I will be connecting through BKK next month and have about 18 hours for a layover. For those of you familiar with BKK, do you recommend leaving the airport to find a nearby hotel (up to $100/night)?

If so, what specifics should I know about leaving the airport? Since I'll have to go through customs and I'm assuming pay some kind of fee to enter the country, is it worth it for 18 hours? And how early should I return to the airport before my international departure? (I'm unaware of how long it takes to get back into this airport).

And should I convert USD to Thai currency before leaving the airport? Recommendations for transportation to/from a hotel?

For anyone who can help with instructions, thanks a million in advance. ^ Normally I wouldn't step out of the airport in a completely unfamiliar country, but I'm confident that FlyerTalk will take the fear factor out of this process!

if you use search, there are lots of previous posts on this exact topic. as i've only stayed in the city, i'll leave that part to prior posts and to others.

BKK is an efficient airport, and there is no charge for a tourist visa.

as for money changing, there isn't enough difference at the airport or in town to matter in this case.

Stay in the city. There is little of interest near the Airport. Book a hotel near the river or near the BTS, Silom, Riverside, Sukhamvit and explore. Take a metered taxi to your hotel. Search tells you step by step how to do it. Cost will be about 250-300 baht each way. 50 baht less on the return.

Experience as much of Bangkok as you can during your brief stay, ride on a non-tourist boat on the Chao Phraya with ordinary people. Walk around and see how people live. Try Tom Yum in a restaurant. Lots to do.

I'm sitting in Bangkok now, and it's certainly worth a trip to the city. First-rate hotels are inexpensive, and the city has lots to offer. I'll bet you can get the Holiday Inn at Chit Lom (not the one in Silom) for under $100. Be sure to get a hotel near a Skytrain station, because traffic can be gruesome.

While in the city, shopping is a great pasttime. Execellent knock-offs are available (esp at night markets such as Suan Lum or Patpong) if you're into designer watches & similar. DVDs are also available, though quality can be iffy. The legality and morality are questionable, but the choice is yours.

You can also get a great massage, either with or without "extras." Whatever you're looking for, Bangkok has it.

While there is no charge for entry to Thailand, you must pay 500 Baht (about US$12) on leaving the country.

Thanks for the great post. Are you recommending I use Skytrain to get around as opposed to a taxi? My primary concern is the relatively short amount of time I have and also the time it will take to check back into the airport.

Does the Skytrain connect with the airport? Can it be easily navigated for an English speaking user? Thanks.

Skytrain does NOT go to the Airport,

if you leave the airport make sure you have 500 baht departure tax,

A taxi to the city is real cheap, if they use the meter its 150-200 depending how the traffic is, plus 50 baht airport fee , and 40-60 baht expressway charge.

If you are landing at midnight or so , you can get to your hotel in 30 minutes or so,

add extra time the next afternoon to get back to the airport , lots more traffic then

Rally

You can also avoid the long lines (and 50 baht airport taxi fee), by getting a taxi at the departure level, as they're letting people off.

$100 will buy you a lot of hotel in Bangkok. I normally stay in a 3 star place for $30 a night, or will splurge for a $60-$70 4 or 5 star room sometimes. Prices have gone up lately, so I don't think I'll be getting the $55 rooms at the Shangri-La anymore!

Taxi drivers will try and overcharge you, just make sure they use the meter. I'd figure on 60 minutes to get back to the airport if it's not late at night. There are ATMs outside the arrivals hall. That's where you'll get the best exchange. The exchange desks at the airport take about 5% extra off, so not much of a deal.

But the ones in the airport won't, if you ignore the touts and the limo booths inside and if go to the public taxi stand just outside the terminal instead. The little booth there will translate your destination and give you a slip with the taxi's license number and a number to call if you have any problems.

My one-day tour of Bangkok, perhaps doable in 18 hours if you don't need any sleep: http://wikitravel.org/en/One_day_in_Bangkok

Couple of Things:

I recommend Celadon in the Sukhothai as the best food I had in BKK. It is a huge menu, quite varied, and representative of most regions in Thailand.

Tea at the Oriental is great. The pastries are quite good, but it is the service and atmosphere (as well as the rotating types of live music) that shine. It is around 23USD per tea set, but you can order a la carte.

For hotels, as somebody mentioned, there are often great deals. I have seen the Four Seasons for just 139, and I stayed at the Oriental, including breakfast, for 228USD. I'm sure that below these you can find some great value. However, it is most important that you are either on the skytrain or the river. I personally prefer the river, as to me, that is the nicest part of the city. The Oriental/Peninsula/Shangri-la all have the river and skytrain stop. I also know that the Royal Orchid Sheraton and Marriott Resort are on the river and are cheaper options to the ones listed above (except perhaps the S-L - I never looked there).

In my opinion, you can skip the Chatuchak weekend market. I found it hot, buggy, and essentially unpleasant.

Jim Thompson House is a must-do as is, of course, the Royal Palace/Emerald Buddha Temple.

I personally enjoy the Chatuchak weekend market very much, but it is usually very hot and crowded. (Never had a problem with bugs.) The market is NOT, however, something that I would recommend to someone with only an 18-hour layover.

Great suggestion with the taxis! ^ These are the kinds of things a first-timer would never know without your input. Thanks!

When you say "outside the terminal", are the domestic/international terminals the same? (I will be arriving internationally). Also, is this taxi stand outside arrivals or departures?

There is a domestic and international terminal close to each other, and the taxi stand is right out side of baggage claim. I am sure you can catch a taxi outside of arrivals as well.

The money exchange in BKK is strange to me. If you convert USD, the exchange rate is somewhere between 38 to almost 41 baht for $1. The airport exchange rate is somewhere just over 40 baht, which is not bad. CNY on the other hand is very different, between 4.3-4.9, which is a 15% difference.

I recommend Pattaya which is a ways from Bankok but nice and a lot of fun

I'm in a similar situation as the OP, 18hrs in BKK enroute to BLR.

I was looking at either the JW Marriott or the Sheraton Grande (trying to earn miles at every opportunity) The lowest rate I found (via expedia) is $155, I'm not sure I want to pay that much. Are there other sites (country specific, perhaps?) that might offer a better deal?

I've never been to BKK before and am thinking of a half-day tour of the city. Are either of these hotels conveniently located for this (and from the airport as my flight to BLR is at 7PM). How long does it take to get o the airport at this time of day?

Cheers!

apart from the sweat - i don't mind,
the market is no longer a bargain , and anything you should want to buy (that doesn't have legs) is cheaper in the world trade center - for starters