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 ....



Good luck ...

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

[jlkl]

Originally Posted by 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?

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

[justl00king]

Originally Posted by jlkl

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

I prefer Jetstar though must pay more.

[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.

[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]

Originally Posted by 84gunner

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.