2006 Bangkok Reports

[QUOTE=1Ball]T1234, you are getting soft in your old age. What happened to RTFF ???[/QUOTE]

How did you know I'm getting gray hairs and old?

Yes, softie but he was a senior with 187 posts, so gave him the benefit of the doubt. I think he also posted multiple times re Majestic, size of rooms, whether to pay an extra 100B for superior room, yada yada yada. Hopefull he'll give us a solid FR.

I can't believe people don't read the FAQ and RofD - the other country boards should have such an abundancy of information.

I actually rechecked the RofD and pm phuquer to update his classic post. If one just reads his post and follows it step by step, day by day, the monger would be bone dry and limping before he boards for his next destination.

LOL :)

Much has been written on many web sites I have visited about the night life in Bangkok. Much of the fun in travel is in the planning and anticipation of the trip. I will be leaving for the LOS on the morning of May 12. I will have three weeks. I plan to split my time in Bangkok and Pattaya.

There are so many bars in both Bangkok and Pattaya that in three weeks I will not be able to hit them all. So I thought I would make a list of what I would like in a Go-go bar.

1) Attractive woman (all over 18 and all born woman)

2) No pressure (meaning that a girl is not on you like “Ugly on an Ape” the minute you set down) I want to do the choosing and invite who I like for a drink.

3) Good ventilation (I am a non-smoker, not a smoking Nazi, however if the bar is too smoky, I will not stay very long)

4) Good lighting (if the bar is too dark or lighting is not good you may think you have a super model in the bar, but once exposed to normal light you have Frankenstein’s daughter)

5) Good Classic Rock and Blues Music (Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Muddy Waters, Howl’in Wolf). Not played so loud that you can not have a conversation with you new companion.

6) Honest (No bill padding and will return with correct change)

That is my list and I am sticking too it. If members can make recommedations based on this list it would be most helpful

[QUOTE=Traveler1234]Turn left after customs, walk through the crowd, hang a right at the door, walk down the ramp, and catch taxi. Tell him hotel name, "take the tollway", give him B$100 for the tolls and sit back/relax.

Change money before you catch your taxi (money changer as you turn left out of customs). Unless you're changing lots of US$, the rate at airport is competitive enough. Or get to ATM machine, plenty around Sukhumvit.

For getting back to airport from hotel, suggest you get your GF to give you a ride :)[/QUOTE]

Travelers advice is good for someone experienced with Bangkok, but I would not recommend it for a newbie. First of all you can’t hail a cab from the curb on the arrival level. You have to go upstairs to the departure level for that.

Once you collect your bags and go through customs you will exit through a set of double doors into a large indoor hall. Turn left and about 30 meters you will see a throng of greeters and touts trying to get you to use their overpriced transportation services. Ignore these people. It will be hard because they are in your face. Look for a sign over the exit on your right that says public taxis (or something like that). Go outside and find the taxi kiosk queue (it’s right outside the exit). You will know you are outside because it will be hot and noisy. Tell the girls in the kiosk the name of your hotel. They will fill out a piece of paper and give you one part and the driver another. The driver will then take you to your hotel. The cost for this is an additional 50 Baht which you will pay directly to the driver over what is on the meter. The driver will probably ask you if you want to go by tollway. If so, this will be another 70 or 80 Baht. Like Traveler says, just give him a 100 Baht note and he will give you the change after the last tollbooth. Taxi fare to Sukhumvit should be between 150-200 THB. While standing in the taxi queue you will probably be approached by people offering to take you into town for 500 or a 1,000 Baht. The public taxi kiosk is the best way. No meter doesn’t work excuses, or I know a better hotel with a special rate, or you want massage, etc.

Thanks guys, now I know how to get from the airport to my hotel but how would I go back to the airport? Some of the older report says just catch a taxi from the hotel to the airport, is this recommend? Also Do they speak some English, like airport and Majestic suite? Thanks

I believe that the airport tax is included in my return ticket, is this true? If it is, then do I still need to purchase the airport tax? Thanks

Sun,

NO, at least not all of it.
There is always another B500 to be paid after check-in, before you go through immigration!

There are booths were they greedily, sorry - that's happily of course, take care of your B500.

Taxis,

For the slightly more experienced and for bravehearted newbies:
Proceed to the footbridge to the railwaystation, cross it until you see the main carriageway of the big road along the airport. Walk down the outside stairs. Flag down a taxi with a red light burning (ie meter is off, taxi is ready for business).

Love seeker - that's what most of us want. UNFORTUNATLY - many flew in (rode in, whatever) on the turnip truck (there must be a Thai expression for that)

to get less smoke bar needs to be outside (or no gogo because they don't DO outside) some have better vents than others.

good lighting - well you take what you can get

as to "all over you" - thats based on WHERE you go

OF COURSE, it helps to speak a bit of Thai (even like a 4 year old like I do) :)

LOUD music is the NORM INVEST IN EAR PLUGS OR SHOVE TOILET PAPER IN YOUR EARS...ah, I can finally hear again THUMPA THUMPA THUMPPP

MOST places are "honest" RTFF to find some that aren't - and that isn't a criticism just suggestion.

Patpong is NOTORIOUS for padding


Getting from airport to hotel is easy - do what free says. getting hotel to airport is easy,too - ask hotel to get taxi for you or if you find one yourself the word is SAH-NAHM-BIN (means airport)

REMEMBER - you get to pay the 500B airport tax IN CASH on the way to the concourse. DON'T let anyone shit you intobelieving that it was INCLUDED - it IS NOT (and they ONLY take THAI BHAT - but there are money machines "close")

[QUOTE=Csun213]Thanks guys, now I know how to get from the airport to my hotel but how would I go back to the airport? [/QUOTE]
Sadly, in BKK like in other cities in the world, taxis go only one way from Airport to the city. Afraid you will have to walk back or get a rich BG to give you a ride back.

[QUOTE=Csun213]Some of the older report says just catch a taxi from the hotel to the airport, is this recommend?[/QUOTE]
Absolutely not. Do not fall for that trick.

[QUOTE=Csun213]Also Do they speak some English, like airport and Majestic suite? Thanks[/QUOTE]
Are you kidding. It is bad enough that they can barely speak Thai. Best bet get a multilingual electronic translator before you leave home. And be careful of taxis with stickers "I love Farang".

Duni - he's not a "newbie" - just new to LOS

[QUOTE=Csun213]Thanks guys, now I know how to get from the airport to my hotel but how would I go back to the airport? Some of the older report says just catch a taxi from the hotel to the airport, is this recommend? Also Do they speak some English, like airport and Majestic suite? Thanks[/QUOTE]

From Majestic Suites just grab any taxi on the street and thell them Sa-nam-bin. Some may not want to go, but most will. Make sure they turn on the meter. Never have had a problem to the airport, only from.

[QUOTE=Love Seeker]Much has been written on many web sites I have visited about the night life in Bangkok. Much of the fun in travel is in the [/QUOTE]

You and Csun123 should get together and read the FAQ and Reports of Distinction. RTFF -- everything you ask is answered in both threads, with lots of details/suggestions, etc.

:(

[QUOTE=Retired Army]Travelers advice is good for someone experienced with Bangkok, but I would not recommend it for a newbie. First of all you can’t hail a cab from the curb on the arrival level. You have to go upstairs to the departure level for that.
[/QUOTE]

Hmmmmm??? If you walk past the crowds, past the Thai Limo stand and turn right - out the door, down the ramp - there is a long Q of taxi (usually) with sometimes equally long Q of people waiting for taxi.

[QUOTE=Retired Army]From Majestic Suites just grab any taxi on the street and thell them Sa-nam-bin. Some may not want to go, but most will. Make sure they turn on the meter. Never have had a problem to the airport, only from.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the information.

[QUOTE=Traveler1234]Hmmmmm??? If you walk past the crowds, past the Thai Limo stand and turn right - out the door, down the ramp - there is a long Q of taxi (usually) with sometimes equally long Q of people waiting for taxi.[/QUOTE]

That is correct. AOT prohibits the taxis from picking up passengers anywhere but the Taxi Kiosk. That's where all the taxis are lined up and people are waiting in line. Doesn't take very long as it moves pretty fast. AOT charges 50 baht for each taxi, that's why you have to pay the 50 Baht to the driver.

A lot of times you can go up to the departure level and grab a taxi there, therefore saving 50 Baht. Drivers are happy to do it, but the parking police gets after them and sometimes fines them.

You can also pay 650 for the Limo service into town. But don't take one of those from the crowd by the exit. They charge you a high price (per person) and then jam six or eight people into a small bus. An hour or two later you finally get to your destination.

[QUOTE=Retired Army]That is correct. AOT prohibits the taxis from picking up passengers anywhere but the Taxi Kiosk. That's where all the taxis are lined up and people are waiting in line. Doesn't take very long as it moves pretty fast. AOT charges 50 baht for each taxi, that's why you have to pay the 50 Baht to the driver.

A lot of times you can go up to the departure level and grab a taxi there, therefore saving 50 Baht. Drivers are happy to do it, but the parking police gets after them and sometimes fines them.

You can also pay 650 for the Limo service into town. But don't take one of those from the crowd by the exit. They charge you a high price (per person) and then jam six or eight people into a small bus. An hour or two later you finally get to your destination.[/QUOTE]

For newbie, probably easiest is B$700 for thai limo; premium over taxi but it includes tolls and you get to ride by yourself.