Best Way from BKK airport to Sukhumvit

[MJW Kangaroo]

Hi All,

What is the Best way for two pax with 2 large suitcases to get from BKK airport to our hotel in the city. Taxi ? Uber ? Limo ?. Any advice appreciated.

 

[Quickstatus]

Paging @drron and @JohnK to the BKK phone

 

[Hvr]

At BKK AP you can choose whether you want a car or van taxi. Choose the latter by going to the applicable ticket machine (far right) as you walk out towards the taxis.

Have the name and address of your hotel written in Thai along with the phone number.

When you get into your assigned taxi, keep the ticket. Insist that the meter be used if quoted a fixed price.

As noted below, have a 100THB note in your hand for the tolls, at the first toll booth give it to your driver. They'll pay both tolls and upon arrival will give you the receipts and change.

If you think the meter price is reasonable upon arrival, pay the fare plus 50THB for the airport charge. And a tip if you want.

If not happy ask the hotel staff for help. They're used to assisting if required.

Happy travelling.

 

[Archipelago]

Ignore the AOT limousine touts as you come through the Arrivals level doors.

Head one level down to Level 1 - where the public taxi counter is.
Join the queue, request a taxi to your destination, and receive a voucher.

There will be a Airport surcharge of 50 baht on top of the meter fare and any tolls, and all is paid to the driver on arrival to destination. Make a note of the plate number and also the driver number (on a card on the dashboard) for later reference, as you get in the taxi.

If you think your two large suitcases and two pax won't fit in a normal sedan, request an SUV size taxi when you first reach the counter

Should be around 350-400 baht depending where on Sukhumvit you're heading

 

[marks]

I don't mind the AOT option. Paying for the convenience.
About 1200B vs 500B (and tolls, and heaving my %^&* down levels and queuing and having cash ready and thai directions and...).
Can also pay with CC in the hall while waiting for luggage.
Minimum is usually a Camry with its cavernous boot or 4-runner SUV.
Give the paper chit to the desk when you exit, and someone will take your bags to a waiting car.
In saying all this, I usually get a taxi or grab to airport from the hotel.
There is a grab option from the airport but not sure where the grab area is.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I don't mind the AOT option. Paying for the convenience.
About 1200B vs 500B (and tolls, and heaving my %^&* down levels and queuing and having cash ready and thai directions and...).
Can also pay with CC in the hall while waiting for luggage.
Minimum is usually a Camry with its cavernous boot or 4-runner SUV.
Give the paper chit to the desk when you exit, and someone will take your bags to a waiting car.
In saying all this, I usually get a taxi or grab to airport from the hotel.
There is a grab option from the airport but not sure where the grab area is.

I agree!

I find AOT extremely convenient. I pre-book from Australia, taking the SUV for 1050 baht. Everything is included in that and they basically meet you as soon as you exit the final customs x-ray. The car is right there waiting and you’re on your way in less than a minute.

Taxis are also convenient but you can wait a while, and you never really know whether you’re going to get a good driver or one with a ‘hot’ meter. At 350 baht a taxi is excellent value, but I’ve had personal experience and also friends that have had fares over 800 baht You can call the taxi tourist helpline to report the driver, but it can really ruin your arrival experience and leave you deflated.

The other thing is that arriving after perhaps a long flight it’s nice to have an AOT car that’s spotlessly clean, knows where it’s going, has strong AC, and has seat belts!

I’ve also booked cars through Klook and hotels. They meet you in the arrivals hall but I’ve then sometimes had to walk with the driver to the car park… a good five to ten minutes… in the hot and sticky weather. Again, not fun, and the hotel prices are often the same or higher than AOT.

I have not booked uber from the airport so can’t comment.

Going *back* to the airport however I always hail a cab from the street (never the hotel’s ‘taxi’ which looks the same as the regular taxi but has a fixed price way higher than it should be). The fare is around 225 baht, plus tolls. Yeah, the lack of seatbelts can be an issue, but taxis do seem to be getting slightly better recently in offering these!

 

[Quickstatus]

strong AC

That's a must, I hate taxis and rideshares who use the window down method

 

[MJW Kangaroo]

I agree!

I find AOT extremely convenient. I pre-book from Australia, taking the SUV for 1050 baht. Everything is included in that and they basically meet you as soon as you exit the final customs x-ray. The car is right there waiting and you’re on your way in less than a minute.

Taxis are also convenient but you can wait a while, and you never really know whether you’re going to get a good driver or one with a ‘hot’ meter. At 350 baht a taxi is excellent value, but I’ve had personal experience and also friends that have had fares over 800 baht You can call the taxi tourist helpline to report the driver, but it can really ruin your arrival experience and leave you deflated.

The other thing is that arriving after perhaps a long flight it’s nice to have an AOT car that’s spotlessly clean, knows where it’s going, has strong AC, and has seat belts!

I’ve also booked cars through Klook and hotels. They meet you in the arrivals hall but I’ve then sometimes had to walk with the driver to the car park… a good five to ten minutes… in the hot and sticky weather. Again, not fun, and the hotel prices are often the same or higher than AOT.

I have not booked uber from the airport so can’t comment.

Going *back* to the airport however I always hail a cab from the street (never the hotel’s ‘taxi’ which looks the same as the regular taxi but has a fixed price way higher than it should be). The fare is around 225 baht, plus tolls. Yeah, the lack of seatbelts can be an issue, but taxis do seem to be getting slightly better recently in offering these!

Thanks Mel we will do that and book prior to leaving Doha… unfortunately I like a cigarette after a long flight, I’m sure the driver will point me in the right direction for one before we get to the car ..

 

[Pete98765432]

While it might not be suitable for the OP with 2 large suitcases, there is an airport train to central Bangkok. I used it pre-Covid and it was much quicker than a car though Bangkok traffic. Cheaper too at only 45 baht.

 

[serfty]

While it might not be suitable for the OP with 2 large suitcases, there is an airport train to central Bangkok. I used it pre-Covid and it was much quicker than a car though Bangkok traffic. Cheaper too at only 45 baht.

I have used it several times in the last few months for both Ploenchit and Sukhumvit.

Of course, I don't check luggage so not an issue.

I used Klook to pre-purchase a rabbit card for the BTS as well as a separate Airport Rail Link (ARL) Smart Pass Train card (different ticketing). Change at Phaya Thai for Sukhumvit/Ploen Chit and BTS in general.

 

[clifford]

A regular taxi is the way to go.

I'm staying on Sukhumvit 77 (near On Nut) in a couple of months time and a taxi is is most cost effective way to get there.

Of course, I could get the airport train and then the BTS to On Nut and walk, and it would be cheaper, but how would I feel physically?

After 9 hours on a plane you don't wan't to be stuffed around.

 

[dajop]

Thanks Mel we will do that and book prior to leaving Doha… unfortunately I like a cigarette after a long flight, I’m sure the driver will point me in the right direction for one before we get to the car ..

Just don't go for that cigarette before passing through immigration. Once I was travelling with a (sort of) colleague and we agreed to meet at the carousel and then proceed to the hotel. She decided to stop for a cigarette before immigration. I reached the hotel (using AOT) within an hour of landing. She took 2.5 hrs (also took a taxi). The cigarette probably cost her 45 mins, and also said there was another 45 min wait for a taxi.

 

[Quickstatus]

regular taxi

Can be problematic meter, no meter, hot meter,

 

[MJW Kangaroo]

Just don't go for that cigarette before passing through immigration. Once I was travelling with a (sort of) colleague and we agreed to meet at the carousel and then proceed to the hotel. She decided to stop for a cigarette before immigration. I reached the hotel (using AOT) within an hour of landing. She took 2.5 hrs (also took a taxi). The cigarette probably cost her 45 mins, and also said there was another 45 min wait for a taxi.

N

 

[jase05]

I nearly always pre arrange transport if travelling with more than the two of us but if it’s just the two of us I find Grab works amazingly well in BKK

 

[drron]

About 10 years ago we used a taxi from the airport for the last time. The meter was not turned on. I asked for it to be turned on. No response so I asked again. The driver stopped and told us to get out
I said we will have to get our bags out first and he replied that we wouldn't have time.

So we agreed to his price of 850 baht. It was also our last time at the Millennium Hilton because when we got there I complained to the doorman. He however took the driver's side.
So we are limousine people. Always used the SGS service as that put you higher on the upgrade list.

As we will probably stay elsewhere now we will go with AOT.

 

[mrfreeze]

Hot meter once, no meter / fixed fare a couple of times and that was when I decided I would take Airport Link then BTS and that worked well for me up until I had a stroke 14 months ago so last 2 trips I have booked car directly with the Hotel.

As I normally had an early arrival it also meant a higher chance of early check in being possible.

Ended up taking a Taxi from the Hotel to the Airport last November and unfortunately had a fixed fare quoted by the Hotel doorman which I questioned but he was adamant it was 500 Baht.
This has been dealt with so hopefully will not happen again at that Hotel.

So,I am in the book transfer with Hotel directly or AOT camp.

 

[JohnK]

We haven't stayed in BKK in close to 3 years and stayed 1 night in June. I keep saying never again but keep falling for the trap that is Thailand taxi Mafia.

In the past we've always had problems with meter taxi regardless of whether going from the airport or back to airport. I remember on taxi driver refusing to turn on meter from airport and ended up giving them 600 baht. I also remember one time outside HIX express Sukhumvit 11 trying to get taxi to BKK airport and all of them quoting 800 baht + tolls.

The sad part is my wife is Thai and they still try trick on. And at HIX she went outside trying to get taxi and I was inside so they had no idea my wife was with a farang. I don't care what others think but these drivers are some of the lowest forms of life you'll meet. Fancy making a living out of conning people.

In June we tried to get taxi from Sukhumvit to DMK airport. 2 hotels and all taxis we stopped wanted 800 baht. This is 25km trip not more than 30 minute. The trip itself shouldn't be more than 250-300 baht. We took Bolt big SUV for close to 500 baht.

If I'm silly enough to stay in BKK next time I will seriously consider hiring a car.

 

[jase05]

We haven't stayed in BKK in close to 3 years and stayed 1 night in June. I keep saying never again but keep falling for the trap that is Thailand taxi Mafia.

In the past we've always had problems with meter taxi regardless of whether going from the airport or back to airport. I remember on taxi driver refusing to turn on meter from airport and ended up giving them 600 baht. I also remember one time outside HIX express Sukhumvit 11 trying to get taxi to BKK airport and all of them quoting 800 baht + tolls.

The sad part is my wife is Thai and they still try trick on. And at HIX she went outside trying to get taxi and I was inside so they had no idea my wife was with a farang. I don't care what others think but these drivers are some of the lowest forms of life you'll meet. Fancy making a living out of conning people.

In June we tried to get taxi from Sukhumvit to DMK airport. 2 hotels and all taxis we stopped wanted 800 baht. This is 25km trip not more than 30 minute. The trip itself shouldn't be more than 250-300 baht. We took Bolt big SUV for close to 500 baht.

If I'm silly enough to stay in BKK next time I will seriously consider hiring a car.

Sorry to hear and yes it’s annoying.
The scams are precisely where I use Grab everywhere in BKK and other Asian cities. Easy platform to use on your phone and cost is fixed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sorry to hear and yes it’s annoying.
The scams are precisely where I use Grab everywhere in BKK and other Asian cities. Easy platform to use on your phone and cost is fixed.

Agree. Once in bangkok use grab or whatever else. It might mean waiting a few more minutes than getting a taxi, but the stress is reduced by 100%. Fixed pricing and decent cars.