Advice / Opinion on BKK Airport Transfer

[icesmoke]

Hi Bros..

Been to BKK few times already and will usually take a cab from airport to whichever hotel i stay...however this trip will be my first since they started operating from the new airport. I was just given a quote by a travel agent in Thailand of S$65 for a one way trip from the new airport to the hotel (6 pax)..I hope that some kind bros here can help me with the following, so that i can make a better decision whether to use this transfer or travel by cab as usual.

1. roughly how much it will cost from the airport to city by cab (siam area)
2. the time and distance from airport to siam...

Thanks in advance

[sassina2]

S$65 at a lousy exchange rate of 22 bahts to 1 sin $ is 1430 bahts.

From the new airport to Siam Square area, I have no idea of distance but can tell you that the journey time will be dependant on time of arrival.

In the morning till late, you will have bad traffic coming into Bangkok and the journey will take at least twice as long. Whatever you do, this cannot be changed.

In the afternoon and evenings, you will be going opposite to bad traffic and the journey will take from 30 minutes to 40 minutes unless you have very bad luck running into some blockage due to accident or "royal family out in town blocking off traffic etc".

My advice, with 6 people just hop into two taxis (with meters).

On arrival, do what I always do -

Go to "DEPARTURES LEVEL".

Walk to where people drop off to depart and grab two of the taxis there and tell them - METER CHARGE ONLY!
Almost every taxi will agree because if they don't and, waste time talking to you, they will be chased away by the police and they return to bangkok empty!

CHOOSE TWO NICE NEW LOOKING TAXIS AND AVOID THE JALOPIES.

One or two will try to add 50 bahts to the fare but walk away from those idiots!

The good thing about going to DEPARTURES is that there is no queue as most people will go to TAXI STAND at ARRIVALS or as directed by Airport signboards. I prefer to use lateral thinking.

Tell the taxi to use the MOTORWAY.

There are two tolls to pay - one at 25 bahts and one at 40 bahts but its worth it as this is the fastest way to Siam Sq area.

The taxi meter should be between 190 bahts and 230 bahts maximum. You can tip the taxi 20 to 30 bahts if you like.

Maximum Total costs for two taxis should be :

230 + 65 + 30 (tip) giving you a total of 325 x 2 taxis = 650 bahts versus 1430 bahts and looking for the joker upon landing etc. Even if you get caught in bad traffic and the meter charges go up, it will still be cheaper!

[maiteejoe]

Excellent advise...I up your points. Me going on 18th, this comes in very handy. Thanks!

[pussyman72]

well i not been to bkk for @ least 2 yr till last mth dec b4 going to CR i drop over in bkk to visit a friend for a few hr b4 taking a flight to CR.

bkk airport to her work place cost me about 400plus on the meter but half way thru my friend work place the driver ask for 800 baht i was jumping ard so after talking to him, he told me just give him whatever it amount i think is ok.

so i pay him 600 baht since he never try to be funny after i make noise.

going back was ez the driver stick to the meter.

[sassina2]

One more thing, tell the driver to EXIT AT SOUTH PLOENCHIT (Ploenchit Tai).

One taxi driver once exited at "Pleochit Nua" (North Ploenchit)and that cost me time and at least another 25 bahts to make a U-Turn to be in the right direction.

[icesmoke]

Thanks a lot bro for your advice... will take the taxi then as i will arrive in BKK late in the evening on Tiger Airways... budget trip with family members..so trying to save as much as possible as i rather spend on shopping / food and entertainment...ticket was cheap at around S$95 each for 2 ways including taxes (no BKK tax)..

btw anyone got lobang for Asia Hotel? tried the internet site but waiting for their reply. no sure whether those discounted rooms full already or not?

[mvpexcalibur]

Try asiarooms dot com .... read the review on trip adviser ....
Sometimes cheap ... might not be good ....

:D

Good luck ...

I will be there with my family (& kids + in laws) ..so let the wife to do all the booking stuff ...

[jlkl]

Thanks a lot bro for your advice... will take the taxi then as i will arrive in BKK late in the evening on Tiger Airways... budget trip with family members..so trying to save as much as possible as i rather spend on shopping / food and entertainment...ticket was cheap at around S$95 each for 2 ways including taxes (no BKK tax)..

btw anyone got lobang for Asia Hotel? tried the internet site but waiting for their reply. no sure whether those discounted rooms full already or not?


Bro $95 for 2 ways including tax is damn cheap. Did u book the tickets way in advance or you got secret weapon?? :D

[justl00king]

Bro $95 for 2 ways including tax is damn cheap. Did u book the tickets way in advance or you got secret weapon?? :DI prefer Jetstar though must pay more. :D

[sassina2]

asiarooms.com is one of the better booking sites at great prices for their promo hotels.

You need to book at least 3 days in advance - their lead time to confirm availability of rooms & they deduct your money first!

[84gunner]

knn, S$65+ is a rip-off!!!

from new airport to Rachada by meter is about 180 THB. Tat is, still only go by 1 motorway along Rama 9, 20THB for the motorway. So, by meter, going to Siam Center should be not be more than 250 THB including toll fee, considering some traffic jam.

The idea of hopping into 2 cabs is good, 3 pax per cab, travel in comfort yet not paying the rip-off price.

[smiler]

Yo Gunner,
How are you?
Me coming to BKK again.............will call you.:D

[darick53]

Hi Bro,

U exit from immigration, bring urself to the departure hall. Walk out to get a cab and tell them to go by meter.

Cost < 500 THB
Timing to Siam 30-40 mins with no jams counted.

Regards

Darick

[icesmoke]

knn, S$65+ is a rip-off!!!

from new airport to Rachada by meter is about 180 THB. The idea of hopping into 2 cabs is good, 3 pax per cab, travel in comfort yet not paying the rip-off price.

thanks bro for your advice... decided to take the cab already as usual... btw i read that there were some teething problems regarding delay of luggage when the airport open... any idea whether time has been settled?

[sassina2]

Sorry ah, since I normally do not check in baggage, I have no experience of the system there.

All I can say is that by today, if they have not solved the problem, it should be in the news but there does not seem to be anything on that now!

Good Luck.

[84gunner]

thanks bro for your advice... decided to take the cab already as usual... btw i read that there were some teething problems regarding delay of luggage when the airport open... any idea whether time has been settled?

my trips out & into BKK, usually I do not have check-in luggage. I only had check-in luggage on my last trip, in Dec'06. Din exactly time how long, but I think it's ok / reasonable, at least I din get impatient.

[84gunner]

Yo Gunner,
How are you?
Me coming to BKK again.............will call you.:D

me been v busy, wif both work & parties, until peng san a few times liao!!! U may be surprised, on Xmas & New Year's Eve parties in office (on the 2 fridays), I actually reached home & slept b4 9pm!!! Party in office until peng san on those 2 days, my colleagues sent me home. In fact, was having flu few days back, due 2 insufficient rest! Juz recovered.

Also enjoyed quite some joy rides, and abit of driving ard in Thailand, several of my frens bought new cars last month. My New Year's holiday trip 2 Cambodia was oso kinda exciting / adventurous. Tell u about it when we meet. By the way, I might be going Cambodia 4 holiday again next wkend.

I mentioned the air stewardess 2 u b4, rite? Did I know her b4 or after yr last trip? Anyway, I went SGP 4 a few days & came back BKK in mid-Dec'06. The 1st wkend I came back only, we went 2 watch concert 2gether, then went party & I totally peng san, she sent me home!!! She's quite naughty, cos I tink she plotted wif her frens 2 make me drunk.

ok, juz call me.

[justl00king]

My New Year's holiday trip 2 Cambodia was oso kinda exciting / adventurous. By the way, I might be going Cambodia 4 holiday again next wkend.
Me thinking of going there for some casino action. :D

Any nice recommendations? :D

[smiler]

me been v busy, wif both work & parties, until peng san a few times liao!!! U may be surprised, on Xmas & New Year's Eve parties in office (on the 2 fridays), I actually reached home & slept b4 9pm!!! Party in office until peng san on those 2 days, my colleagues sent me home. In fact, was having flu few days back, due 2 insufficient rest! Juz recovered.

Also enjoyed quite some joy rides, and abit of driving ard in Thailand, several of my frens bought new cars last month. My New Year's holiday trip 2 Cambodia was oso kinda exciting / adventurous. Tell u about it when we meet. By the way, I might be going Cambodia 4 holiday again next wkend.

I mentioned the air stewardess 2 u b4, rite? Did I know her b4 or after yr last trip? Anyway, I went SGP 4 a few days & came back BKK in mid-Dec'06. The 1st wkend I came back only, we went 2 watch concert 2gether, then went party & I totally peng san, she sent me home!!! She's quite naughty, cos I tink she plotted wif her frens 2 make me drunk.

ok, juz call me.

Wow.......u really can party hor.
U better take care of urself.

The air stewardess I knew it when my last visit to BKK, u told me liao. Remember when we at RCA u told me abt it.
So how the gal that we met there? U still in contact?
SO envy u went concert and plotted by someone to get u drunk. Hahahaha.....

Anyway, will let you know schedule.
This time think must ask u go along to MP liao.:D

[84gunner]

Me thinking of going there for some casino action. :D

Any nice recommendations? :D

I'm not familiar wif area there, but I have Ho Wah (Genting, M'sia) membership. The other I know is, Star Vegas is a subsidiary of Las Vegas, and it seems they are the biggest hotel / has the most number of rooms.

I'm going wif a local Thai fren, who oso has m'ship wif these 2 estabs, so likelihood of going either or both is higher.

[84gunner]

Wow.......u really can party hor.
U better take care of urself.

The air stewardess I knew it when my last visit to BKK, u told me liao. Remember when we at RCA u told me abt it.
So how the gal that we met there? U still in contact?
SO envy u went concert and plotted by someone to get u drunk. Hahahaha.....

Anyway, will let you know schedule.
This time think must ask u go along to MP liao.:D

No, not in contact wif tat gal we met liao. Met another 2 gals (they're from different groups, both on the same nite!) on the wkend after u left, was busy wif them since then...

I believe it was a plot cos several weeks b4, she was asking me several times 2 confirm if I wanna go 2 watch the (Tata Young) concert 2gether wif her, then she'll get the tickets 4 me. Tat nite, she's "calling the shots", deciding which pub / club we go, and was busy wif many phone calls. When partying, it seems her frens are taking turns 2 drink wif me (tekan-ing me).

Go MP is ok, provided my balls not dry. Lemme know yr schedule, so I can reserve some ammo b4 u arrive, otherwise, balls dry how 2 go MP?

[justl00king]

I'm not familiar wif area there, but I have Ho Wah (Genting, M'sia) membership. The other I know is, Star Vegas is a subsidiary of Las Vegas, and it seems they are the biggest hotel / has the most number of rooms.

Thanks for the input bro,

I have gotten info that Ho Wah Genting is good. Can arrange thru their office in Bangkok to make travel arrangements. Can you advise how much for membership and what benefits? Most impotant safety wise any concern as me first timer.:)

[thaiboy]

Me thinking of going there for some casino action. :D

Any nice recommendations?

Soon they going to build 1 and only MP in poypet:D

[84gunner]

Thanks for the input bro,

I have gotten info that Ho Wah Genting is good. Can arrange thru their office in Bangkok to make travel arrangements. Can you advise how much for membership and what benefits? Most impotant safety wise any concern as me first timer.:)

I got my membership 4 free when I went Genting M'sia wif my ex-gf. She got VIP membership (dunno it's Gold or something like tat, tat time dun have Platinum category), the hotel suite we stayed tat time oso booked wif her membership privileges.

I dunno much about benefits, except tat can earn points when u gamble, not sure if can earn points at F & B expenses. Then, can use the points 2 book free hotel rooms or get discounts, etc.

Safety? U can go do a search on the Internet, none of the articles write anything good on safety in Poi Pet. All sorts of scams, corruption, pickpockets, extortion, "blackmail", etc etc. If u kiasi, afraid / not brave enuf, then dun go lor!

[84gunner]

Soon they going to build 1 and only MP in poypet:D

hahaha!

Juz hang around the casinos there, look like u not engrossed wif gambling but looking 4 something else, u may have some ladies coming 2 solicit 2 u, some of them are actually PRCs! Oso got quite some Vietnamese, Cambodians, etc etc.

knn, it's a taboo 2 gamble after u touch WLs! Many, if not most gamblers, are pretty superstitious. In the earlier, or good old days, GL, Keong Saik, Petain, & many LSBs, KTVs, businesses not-so-good on fridays & saturdays, cos many pple gamble horses on saturdays & sundays. But, business damn good on sunday nites during those good old days.

The winners celebrate, the losers still need 2 "release" after enduring 4 the wkend, the bookies collected the $$$...

[thaiboy]

hahaha!

Juz hang around the casinos there, look like u not engrossed wif gambling but looking 4 something else, ...

hehehe you are right!!!! waiting to collect some bad debts:D

[justl00king]

If u kiasi, afraid / not brave enuf, then dun go lor!Well, I think to a certain level everyone would take necessary precautions and to avoid any unnecessary risks.

That is to gather more feedback have a better understanding before deciding if to go ahead. Anyway, aleady up your pts for your input.

[84gunner]

Well, I think to a certain level everyone would take necessary precautions and to avoid any unnecessary risks.

That is to gather more feedback have a better understanding before deciding if to go ahead. Anyway, aleady up your pts for your input.

Well, I believe it's generally safe in the casinos, otherwise nobody would even wanna go! U can make transport arrangements in BKK, ie contact their BKK offices or check wif tour agents, the other way is, there's coach buses from BKK to Poi Pet. But since I can't read nor speak Thai, I dunno which bus is for which casino. If the junket (the agent overseeing & travelling on the coach buses from BKK to Poi Pet) can speak Teo Chew, I can still communicate wif him, but then, I wont expect to understand the name of the casino, unless he's gonna say it in English. I dont expect them to speak English. The casino names may have Thai equivalent, I'm not sure about it.

I ever had an encounter, I din book any hotel room b4-hand, and it was holiday season, ie. New Year holiday, 4-day holiday. I was told 2 expect all rooms fully booked, no rooms available! Mebbe have 2 spend whole nite in casino. I dun like tat idea, so tried 2 get a room thru the junket. Luckily, he can speak Teochew. Tat was when the bus oredi moved off. But the negotiations is not 2 my favour, my gut feeling 6th sense tells me not 2 go ahead, so I jumped off the bus, when it was oredi on the way!

The extortion / "blackmail" includes the customs / immigration officers, esp the Cambodian side. They may want u 2 give them additional $$$, if not, they may not wanna stamp yr passport! Going into Cambodia from Thailand, if u dont give the additional $$$ they want, they may delay abit here & there, question u, etc etc. Going outta Cambodia to Thailand, they may even refuse to stamp yr passport if u dont give the $$$ they want!

I oso heard tat they may make things more difficult 4 u if u going back Thailand on the same day, ie 1 day visit.

How's tat 4 security / safety?