Layover ~8 h at BKK
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 5
Layover ~8 h at BKK
Hi...
in two weeks IŽll fly with ThaiAirways (Silk Class) from Manila to Bangkok and land at BKK. Till my connection flight to Frankfurt takes off IŽll have about 8 hours layover.
Landing @BKK: 3:20 p.m
Start: 11:45 p.m.
I know about the lounge at the airport but really would love to see something from Bangkok.
Does anyone have an idea? Or even better a contact to a tourguide or anything else? What should I visit?
Or is the time to short?
Thanks a lot in advance for you help...
in two weeks IŽll fly with ThaiAirways (Silk Class) from Manila to Bangkok and land at BKK. Till my connection flight to Frankfurt takes off IŽll have about 8 hours layover.
Landing @BKK: 3:20 p.m
Start: 11:45 p.m.
I know about the lounge at the airport but really would love to see something from Bangkok.
Does anyone have an idea? Or even better a contact to a tourguide or anything else? What should I visit?
Or is the time to short?
Thanks a lot in advance for you help...
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
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Welcome to FlyerTalk !
Assuming you have a passport which allows easy entry into Thailand, 8 hours is enough time to get out of the airport, though not quite enough time to engage a tour guide and see anything useful.
You can run a search on flyertalk for many threads about layovers at BKK with varying times on the ground. (example: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thail...things-do.html)
Be aware that you may be asked for a 700 baht tax if you leave the airport. It is not included in your ticket price.
When you return to the airport, use door #1 for Thai Royal Silk (business class) as you will be granted access to priority security and immigration lines.
If you have any specific questions after reading through some of the existing threads, please ask.
Assuming you have a passport which allows easy entry into Thailand, 8 hours is enough time to get out of the airport, though not quite enough time to engage a tour guide and see anything useful.
You can run a search on flyertalk for many threads about layovers at BKK with varying times on the ground. (example: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thail...things-do.html)
Be aware that you may be asked for a 700 baht tax if you leave the airport. It is not included in your ticket price.
When you return to the airport, use door #1 for Thai Royal Silk (business class) as you will be granted access to priority security and immigration lines.
If you have any specific questions after reading through some of the existing threads, please ask.
#3
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MCO
Programs: SPG Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 139
i would definitely go into the city for that period of time. i have used and had friends use nook for tour guides around bangkok. she is very friendly, reasonably priced, and speaks good english.
[email protected]
[email protected]
#4
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
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Posts: 11,886
Welcome to FlyerTalk !
Assuming you have a passport which allows easy entry into Thailand, 8 hours is enough time to get out of the airport, though not quite enough time to engage a tour guide and see anything useful.
You can run a search on flyertalk for many threads about layovers at BKK with varying times on the ground. (example: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thail...things-do.html)
Be aware that you may be asked for a 700 baht tax if you leave the airport. It is not included in your ticket price.
When you return to the airport, use door #1 for Thai Royal Silk (business class) as you will be granted access to priority security and immigration lines.
If you have any specific questions after reading through some of the existing threads, please ask.
Assuming you have a passport which allows easy entry into Thailand, 8 hours is enough time to get out of the airport, though not quite enough time to engage a tour guide and see anything useful.
You can run a search on flyertalk for many threads about layovers at BKK with varying times on the ground. (example: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thail...things-do.html)
Be aware that you may be asked for a 700 baht tax if you leave the airport. It is not included in your ticket price.
When you return to the airport, use door #1 for Thai Royal Silk (business class) as you will be granted access to priority security and immigration lines.
If you have any specific questions after reading through some of the existing threads, please ask.
#5
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: BKK
Programs: AA Plat, HH Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,395
You can run a search on flyertalk for many threads about layovers at BKK with varying times on the ground. (example: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thail...things-do.html)
If you have any specific questions after reading through some of the existing threads, please ask.
Have fun!
#6
You don't need a tour guide if you just want to see the major temples (Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun) and Grand Palace. There are taxi stands at arrival, get a cab to Wat Phra Kaew, from there, Grand Palace and Wat Pho are right next door. Get a tuk-tuk to Wat Arun, then call a cab back to BKK. With rush hour traffic BKK-Grand Palace took me a bit over an hour (left BKK at 7am). 8 hours is enough for travel and seeing all four places unless you spend a ton of time reading all the statue descriptions.
Cab drivers from downtown will try to get you to pay an agreed-to amount to take you to the airport and not use the meter. Tuk-tuk from Wat Pho side of the river to Wat Arun will ask about 200-300 THB. You can haggle. Most drivers speak enough English to know where you're going, and enough for you to haggle.
Cab drivers from downtown will try to get you to pay an agreed-to amount to take you to the airport and not use the meter. Tuk-tuk from Wat Pho side of the river to Wat Arun will ask about 200-300 THB. You can haggle. Most drivers speak enough English to know where you're going, and enough for you to haggle.
#7
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From Wat Pho? Since when are there amphibious tuk tuks?
Actually, humor aside this is an awful suggestion because 1) never take a tuk tuk unless you have solid experience in Bangkok (especially from a tourist area like this) and 2) the x-river ferry from Tha Thien, a 5 minute walk from Wat Pho, is all of 4 baht.
Further you're unlikely to get hassled for a set payment or scam if getting a moving taxi over in Thonburi. So there'd be no reason to return to the bangkok side if heading to the airport.
Actually, humor aside this is an awful suggestion because 1) never take a tuk tuk unless you have solid experience in Bangkok (especially from a tourist area like this) and 2) the x-river ferry from Tha Thien, a 5 minute walk from Wat Pho, is all of 4 baht.
Further you're unlikely to get hassled for a set payment or scam if getting a moving taxi over in Thonburi. So there'd be no reason to return to the bangkok side if heading to the airport.
#9
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No, the bridge is entirely irrelevant. Why would you suggest getting gouged by mafia run tuk tuks/taxis when you can get to Wat Arun cheaper and faster by taking the boat.
I'm at a loss for your suggestions.
I'm at a loss for your suggestions.
#10
Because when it's your first time in a new territory, maybe an extra few dollars saved isn't worth the convenience at cost. That's up for the OP to decide. I happily paid a few more bucks if I didn't have to walk to and find a boat dock from Wat Pho.
You gave me many good suggestions for my trip planning, pointing the scams out to me included, and I appreciate it. But when you only have so much time in a city, you can't possibly keep worrying about everything. And you may not have the half an hour to spare trying to hail a taxi who will use the meter to take you to the airport. I paid 300 baht for a taxi to the airport at a pre-fixed price, and I have zero complaints.
You gave me many good suggestions for my trip planning, pointing the scams out to me included, and I appreciate it. But when you only have so much time in a city, you can't possibly keep worrying about everything. And you may not have the half an hour to spare trying to hail a taxi who will use the meter to take you to the airport. I paid 300 baht for a taxi to the airport at a pre-fixed price, and I have zero complaints.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 5
Thanks to all for the great suggestions. As IŽm not afraid of finding my way through a new city, IŽll try to get by taxi to 1-2 temples and walk a bit around the area.
I was a bit afraid of getting short of time...but that seems to ba no issue! So thanks again!!!
I was a bit afraid of getting short of time...but that seems to ba no issue! So thanks again!!!
#12
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Because when it's your first time in a new territory, maybe an extra few dollars saved isn't worth the convenience at cost. That's up for the OP to decide. I happily paid a few more bucks if I didn't have to walk to and find a boat dock from Wat Pho.
You gave me many good suggestions for my trip planning, pointing the scams out to me included, and I appreciate it. But when you only have so much time in a city, you can't possibly keep worrying about everything. And you may not have the half an hour to spare trying to hail a taxi who will use the meter to take you to the airport. I paid 300 baht for a taxi to the airport at a pre-fixed price, and I have zero complaints.
You gave me many good suggestions for my trip planning, pointing the scams out to me included, and I appreciate it. But when you only have so much time in a city, you can't possibly keep worrying about everything. And you may not have the half an hour to spare trying to hail a taxi who will use the meter to take you to the airport. I paid 300 baht for a taxi to the airport at a pre-fixed price, and I have zero complaints.
The continuing notion of a tuk tuk between the two temples as the better option flies in the face of reality.
#13
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Norway
Posts: 15
I had 6 hours at BKK a few months ago. I chose not to go anywhere as it was early morning and barely enough time to do anything useful.
There is a Novotel just 10 min walk from Arrivals. They let me have full access to their Fitness centre for 750 THB including pool, sauna, gym, jacuzzi and shower/towels. I had shoes and shirt in my hand luggage (checked luggage was going to Singapore) and got time for a run, spa, shower and a proper breakfast after my 10 hour flight from Oslo to BKK, freshing me up for the 3hr haul to Singapore and meetings.
There is a Novotel just 10 min walk from Arrivals. They let me have full access to their Fitness centre for 750 THB including pool, sauna, gym, jacuzzi and shower/towels. I had shoes and shirt in my hand luggage (checked luggage was going to Singapore) and got time for a run, spa, shower and a proper breakfast after my 10 hour flight from Oslo to BKK, freshing me up for the 3hr haul to Singapore and meetings.
#14
To you or someone who is familiar with the area, it may be ridiculous. But the comfort and convenience of local knowledge doesn't come to foreign visitors so easily. However, I do not think it's unreasonable that you are unable to put yourself in a tourists' shoes, and I'd support your recommended method of travel if OP is comfortable enough, or cares enough about a few US dollars. I never said tuk tuk was the better option, I just said it was an option. Whatever type of option it is, it flies in the face of a local's reality.
To me, I think it's outrageous so many tourists come to New York just to see Time Square. There is not a particular thing of interest there. But it's something tourists do in New York. Like riding a tuk tuk in Bangkok.
To me, I think it's outrageous so many tourists come to New York just to see Time Square. There is not a particular thing of interest there. But it's something tourists do in New York. Like riding a tuk tuk in Bangkok.
#15
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To you or someone who is familiar with the area, it may be ridiculous. But the comfort and convenience of local knowledge doesn't come to foreign visitors so easily. However, I do not think it's unreasonable that you are unable to put yourself in a tourists' shoes, and I'd support your recommended method of travel if OP is comfortable enough, or cares enough about a few US dollars. I never said tuk tuk was the better option, I just said it was an option. Whatever type of option it is, it flies in the face of a local's reality.
To me, I think it's outrageous so many tourists come to New York just to see Time Square. There is not a particular thing of interest there. But it's something tourists do in New York. Like riding a tuk tuk in Bangkok.
To me, I think it's outrageous so many tourists come to New York just to see Time Square. There is not a particular thing of interest there. But it's something tourists do in New York. Like riding a tuk tuk in Bangkok.
What is difficult about making a left out of the north entrance of Wat Pho and crossing the next street and stopping at, whoa, the pier at the river?
I agree about Times Square. It was much more fun in the 80's when it was run down and seedy. Great people watching.