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Your vacation Thailand starts at arrival Bangkok airport. Here you can read what you need to know when you arrive at the international airport S.
Bangkok Airport: Suvarnabhumi
Bangkok International Airport has a tricky name: Suvarnabhumi (pronounced "Soo-wan-na-boom"). It has been Thailand's new international airport since 2006. Suvarnabhumi Airport is located about 36 kilometers east of the Thai capital Bangkok. Under normal traffic conditions, you can reach the center of Bangkok in 45 minutes by taxi or shuttle bus.
Arrival in Thailand
As soon as you leave the plane, you follow your fellow travelers. Make sure you have completely filled out the white 'Arrival card' on the plane. If you forgot or didn't have a pen, please do so. You follow the blue signs with the text 'Immigration' (not the signs 'Visa on arrival', which does not apply to Dutch people).
You then enter a large hall with rows of people through the duty-free shops. There are about 15 'Immigration' desks. Usually you have to wait here for a while. You show your passport and a photo is taken of you. You get a stamp in your passport and that is also your free visa. You can now proceed to the baggage carousel.
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Transport options from Bangkok Airport
Once you've picked up your luggage and cleared customs, you'll need to move from the 2nd to the 1st floor of the airport building. The first floor is intended for public transport. There are many options to travel from the airport to Bangkok. As:
- Cab meter
- Airport limousines
- Airport express bus (Shuttle bus)
- City bus
- Minivans (Public Van)
- Airport Rail Link (fast train)
- Intercity buses BorKhor Sor (for destinations other than Bangkok)
- Rent a car
Personally, I prefer the Airport Rail Link or one taxi (depending on where I need to be).
If you travel alone, the Airport Rail Link is cheaper. The disadvantage is that you have to carry your suitcase around. You will not become for you either hotels dropped off, you will have to opt for additional transport in Bangkok. If you are traveling with two or more people, a taxi can be cheaper and easier.
The Airport Rail Link station is located on the B floor at Suvarnabhumi Airport. There are five floors at Suvarnabhumi Airport:
– Fourth floor: departure
– Third floor: restaurants/shops
– Second floor: arrival
– First floor: taxi and bus
– B-floor: Airport Rail Link station
If you want to travel to Bangkok with the Airport Rail Link after arriving in Thailand? Then it is best to take the elevator to the B floor at the airport.
Cab meter
If you want to take a taxi from Bangkok Airport to the center of Bangkok, go to the first floor:
- Location at the airport: Passenger Terminal on the first floor, Gates 4. and 7.
- Availability: 24 hours a day.
- Cost: 350 to 400 baht (including tolls) 350 baht is about €9,65
- Travel time: 45 minutes under normal traffic conditions.
From the arrivals hall on the second floor, take the elevator to the first floor, where the taxis are outside. Get a receipt from the machine first. Most tourists opt for the official meter taxi. This is a great option, especially when you are with several people and can therefore share the costs.
Thailand blog taxi tips:
- Make sure the taxi driver turns on the meter. If he doesn't or says it's broken, take another taxi.
- Make sure you have 100 baht notes with you. Often taxi drivers cannot change.
- Don't expect the taxi driver to find the way to your hotel flawlessly, that chance is very small. Have the address and phone number of your hotel ready. The address of your hotel in English is not enough. Make sure you also have the address on paper in Thai. The phone number is important because the taxi driver can then call the hotel to ask where it is.
The video below gives a view of Bangkok Airport and the capital:
If you are 70+, you can line up at the far right at the pass control. No long queue there. Especially for 70+, people with small children or the disabled.
If you are over 70, you can also walk through and then take the Premium Lane (for monks, the disabled and the over 70s) on the left. No long queues either.
And if you have a connecting flight from Don Muang, you can use the free shuttle bus (exit 3). Normally about 1 hour travel time.
Do not get on the wrong bus from Don Muang, could not find the shuttle, but another shuttle bus came, which was apparently for the airport staff, sat in that bus for an hour and saw the entire airport before I returned to the starting point had arrived…. You can get a ticket for the shuttle bus at the desk at the exit for the shuttle bus.
On the 1st floor you can eat very cheaply.
Much cheaper than on the 3rd floor, and quite tasty.
And if you depart from Bangkok Airport through Customs is there also a Premium Lane for the disabled, children and 70+?
Yes, after you have checked in, walk a little further than the normal entrance to customs.
There is no 'entrance to customs'. You only have to deal with customs when you enter the country.
Yes, Bert is correct. I think you mean when you are on your way back to the Netherlands.
If you are over 70, you do not have to take the escalator up, but walk a bit further until you see the Premium Lane on the left. Once inside it goes pretty fast. The security check and passport control are together, so you don't have to go up and down. You stay on the ground floor.
You take the passage for the crew and the VIPs; I am always pushed there in the wheelchair.