Bangkok Travel Answers

1000 baht is too much. My first thought is to get public transport (rail) into town and work from there. I don't know the hotel you mention but I'll see what I can come up with.

Meter taxi from the "Public Taxi desks" at the airport to most places in Bangkok runs from around 320 baht to 400 baht depending on traffic and hotel location. This includes the mandatory 50 baht surcharge together with meter charge paid at hotel. This price also includes the toll charges on the toll road (usually 1 each of 25 baht and 45 baht) but taxi may get off early in case of traffic tie ups or shorter route. Even if you paid 500 baht you would still be cheaper than the hotel charge. No need to tip excessively. Just round off your fare and get rid of some of the small coins. Once you are settled at your hotel you have a short walk to Skytrain and subway. Pull up your hotel website. They mention rail service and how long it take to walk to it. Rail service only available 0600 to midnight. urbanrail.net/as/bang/bangko... At the airport the Public Taxi desk clerks will ask you where you are going so have a good address for your hotel. Maybe print up the hotel info page. You do not pay taxi driver until you get to the hotel. Then you add the 50 baht surcharge to the meter fare. You DO pay any toll charges during the ride - this is normal. When you change your currency over to Thai baht remember to get some small bills. In the city when you take a meter taxi you will also need some coins. Don't expect any taxi driver to have change for big bills like 500 baht notes. The fare you pay for a taxi is for everyone you can seat safely. Can you fit your entire party plus suitcases in a Toyota or Honda 4 door sedan? Keep in mind that the trunk/boot area will have a big natural gas tank in it taking up room. (I always use the seat for my bags when using the taxi from the airport.) Good luck.

OK, assuming I have located the right hotel here is a link that will help. bangkok.sawadee.com/skytrain... Get the airport train to Phetchaburi then transfer for the Skytrain. Go four stops to Lumphini and you are within a couple of hundred yards. From personal experience I can assure you that the Skytrain is reliable, clean and safe, it is a great tranport system. I have not looked up prices for you but it will be a fractin of the 1000 baht quoted. Hope bthis assists, fergy.

1000 B is a lot. There is a free shuttle service from new international airport to main bus terminal every 30 minutes, Tourist information desk at airport would guide you about where to catch it. If your luggage is sort of load on your back (backpack) you can just go to the terminal and find the another bus to the area where the hotel is .. I found for Sukhumvit in BHT 25 in April 2010.

Thanx all for your informative tips, we will most likely use a taxi after embarking from the long-haul flight, but will still be less than half of price quoted. Cheers

Glad to be of help, that is what VT is here for. Whenever you get back, why not write some tips about your trip to help others in the future or even write some now about wherever it is you live? It is always good to add some more knowledge to the site.

Too expensive, If you have to pay 1000Bht for a taxi. This should be rate for limousine. If you don't have a big luggages and don't want to take a long time on the road, so you may go by train from the Airport Link to Makasan station which is the connect station to the MRT, then transfer to the MRT to the Lumpini station and walk to Baan K/Sathorn 2 (distance~400m.). For Google searching, if start from MRT Lumpini to Baan K you will get a direction. Have a nice trip.

One more direction. Go by train from the Airport Link to Rajthevee station which is the connect station to the BTS, then transfer to the BTS go to the Saladaeng Station and take a taxi meter to Baan K/Sathorn 2 (distance~900m.). For Google searching, if start from BTS Saladaeng to Baan K you will get a direction. cost: APL city line/express: 45/90 Baht BTS to Saladaeng: 40 Baht max. Taxi meter: should not over 50 Baht