Asia - BKK airport - pseudo-transit!

Off on my big trip next week :D Never been through BKK airport, and will be using it several times; but my question is : a friend of mine arrives in BKK 12 hours before I do, and is unwilling to venture into downtown BKK on her own. :confused:

Anyhow, any good options for her to crash for a bit, before holding up a sign for me as I arrive? :cool: I've heard dayrooms @ the airport are expensive and not worthwhile.

Advice appreciated! :D

There is a hotel connected to the airport (Amari airport hotel???) that may have day rooms for a better price than airline club suites. From a couple years back I remember $50 being a price that stuck in my head.

If you will both be staying in Bangkok once you arrive, push her to grab a cab and head to a hotel. As long as she/you avoid everyone yelling and telling you about the best tour and hotels it will be fine.

The process is pretty smooth when you know where to go. There is a specific cab stand line, where you get into the queue, tell the person where you want to go. They write this down for you to hand the cab driver - and you are off. The key is to make sure that the cab driver can read the language that the person wrote on the card -- which was what happened to me the 1st time at bkk.

Have fun. I will be there on Thursday. :D

Where are you staying? Any financial constraints? She could always have a hotel Mercedes Benz pick her up and take her to your hotel. Would be less than a day room, she'd feel "safe" and she'd be in the comfort of your hotel.

Now if this was the "shoestring" type trip, this may not be an option.

Regards,

Scho

:p
I like that idea. ^

Financial constraints - on her behalf. Besides, she does enjoy the "shoestring" experience. Any "shoestring options"?

I still think it makes sense for her to check into a hotel in BKK and then to reconvene. 12 hours hanging around Don Muang can't be all that thrilling.

You like the benz idea that is?

Where were you planning to stay the first night?

You like the benz idea that is?

Where were you planning to stay the first night?

:confused:
I haven't booked a place yet... ironically, I've booked myself for 3 nights in KL in June, but yet to book a place for this coming Monday night!

Currently liaising with friend to figure that out. Her financial constraints - not mine. I like to splurge. :cool:

Then she'll appreciate it when you pay for the benz and at least one night at a fancy hotel.

Then she'll appreciate it when you pay for the benz and at least one night at a fancy hotel.

touche!

*ponders*

It's not THAT kinda friendship. :D
This is making thread off track... :rolleyes:

Actually, outta interest - which hotel do you have in mind with the Benz pick up?

Any 5* priceline-able hotel will be able to send a benz. You're talking no mre than US$80 per night in the Sukhumvit area if you're interested.
Usually comes up with JW Marriott, Westin, or Sheraton Grande.

You've heard of biddingfortravel.com right?

Lots of FTers use it as a reference but don't post there because the mod isn't too friendly. lots of BKK info there.

Any 5* priceline-able hotel will be able to send a benz. You're talking no mre than US$80 per night in the Sukhumvit area if you're interested.
Usually comes up with JW Marriott, Westin, or Sheraton Grande.

You've heard of biddingfortravel.com right?

Lots of FTers use it as a reference but don't post there because the mod isn't too friendly. lots of BKK info there.

*ponders*
*Checks credit card bill*

Yes, I came across that. It caused me to have a fantastic weekend in Sydney 2 weekends ago :cool: Interesting point about the mod... I used priceline.com.hk to book rather than priceline.com; figured they would be the same, and my head actually works better in HK$ terms!

Status check : my friend isn't picking up her phone, so I may have to take matters in my own hands!

Good Luck

.....

Convince her to get over her silly fear of the unknown. Bangkok today is very safe for foreigners compared to any big city standards. Meter Taxi guys are relatively straitforward. Even in the very unlikely event she totally gets the wrong guy and gets cheated it will be for a fairly trivial amount of money. No bogie man is going to rob her on the street. Look at the time of day she is there, figure out something interesting for her to do and send her away from the airport. I could not imagine spending 12 hours couped up in BKK with such an amazing city out there. She could accomplish allot in 12 hours.

:D

My original plan! Thank you for backing me up - nothing like people out there in cyberspace to backup my point.

She is, however, arriving late at night... 11PM'ish I think, as I arrive the next morning. I also love the fact that she may take offence at her having to conquer her fear of the unknown; as she has backpacked her way alone through "outback" China :D

Perhaps the conversations of "who would hypothetically fetch a higher price" amongst the 2 of us has got her scared, that she may get a head start! :p

I just returned from a week in Thailand today. I wish I had known about your trip sooner because I was looking for a place to dump my SIM which will expire at the end of the month with b500+ on it (I couldn't think of anyone to call during my mad dash to the airport from Ko Chang).

Anyway, I second or third the advice of those that suggest your friend get over her fears. We met lots of women traveling alone and in pairs down there and none had any bad experiences whatsoever to report. Thailand is much easier to navigate (well, with the exception of those crazy oneway streets) than China (and I've been in and out of China for over 10 years now).

Anectdotally, a friend from Manila met us in Thailand last week and he ended up spending nearly 20 hours at BKK because his passport had expired (doesn't travel much). He checked out the transit hotel option, but decided to sleep on chairs instead because he felt it was a rip off; plus he was on a budget. (Even more anectdotally, he ended up losing his wallet with all his money shortly after meeting us at Ko Chang and managed to somehow fry his cell phone at the same time; we simply funded him ourselves from that point on). The moral to this story, if there is one, is that your friend should get out of the airport, get a SIM, and be careful with her valuables (not that this last point doesn't go without saying).

I just returned from a week in Thailand today. I wish I had known about your trip sooner because I was looking for a place to dump my SIM which will expire at the end of the month with b500+ on it (I couldn't think of anyone to call during my mad dash to the airport from Ko Chang).

The moral to this story, if there is one, is that your friend should get out of the airport, get a SIM, and be careful with her valuables (not that this last point doesn't go without saying).

I love anecdotes - and that's a good one. I'm stuck with an atrocious passport photo for at least 5 more years :cool:

Moral acknowledged, and will be relayed! ^

Incidentally, since I won't be the proud receipient of your SIMcard Moondog; which company did you go with? I'll be in Thailand for at least 3+ weeks, so it might be worth investing in one. :D

Wow, I've really digressed. :D

Incidentally, since I won't be the proud receipient of your SIMcard Moondog; which company did you go with? I'll be in Thailand for at least 3+ weeks, so it might be worth investing in one. :D


I bought an Orange card because I was in a rush to get downtown and they had a booth at the end of the arrivals chute (to buy other cards, I probably would have had to go upstairs to the shopping mall). I bought a card (b500, including b400 in air time) and the sales lady loaded it for me in less than 1 minute.

My friend who I traveled with had a card from one of the larger phone companies. My airtime was considerably cheaper than his, but he got slightly better coverage and has been able to keep his card active for over 3 years with only 2-3 trips to Thailand per year. My Orange card would have lasted as long as I kept loading it; they also sell kits that allow you to convert to a slightly more permanent card.

I bought an Orange card because I was in a rush to get downtown and they had a booth at the end of the arrivals chute (to buy other cards, I probably would have had to go upstairs to the shopping mall). I bought a card (b500, including b400 in air time) and the sales lady loaded it for me in less than 1 minute.



Sweet, thx for the info! Hope ur trip to Thailand was a blast - from the anecdotes, it does sound memorable.

Although it won't be my first trip to Thailand, any other general tips would be appreciated. :D

Moondog!
YGPM

Sweet, thx for the info! Hope ur trip to Thailand was a blast - from the anecdotes, it does sound memorable.

Although it won't be my first trip to Thailand, any other general tips would be appreciated. :D

Here's a link (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4044834#post4044834) to my trip report.

I bought an Orange card because I was in a rush to get downtown and they had a booth at the end of the arrivals chute (to buy other cards, I probably would have had to go upstairs to the shopping mall). I bought a card (b500, including b400 in air time) and the sales lady loaded it for me in less than 1 minute.

My friend who I traveled with had a card from one of the larger phone companies. My airtime was considerably cheaper than his, but he got slightly better coverage and has been able to keep his card active for over 3 years with only 2-3 trips to Thailand per year. My Orange card would have lasted as long as I kept loading it; they also sell kits that allow you to convert to a slightly more permanent card.
Just read today that in order to get a prepaid sim, one needs to complete a form. This is supposed to be because several terrorist explosions were detonated with prepaid cell phones.

Just read today that in order to get a prepaid sim, one needs to complete a form. This is supposed to be because several terrorist explosions were detonated with prepaid cell phones.

That does seem like a reasonable policy, given the threat. However, unless it was implemented within the past 7 days, I can personally affirm that it is not universally enforced.

Just to round up the forum... :cool:

1. my friend decided to slum it out on one of the plastic green chairs... so despite the advice about going into BKK, she decided she'd stick around and hold up a sign for me so that we could catch the train in together!

2. I got a DTAC sim card, which is ้THB199, with THB50. Had better call rates than Orange, was like THB5 for first minute then 0.25 after that. Intl SMS's (my major concern) was only THB5.

Alas, I've lost my mobile phone. :(

So I'm gonna start a new forum.... :D

So after your train ride :eek: where did you end up in terms of accomodations?

So after your train ride :eek: where did you end up in terms of accomodations?

:D Accomodation : on an overnight (VIP!) bus to a little outpost called Yasothon! Arrived at 0530, and hiked to our hotel - the JP Emerald, which, I quote is "the newest, most luxurious hotel" in the town. A steal at THB700 for the middle of nowhere!

We promptly bus-ed back to Bangkok after our business there was done. (sponsor child visit - I was the cameraman :p ) and we got a "studio apartment" at the Boss Tower. Considering we arrived at 0430 this morning, having this option was not a bad thing. But the location is quite out, and my friend with the 'financial constraints' may be leaving me.. so priceline, here I come :D :D :D

:D On an overnight bus to a little outpost called Yasothon! Arrived at 0530, and hiked to our hotel - the JP Emerald, which, I quote is "the newest, most luxurious hotel" in the town. A steal at THB700 for the middle of nowhere!

We promptly bus-ed back to Bangkok after our business there was done. (sponsor child visit - I was the cameraman :p ) and we got a "studio apartment" at the Boss Tower. Considering we arrived at 0430 this morning, having this option was not a bad thing. But the location is out, and my friend with the 'financial constraints' may be leaving me.. so priceline, here I come :D :D :D

I was at a client just opposite Boss Tower last week...I've seen the rooms there - not all that bad, though the location is terrible. If you want to have the best Som Tam in that area, go into the little Soi accross the road and take the first left. The next parallel Soi in the direction of the traffic has a great Duck Noodle restaurant as well.

Stick her in a cab, and get her sent to whichver hotel you're going to. Priceline.sg is wonderful as well. Ended up paying $60/night for a Five-Star last year in late August. FANTASTIC city, very safe. If she get in in the morning tell her to take a Cab to royal palace, or send her shopping or something. She'll be COMPLETELY safe!

Stick her in a cab, and get her sent to whichver hotel you're going to. Priceline.sg is wonderful as well. Ended up paying $60/night for a Five-Star last year in late August. FANTASTIC city, very safe. If she get in in the morning tell her to take a Cab to royal palace, or send her shopping or something. She'll be COMPLETELY safe!

Unfortunately, it appears that she already spent a night on the chairs (just like my friend from the Phils did last week). Well, at least the OP got the arrival sign reception in the morning (I love it when my friends do that for me).

Unfortunately, it appears that she already spent a night on the chairs (just like my friend from the Phils did last week). Well, at least the OP got the arrival sign reception in the morning (I love it when my friends do that for me).

:D

Gabes80,

If she's looking for a safe guesthouse in a good neighbourhood. I can recommend one in the 350 baht range. The place I often stay is 2 doors down and has rooms for 170-250 and it's great too. Add another 250-300 for the cab and that's pretty cheap. Under $20US.

Now, you've got some pretty 'in the loop' Flyertalkers replying to your thread here. Great advice from every budget level. Hope it comes in handy.