Don Muang Airport (domestic flights), Bangkok

As a non-transfer passenger above 2 years of age intending to depart the country by an airplane one has to pay a government fee for of 500 Baht or 11 US$ in cash.

The problem I have with it are the travel agencies who sell you a ticket with an air fare "including all fees and taxes" which is not true and turns out upon departure in BKK. There are even some agencies around, who rise the tax to a fictional amount to earn some extra bucks. Compare the fares and conditions. If the agency tells you that all fees and taxes are included then demand a sales contract with that term and upon reception of the ticket ask about the 500 THB. Since there aren't any possibilities for a voucher or an explicit entry on the ticket he has to refund your 11 bucks (except he's purchasing a receipt from the Airport Autority directly and get it via mail) . OK it is not much money but some people don't want to work 2 hours for nothing but an empty promise and/or some people just don't want to get cheated...

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The airport is located about 30 miles outside of the city and the taxi or bus ride into town can take anything between 40 minutes (at night or during weekends) and 3 hours (during rush hour). Airportbuses leave at regular intervals from the terminals and drop passengers off all over the city - this can take very long, it costs only 100 Baht per person and is the best deal when you are travelling alone. For which bus to take go to the website listed below.

An (faster) alternative are taxies, about 200 to 300 plus 70 to 80 Baht Highway toll if you take one from the taxi-stand. Better is instead of walking to your left after passing customs, walk to your right and go outside, there will be taxis there. They will have meters (never take one without!) and if you explain to them that you do not want to take the toll road, a ride into town should be no more than 200 Baht.

Very important is to save 500 Baht for your departure tax, it is paid at counters and automatic vending machines. All passengers - International (500 baht) and Domestic (50 baht) have to pay.

Hi, The train from Hua Lamphong is VERY reliable, as it's still the main mass transit mode of getting about. And VERY inexpensive, one-way ticket for 8 THB! Plus plenty of storage space/facility for your luggage.

After trying the riverboats, modern subway, modern skytrains, and taxis, this is another way to travel worth experiencing. For me, it was the quirkiest, with lots of friendly locals who are only too eager to assist!

Plus the journey is nice & relaxed, get to see the suburbs, people navigating small boats along the narrow river canals, residences scattered around, etc.

The airport is easy to spot on arrival too, approx 40 minute trip.

Taxi time depends on traffic, can take over an hour many times, costs around 300 THB.

The cheapest way into town from the domestic Don Muang airport is to take the local train from the airport to Chinatown (Hua Lamphong station). Ignore the taxi touts and the outside taxi que - just walk outside through the car park - and to your right. About half-way down the now-closed domestic-international walkway - you'll see a break in the fence and a pedestrian walkway over the highway. Just walk over to the small train station.

It will cost 21 baht to take the very interesting local train one hour (22 kms) straight to the end-of-the-line. You'll get out at the historic terminal - and then can walk to the underground subway. Or you can take a taxi to the backpacker Khao San road. (If you arrive in the morning, the trains go every 20-minutes but after lunch they'll only be every hour.)

The old-option of going from the international terminal to the main Don Muang train station doesn't work since they've closed the overhead pedestrian walkway from the terminal to the Amari airport hotel. Anyway, this sub-station is much closer to the domestic terminal!

Of course the easiest way into town is just to walk out the arrival hall and join the taxi que. You can't choose your taxi but it's all quite efficient. Along with paying the 50 baht airport charge, taxi meter cost, and any toll-ways - it's a smooth ride to where you want to go. It'll take 45-minutes (or more) to get to town.

FREE shuttle bus from Don Muang to the underground subway - MRT Blue Line (Chaloem Ratchamongkhon) Lat Phrao Station for Thai Airways passengers who show their boarding pass stub at EXIT 2.

If anyone's ever taken a local bus into town - I'd be interested to know the number and route. I'm thinking this could be a very long ride of a couple hours.

Regular Bus
29 – Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong Station) - Chinatown
59 – The Emerald Buddha Temple (Sanam Luang) - Closest to Khao San Rd
95 – Ram Indra Rd – Ramkhamhaeng Rd.

Air-Con Bus
4 – Silom Rd.
29 – Victory Monument – Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) - Chinatown
10 – Victory Monument – Southern Bus Terminal
13 – Sukhumvit Rd – Eastern Bus Terminal

We would like to share our experience upon our arrival in Bangkok: From the airport, we took a taxi: The airport is about 3 km from the city centre airport taxi to anywhere in town cost about 120 baht for up to only four people in the cab.

The absolute best piece of advice I have for people visiting Bangkok is to skip the lines at the taxi waiting area, walk around the outer edge of the airport, and then head towards the main highway that runs directly parallel to it. There are cabs that have stopped at the side of the road that you hire just as you would in any part of the city. Saves you time from waiting on line with the added bonus of not having to pay the surcharge.

TG

there are loads of way to go between the airport and the city.. the cheapest way is by train.. it's at least 10 times cheaper than the next option!! a train between hua lamphong station and the airport costs 5 (old train with fan), 10 or 20 (with aircon and stewardess) baht per person depending on the type of train.. basically, you don't get a choice.. the type is fixed with the timetable.. the other thing to note is that there are no trains between half past eight and two in the afternoon.. so try to avoid departing or landing at that time and you'll save loads of money.. ;)

the other alternatives include airport bus (100 baht per person), taxi (approximately 300 baht, if there is no traffic jam) and minivan (80 baht per person)..

I find the most convenient way getting into city is by metered public taxi. There will be many offering limousine taxi service as you walk into the reception/greeting area. Of course the fare is much higher. Just follow the taxi sign to the taxi queue outside.
Public taxi has a Bth 50 surcharge on top of the metered fare. Taxi drivers will always encourage the use of toll way. During peak hours, it make sense for a smoother ride that cost another Bth40-60 extra (depends on your destination). Also taxi drivers expects you to pay cash for toll, so get some small change handy. However if you arrive late in evening (say past 9pm), city bound traffic has eased and you may choose not to.
At times when queque for taxi is too long, the allternative is to head up to the departure hall level where taxis come to drop off passengers (no Bth 50 surcharge here).