a more posh place!

This hotel is supposed to be close to the airport. Never been there.
http://siamairportmotel.com/

This too:
http://www.queensgardenresort.net/cheap-and-budget-hotel-at-suvarnabhumi-airport-bangkok.html

My advice is to simply stay in Bangkok for a few days instead of just immediately flying out to some other location. This make it a little easier. Some of the places that are supposed to be close to the airport are not that easy for the taxi to find. If this "out of the way" hotel provides a ride that might speed things up.

I stay in Bangkok the first night I arrive in Thailand and the last night before I fly out again. So many tourists want to just blow off Bangkok that they create more problems for themselves. This comes up on many travel forums for Thailand. Some travelers don't even have the correct airport for their flight to other locations in Thailand. Don Muang ALSO has flights that go to other cities in Thailand. Don Muang is clear over on the opposite side of Bangkok!

Some travelers want a hotel near the airport and then they shell out taxi money to get into town and back again. Stay in the city and walk to many places! Stay in the city the last night before your flight home. The taxi ride into the airport early in the morning is around a half hour.

Happy new year.

Why would anyone want a hotel near the airport and then complain about airport noise?
...
Uhh, because I want to sleep a bit? For example, the Airport Suite (formerly Comfort Suites) by Don Muang is right under the flight path and, therefore, pretty noisy. The Xen Suites (formerly Quality Suites) isn't and is, as one might expect, less noisy.

I didn't think I had to explain about the convenience of having breakfast at the hotel. When it's free that means one doesn't have to screw around and wait for the bill, pay, all of that.

I'm actually pretty familiar with Bangkok and the relevant strategies, so I was really just looking for just what I said. Thanks anyway for your reply, which is obviously meant to be helpful.

I missed the last PG flight to HKT last month. I booked a Bangkok hotel and then went to change my flight.

The PG agent told me that I could have asked them to make the reservation for me in the Novotel, as they have a corporate rate.

So if you need the Novotel, it can't hurt to ask your carrier.


Also good to note that the Ibis Huamark has now been rebranded an All Seasons Hotel
http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-6297-all-seasons-bangkok-huamark/index.shtml

I missed the last PG flight to HKT last month. I booked a Bangkok hotel and then went to change my flight.

The PG agent told me that I could have asked them to make the reservation for me in the Novotel, as they have a corporate rate.



Do you happen to know what the rate is?

I'll be through BKK later this month again. I'll try to remember to ask at a few of the airline counters. With so many airlines using BKK, there'll likely be a big range of Novotel rates.

I have the Accor discount card and the Huamark hotel (ex-Ibis) is coming up as low at THB382++ a price you just cannot beat. Without the discount it looks to be THB450++
http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-6297-all-seasons-bangkok-huamark/index.shtml

Stayed at the Convenient Resort after arriving in BKK late. Found it was quite adequate at about $21 a night U.S. While it is close to the airport runways, the way the freeways are laid out it is about a 10 minute taxi ride away from the arrival building.

Internet in the lobby. Air conditioning in the rooms (fairly rudimentary). They will serve you breakfast early on an outdoor terrace.

Much better value than the overpriced Novetal in the airport complex. Available to book on Agoda.

Try the Convenient Resort - Just five minutes from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Basic room, free airport shuttle and breakfast for 920 Baht when I stayed there last August upon arriving late into BKK. It is not a resort but it's convenient and you get to save a bundle. No bars around but the bell boy can get you a beer if you need one and the in-house masseuse is available if you need a jet lag-soothing massage.

Location of Convenient Resort:

9-11 Lat krabang Soi 38, Lat Krabang
Bangkok, Thailand, 10520
TEL : 66 (0) 2327 4118-21 FAX : 66 (0) 2327 4004

E-mail: info@convenientresort.com

http://www.convenientresort.com/index.htm

I had the same problem arriving from Syd on BA (J class) 23:00hrs and leaving on GF to BAh (J class) 10:00hrs, knowing the lounges would be closed, I looked at the options (BEFORE READING THIS THREAD) and figured I would book the Conrad, as there was a special deal on for 70 ukstg a night! I have since changed my flight from SYD now arriving at 11am so have a full 23 hours to enjoy the conrad, use my Hilton Gold and will enjoy a few hours in the spa!