2006 Bangkok Reports

[Buzz00]

freeler,

i think that lhr is hugely worse than suvarnabhumi with terminals rep001tered all over the damn place - anyway, i am sure that thoughts of bkk, pattaya and all those lovely ladies are a good distraction from the little inconviences that we might encounter while navigating the new the airport.

[Freeler]

Buzz,

If the new airport is only remotely as bad as LHR, I'd rather fly to KL and walk the last bit.

[Buzz00]

I would like to point out to all the detractors of the new airport that Thaksin was warned that he was opening operations before everything was complete, but went ahead anyway - thats all history now.

I can only assume that the glitches will eventually be sorted out - in Thai time - apart from the design that is a done deal.

Having gone through the airport in October I can say that I thought some of the design's are based on the old 'port and the ground hostesses while checking in could have been more friendly. If anyone has gone through Heathrow its hell to get from one place to another, just as an example. Some airports are just not user friendly,period.

The Sushi that I had before boarding was perfect.

[Dinghy]

Royal Asia to Nana is I would guess about 500M Between 10 and 15 mins walk (the sidewalk traffic is a bit congested)

Royal has a free tuk-tuk from their place to the intersection with Suk and a call box around the corner on the wall at the intersection to the right (ask the driver to show you)

[Member #3200]

my 1st 3 nights in thailand i will be in BKK staying at the royal asia lodge,how far away is the Nana hotel from there,love 2 check out the scene there 1 night maybe more,can someone post the address so i can taxi it there if the walk is 2 far from my hotel or PM me the address
thx

[Run Mann]

The airport was built with commercialization in mind. Basic passenger comfort and accommodation seem to have been a distant thought. The lack of readily available restroom facilities and the mile hike from the immigration area to the departure gate stood out to me as huge negatives.

I also did not see the (foot) massage shops that the old airport had but maybe those will come later. Perhaps passengers can submit their suggestions or complaints to the airport management with the hope that improvements can be made when the next airport is built.

...just one mark above an "F". You're being kind, because you like Thai women...
Really. I travel alot and spend alot of my time in and out of airports, and I can't believe that this is an airport built in the 21st century. Considering all of the amazing new airports that have been built over the last 10-15 years especially the Asian ones like Hong Kong, Seoul, Osaka and Singapore, all the new technologies and designs available that can be used to enhance the customer's experience, and the time that they took to finish it, this one is just the worst of the lot.

I agree with most of your points;
* the excessive walking
* the boxes and garbage and informal seating and drinking and lounging areas for airport workers that you see alongside the airport roads as you ride the bus from your plane to the terminal
* the terrible signage or lack thereof ( I actually found one handwritten sign near a staircase pointing downwards that said "Taxis")
* the fact that all of the signs point to the limos charging 3 times more than the actual charge
* the lack of any place to sit near the gates
* the dirty windows
* poor lighting
* poor baggage indicators
* lack of smoking areas while waiting departure (This is Bangkok isn't it?)
* that stupid exit tax, which requires all departing passengers to go to the one manned booth, wait on a line which blocks the line of people waiting to hand in the ticket that they purchased, and then have to wait on line to hand the ticket at the one manned gate
* more excessive walking to find a coffee shop to sit in, because the business lounge is impossible to find and the one smoking area is downstairs from where you need to be
* lack of garbage cans and ashtrays outside the terminal
* and even the airport access roads which require multiple turns and red lights to get on the highway.
* I'm sure that I've missed or forgotten something

I was there 3 weeks ago for a short 30 hour visit, and the arrival and departure form the airport were the low points of my trip. The only rationalization that I can think of is that the city authorities wanted visitors to extend their authentic Bangkok experience to the airport so they not only placed a Buddhist statue right after passport control, they also made sure the same type of planned disorder and unclean environment continues at the airport.

I actually think that this is a downgrade from the old airport...

[DRRonin]

Nhscotsman,

You have nothing to worry about at the Nana Parking lot - its all quite safe and civilized for the most part and perhaps receives more notoriety than it deserves. Its just a quick and cheap alternative to the go-go bars that are across the street and if you are staying at the Nana nothing could be much more convenient than hopping down on the elevator and taking a quick stroll thru the parking lot and should someone catch your eye take her back up to your room - mission accomplished in 5 minutes.

Girls begin accumulating there around 9pm and the numbers gradually grow up to maybe on an average night to 30-40 girls - until near the 2am magic hour where a bunch of girls will show up for the mass male exodus from the closing bars and closing Nana disco - and many of the girls who didn't get lucky in the disco will stop and hang out in hopes of last last shot at some baht. The numbers then may swell up to 70-80 or so on a good night. I have found some beauties in the NPL in my time but on average the girls are just that - quite average with many of them having had kids. But my experience with them over a number of years has been very high in terms of friendliness, never had a problem with them stealing anything and service is usually pretty good because many of these girls show up every night and they want repeat biz. Most go for 1,000 baht. And they rarely harrass you in the parking lot - most just stand there and try to make eye contact - its the general rule that its up to the guy to say something. I love the NPL - not just for the girls there but for the view of all the mishmash of humanity that takes place just outside its doors.

[Nhscotsman]

Another data point: While a bit further afoot, one can always wander down to the next BTS station, Asoke (Soi 23, about a 10min walk), and visit the sidewalk bars at that intersection with Sukhumviit. Most of those bars are open till sunrise. I've had good luck with some FLs there, but certainly one must experience the Nana Hotel parking lot at least once.

Cheers,
-Y

I get a kick out your saying one must experience the Nana Hotel parking lot at least once. Is it really that bad?hahaha. I even love it too when people say that people coming to BKK, they should stay at the Nana Hotel at least one night, just to e xperience the hotel and its location. I am coming in March and I'm almost afraid of what the Nana's parking lot holds. I look forward to experiencing Nana Plaza but the parking lot is frightening me and I haven't even arrived in BKK yet...lol. Is it just a meat market where they tug and grab at you all the time as you walk through it? Also, with the freelancers, are they as notorious as some people make them out to be or are they ok for the most part? The LB’s won’t bother me either way, but I hate the thought of dealing with some freelancers that are outright nasty or obnoxious. I’m as laid back as they come and get along with anyone, so I suspect I will have a great experience either way. You people that post on this forum, I hope you do realize what a great service you do posting your advice and your experiences from your travels within Thailand. I can’t thank you all enough!

Nhscotsman

[The Traveler]

When I first started speaking Thai, I got into trouble sometimes by copying what Thais said without fully understanding the context and meaning subtleties. I meet many Farangs who speak Thai in a very vulgar ugly way or sometimes just low class way because they have copied the style of bar girls.
.

Mick,

I have seen that many times. Many - if not most - farangs are very vulgar due to the fact, that they learned "Thai" from P4P girls. Many of those girls don't think about what they teach or believe it's fun to teach bad words and even intentionally teach crap.

I have witnessed a case where a farang wanted to know how to greet and thank at a restaurant and instead of telling him the girl taught him very bad words. I told the guy and explained the girl that her wrongdoing may cause trouble to the guy.

Additionally most farangs pronounce very very bad even though pronounciation is a very important part of Thai language. Even Andrew Biggs does not pronounce very well.

[Iseeu]

What more can I say C is the best I can do. Oh if you disagee, fine, you have the rights to your opinion just as I have mine and mine are not going to change.

...just one mark above an "F". You're being kind, because you like Thai women...
Really. I travel alot and spend alot of my time in and out of airports, and I can't believe that this is an airport built in the 21st century. Considering all of the amazing new airports that have been built over the last 10-15 years especially the Asian ones like Hong Kong, Seoul, Osaka and Singapore, all the new technologies and designs available that can be used to enhance the customer's experience, and the time that they took to finish it, this one is just the worst of the lot.

I agree with most of your points;
* the excessive walking
* the boxes and garbage and informal seating and drinking and lounging areas for airport workers that you see alongside the airport roads as you ride the bus from your plane to the terminal
* the terrible signage or lack thereof ( I actually found one handwritten sign near a staircase pointing downwards that said "Taxis")
* the fact that all of the signs point to the limos charging 3 times more than the actual charge
* the lack of any place to sit near the gates
* the dirty windows
* poor lighting
* poor baggage indicators
* lack of smoking areas while waiting departure (This is Bangkok isn't it?)
* that stupid exit tax, which requires all departing passengers to go to the one manned booth, wait on a line which blocks the line of people waiting to hand in the ticket that they purchased, and then have to wait on line to hand the ticket at the one manned gate
* more excessive walking to find a coffee shop to sit in, because the business lounge is impossible to find and the one smoking area is downstairs from where you need to be
* lack of garbage cans and ashtrays outside the terminal
* and even the airport access roads which require multiple turns and red lights to get on the highway.
* I'm sure that I've missed or forgotten something

I was there 3 weeks ago for a short 30 hour visit, and the arrival and departure form the airport were the low points of my trip. The only rationalization that I can think of is that the city authorities wanted visitors to extend their authentic Bangkok experience to the airport so they not only placed a Buddhist statue right after passport control, they also made sure the same type of planned disorder and unclean environment continues at the airport.

I actually think that this is a downgrade from the old airport...

[Thor93]

Nice report about airport Shamas.
Im wondering, is the old trick of catching a taxi from departures still possible or have they stamped it out? I stay not far from the new airport when I hit BKK and seen as a taxi to my destination will not cost a great deal more than the base rate, it seems silly to pay an extra 50bht when the total cost will barely reach 100bht.
Im sure Ive read that its not possible, but has anyone confirmed it yet?

On my last trip I was in and out of the airport 3 times and used the regular queue downstairs twice and the departures level once. Both times downstairs went without a hitch, but with the extra 50 baht they made sure the driver knew where to go.

On the one departure level try, the driver tried to negotiate a set price of 500 baht to Soi 33. It should only be a bit above 200. I made him turn the meter back on. I probably should have not gotten in to the cab but he had the damn meter on until I was in the back seat when he turned it off and announced his robbery. But in the end he lived by the meter and there were no further problems. I had to remind him that I was not a tourist and knew how things worked. Luckily he spoke enough english to understand that I was serious and wasn't going to play his game.

For the first time visitor I would suggest using the arrival level official cabs. You won't have to worry about cab drivers trying to take advantage of you. The 50 baht fee should guarantee everything stays honest. I never had any sort of wait there, always just walked up and into a cab.

[Yi Ren]

Here are a few places, nana hotel parking lot on soi 4, along soi 3 to grace hotel . and along sukumvit from soi3 to soi 13 or so. watch out, a lot of lady boys and various characters. don't tell them you just arrived, as they will over charge you. long time with decent girl should be 1500bht or so.

Another data point: While a bit further afoot, one can always wander down to the next BTS station, Asoke (Soi 23, about a 10min walk), and visit the sidewalk bars at that intersection with Sukhumviit. Most of those bars are open till sunrise. I've had good luck with some FLs there, but certainly one must experience the Nana Hotel parking lot at least once.

Cheers,
-Y

[Lee66]

I will be arriving at the airport at 1am and will be at the JW Marriott Hotel on Sukhumvit around 2am. Where's a good spot close the there to find a woman for the night after a long flight from LA?

Thanks Guys.

Here are a few places, nana hotel parking lot on soi 4, along soi 3 to grace hotel . and along sukumvit from soi3 to soi 13 or so. watch out, a lot of lady boys and various characters. don't tell them you just arrived, as they will over charge you. long time with decent girl should be 1500bht or so.

[Higgins T]

Khunk,

Walk around Sukhumvit, you'll probably meet some nice girls. Smile and see what happens.

If you are to tired, go straight to the Nana parking Space (good place) or go to the Siam Hotel, parking place.

[Fivebahtwiz]

Great report Shamas, you can clean my tanks anytime.