Airport Transfer in Bangkok

[escapefromthecold]

I will be doing the Thailand Discovery Tour in December. My plane arrives in Bangkok at 6:20am and I will be arriving alone. I see that G Adventures charges $45 for a transfer from the airport to the hotel, with the arriving hotel being The Bangkok Centre Hotel. Is it worth my money to arrange a transfer to avoid the hassle of arranging transport after a long flight? Or am I better to just find a metered taxi or train upon arrival?

Thanks for your advice. My excitement is building!

[sinecure]

We've done both methods of getting to starting hotels. It is nice not having to think too much after a long flight. But as long as you use the official taxi stand in Thailand you shouldn't have too much trouble.

[Praha335Ci]

Its best to use the official taxi which can be obtained once you exit.From memory its downstairs on the base level. Close to the customs exit there are limosine companies and their reps trying to sell you a transfer which are extremely expensive.

The proper taxi counters from memory are located outside the airport.Along the way you might meet touts also trying to sell you a transfer which will be at exorbitant sums . Ask the taxi driver to use the highway and put on the meter ( which they will ask you to pay for the toll- thats normal operating procedure- its a few dollars extra ) If you use side roads and not the highway the cost will certainly exceed the total cost and timewise its like around an hour extra.

[kateyb]

Go to the official taxi stand and take a taxi there. It will be a lot cheaper. it is very easy to find as there are signs throughout the airport. You tell the operator at the stand where you are going and they give you a slip with your destination. Then they hook you up with a cab.

[katliney]

I wouldn't bother paying for the transfer, I stayed at the Bangkok Centre Hotel before my tour started in March. Since they built the aiport rail link it's super cheap getting into Bangkok on the train. You then have to get across town from where the airport train drops you, but you can do this on MRT (subway), The MRT stop Hualumpong Station is over the road from the hotel, so it's pretty easy. Plus is you get in super early in the AM, you're going to have a bit of time to kill before you can check in. You'll save yourself a lot of cash by doing the train and MRT rather than a taxi....
Safe travels!
Kat

[onyx007]

As Katliney said it's quite easy by train and it will cost you only 64 Baht, which is nothing in compare with the transfer and the taxi.

[Verena]

There are also the Airport Express buses which cost 150Baht and line AE4 drops you off directly at the Bangkok Centre Hotel!
I'll take this one was I find it more convenient not having to change the means of public transport after a long flight and early in the morning.

[onyx007]

There are also the Airport Express buses which cost 150Baht and line AE4 drops you off directly at the Bangkok Centre Hotel!
I'll take this one was I find it more convenient not having to change the means of public transport after a long flight and early in the morning.

But it's very hard finding this bus; when I was there I was wandering around for at least 30 min not finding any information about this bus (and I'm not an unexperienced traveller)...then finally I just went on to take the train.

[Verena]

Thanks! Your comment made me check the discription again which I printed from the airport website.. location and routes are all there, unfortunately I overread the small note "service is terminated as of 1 June 2011". Sorry for the wrong advice. :S