Hi guys...

i did a search and couldn't find anything that matched this question exactly - so hear goes...

I'm flying from the US to Phuket on a UA award. Going through Tokyo, i fly Tokyo-BKK and arrive at 10:30PM. My connecting flight from BKK-Phuket is at 8AM the next morning.

I've read hear that the lounges are closed from 1am - 5am (with the exception of the pay lounge area). My question is multipart - are thailand airports like US airports in that coming off international flights, am I dumped outside of the terminal after passport control? Like would I be able to wait inside the actual airport even though my flight is the next morning? Other then the Novotel (wow, expensive) and the airport hourly hotel, is there any thing else thats close that would be recommended?

Overall, what would anyone recommend? toughing it out in the airport for a few hours - or crashing at a close hotel (i'm flying in on ANA F and Thai F, so I should be arriving comfortably [thanks chase bank!!!])

i very much appreciate any guidance anyone can provide!