New Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

Here is a past post::

A lady from Bell can be found near/ next to door 7 on the ground floor of the Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport.

Bell airport representative: +66-89 44 98 843

Bell Pattaya Office: +66-38 37 00 55

Bell Bangkok Office: +66-27 47 46 73

Time table:

Airport -> Pattaya: 8.00 / 10.00 / 12.00 / 14.00 / 16.00 / 18.00

Pattaya -> Airport: 6.00 / 9.00/ 11.00/ 13.00/ 15.00/ 17.00/ 19.00

Pattaya -> Downtown Bangkok: 9.00/ 13.00/ 17.00

Fares:

Airport - Pattaya v.v.: 150 baht

Pattaya -> Downtown Bangkok: 300 baht

Fares incl. drop off at hotel in Pattaya. The bus wil take you the bus terminal in Pattaya and the a minivan will take you to yout hotel. If you go from Pattaya to Airport/ Bangkok then minivan will pick you up, take you to terminal and then bus to Airport.

The airport has a bus to the airport bus station every 10 mins. But after that you need plenty of time to get to your destination. Chatuchak weekend market (Jatuchak) pronounced in thai Jat oo chuk, market is "talard" in thai. Sunday afternoon is early close for many of the stall holders so my advice catch a taxi and get there with plenty of time as it would take many weeks to see it all! when the skytrain operates from the airport next year thayt will be the best and fastest system! Not convinced, catch a bus from the airport to Mochit bus station ( Northern bus station ) the markets are very close

Soon after ex-Premier Thaksin was overthrown in a military coup, Suvarnabhumi (pronounced "Soo-va-na-PHOOM) International Airport, a structure 20 years in the making, was finally opened to much fanfare by the new military government. Problems unfortunately soon surfaced and some of the domestic flights operated by Thai Airways and affiliate Nok Air, were forced to be re-routed back to the found-new-life old Don Muang Airport. The International airlines however, refused to budge and so they stayed on in the new airport.

The new Airport is about 1 hour away from the city via the Express Highway. Throw in about 450 Bahts for the journey and an extra 65 Bahts if you wish to go pass the Toll gates. There are public taxi stands OUTSIDE the Arrival Hall manned (or womanned) by staff, who will ask where you intend to go and then issue you a ticket which you will pass on to the driver taking you and/or your group. Look for the signs and walk out. There will be touts approaching you inside the Arrival Hall...so unless you have thick wallets....do the poor folks thing.

Since 2006, the airport tax will be collected when you purchase your plane ticket. It is no longer being collected separately.

The Departure Hall is bright, cool and pleasing....like any other modern airports everywhere in the world. It reminds me of Kong Kong International Airport in fact!

Plenty of eateries between the floors of the Arrival and Departure Halls....as well as a labyrinth of fast food (Burger King, Dairy Queen etc) near Gates E,F & G inside the Departure Hall.

The Arrival Hall however, looks severely unfinished....there must have been a surplus of concrete coinciding with a severe lack of paint! I have never seen so many naked concrete walls in an airport of this class! Reminded me of a factory in fact. A very large factory.

We took the bus from the airport to Banglamphu for 150B each. The bus journey takes 45 minutes and drops you off near Kao San Road. Go to gate 8 at the airport (signposted). Comfortable journey and the bus representative warns travelers about getting taxis (i.e asking for the meter to be on) and tuks tuks in Bangkok.

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Allow me to give the very first tip and feedback on Bangkok's new railway system between the airport and the city. It just opened this month (Oct. 2010) with 2 lines: the express line which goes non-stop between the airport and Makkasan station (travel time - 15 mins., interval between trains every 30 mins.), and the city line which has 6 stops until the terminus of Phaya Thai (travel time - 30 mins., interval between trains every 15 mins.). The intro fare for the city line is 15 baht (about 50 US cents) but this will be increased by Jan. 2011. At Phaya Thai, one could connect to the BTS line to get to other points in the city. Operating hours: 6 AM - midnight.

This airport link is of course far cheaper and faster than taking a cab. While the stops along its route have elevators for those with luggages, you'd have to haul your bags when you transfer to the BTS/MRT lines as they don't have elevators (though a few have escalators).

Upon arrival at the airport, look for the signs (as shown on the photos) for the rail link which is located at B1 level. Buy a ticket at the counter, ride the train and get off at your stop. The train cars however are like any usual commuter trains so while they do not have luggage racks or compartments, each car has an area without seats so passengers with big bags could congregate here.

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Cheapest transportation from Suvarnabhumi to Khao San would be shuttle bus (free) to bus terminal and then bus 556 to Democracy Monument / Thanon Ratchadamnoen Klang, 35 baht, and short walk to Thanon Khao San, a bit more comfortable, Airport Express AE2 Suvarnabhumi Khao San, 150baht.

This Airport is huge and may be daunting at first.

To collect your luggage, go to where the 20 carousels are. Here there is a Television screen with the names of the flights that have landed and the number of the carousel that your luggage will be on.

After you have found your luggage, then I found a cheap way to reach my destination, was the AIRPORT EXPRESS BUS, it cost 150 t/baht compared to 300-400 for a taxi.

There are 4 different routes that the Buses service. They run from 5am to 12pm. Be prepared to put your luggage on the Bus yourself as they do not give you help and it goes on the Bus with you.
It is located at Level 1, near doorway 8.

If you are in a hurry, then you are better off to take a taxi, as by the Bus, you may be the last person to be dropped off, but if like me, and not in a hurry, I had a free tour as well as reaching my destination.
You can also catch the Express Bus for your return trip. I only have the details for the area I stayed which was near Khaosan road.
To get this bus (AE2), the ticket is only available at booth infront of the Sawadee Hotel, which is situated between Khaosan road and Rachdamnoen Klang road on Charkophong Road, nearly opposite Wat Chanasongkram.

Never, ever take anything but a metered taxi available outside the airport. Those inside will cost you dearly and you'll probably end up somewhere other than planned as you will be convinced that your hotel is booked solid, or has even reciently burned to the ground. A big problem here, believe me as I see it every time I'm ion the airports and constantly warn the unknowing first time tourists. Get in the que outside tell them where you want to go and they will assign you a taxi. If you take the highway you will be expected to pay the tolls. Depending on where in the city your going, typically 2 tolls, less that 100 baht combined and expect your fare to be 200 or so baht. Always take a metered taxi.
In the city they're everywhere with a lit light on the roof. Tell them where your going because many times they will refuse to take you if it will involve a lot of traffic congestion.
Take care