ISuvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is the main air travel hub in Bangkok. It is a sizeable, modern facility with only 1 terminal but 8 separate concourses - each with multiple gates. The walking time is listed - often 10 or more minutes. We’ve even had to take busses to and from our planes.
Since leaving Auckland, BKK has been our start and finish for trips to Nepal, Phuket and Chiang Mai. Today we are spending 8 quality hours here as we wait for our 2 am flight to Ethiopia. We are now experts at navigating air travel in Bangkok - a skill that I am sure most of you are jealous of!
Over our multiple trips though this airport, we have learned a few things:
1. The electric taxis are easier to get, but are twice the cost of hybrids! (That is, if the driver chooses to go by the meter. Since the meter was “broken”, we ended up paying just about the same.)
2. The cheapest way in and out is by the Rail link which costs only about $2 per person to take the 30 minute ride to the centre of the city. (Although, we ended up stuck for about an hour waiting due to a broken train.)
3. You can eat very well in BKK. All the chains are here, as well as many specialty restaurants. We found a market today with about 20 stalls that sold food for just above “street food” prices. The busiest spot, of course, is the Thai favourite - 7/11. Despite all of that, we brought some PBJ sandwiches along to keep the costs down a little.
4. The currency exchanges will not change Nepali Rupees. We have about $30 worth that we failed to exchange before we passed security in Kathmandu. We have a good deal for anyone heading to Nepal!
5. There are very impressive automated floor cleaners that have steering wheels but no drivers. They have no problem avoiding people, luggage, furniture and evidently, stairs.
6. There are multiple cart retrieval staff who mostly sit watching videos.
7. The duty free stores have free candy samples. Gayle was a big fan of the coconut flavoured ones
8. There are electronic signs outside of some of the washrooms showing how many free stalls and the location and distance to the nearest free stall.
9. The free wifi lasts about an hour. It’s now 12 am and I have just reset my account for the 6th time!
