Thailand - BKK to downtown and back?

To all the FT's, thank you all very much for the advice and help you all have been giving over the past few months. Thailand is going to be my biggest trip that I have ever taken and I am doing everything in my power to be as prepared and knowledgeable it as possible. As I am sure many of you have noticed I has posted quite a lot of topics in this section, everything from VIP theaters to cell phones, I hope these post aren't a burden and I really appreciate all the information.

With that said, I have a question that needs some input from you all if you wouldn't mind. I get into BKK at 5:30 AM and in FC on Thai Air into BKK. I have a flight on Bangkok Air at 3:30 PM out of BKK on Bangkok Air in BC. Will I have enough time to get through customs, get a cab downtown, hopefully find a place to get fitted for a suit or two, and spend a little time in downtown Bangkok, then hop a cab back to the airport to catch my late afternoon flight?

That's a plenty long layover. BUT at that early hour little will be open unless you want to visit the flower market or just hang out in town. Probably better than sitting around the airport all day though. Rush hour traffic into the city will be heavy (unless you are arriving on a weekend), so the train might be preferable.

I've never gotten a suit made there. I am sure there are plenty of opinions about whether that is worth doing or not. I can't imagine measuring you would take especially long. I had a shirt made there once that was not of particularly good quality or fit. And it wasn't that much cheaper than getting custom shirts here at home.

Is your onward flight domestic or international? Will you have a lot of baggage? Have you identified a specific tailor? If so, what time do they open? What day of the week? Even specific date as it may be a holiday?

The SARL trains start running, ~ 06:00 so depending on your destinations, this may be a good option.

The duration of your lay-over would seem to give you enough time get into town, get a fitting, maybe look around a little, grab a bite to eat and get back to the airport.

Forget the suit. It takes a minimum of 2 or 3 fittings. R U sure you can't find a connection in the morning. I love Bangkok, but I don't see any real value in an 8 hr layover that starts at 5:30, since I assume the long leg of your trip is already over (if not why the Hell are you flying F ?). IMO give BKK a day or 2 or give it a miss. wj

With that said, I have a question that needs some input from you all if you wouldn't mind. I get into BKK at 5:30 AM and in FC on Thai Air into BKK. I have a flight on Bangkok Air at 3:30 PM out of BKK on Bangkok Air in BC. Will I have enough time to get through customs, get a cab downtown, hopefully find a place to get fitted for a suit or two, and spend a little time in downtown Bangkok, then hop a cab back to the airport to catch my late afternoon flight?

You'll have time to do what you desire if it's planned out ahead of time. If you're going to arrive and then try to find a reputable tailorshop you might as well not bother.

Just out of curiosity, are you flying to MLE? There are precious few routes exBKK plied with C and the only domestic one is to USM (and there's no 15:30 flight that i can see). If this is an international route be sure to give enough time for checkin and immigration (which isn't too bad these days).

I arrive into Bangkok Aug 3rd. Packing light, just a backpack and small duffel. The 5:30AM arrival flight into BKK is from Switzerland, the outgoing is to Koh Samui (domestic trip). I will be stopping into Bangkok two other times during the trip and will have sufficient time to get the suit properly adjusted.

I am looking to do all the planning now, so I can do this, that is why I am seeking advice, trying to schedule everything. What I have so far is something like the following.

5:30AM - arrival into BKK
6:30AM - through customs and baggage picked up
7:30AM - have Thailand cell service set up and money converted
8:00AM - arrival downtown via SARL train
8:30AM - have breakfast and briefly walk around city
9:00 till 1:30 - meet with tailors and visit the area
2:00PM - depart for BKK
3:30PM - depart for Koh Samui

I still need to look into which tailors I want to use, I have been reading the threads about Thailand Tailors, but haven't made my mind up, because of the mixed reviews I keep stumbling on.

Arriving TG F, if your flight is on time you will be through immigration and customs in much less than an hour. As an F pax they will pick you up at the gate and drive you in an electric cart to immigration and escort you to the fast track line. Baggage usually comes out pretty quickly in my experience. Customs is just a wave through for the most part.

I also doubt it would take an hour to get money changed and the cell phone set up. Obviously you don't need to rush but these things do not take much time.

Depending on where you are headed in the city that might take a little while to get there once you get off the train. Bangkok is not an easy or great city for walking in my experience with the exception of a few neighborhoods.

I agree that knowing where you want to go ahead of time will be important.

Oh, I get it now. Plan is totally do-able. In fact, I think you have time to throw in a massage after your long flight as well. They're probably the biggest bargain in BKK. Wouldn't waste miles or $ for J on the short hop to KS though. Get a 2nd pair of pants made. They always wear out 1st. wj

A lot of your timetable will be determined by the tailor shop: location, opening hours, etc. I might wait to exchange money in town as it can be advantageous especially in larger quantities, but understand you need some local currency upon landing. The three major mobile service providers: AIS/One-2-Call, DTAC/Happy, TrueMove (H), all have shops on level 2, Arrivals, near doors #5, 6 & 7:

http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/indoor_map_mobile_en.php

I would avoid TrueMove (H) for now.

Note that any Friday, near the end of a month, and at the beginning of the month can be a bit crazier getting around, as people are settling accounts owing to salary day. Also the 8th of August is a national holiday so I imagine many people will take an extra long weekend.

I might start back to the airport closer to 13:30 as the SARL is experiencing some scheduling issues owing to a lack of working rolling stock, and you do not want to miss a Friday afternoon flight to Samui.

Exchange the minimum amount of money you'll need at the airport to get your phone/get into town.

The airport's exchange rate is quite poor and you'll do much better at any random bank in town. If you have time to go to super rich in the Ratchadamri area (near Central World) you'll do close to 1 Baht/ USD better than the airport.

Exchange the minimum amount of money you'll need at the airport to get your phone/get into town.

The airport's exchange rate is quite poor and you'll do much better at any random bank in town. If you have time to go to super rich in the Ratchadamri area (near Central World) you'll do close to 1 Baht/ USD better than the airport.

There's more, I've seen outlets at Phromphong & Chidlom Stations. There used to be one on Soi 22, but I haven't seen it lately. It probably moved to Phromphong. wj

There's more, I've seen outlets at Phromphong & Chidlom Stations. There used to be one on Soi 22, but I haven't seen it lately. It probably moved to Phromphong. wj

FWIW, These ~ 8 other Superrich outlets do not give quite as good a rate as the Ratchadamri location, which may or may not be off-set by additional travel costs?

And Superrich have an Android app., and an iPhone app., quite handy when timing a large-ish transaction.

There's more, I've seen outlets at Phromphong & Chidlom Stations. There used to be one on Soi 22, but I haven't seen it lately. It probably moved to Phromphong. wj

FWIW, These ~ 8 other Superrich outlets do not give quite as good a rate as the Ratchadamri location, which may or may not be off-set by additional travel costs?

And Superrich have an Android app., and an iPhone app., quite handy when timing a large-ish transaction.

Indeed, rates are only guaranteed for the main Ratchadamri branch.

There are 2 'Super Rich' brands. Behind Big C at the Ratchadamri location they are across the street from each other. One is orange (http://superrich1965.com/rate.php) and the other is green (http://www.superrichthailand.com/editor/rate.html).

I prefer the latter since their rates are typically slightly better. They also tend to be much busier.

@dsquared37

Would it be best if I exchange a few hundred dollars in the US before I leave for Thailand to cover cell phone and train to downtown. Should I bring over a bunch of travelers checks to Thailand and go to a bank in downtown Bangkok to exchange them. I am reading a lot that the best way to get a good rate is with a debit card instead of cash/travelers check or is this a myth?

@dsquared37

Would it be best if I exchange a few hundred dollars in the US before I leave for Thailand to cover cell phone and train to downtown. Should I bring over a bunch of travelers checks to Thailand and go to a bank in downtown Bangkok to exchange them. I am reading a lot that the best way to get a good rate is with a debit card instead of cash/travelers check or is this a myth?

I think the consensus is that changing money in US is the worst exchange.

Crisp $50 and $100 dollar bills get best exchange rates.

With exception of few places ATMs have a 150 Baht fee associated with each tranaction, about $5 US :mad: Travellers checks have a comission, though tend to have a better exchange rate.

EmailKid

I may be a dinosaur, but I still like TCs (for Thailand anyway). I get the $500 ones and get them for nothing at the Amex office. The cashing fee is the same for all denominations, so I'm doing a little better than cash. That's not why I get them though, 5 or 6 years ago, I had a card eaten by the machine for no reason. I had to wait 2 days for a bank to open too get a CC cash advance (& it was expensive). An acct with Schwab or 1st Republic, where they refund all ATM fees on both ends is a good idea as well. wj

I think the consensus is that changing money in US is the worst exchange.

Crisp $50 and $100 dollar bills get best exchange rates.

With exception of few places ATMs have a 150 Baht fee associated with each tranaction, about $5 US :mad: Travellers checks have a comission, though tend to have a better exchange rate.

EmailKid

ATMs can be a good bet though if you have a bank that refunds all ATM charges like I do...even the 150 baht fee.

@dsquared37

Would it be best if I exchange a few hundred dollars in the US before I leave for Thailand to cover cell phone and train to downtown. Should I bring over a bunch of travelers checks to Thailand and go to a bank in downtown Bangkok to exchange them. I am reading a lot that the best way to get a good rate is with a debit card instead of cash/travelers check or is this a myth?

The train into town is between $1.50 and $3. A phone can be as cheap as $20.

If you need money ASAP upon arrival then exchange some money in the airport. Do not exchange in the US nor exchange more than you need to get into town. Any bank in the city will give you a better rate than in the airport.

If you're using a place like super rich then you'll need cash.

Banks will exchange TCs and cash, the former at a slightly better rate but with a 30 THB fee. For $100 USD TCs the better rate and the fee negate each other. For higher denomination TCs you can come out ahead.

If you need money ASAP upon arrival then exchange some money in the airport. Do not exchange in the US nor exchange more than you need to get into town. Any bank in the city will give you a better rate than in the airport.

If you're using a place like super rich then you'll need cash.

Banks will exchange TCs and cash, the former at a slightly better rate but with a 30 THB fee. For $100 USD TCs the better rate and the fee negate each other. For higher denomination TCs you can come out ahead.

Haven't used TCs in a while. I bring EUR and tend to use that place just round the corner from National Stadium BTS on Phaya Thai next to the Art & Culture Centre. (Others have mentioned it but I can't recall the name). Rates are as good as Super Rich.

They operate a great system - basically, if you go in and proffer your passport they will go through the rigmarole of photocopying it, etc, but if you just hand over the currency (with no ID) they will change it all the same in about half the time.

Love it! ^

IME crisp new Ben Franklin portrait is the easiest and the best rate into local currencies all across Asia. No ID, no waiting at banks and no questions asked.

IME crisp new Ben Franklin portrait is the easiest and the best rate into local currencies all across Asia. No ID, no waiting at banks and no questions asked.

Of course, but if you had your room safe robbed, like I have, you would be missing your "crisp new" Ben's very much. They took my cash & IPod, left the TCs. wj

you would be missing your "crisp new" Ben's very much.

There were a couple of Europeans in front of me when I was changing my fresh Benjamin when they were counting the 50 Euro notes, as in several DOZEN :eek:

I would not carry aroung that kind of cash :rolleyes:

EmailKid

There were a couple of Europeans in front of me when I was changing my fresh Benjamin when they were counting the 50 Euro notes, as in several DOZEN :eek:

I would not carry aroung that kind of cash :rolleyes:

EmailKid

Not quite sure what your point is here - are you saying you think these Europeans were stupid for carrying around what you consider to be large amounts of cash?

I prefer to take cash on holiday - I can budget more directly and change it into local currency when I want. (I invoice and collect EUR in a non-EUR country, so I wouldn't want to go through a double-exchange process).

I travel on a tightish budget, but for a 3 week trip that still means a "few dozen" €50 notes. I take care of them (believe me) but I don't think that's out of the ordinary.

Not quite sure what your point is here - are you saying you think these Europeans were stupid for carrying around what you consider to be large amounts of cash?

<snip>

I travel on a tightish budget, but for a 3 week trip that still means a "few dozen" €50 notes. I take care of them (believe me) but I don't think that's out of the ordinary.

That's a lot of money, and unless you are making a large (very large) transaction that's a lot of money to change at once.

EmailKid

That's a lot of money, and unless you are making a large (very large) transaction that's a lot of money to change at once.

EmailKid

Not really. Staying in a modest hotel even for a few weeks may require up-front payment. Happens to me often in Bangkok.

Of course, but if you had your room safe robbed, like I have, you would be missing your "crisp new" Ben's very much. They took my cash & IPod, left the TCs. wj

You trust a hotel in-room safe?

You trust a hotel in-room safe?

Some more than others, but I never put anything in there I'm not willing to lose. wj

IME crisp new Ben Franklin portrait is the easiest and the best rate into local currencies all across Asia. No ID, no waiting at banks and no questions asked.

Not necessarily. So long as the bill is in good shape a fold or some writing do not cause problems in Thailand. I've also had very little to no pushback on the same type of bills in Laos and Cambodia.

Vietnam and Myanmar, though the latter was several years ago, are in line with your post.

I travel on a tightish budget, but for a 3 week trip that still means a "few dozen" €50 notes. I take care of them (believe me) but I don't think that's out of the ordinary.

That's a lot of money, and unless you are making a large (very large) transaction that's a lot of money to change at once.

EmailKid
Not really. Staying in a modest hotel even for a few weeks may require up-front payment. Happens to me often in Bangkok.
No, it is a lot of money. You're talking $600+ US dollars. That is not something I would want to carry on my person. I live in the US and rarely carry over $60 on my person. ATM card and travellers cheques. I prefer ATM card, but it's nice to have an extra Benjamin or two on the travellers cheques for backup.

I've been to Asia many times and been to several countries in Asia. I have NEVER been required to pay upfront. NEVER. I have stayed in various places in Europe and have never had to pay upfront. I am a budget traveller staying at places that cost 400 baht to 600 baht per night. NEVER paid upfront.

If a hotel / guest house requires you to pay upfront, then you should keep walking and find a different place. This just screams scam to me.

I've been to Asia many times and been to several countries in Asia. I have NEVER been required to pay upfront. NEVER. I have stayed in various places in Europe and have never had to pay upfront. I am a budget traveller staying at places that cost 400 baht to 600 baht per night. NEVER paid upfront.

If a hotel / guest house requires you to pay upfront, then you should keep walking and find a different place. This just screams scam to me.

When i stay at cheap places (500-800 baht, can't remember the last time i paid less) I'm always asked to pay for the first night when checking in. Often I'm asked to pay on a nightly basis but sometimes they'll let a day or two slide before requesting payment. I'm not familiar at all with guesthouses that request money only upon checking out. I also will never pay more than night by night unless I'm very familiar with the place and my plans are set for that period, but even so I still push for paying each day rather than a lump sum payment.

Our experiences are rather dissimilar.

Our experiences are rather dissimilar.
Night by night is not paying upfront :) I have had to pay nightly, but only when I wasn't sure how many nights I would be staying.

But if were looking at a place that cost 600 baht a night, planned to stay 5 nights, and they demanded I pay 3000 baht up front, I would be careful.