Asia - Best way to handle arriving middle of night in BKK

Hi all,

I am taking my second trip to southeast asia in September. I will be arriving into Bangkok from Hong Kong via Emirates Airlines at 2:00 a.m on Aug. 31. I am planning on staying at the Royal River Hotel where I stayed last time. I will be leaving Detroit on Aug. 29 at 8:00 a.m. and finally arriving in Hong Kong on Aug. 30 at 10:00 p.m. all on NWA in Business Class. I then transfer to Emirates for the final leg to BKK.

My question is this: As I will be spending 2 1/2 weeks in asia, I'm trying to pinch pennies where I can. I'm trying to decide what to do about that first night in Asia and would appreciate your input. I arrive at 2:00 a.m. By the time I clear immigration, get baggage and transport into Bangkok it will be around 4:00 a.m. If I book my hotel for the night of the 30th, I will be charged the full night but won't even check in until 4:00 a.m on the 31st. I was thinking to save some money, I could book my first night as Aug. 31, go from the airport to the hotel, store my luggage and just wander around some until about noon on the 31st, when I can hopefully check in early and get a catnap in. I know I'll be like a zombie between arriving in BKK and getting a room, but it would save me around $50, and since I am traveling Business class, I can hopefully get some sleep on the flights.

What do all think? Is this a viable plan. What is Bangkok like in early morning? Anywhere to just sit and relax, etc? Thanks for your opinions.

IMHO your plan sounds like something one could regret after arriving to BKK. I suggest you to book yourself a hotel! http://www.latestays.com/ has excellent rates for example.

Check out http://www.sleepinginairports.net/

It might have some suggestions for the airport in Bangkok.
On which airline are you travelling? Is there any chance that it has an arrivals lounge that you could use?

Does your hotel have a pool? (perhaps not at $50 per night ...) You might be able to store your bags and then retire to the pool/sundeck for a few hours.

Bangkok is hectic, but there are some places where you could probably relax. An air-conditioned shopping mall for example, or even one of the boat tours (although you might end up feeling a bit queasy if you're really tired). Another option might be to book an inexpensive massage. You'll get to lie down for an hour, and might get a hot shower.

Given the price of solid 3 or 4 star accommodation in Bangkok anyway, I think the fact you're looking to cut corners is asking for trouble. As you say yourself, you're going to be exhausted, and BKK is hardly a relaxing city. Check out some of the consolidator websites - asiarooms.com, asiatravel.com, asiahotels.com and see what they come up with.

The after-effects of the tsunami have apparently been quite wide reaching (i.e. travellers are shunning the whole of Thailand). I'm sure hoteliers would appreciate the extra business and yot can get your holiday off to a more relaxing start. Bed by 4am, up by midday and a whole afternoon to explore the city, rather than sitting by a pool until midday, shower, nap, realise it's 6pm and dark...

A very good 3 star hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 15, is the Manhattan. Room rates are 1100 baht a night all taxes included and a nice breakfast buffet. That's less then $30. The Skytrain and the Subway are just down the block, and getting a good rest before exploring Bangkok might be a good idea. You can do a Google to get more info and rates from consolidators.

Not worth sleeping in the airport to save $30. BKK has got to be one of the greatest cheap hotel cities in the world - what you get for $30/night is generally pretty good.

However, if you do want to sleep at Don Muang, you will join many of the Thai staff who work in the airport and sleep in their stall or shop overnight. I've been through BKK in the middle of the night many a time and I've seen travellers sleeping down at gates 1-7 who come in at midnight and have a 6:00am connection to Phuket and so don't bother leaving the airport. That's not a bad area to try. Just don't clear customs, once you do, there is nowhere suitable to sleep.

There is a Thai lounge open near gate 15 I think that is 24 hours if you can get in there.

Okay, you've convinced me. I guess I was being too cheap. I'm gonna book cheap for the first two nights, then switch to the peninsula for the last 2 nights. Always wanted to stay there. I got a 200 rate for grand deluxe room, including breakfast and taxes.

Thanks again.

including breakfast and taxes.


The breakfast is very impressive and you will enjoy it. It's better than the buffet breakfast across the river at the Oriental.

For a 4am arrival, you're quite right. Tough to justify a whole nights room.

I can recommend places to stay depending on your tolerance from CHEAP all the way up.

170-250baht rooms that are clean, safe and well run. 500 to 800 baht hotels that are not of superior quality, but again good rooms at good value. 1500-2500 baht are GREAT rooms.

Sounded like you're already hooked up with a room, but I thought I'd reply for those reading the post as well.

:)

As STP said, it sounds like you have made up your mind, but I agree with everyone else here. Decent to nice rooms are widely available for about $10 a night in BKK. It's not dangerous early in the morning but I think it would put a bit of a damper on your trip because I don't think you will sleep. Get a few hours of sleep, take a shower, and head out to enjoy one of the most interesting cities big cities in Asia.

I don't understand why you are taking that routing from DTW?
NW flies to NRT and connects to BKK, which arrives at 11;30 pm.
I have been connecting through NRT for 13 years, but the Return flight is most unbearable, since it leaves BKK at 6 AM for NRT. There is nothing like a good nites sleep before a long flight with more civilized afternoon arrivals and departures like on Cathay Pacific.

This Dec I am taking Malaysia Air in First Class via KUL on a NW Award ticket to avoid another difficult trip in NW Business Class out of LAX on an very OLD 742 (to be phased out) with the very very OLD uncomforable seats. I remember them well from the many trips in the 1990's.

As for middle of the nite arrival in BKK, there are many things to do, if you legs have not turned to rubber from the long tortorous flights. Depending on the part of town your hotel is in, you can walk around 'sightseeing'!
Or just have breakfast and linger over your tea or coffee.
You can always nap in the lobby until the room is ready for early checkin.

I like to take a good nap in a real bed on arrival before hitting the town.

Enjoy BKK, Thailand, and the Thais are marvelous people and one of my two favorite destinations. I go every year to get away from the Holidays in the States just like when I left DTW 42 years ago, only I don't go back there.

I don't understand why you are taking that routing from DTW?
NW flies to NRT and connects to BKK, which arrives at 11;30 pm.
I have been connecting through NRT for 13 years, but the Return flight is most unbearable, since it leaves BKK at 6 AM for NRT. There is nothing like a good nites sleep before a long flight with more civilized afternoon arrivals and departures like on Cathay Pacific.

This Dec I am taking Malaysia Air in First Class via KUL on a NW Award ticket to avoid another difficult trip in NW Business Class out of LAX on an very OLD 742 (to be phased out) with the very very OLD uncomforable seats. I remember them well from the many trips in the 1990's.

As for middle of the nite arrival in BKK, there are many things to do, if you legs have not turned to rubber from the long tortorous flights. Depending on the part of town your hotel is in, you can walk around 'sightseeing'!
Or just have breakfast and linger over your tea or coffee.
You can always nap in the lobby until the room is ready for early checkin.

I like to take a good nap in a real bed on arrival before hitting the town.

Enjoy BKK, Thailand, and the Thais are marvelous people and one of my two favorite destinations. I go every year to get away from the Holidays in the States just like when I left DTW 42 years ago, only I don't go back there.

Since this is an award ticket, I had to take what I could get. Could not get routing through to BKK. But this works out good, since I've never been to HKG. My NW routing is DTW-SFO-NRT-HKG-NRT-MSP-DTW. All C class. I am then taking EK to BKK in C, and then Thai Air in F back to HKG. Can't wait to get the Dom Perignon. This will be my second time in Bangkok, first times in Chiang Mai and Hong Kong.