Hi
I will be arriving into Bangkok on the 18th. I have been in Bangkok a few times but only traveled into town twice. What is the best taxi option. As in where do I go once exiting through customs outside. I know its to the far right in HKT. Also I will be asking for the meter to run and will pay the tolls as they occur. What is the standard fare? I will be staying at lebua.
Sorry for the questions I just really cant remember even though I have been to Bangkok about 8 times this year lol.
OP says BKK, which is Suvarnabhumi.
No, OP says "arriving into Bangkok…I have been in Bangkok a few times" which is the city. I believe that was the meaning and not identifying the airport. Had he said, BKK airport, then your interpretation would be right.
It's in the title. No?
To start, its a personal choice.
As battler has stated, there are plenty of signs in either airport to direct you to the official taxi rank.
If you are confident, at either airport go up to departures and grab one of the taxi's dropping people off. It is not so much about saving 50 baht for the airport fee but selecting a taxi and driver you are comfortable with. Once you have confirmed use of meter (before getting in) and in the taxi, make sure you see them turn the meter on before you leave the airport. Then say "by tollway" (by = go in thai) and give them money each time you hit a toll. The only other relevant thai word you need for taxis is ute = stop. To be honest, most of them will want to go by tollway anyway. Most drivers will give you change back each time, some will keep it for the next toll (not a problem as long as you keep track of the money). You will see the price at each toll point and they give a receipt anyway (unless they have run out).
The tolls are a good opportunity to break down your big currency (say you only have 1000 baht notes) to avoid the inevitable taxi 'no change' problem. Don't feel bad about giving 1000 baht note for a 50 baht toll charge.
I can't say expected cost to go to Lebua as I don't stay in the Silom area. Taxi fare around 600 baht I would expect plus tolls. As you would know, traffic is a variable to final cost on any given day.
Best advice is to be confident and stand your ground (ie use of meter) and not get upset when you get the odd one trying it on, just simply tell them to stop and grab another taxi. Out of all the taxi's I've used in BKK, I've only encountered one scammer who took the extremely long way around from the airport (to an area I haven't been directly from the airport before) to up the fare because I refused to a fix price. I caught onto it so far in the travel but sometimes you just chalk it up to experience.
wow 600 Baht sounds expensive.
I usually get a fixed price of 400-450 including tolls from BKK airport and that's me over paying.
I would expect the fare for metre should be 350 baht inclusive of tolls.
Spot on! 350 Thb by meter, and would include the 50 thb airport fee, and 2 tollway tolls totalling 75 thb. Op you have to ADD these fees to the meter fee. Go to level one at BKK airport. There will be a person there to help you with the self serve taxi docket machine. It will spit out a 'bay number' docket, and you walk to the taxi sitting in that bay number.
Fixed cost inclusive of toll charges is a bit of a newbie mistake unless you are such a frequent traveler you know exactly what the meter will show at the end, exact amount for tolls and the exact route you will take.
I did note in my OP that I've never gone to Silom from either airport but I was basing my calculations from Swampy (which I didn't qualify), DMK will be cheaper - as noted the OP hasn't stated which airport. I won't say no 100%, but I find it extremely unlikely you are going to get from Swampy to Silom for 350 baht inclusive of tolls. It costs me about 340 - 360 baht (I just pay 400 if it was a pleasant trip) to go to Victory Monument (which is very close to a toll road exit ramp) plus tolls, I've then figured another 100 baht for the extra distance to Silom and then added another 100 baht fudge to avoid the guy being charged…say 550 baht and thinking he was being charged too much.
In relation to the taxi rank, its a lottery to get stuck in a bomb with a crap attitude driver that you can easily avoid by going up to arrivals and choosing your ride.
The OP could stay at a different hotel and get free limo xfer included in a room package that is going at the moment, but different area in BKK.
app called grab (grab a taxi) its wayyyy cheaper than uber, you can choose a fixed fare or meter, i always use the fixed fare due to traffic in the city…big fan of the service, works in the philippines as well…
Look at Wikitravel for options from the airport…
http://wikitravel.org/en/Bangkok#Transport
5 years ago I remember taking a cheap backpacker shuttle from Suvarnabhumi to Khao San Road but Wikitravel suggests that ended.
Hi thanks for the reply's. I am fairly confident and can speak a little bit of Thai so I should be OK. I am only staying the night because of my stupid connecting flight only giving me one hour twenty minutes connection to Ubon. Thanks again.
Ubon, another frequent airport I go to as well…small world. Not being critical, I would have thought you'd have dealing with thai's down pat by now.
Some of the airport hotels offer complimentary minibus pickup and drop off. I got a cheap hotel which was like $40 AUD including the minibus service. Is your flight to Ubon on Thai Smile?
Apparently only Thai Smile flies BKK-UBP and the others fly from DMK.
Yeah that's correct, only thai/smile flys out of BKK and the rest of domestic out of DMK. From memory thai has 3 flights a day and Nok has 5. Nok is just as good as thai in my view once they went smile on the Ubon route and did away with business class. You still fly thai to some places like CNX and get business seats or you did last time I looked. Nok is cheaper too if you don't mind going through DMK. Last 2 times I've been in DMK its been chaotic but that was roughly 7 months ago and I've favoured BKK since and pay the extra $$. I'd give DMK another go if the schedule suited me better in the day.
Ive been to Thailand over 10 times this year but mainly into HKT. Now my girl is back home in Issan. So im traveling into BKK for the first time to travel to Ubon. My flight with QF lands at 1640 so I wont make the connection wit Thai smile into Ubon form BKK.
Yes I did mean Suvarnabhumi hence BKK. I normally normally fly Nok air but now it doesnt matter I will be staying the night I will fly out of Don Muang.
I am only 26 but I have only been into Bangkok city twice and most of those I cant remember :S
Thanks again.
FYI Excellent aircond. bus service from Mo Chit BTS / Chatuchak MRT to DMK 30THB. Both bus A1 and A2 cover that route. Full of Ozbargainers :)) http://www.transitbangkok.com/lines/bangkok-bus-line/A1
Don Muang or Suvarnabhumi airport?
Don Muang, follow signs for taxi (easy enough), get in queue, tell them your hotel. They will know Lebua. Airport taxi fee is plus 50baht (I think) and if you tell taxi driver to take toll roads (recommended) there is more than likely chance he will ask you to pay at the booth, not him, however some will pay and add to final fare.
Taxis commencing at airport will 99% of time use the meter, unlike haggle you need when hailing one in the street. Shouldn't need to ask at airport.
Suvarnabhumi.. Take the train(s). Change lines at phaya thai.