10 hours transit at Bangkok Airport at night? How to kill time?

xkaboomx on 08/01/2018 - 10:31

Hello All,

I am travelling next week and I have a 10 hours transit at Bangkok Airport (suvarnabhumi) which I am not really happy about. My partner booked these tickets and it was an oversight and now we cant change it at all as per the airline without losing all the money.

To top it we will be lading at bankgok airport at 8 PM and departing at 6 am both bangkok time.

Any suggestions how to kill time or relax or make use of this time in safe and budget manner. Really tight on budget coz of some other issues.

I dont know much about airport lounges, their cost and transit hotels but all of it seem to be expensive by the looks of it online.

Thanks for all the advice/suggestions in advance.

Travel

Comments

  • Qroozn on 08/01/2018 - 10:32
    +2

    watch the ozbargain forums

  • capslock on 08/01/2018 - 10:39
    +6

    Have a look at the sleepinginairports website for tips.

  • steff on 08/01/2018 - 10:43

    ipad with a couple of movies?

  • QW3RTY on 08/01/2018 - 10:50
    +3

    If the 1,250 Baht per 4 hour block rate is accurate as noted on that website, $100 for an 8 hour rest and shower doesn't seem like terrible value to me.

    But this is largely down to my poor experience of a six hour layover in the Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier terminal between 2am and 8am.

    • EFC94 on 08/01/2018 - 10:55
      +2

      I had 3 hours to kill at the low cost terminal around lunchtime one day and I thought that was terrible, can't imagine how bad your experience would've been.

      • QW3RTY on 08/01/2018 - 11:01
        +9

        No devices, no access to any entertainment, all the shops were closed.

        I ended up pumping about AUD$20 through the massage chair, counted the chairs, counted the ceiling tiles, tried to nap and ended up walking around that tiny enclosure like a caged tiger.

        • tomleonhart on 08/01/2018 - 11:03
          +4

          I feel the boredom by just reading your comment

        • capslock on 08/01/2018 - 11:04
          +1

          Just as well that terminal has been closed down then.

        • magic8ballgag on 09/01/2018 - 08:14

          No devices, no access to any entertainment,

          Here's your problem, I can lose 8 hours very easily with a laptop and internet.

    • Gravy on 08/01/2018 - 14:32

      Ah yeah, I vaguely remember that terminal… felt like a few dongas linked together.

    • GaryQ on 09/01/2018 - 07:31

      LCIA2 has a 24 hour bar, supermarkets and shops, plus a few dodgy restaurants, so a 6 hour layover wouldnt be too bad… but there is also an attached Tune Hotel for $80 a night

  • tomleonhart on 08/01/2018 - 10:55

    I did this before. Most likely shops will be closed when it comes midnight so there won't be much to do afterward. Last time I landed at 1am and there was nothing to do.

    I would say your best bet is to shop around and then find a lounge/hotel to get some rest as it can get reallly boring.

  • holdenmg on 08/01/2018 - 11:04

    Check out:
    Either:

    Miracle Lounge, Concourse D
    https://www.sleepinginairports.net/airport-lounges/bangkok-a…

    or
    Room at Miracle Suvarnabhumi Airport

    • scrimshaw on 08/01/2018 - 11:40

      Lounge access is a bit pricey though, if you don't have any coupons or other discount options, it costs $46 for 3 hours or $81 for 5 hours access to the Miracle lounge. And these prices are in USD dollars..

      There's infinite food, drink and alcohol at the lounges, also Wifi access as well. I guess that sort of pays a little for itself if you eat and drink enough. Still, 10 hours of waiting is pretty boring and even just 4 hours in the lounge feels like an eternity (having been there before).

  • Cheap Charlie on 08/01/2018 - 11:21

    Book a room at one of the hotels not far from the airport.
    I would imagine this could be achieved for around $50 - $60 inc taxis, date depending.
    No point staying up all night, eat some pad thai, get some rest and freshen up.

  • cauilfield on 08/01/2018 - 11:30
    +1

    there are some decent hotels in the vicinity of the airport to suit any budget.
    I've stayed in both $150 and $30 dollar hotels.

  • bobbified on 08/01/2018 - 11:51
    +5

    Get out of the airport, get a happy ending, wait 15 minutes and get another happy ending. Then go back to the airport and take a nap so you're all refreshed for your next flight.

  • CyberMurning on 08/01/2018 - 12:23

    10 hours of actions!

  • rambutann on 08/01/2018 - 12:25
    +3

    I had a 6 hour transit recently - I got a hotel near the airport (The Phoenix Hotel) - they offered a free shuttle - I think it was about $20 for the night.
    It was basic (semi clean, no bugs or anything. But it depends on how picky you are) - and it allowed me to have a 3 hour sleep between flights.

    The hotels at the airport are insanely expensive in comparison to those within a 5-10 minute drive from the airport.

    I found it easy to get picked up (even without having a local sim), and easy to get dropped off.

    Would recommend.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/01/2018 - 12:31
    +3

    Ask the airline when you check in staff to put you onto an earlier connecting flight.
    It doesn't always work, sometimes they want to charge a fee.

    This has worked for me with Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines many times, although I am a Velocity Platinum.

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 08/01/2018 - 12:39
    +1

    I have an international flight on Thai Airways with a similarly long stopover in Bangkok Airport.

    I've read recent reports that if you leave the airport for a stopover in-transit then you'd also have to pay a 700 baht or so (~$28) departure tax (https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowTopic-g293916-i3687-k1039…) since it's not included with the ticket (as usual).

    • xkaboomx on 08/01/2018 - 14:42
      +1

      just checked only have to pay this if i exit the airport

  • stralya on 08/01/2018 - 12:41

    Read a book

    • xkaboomx on 08/01/2018 - 14:42
      -1

      not a reader :)

      • QW3RTY on 09/01/2018 - 09:42

        He says on a forum.

        Have a go with a topic that interests you, you may just surprise yourself.

  • Donaldhump on 08/01/2018 - 14:09
    +4

    watch some ping pong

  • Gravy on 08/01/2018 - 14:35
    +3

    I just had a thought, why is it that no large airports ever seem to have a small cinema for long waits.

    • joshm998 on 08/01/2018 - 14:44
      +1

      Changi Airport has two free cinemas
      http://www.changiairport.com/en/airport-experience/attractio…

      • imolared on 08/01/2018 - 14:47
        +2

        I only saw one when I was walking around (mind you this was a few years ago) and all the seats were taken with people asleep when I arrived around 10:00 pm :(

      • Gravy on 08/01/2018 - 14:51
        +2

        Cool…has been more than ten years since I was in Singapore.

  • Stewardo on 08/01/2018 - 22:14

    They hotels near the airport start at $25
    I’d go sleep for 6 hours. Breaking up long haul flights with hotel sleep is a good idea, you should thank your wife.

  • chichi on 09/01/2018 - 12:39

    For that length of time I would definitely go for an airport hotel with 2 way transfer.

    We booked The Cottage a few times last year and it is close to shops and restaurants and had airport transfer included. Their prices change constantly though and you have to be lucky to catch a good price including transfers. I managed to get it for $30 for my husband's recent trip and that included 2 way transfer (booked on Agoda).

    Have also stayed at a few others that were similar price but we like this one because of the staff and proximity to restaurants etc.

  • Peck on 09/01/2018 - 16:22
    -1

    I know the airport fairly well and this is a no win situation. you need to allow 4 hours for comfortably doing immigration and security. by the time that you add 2 taxis cost and time queuing there would little time for a sleep. If you can afford the dragon pass then have a few hours of food drinks and comfort followed by a sleep? on the floor in the terminal. Buy and take with you some light weight bubbly foam compressed into a small ball and small pillow.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/01/2018 - 12:28

      I have been through Suvarnabhumi airport twice in the past month and many times before. It takes nowhere near 4 hours to pass immigration and security and if you are a transit passenger it is really quick. The longest time I spent was actually walking through, from arrival to departure, (one domestic and one international), as it is a massive terminal.
      If you have an overnight layover then it makes sense to sleep. Keep your boarding card and passport safe but handy in case security want to check you out in the middle of the night. You don't have to sleep on the floor-there will be seats in the observation deck on floor 7, a few on floor B (near the 7-11)and at empty gates [check the boards to make sure there will be no overnight flights arriving or departing from that gate].
      There are also sleeping boxes on floor B, which cost about $40 each.
      Make sure you check your hold baggage straight through, so you don't have to pick it up and lug it around with you.
      Consider keeping an extra tee shirt and a few toiletries in your hand luggage in case you want to freshen up before you re-board. There are no showers other than in the various lounges.

      • Peck on 10/01/2018 - 14:39

        The 4 hours that I was referring to was the max time for in and out. Immig. CAN take 2 hours at bad times. Of course it usually takes a lot less, but why risk it?

  • esq on 13/01/2018 - 03:25

    350 baht to get to Nana Plaza. Head into Straps and uh, don't look below the belt.

    Possibly sit 5 hours in traffic cos this is Bangkok after all.

    On second thought just head to the airport's miracle lounge it's approx $40.

    • Peck on 13/01/2018 - 03:27

      I agree. Maybe dragon pass would be cheaper than $40 though

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