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Best way to travel from BKK airport to the Khao San Road
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PabloUK
newbie
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I'm wondering what the best/cheapest way to get from BKK to the [color=rgb(51, 51, 51)]Khao San Road area, i dont wanna get ripped off either so how much should it cost by taxi etc?[/color]
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[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)]Any help would be wicked[/color]
#1 Posted: 14/8/2011 - 22:40
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International Playboy
MADMAC
mahout
Posts: 3999
If you take a taxi, go upstairs and catch a metered taxi. You might have to argue a bit with a guy, or walk away and try the next one...
The best way would be a sky taxi - one of those helicopters that super rich people take from the airport to their penthouse apartment with rooftop landing pad. I am assuming this is outside of your budget though.
Cheapest is probably the sky train - which will get you close, but not all the way. Then you have to hope a taxi or try and figure out a bus route, which I would never consider.
#2 Posted: 14/8/2011 - 23:01
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Victory in Pattani
JenP
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I was in Thailand two years ago and it was about 500baht then. I will be there again this year and hope myself that it is the same!
Do not let them rip you off though, happened to me. Haggle with them, don't just jump in and accept what they say.
#3 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 02:24
SBE
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500B is a bit high Jen ...did your taxi driver use a meter?
Don't haggle about the price, just insist the driver uses the meter. If the first taxi refuses, take another one.
Not sure how much KSR would be on the meter but getting to the Sukhumvit area costs about 200B. If you get a taxi at the arrivals level you'll have to pay a 50B airport charge as well. And you'll also have to pay expressway fees when the taxi goes through the toll booths. Total price should be in the region of 350B. (I always give a tip too because the set fare has been 35B for over a decade and petrol prices have gone up a lot since then).
There are bound to be other people on your flight heading to KSR ...you could try and find someone to share the taxi with to reduce costs.
You'll need some change so if you're withdrawing money from an ATM at the airport get 19,900B rather than 20,000B (or 9,900B instead of 10,000B). That way you'll have some hundreds to pay the taxi and the toll fees.
#4 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 04:53
lunar
longtail driver
Posts: 10
The cheapest way is airport rail to "phaya thai", then change to skytrain to "siam", from there change to another skytrain to "saphan taksin". Then take a boat to "N13", but watch out, not all boats are stopping at N13. From there it's a 10-15 minutes walk to Khao San Road.
A taxi should cost 250 - 300 baht to Khao San Road. There is a taxi counter for meter taxi at the airport.
#5 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 05:20
JenP
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Did i get ripped of twice?! grrr! I spoke to a group i met who had paid 500, wow at least i know for when i go back later this year! :o)
#6 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 15:28
mikethediver
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hi,
The best way & the cheapest way are normally different things! The best way (& most expensive) is the taxi.
The cheapest way is go get the free airport shuttle bus to the airport bus terminal. There take the bus 511 to Victory monument (50 baht I think).
From the Victory monumnet get the public bus No. 28 (18 baht). This bus passes close to KSR (a few minutes walk).
#7 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 16:15
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sayadian
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If you are going to the airport bus terminal you could also see if the 556 hourly service to the Southern Bus Terminal is running now. This is the best and cheapest way to get to KS as it stops at the junction of Ratchdamnoen and Thanon Tanao which is 100 metres from KS Rd. The bus is 20 something baht,is air-conditioned and takes the expressway.
#8 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 16:30
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money frees you from doing things you dislike,since I dislike doing nearly everything money is handy'
SBE
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Does the 511 go to the airport Mike? I use that particular A/C bus quite a lot because it's very handy for going to the Southern Bus terminal from both Sukhumvit and the KSR area.
I'm a bit puzzled because the 511 definitely goes past Democracy Monument but I've never noticed it goes past Victory Monument ...unless the route has been changed recently? And I wasn't aware it went to Suvarnabhumi either. It would be very useful if it does though!
#9 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 16:45
wanderingcat
som tam seller
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there's a 551 bus that links Suvarnabhumi airport bus terminal & Victory Monument.
& a 556 bus that links Suvarnabhumi airport bus terminal - Democracy Monument - southern bus terminal.
details (hours of operation, etc) here: http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/to_from_public_bmta_en.php
there's no 511 bus from Suvarnabhumi by any bus company (Transport Co. or BMTA)...maybe a typo somewhere?
#10 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 17:31
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Laos transport timetables
PabloUK
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Posts: 4
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thanks for the advice guys, its really appreciated!!
i think for the sake of a few quid i'll probably take a taxi, for about £7 i'd rather avoid the hassle of taking the buses etc, especially after a long haul flight, so will prob ask around at the arrivals at BKK and see if anyone wants to share a cab.
thanks again for the advice ;0)
#11 Posted: 15/8/2011 - 18:56
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International Playboy
cybervlad
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I agree with mikethediver - the cheapest (but not quickest) option is to take bus N511 (less than 50 bahts) from bus terminal then change it to another one in the city center.
List of the city buses running from airport transport terminal can be found at www.bmta.co.th web site:
http://www.bmta.co.th/en/bus_search.php?cat=15&place=Suvannabhumi+Airport&Submit=+++Go+++
Alternatively you can reach Phaya Thai station using skytrain (see: http://www.bts.co.th/customer/en/02-route-current.aspx) and take bus N503 to Democracy Monument (near KhaoSan).
See:
http://www.bmta.co.th/en/bus_search.php?cat=0&place=Phaya+Thai+Police+Station&Submit=+++Go+++
Unfortunately bus N556 no longer runs from Survanabhumi bus terminal.
#12 Posted: 16/8/2011 - 14:03
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regards, Vlad.
SBE
mahout

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Well I agree with wanderingcat (partly).

That link you posted definitely says the 551 goes from Suvarnabhumi to Victory Monument cybervlad!
I'd heard the 556 had stopped running though. Which link is the most reliable?
#13 Posted: 16/8/2011 - 14:27
wanderingcat
som tam seller
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think this is the most up to date i can find, posted by someone who has been pretty trustworthy & the most detailed about public transport in BKK over the years - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/483568-update-on-city-and-other-buses-to-airport-suvannaphumi/
in short, says that:
- 551 bus has been replaced by vans, which travel directly from Suvarnabhumi (no stops along the way) to Victory Monument
- 556 bus route has been shortened, from southern bus terminal it goes only as far as Makkasan station (to tie up with the airport rail link?), no longer all the way to Suvarnabhumi
not sure if there will be further changes to routes of buses/vans with the recent opening of the BTS skytrain extension beyond On Nut.
#14 Posted: 16/8/2011 - 14:47
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Laos transport timetables
cybervlad
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SBE, last time I visited Bangkok I heard that bus 556 is running from Makassan BTS station to the SaiTaiMai (southern bus terminal). See: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/04/12/travel/Is-Khao-San-Road-any-good-30153062.html
But now I couldn't find any info about 556 bus on official site (www.bmta.co.th). Looks like it stopped completely. But I'm not sure
#15 Posted: 16/8/2011 - 14:48
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regards, Vlad.
Gary1878
longtail driver
Posts: 6
@afro_dust
Pablo, when are you arriving? I'm in the same boat as you. I get to BKK airport at 08:20 on Thursday morning. I'll probably take a taxi myself.
#16 Posted: 16/8/2011 - 22:24
christay2009
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....so is there a bus from the Airport to KSR?
I would like to get it in a week if there is
#17 Posted: 17/8/2011 - 00:34
PabloUK
newbie
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Gary, not for a while yet, land in Thailand in Jan next year, just trying to get a scope on things.
Have a good trip!
#18 Posted: 17/8/2011 - 02:37
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International Playboy
JenP
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I think i shall be taking a taxi when i get there in Dec, so anyone that's there around the same time and wants to share let me know!!
#19 Posted: 17/8/2011 - 03:00
Rasheeed
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There should be other people arriving in December as well. You might need to wait a couple days at the airport but you should be able to find someone to share with.
'sheeed
#20 Posted: 17/8/2011 - 10:32
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Banlung, Footy, and everything else that makes me more authentic than you
MADMAC
mahout
Posts: 3999
I noticed no one was excited about the sky taxi option.
#21 Posted: 17/8/2011 - 10:38
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Victory in Pattani
cybervlad
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....so is there a bus from the Airport to KSR?
christay2009, there is no direct bus from airport to KSR, but you can reach KSR from airport by bus:
- take shuttle bus (free of charge) from airport to airport's transport terminal;
- take bus 551 to Victory Monument
- take one of several buses to KSR area (Democracy Monument)
This is the cheapest way. But it takes long time.
If the taxi direct to KSR (or other destination) still too expensive for you, there is "mid-priced" way:
- take raillink to Makkasan or Phaya Thai station;
- take bus 503 to KSR.
#22 Posted: 17/8/2011 - 10:42
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regards, Vlad.
Rasheeed
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MAC, how much is it?
#23 Posted: 17/8/2011 - 10:46
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Banlung, Footy, and everything else that makes me more authentic than you
MADMAC
mahout
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Probably about 5,000 USD, but I've never actually priced it myself. I only know it exists.
#24 Posted: 17/8/2011 - 11:07
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Victory in Pattani
Rasheeed
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Well, if you find a couple to split the cost with it isn't so bad.
#25 Posted: 17/8/2011 - 11:14
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Banlung, Footy, and everything else that makes me more authentic than you
MADMAC
mahout
Posts: 3999
Good point. If only I could get one of those apartments with the helipads now.
#26 Posted: 17/8/2011 - 14:03
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Victory in Pattani
Rasheeed
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True. Parking can be a *****.
#27 Posted: 17/8/2011 - 14:38
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Banlung, Footy, and everything else that makes me more authentic than you