Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING TO BANGKOK
Most travellers will arrive in Bangkok via air, but for those entering the city on ground transport, or who have plans to
move onward, below is a summary of the city's major transport hubs.
Flights, tours and rail tickets can be booked online at lonelyplanet.com/bookings.
Air
Located 30km east of central Bangkok,
Suvarnabhumi International Airport
( 0 2132 1888;
www.suvarnabhumiairport.com
)
began commercial international and domestic service in 2006. The airport's name is pro-
nounced su
̀
·wan·na
́
·poom, and it inherited the airport code (BKK) previously held by the old airport at Don Muang. The
airport website has real-time details of arrivals and departures.
Bangkok's other airport,
Don Muang International Airport
(DMK; 0 2535 1111;
www.donmuangairportonline.com
), 25km north of central Bangkok, was retired from service in 2006 only to reopen later
as Bangkok's de-facto budget hub.
Travel to/from Suvarnabhumi International Airport
TRAIN
The
Airport Rail Link
(
www.bangkokairporttrain.com
) connecting central Bangkok and Suvarnabhumi International
Airport is comprised of a local service, which makes six stops before terminating at Phaya Thai station (30 minutes, 45B),
connected by a walkway to the BTS (Skytrain) of the same name, as well as an express service that runs without stopping
between the airport and Makkasan or Phaya Thai stations (15 to 17 minutes, 90B). Makkasan, also known as Bangkok
City Air Terminal, is a short walk from Phetchaburi MRT (metro) station, and if you show up at least three hours before
your departure, also has check-in facilities for passengers flying on Thai Airways. Both lines run from 6am to midnight.
TAXI
»
Metered taxis are available kerbside at floor 1 - ignore the 'official airport taxi' touts who approach you inside the
terminal.
»
Typical metered fares from the airport are as follows: 200B to 250B to Th Sukhumvit; 250B to 300B to Th Khao
San; 400B to Mo Chit. Toll charges (paid by the passengers) vary between 25B and 60B. Note that there's an additional
50B surcharge added to all fares departing from the airport, payable directly to the driver.
»
You can hail a taxi directly from the street for airport trips or you can arrange one through the hotels or by calling
1681 (which charges a 20B dispatch surcharge).
