Bangkok Airport Security and Taxi Changes

A couple of reminders for those passing through Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport:

Arriving passengers should be aware that the public (metered) taxi queue has been moved to the first level, one floor below arrivals. Frequent visitors to Bangkok may remember that this is where taxis started out when the airport was first opened. They were moved up to the arrivals level after many complaints from confused passengers. Now, the powers that be have decided that moving the taxis back downstairs will help alleviate the problem of taxi touts and cheats. They didn’t explain how moving the queue would solve the problem. The move would make more sense if you didn’t have to "run the gauntlet" to get to the moving walkway down to the lower level.

Departing passengers are reminded that, as previously reported, you now go through your security screening immediately after passing through immigration, rather than at the entrance to each concourse. The screening itself is quite strict, requiring removal of belts, watches etc. (but not shoes). There are several lanes, so the process does not take too long.

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Posted in Airport Updates

Air Asia Announces Direct Phuket – Hong Kong Flights

Low cost powerhouse Air Asia has announced that it will begin direct flights from Phuket to Hong Kong on 15 November. The daily flights are all part of Air Asia’s plan to turn Phuket into a regional hub. The "introductory" price is just 999 Baht (about US$30).

In other Phuket airline news, Bangkok Airways has added a fifth daily Bangkok – Phuket flight. The airline had earlier canceled service to Krabi in the face of increased financial pressures due to the global economy.

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Posted in Airlines

Checking Inn Around Bangkok’s International Airport

In case you were wondering how someone like me spends their Sunday mornings, it’s doing things like this: Driving the roads around Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, trying to find all the new small hotels that have sprung up in the three years since the airport opened. There are now about 30 hotels in the area around the airport, and some of them are promising some amazingly cheap prices.

I found most of the ones I was looking for, although there was one that I know I drove past twice, but never actually saw the entrance. There were lots of signs saying "this way to the hotel" but then none at the actual entrance. Not a good sign, so I gave up.

Then there were the places I did find, but then wished I hadn’t. Some of these places definitely lack "curb appeal". One only appeared to be approachable by crossing an unpaved vacant lot.

So, in the end, I’ve boiled down the choices to three hotels that you might want to seriously consider. They’re covered in my updated Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotels page. Spoiler: The best of the lot by far was the Best Western Premier Amaranth.

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Posted in Site Updates