|
Getting to Thailand
 International
and Domestic Travel
Getting
Around Provincial Towns
Getting
Around Bangkok
Airport
Info & Transportation
Driving
Distance
 Bangkok
International Airport (BIA)
Commonly called "Don Muang", it is the entry
point for a vast majority of visitors to Thailand annually.
Considered as one of the more modern and efficient international
airports in Asia, the singposts are easy to follow and written
in both English and Thai. Free luggage carts are provided
at the terminal gates. After clearing Immigration Services
(vast number of counters, but still slightly slow), take
the escalator to the reliable baggage claim area below.
If you have nothing to clear, the green customs channel
provides a hasty exit into the smiling kingdom of Thailand.
BIA consists of 2 international terminals and one domestic
terminal located adjacent to each other. Passengers can
freely walk between Terminals 1 and 2, while a covered,
elevated walkway connects Terminal 2 with the domestic terminal.
A free shuttle bus service covers the short distance between
terminals every 15 minutes.
The arrival hall of both terminals feature a variety of
services and facilities, including currency exchange booths,
a tourist information kiosk, metered taxi kiosk and airport
limousine counter. However, Terminal 1 has more facilities,
such as an automatic teller machine (ATM), a 24-hour post-office
with international telephone facilities, an airport clinic,
a convenient store, and a hotel reservation desk.
A number of restaurants and bars operate in both terminals'
departure hall, though more are located in Terminal 2, including
popular fast food venues such as Burger Kings, KFC, and
Swensons, and an internet caf?. Extra luggage can be stored
up to 4 months at the left-luggage facility in Terminal
1.
For those departing or transitting through Bangkok, there
are a variety of facilities to entertain you. Duty free
shops restaurants/snack bars are generously scattered in
both terminals. KFC, the only fast food counter, is located
by pier 4 of Terminal 2. A number of designer brand name
boutiques sell their wares at reasonable prices, such as
Harrods, Jim Thompson and the Mae Fah Luang Project, displaying
handicrafts made by local Thai artisans under the patronage
of the deceased HRH Grandmother, the present king's mother.
An arcade game center for children of all ages is located
in the transit area of Terminal 1.
Getting
To and From the Airport
Though the airport is located 25 km (16 miles) north of
the center of Bangkok, road travel time depends on the traffic
conditions. During peak rush hours, the simple journey can
take as long as 3 hours.
Taxis : Seek out the taxi desk located in the arrival hall
of each terminal. They will set a rough estimate pricing
for your standardized, metered fare, not to exceed 300 Baht.
Because of airport regulations on taxis, an additional 50
Baht surcharge will be added to the total fare. Passengers
are responsible for the expressway fees. To enter the city,
you will most likely pay 2 expressway fares, 25 Baht at
the Don Muang Tollway (on ramp adjacent to airport) and
40 Baht at the Rapid Express Tollway Agency's Dindaeng junction.
A tip of 10-20 Baht is a gesture of appreciation for their
service.
Airport Limousines : The desks for making such requests
are usually adjacent to the taxi desks at all terminals.
A uniformed chauffeur will drive you to your destination
while seated comfortably in a sedan or luxury car. A flat
fee of 500 Baht (smaller car, ex. Mitsubishi) or 650 Baht
(luxury car, ex. Benz or Volvo) is charged for pick-up and
delivery to any venue within the perimeter of Bangkok. Though
priced slightly higher than a metered taxi, you're still
responsible for the expressway fares, but no subcharges.
The limos are well maintained and are all white in color.
Tipping 10% of the fare is the norm.
AAC Limousine offers round trip services from airport to
destinations around the country. Visit www.aaclimousine.com
for more information.
Hotel Limousines : Most hotels offer complimentary limousine
or minibus service if you have bookings with them. The drivers
would meet you in the arrival hall, holding up poster cards
with your names written on it.
Helicopter : A few luxury hotels offer helicopter service
for their guests
Airport Buses : An economical shuttle bus providing service
from the airport to major city areas providing accommodations
(No.1 to Silom, No.2 to Sanam Luang (Royal Field), No.3
to Sukhumvit 55 and No.4 to Hua Lam Phong (central train
station)). The buses run every 15 minutes, operating from
5 am to midnight, and costs 100 Baht per person.
Train : Located directly across the highway from the airport,
a covered walkway connects the arrival hall in Terminal
1 to the train station. Trains en route to Hua Lam Phong,
the main train station located in the center of town, appears
every 15-30 minutes.
Public Buses : Adventurous travelers without much luggage
may want to try getting into town on these, the most economical
method of all. Airport kiosk provides bus maps and the bus
stops are located on the highway in front of the airport.
Hired Car : If you want to experience driving in Bangkok,
there are many car rental firms in Bangkok, including international
rental companies such as Hertz, Budget and Avis. The road
system is good and well posted with signs written in English.
An international driving license is required.
|
