Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus - Eight hours stopover in BKK - what to do?

Hello all, in August I'll I have an eight-hour stopover at BKK (6 am to 2 pm) and I'd like to go out and have a look around the area. I've been to Bangkok many times and seen most sights, hence I'm interested in exploring something different. Is there anything like a quaint small town or picturesque village near the airport? Or anywhere else where I could spend a few pleasant hours outdoors? Thanks, ps

Hello all, in August I'll I have an eight-hour stopover at BKK (6 am to 2 pm) and I'd like to go out and have a look around the area. I've been to Bangkok many times and seen most sights, hence I'm interested in exploring something different. Is there anything like a quaint small town or picturesque village near the airport? Or anywhere else where I could spend a few pleasant hours outdoors? Thanks, ps

Nothing close to the airport that I know of. When I have any layover 8 hours or more I go right to the airport hotel but my GF likes to hop on the sky train and she's downtown in 20 min. There's a few parks you can go to (I forget the name of the big one near the St Regis) but that's a nice place to go and the Sky Train is right there

Thanks! Could you recommend a value-for-money airport hotel that lets me use their pool for a fee?

Thanks! Could you recommend a value-for-money airport hotel that lets me use their pool for a fee?

You're better off catching the train (or taxi) to a 5* Bangkok hotel, paying their day rate for access to pool/spa, and killing time there. Bangkok has some fabulous hotels, but none are at the airport!

You're better off catching the train (or taxi) to a 5* Bangkok hotel, paying their day rate for access to pool/spa, and killing time there. Bangkok has some fabulous hotels, but none are at the airport!

I stay at the NOVOTEL which is the only 5* Hotel directly connected to the airport. They have a nice pool and you won't waste time in a taxi going to/from the city. Also the hotels in the city don't generally offer day rates. If you were going to be staying over night as well I would tell you to pick a nice 5* hotel downtown (there are some of the best hotels in the world in Bangkok and the rates are cheaper then any other major city (IMO). But with only 8 hours, the NOVOTEL BKK AIRPORT will have everything you need and it's connected to the terminal by an underground walk way

Assuming flights are on time, about 7 am - 12:30 pm useable time door to door of airport.
--Ko Kret on the river? Maybe not enough time given need to cross the city in traffic.
--Khao Khieo open zoo near Chonburi? Right side (east/SE) of airport for traffic reasons, but would probably need a driver to get there and back in timely fashion. I think can bike ride around the place.
--Ancient City (Muang Boran)--been there yet? That's closer.

Remember that in August you could get rain, though the morning is a better gamble for dryness than the mid/late afternoon.

Just to remind you, that if you connect to an int. flight at BKK and leave the transit area, you will have to pay departure tax THB 700 before you can re-enter the transit area.

If you collect your onward BP at check-in at BKK the agent will most likely notice that dep. has not been paid (as the connection at BKK is < 24 hours) and will require payment before you get your BP.

If you collect a transit BP at the transfer desk before leaving the transit area you will not get past the immig. officers; they know to look out for transit BP (different color than "normal" BP)

Just to remind you, that if you connect to an int. flight at BKK and leave the transit area, you will have to pay departure tax THB 700 before you can re-enter the transit area.

If you collect your onward BP at check-in at BKK the agent will most likely notice that dep. has not been paid (as the connection at BKK is < 24 hours) and will require payment before you get your BP.

If you collect a transit BP at the transfer desk before leaving the transit area you will not get past the immig. officers; they know to look out for transit BP (different color than "normal" BP)

Thanks SK AAR. I don't think I understood how the system works. Who checks whether the departure tax has been paid? Immigration officers or check-in agents? My plan is to get the BKK-HKG boarding pass issued at FRA and I doubt they stock boarding passes of different colours there, especially as my BKK-HKG flight is with Ethiopian, not Thai. What do you think?

The immigration officers should check this.

A BP issued in FRA will state "FRA" on the boarding pass; if you have a recent LH BP try have a look at it. If the imm. officers takes a close look he will notice it, but there is a fair chance that he will not pay attention and will let you pass. But just be prepared to pay dep. tax if you are "caught"; there is no argument.

Just to remind you, that if you connect to an int. flight at BKK and leave the transit area, you will have to pay departure tax THB 700 before you can re-enter the transit area.

If you collect your onward BP at check-in at BKK the agent will most likely notice that dep. has not been paid (as the connection at BKK is < 24 hours) and will require payment before you get your BP.

If you collect a transit BP at the transfer desk before leaving the transit area you will not get past the immig. officers; they know to look out for transit BP (different color than "normal" BP)


I'd temper this to say: You are liable to pay the departure tax if asked. Enforcement has been hit and miss in the last 6 months.

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Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai
http://www.paknam.com/tourist-attractions/wat-bang-phli-yai-nai.html

Bang Phli Floating Market http://floatingmarkettrips.blogspot.com/2009/07/bang-phli-floating-market.html

Suang Luang Rama 9 http://suanluangrama9.or.th/en/2011/05/suan-luang-rama-ix-location-2/