Thailand - Bangkok Airport Transfer Costs or Recommendations?

Totally OT, but since the bmi forum is such a helpful lot I thought I would start here first.. (it was a DC redemption though so loosely related)

Anyone have any tips on getting from BKK to downtown) Lebua Tower?

I am always wary of taxis when in a city for the first time.

I hear that the subway is an experience but after an overnight in 77W suites maybe a car is the best idea.. I quite like the idea of an opulent limo of some sorts.. any recommendations?

BKK has an efficient taxi rank where they speak English and will charge you for your journey. So you don't have to negotiate with a taxi driver on destination or cost, or pay him. Plus of course if safety is a concern the taxi driver is licensed and receipted.

We had more problems getting back to the airport where there seemed to be some collusion between hotel porters and taxi drivers to confuse the issue.

I gather the new train is pretty good, but for Lebua you'll still need a taxi at the end. Or to connect on the skytrain, but I think Lebua is a bit of a walk so I'd go for the taxi.

If it's your first time you certainly don't want to use the train. Although it's pretty straightforward getting into the city, you'd have to arrange a taxi for thr final leg to your hotel: and if you find the idea of taking a taxi from the airport daunting, you won't find much comfort gettng a taxi at Makkassan station or on the street.

The airport taxi is simplicity itself, and will cost tops THB500 (£10) including tolls and the airport supplement. You don't need to negotiate: there a dispatcher who gives the driver instructions, you pay the meter plus tolls and the airport supplement. A limo is also easy to arrange at the airport, and will cost considerably more. Your hotel will most probably be happy to arrange transport in a smart car, for a suitably impressive price.

All these options are raked over in exquisite detail in the THAILAND forum.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thailand/921339-bkk-bangkok-airport-rail-link-discussion.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thailand/1244601-cost-limousine-transfer-bkk-airport-city-center.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thailand/1190635-bkk-taxi-vs-airport-link-vs-limo-never-ending-comparison-thread.html

Get a taxi, all receipted all well organised and straight forward.

The AOT limousine counter can be found in the baggage hall. Roughly 750/800THB to Lebua/State Tower I would guess. Go for the Isuzu MU-7 (SUV) You can also get BMW 7 series but I am not sure of costs. Yes, it's more expensive than a cab (although relatively little in real terms of course) but with a courteous driver, clean new-ish vehicle & no p+++ing about over fares/meters etc it is a winner. I laways use them. Specials based upon roundtrip pick-ups can be had from time-to-time. Enjoy.

The AOT limousine counter can be found in the baggage hall. Roughly 750/800THB to Lebua/State Tower I would guess. Go for the Isuzu MU-7 (SUV) You can also get BMW 7 series but I am not sure of costs. Yes, it's more expensive than a cab (although relatively little in real terms of course) but with a courteous driver, clean new-ish vehicle & no p+++ing about over fares/meters etc it is a winner. I laways use them. Specials based upon roundtrip pick-ups can be had from time-to-time. Enjoy.

I agree - the prices are low enough to make it worthwhile to live a little.

Thanks everyone for a very helpful response!! I knew the BDers would deliver.

Had a good read of the thread - looks like 500THB for a taxi (max) and about 1000THB for a prebooked nissan. For £10/20 I think we're on to a winner either way.

Is the taxi prepaid if booked at the airport like at MEX? Or do you still need to rely on not being 'long-hauled' like at LAS?

Pre booked these guys before - http://www.bangkokshuttle.com/index.php

Great service and the cars were very good too. Used throughout a 3.5 week trip, including to Phuket and had no problems whatsoever.

No idea how they compare on price vs others but I was very satisfied with the service.

Ronan

P.S. I'm not affiliated with the company in any way, just throught the service was good

Thanks everyone for a very helpful response!! I knew the BDers would deliver.

Had a good read of the thread - looks like 500THB for a taxi (max) and about 1000THB for a prebooked nissan. For £10/20 I think we're on to a winner either way.

Is the taxi prepaid if booked at the airport like at MEX? Or do you still need to rely on not being 'long-hauled' like at LAS?

Just returned from bkk on a BD redmption. The taxis are not prepaid. You will pay the meter fee plus toll charges and airport fee but should be less than 500 thb total. Some drivers will try to negotiate a fixed price, but cheaper to use the meter. Did get taken for a ride the first time, but was still less than 600 thb total.

Totally OT, but since the bmi forum is such a helpful lot I thought I would start here first.. (it was a DC redemption though so loosely related)

Anyone have any tips on getting from BKK to downtown) Lebua Tower?

I am always wary of taxis when in a city for the first time.

I hear that the subway is an experience but after an overnight in 77W suites maybe a car is the best idea.. I quite like the idea of an opulent limo of some sorts.. any recommendations?

Yes - completely OT. If everyone asks a question about a destination when redeeming on BD awards, where will this end?

That is why FT has a THAILAND forum - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thailand-624/

Why not just ask Lebua Tower to arrange a limo pick up for you? Solves the problem of fear of being cheated by unscrupulous taxi drivers in an asian country !

Jusr returned from Bangkok and i would definately recomend the Airports of Thailand Limo service (AOT). They charge 950bht for a modern Issuzi MU7 which is like a big four wheel drive and 1100 for a normal saloon car, they also offer BMW and Mercs if you want a nicer option but of course more money.

You dont need to pre book, they have counters in all the baggage areas and also in the main arrival hall once you have cleared customs.

The train is very efficient and costs 150bht for the express service, however you still have to get a meter taxi when you reach the city terminal.

A meter taxi from the airport will cost you approx 500bht including the motorway tolls.

Yes - completely OT. If everyone asks a question about a destination when redeeming on BD awards, where will this end?

That is why FT has a THAILAND forum - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thailand-624/


It will probably start with the relevant moderators deciding to allow the thread to sit for a few days in the home thread, so that the OP's trusted community can provide him with their local responses; then the thread will be moved on to the relevant forum and then further responses will no doubt be elicited.

No one needs to be scolded in public (unless they are children :D).

Thread moved to the Thailand forum for continued helpful responses to be added.

GoldCircle
bmi forum Mod team

Why not just ask Lebua Tower to arrange a limo pick up for you? Solves the problem of fear of being cheated by unscrupulous taxi drivers in an Asian country!

If this is your first time in Thailand, I completely agree with Guy Betsy. IME, the dispatchers at the taxi queue speak sufficient English 80% of the time. Drivers have driven towards ROS when I specified SGS (and told the dispatcher "Sukhumvit" separately and clearly) more than once. You can have the hotel representative meet you at the jetway as you get off the plane and facilitate (read fast track) you through the process to the hotel car outside. That's what I did on my first visit to Thailand in 2006 and it was worth every baht.

Using the taxi stand outside the airport was easy enough. No issues with English and was told it would be 450 baht from BKK to the JW Marriott before leaving the stand, and the driver confirmed it before leaving the airport. Since I knew this was in line with the amounts I had seen posted here, I was not concerned that the meter was not used. I also paid the single toll along the way. It was between 10-11p local time, so no stop and go traffic until after exiting the freeway, almost all of the way into town. It was my first time here and I was tired from the long flight, but it worked out well.

Thanks everyone for a very helpful response!! I knew the BDers would deliver.

Had a good read of the thread - looks like 500THB for a taxi (max) and about 1000THB for a prebooked nissan. For £10/20 I think we're on to a winner either way.

Is the taxi prepaid if booked at the airport like at MEX? Or do you still need to rely on not being 'long-hauled' like at LAS?


The highway let's out on Silom proximal to the Lebua. You're looking at 270B + 70B (tolls) + 50 Baht (airport charge) for a taxi.

Please don't judge local prices relative to home prices. It's a losing proposition.