I have 11.5 hours stop over in Bangkok. I am travelling with wife and 2 kids (2 and 4 years old).
Considering such a long stopover, should I:
1) Book a hotel close to airport and have a peaceful sleep? If yes, will I get visa free stamp on arrival using Australian passport?
2) Use Amex black card to access lounge? If yes, are they comfortable enough to accommodate peaceful sleep (3 to 4 hours).
Separately, how is the food arrangement within the lounge.
Thank you!
Thanks for the advice. Do I get free visa on arrival using Australian passport?
Yes you do, we got free visa on arrival on arriving into Phuket.
http://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/asia/south-east/pages/…
Thanks
Don Muang or Suvarnabhumi airport? (which airline if you not sure)
what time is arrival and departure?
Suvarnabhumi airport via Thai Airways.
Arriving 6am in the morning departing 5:30pm in the evening.
That makes hotels awkward, you may need to book 2 days or get a late check out.
Personally I would find a cheap hotel close to the airport with a good looking pool and spend the day next to it with the family, perhaps alternating shifts with kids day sleeps as necessary.
Could also look for a hotel near a shopping centre… something large that has a tesco lotus or Big C.
Would not attempt to get to the heart of the city, wouldn't head closer than about two thirds of the distance there, but should be able to get something close to airport suitable
Can`t I book 1 day and request check in and late check out?
@Tipu: you can try. start asking.
if you arrive t 6am then you still need to clear customs, get luggage, etc.
then get a taxi. so you mightn't get to the hotel till 7:30.
If you are arriving at 6.30am can you not just go somewhere close to have a look around eat some food etc. We did this with a 10 hour stop over in Hong Kong a few years ago.
With a 2 and 4 year old straight off a longhaul flight?
At the time we did it our kids were about 1, 3 & 6. Flew from Sydney to Hong Kong then on to Tokyo.
Previous flight would be 6 hours long
1 night in bangkok makes a hard man humble
Brilliant - but he's spending a day there.
1 day in Bangkok makes a father of 2 young kids grumble.
It's a show with everything except Yul Brenner
I have booked one resort via Agoda for $40 and it is 3.4 KM from the airport. Have a good rating of $7.5 with more than 4000 reviews. Free airport transfer both ways, free wifi and breakfast so quite a good bargain. As per booking details, check in starts 11am and checkout from 1pm.
I have asked them whether early check in of 8am is possible and I plan to check out from 2pm so it will give me at least 4 hours sleep. I could also cancel this booking 3 days before arrival free of charge and no payment was required at this stage.
Breakfast will be great over there, not like the breakfasts at hotels in Australia, you'll really like it!
I would image breakfast included would be the second day after you've left, not the morning you check in
Try Louis' Tavern Dayrooms & CIP Lounge at Concourse G on Level 4 at Suvarnabhumi airport. Decent rooms with hot shower. I got mine for free through my travel agent because the transit was longer than 8 hours.
Try asking your travel agent for free accommodation.
There are plenty of good food options on level 4.
OP has Amex Black card so Louis Tavern and CIP Lounge access is included (for ANZ issued cards anyway). Not sure if this access will get his family in though.
Wife is additional card holder so no issues and kids I think are free.
Hi Tipu, did you happen to use Louis Tavern, was that free for Amex card members? Or was it the agent who arranged? Wondering if there is a Amex lounge at the airport we can use.
Thanks
@Ameen: We did use it and it was freeas we hold ANZ black card.
There is no Amex lounge so you will need to use Louis Tavern.
@Ameen: louis is ok, but PPass has access to a couple of Airline lounges BKK. So if you do too, then better than louis.
@Peck:
I have AMEX velocity platinum card and I am flying Thai Airways BNE to Bangkok & Bangkok to Bangalore booked to Auntbetty .
So what are my options, Is louis is free for the AMEX card I hold or any other lounge I can use?
Do Thai Airways provide any complementary access since I am frying Thai in and out of Bangkok and the the layover is long?
Or my Agent(auntbetty via skyscanner) would do anything for me.
If none of above has any positive answers, what are my options in purchasing an lounge access using velocity points I have.
Thanks
@Ameen: Sorry I am not familiar with Amex Velocity Platinum, but I don't think that there are any Amex lounges at Bkk. The lounges there are covered by Priority Pass access, possibly Veloce lounge access, and maybe others.
Also possibly with Dragon pass that you can buy approx $A30. See:-
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/296608
and also
http://www.pointhacks.com.au/dragonpass-lounge-hack/
Thai would only give you lounge access if business class or above.
No idea about auntbetty.
Louis lounge pass buy online also $A40 https://www.loungebuddy.com/BKK
@Ameen: Priority Pass allows Air France - KLM SkyLounge, and Oman Air First & Business Class Lounge. I have been to the second, and it is spectacular. Much better than Miracle First Class Lounge (formerly known as louis)
We had this situation a couple of years ago. Even though we travelled business we decided 12 hours was too long to spend in the lounge. So prior to the trip - I went on line & found a cheap hotel near the airport ( about 20 mins) who cater for these few hour breaks. It only cost apx. $20 + they provided a free pick up & drop off service . The room wasn't great by any means, but we were able to have a few hours sleep , found a local salon to have massages & I had a manicure & pedicure. Had a good lunch & a few drinks in a local restaurant. Able to have a good shower & refresh prior to be taken back to the airport. The hotel also stored our luggage safely. Thoroughly recommend doing this as it makes you feel totally revitalised & ready for the next leg of the journey.
Always walk sideways through a turnstile, or you might Bangkok.
Funny, but for the Bkk Subway and Skytrain, if you have a trolley bag, then this is almost true. Walk backwards through turnstiles and then drag bag through after you. Otherwise the gates can injure you if you put bags through first.
This is entirely up to you. But if your flight is late arriving any plans or bookings would be useless.
Massages. Find a good one via TripAdvisor,and relax.
Taxi costs from Suvarnabhumi Airport, to town about 350 THB including tolls and 50 thb airport fee. And so about 300thb back. 2 adults and 2 children will fit into a small taxi, but no room for baggage other than a couple of carry-on bags as boot is full of gas tank. But if you opt for their 'big' 4wd sized taxi they will try to hit you up for 500 thb.
With 2 kids with you, i would find something cheapish around the airport and get a proper rest! I would rate comfort and peace of mind over trying to save some dollars in this situation. It is Bangkok, you will easily find something around $50-60, add $20 transfer to hotel and airport and say $20-$30 for food. Possible to do it within AUD$100. When i travelled and had a stopover i found a decent hotel for $50- was a few years ago. Hope you find something cheap and cheerful….