Thailand forum
Is possible reach the BKK airport with a local cheap bus?
Have questions? Jump to our menu of forum quicklinks
Add your reply
You need to be logged in to add a reply.
Not a member? you can join here.
Welcome to Travelfish, original Asia travel intelligence you can trust
Menu
claudiaband
Joined Travelfish
23rd July, 2009
Posts 1
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Hi, I'm leaving sunday from BKK international airport and i would like to know if there are local cheap buses to reach the airport. ( from Khao San zone) Thank you so much!
#1 Posted: 23/7/2009 - 00:50
idreamofdur-
ian
TF writer
.JPG)
Joined Travelfish
5th September, 2008
Location Singapore
Posts 576
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
Yeah, there's an airport bus and I think it's about 150B.
Bus routes and numbers:
Route AE-1 goes on the expressway from Suvarnabhumi to Silom road. You can connect to the Skytrain or subway from Silom.
Route AE-2 goes on the expressway to Banglamphu. This is the one to get on for Khao San road.
Route AE-3 goes to the Nana (soi 3-4) part of Sukhumvit road.
Route AE-4 goes from Suvarnabhumi to Hua Lamphong, Bangkok's main train station.
#2 Posted: 23/7/2009 - 01:07
idreamofdurian's social networks[Twitter] [Flickr]
------------------------------
idreamofdurian.com - the bloggings of a Canadian girl in Asia long-term
Advertisement
SBE
Joined Travelfish
14th April, 2008
Location Global Village
Posts 1793
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
That's the airport bus but there are also local buses that go to the airport which cost 35B. I've never used a one as I'm always afraid of missing my plane!
http://www.bangkokairportonline.com/node/56
The skytrain link is supposed to be opening on August 12th. That will cost the same as the airport bus (150B) I think.
http://www.urbanrail.net/as/bang/bangkok.htm
#3 Posted: 23/7/2009 - 01:55
googdot
Joined Travelfish
20th March, 2007
Posts 6
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
The Skytrain link was supposed to open August 12th, but this has now been moved forward to December '09. I think the target launch date is now set for December 5th.
#4 Posted: 23/7/2009 - 07:40
MADMAC
Joined Travelfish
6th June, 2009
Posts 5075
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Do yourself a favor and take a metered taxi. It won't be that much more than the airport bus (around 185 baht) and it's worth the extra money. Take a local crap bus and God knows when you'd get there. Missing an airplane and costing you serious money is not worth the extra two or three bucks you might save.
#5 Posted: 23/7/2009 - 12:30
------------------------------
Victory in Pattani
sayadian
Joined Travelfish
15th January, 2008
Posts 1414
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
'Take a local crap bus'
Actually the 556 which runs hourly and stops just around the corner from Kao San Road is an air-conditioned bus which does most of the trip on the expressway.
I've taken it many times.The only drawback is it doesn't seem to have a set time but there is one every hour.
Get it at the main bus stop on Ratchdamnoen.The guesthouse staff can give you directions. It is only about 100 metres from KaoSan.
#6 Posted: 23/7/2009 - 15:01
------------------------------
money frees you from doing things you dislike,since I dislike doing nearly everything money is handy'
MADMAC
Joined Travelfish
6th June, 2009
Posts 5075
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
There are some things you really don't want to screw the pooch on. In that category I place catching my flight home. Leaving the airport and looking for a cheap bus, driving to Chiang Mai on a cheap bus... etc. etc. is OK. If things go wrong and you miss the bus, or end up on the wrong one... OK, no big deal. Catch the next one or go to a different place. If the bus is slower than you thought it would be, no big deal. But screw up getting to the airport... big deal.
#7 Posted: 23/7/2009 - 16:45
------------------------------
Victory in Pattani
williamtayl-
or
Joined Travelfish
9th June, 2009
Location Japan
Posts 29
Member profile
Profile page
Messaging not enabled.
Madmac writes:
"Do yourself a favor and take a metered taxi. It won't be that much more than the airport bus (around 185 baht) and it's worth the extra money. "
Providing you can find a taxi driver willing to use a meter . (Wish you spys from the Tourism Authority of Thailand would do something about this.)
The estimate of 185 seems to be a bit low, especially when you consider the expressway tolls that you have to pay and the strong possibility of traffic jams. I think 250-300 is better estimate of total costs.
But you are right this isn't really a place to be stingy if you have a connecting flight to make and/or heavy luggage.
Skytrain to the airport by December? Anyone think that is actually going to happen?
#8 Posted: 23/7/2009 - 17:36
williamtaylor's social networks[Twitter]
------------------------------
My blog (Japanese)
sayadian
Joined Travelfish
15th January, 2008
Posts 1414
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
If you have time just sit at the bus stop if the bus doesn't come within the hour hop in a taxi.I have yet to meet a taxi driver who doesn't use his meter or argues if you ask him to put it on.Most of the taxi drivers come from Isan and they are the nicest people in Thailand.
The airport local bus is as fast as a taxi because it takes the expressway and is air-conditioned.Why not save money,you can't lose out if you plan ahead, give the bus a try
#9 Posted: 23/7/2009 - 17:49
------------------------------
money frees you from doing things you dislike,since I dislike doing nearly everything money is handy'
MADMAC
Joined Travelfish
6th June, 2009
Posts 5075
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
"Providing you can find a taxi driver willing to use a meter."
I travel to Bangkok about every three months - I have yet to meet a taxi driver who won't use the meter - with the big exception being leaving the airport. There it's always an arguement because they know they have you by the cajones - they all want more money.
Still, this is one thing I recommend you splurge on.
#10 Posted: 23/7/2009 - 18:27
------------------------------
Victory in Pattani
Advertisement
sayadian
Joined Travelfish
15th January, 2008
Posts 1414
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
he's going to the airport not coming from it. Still, I get your point the airport can be an exception to the rule.Take the free bus to the transport centre and you will find lots of taxis with a much more amenable attitude.The taxis are at the rear of the transport centre.
#11 Posted: 23/7/2009 - 18:51
------------------------------
money frees you from doing things you dislike,since I dislike doing nearly everything money is handy'
sayadian
Joined Travelfish
15th January, 2008
Posts 1414
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
he's going to the airport not coming from it. Still, I get your point the airport can be an exception to the rule.Take the free bus to the transport centre and you will find lots of taxis with a much more amenable attitude.The taxis are at the rear of the transport centre.
#12 Posted: 23/7/2009 - 18:52
------------------------------
money frees you from doing things you dislike,since I dislike doing nearly everything money is handy'
MADMAC
Joined Travelfish
6th June, 2009
Posts 5075
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
"he's going to the airport not coming from it. Still, I get your point the airport can be an exception to the rule.Take the free bus to the transport centre and you will find lots of taxis with a much more amenable attitude.The taxis are at the rear of the transport centre."
This was exactly my point - he's going to the airport, hence meter will be the rule without hassle.
Here's what I do. Grab my pack, walk to the road. Stick out my thumb at the first taxi going by (which usually takes about one minute), jump in and say Suvarnabhumi (pronounced soo-wan-nah-bpoom). He asks me if I want to take the highway (meaning I pay the tolls). I say yes. And off we go. Don't go during rush hour. I was once stuck in the taxi for an hour and a half getting to the airport. Still had plenty of time, but I was starting to get a little nervous after a while.
#13 Posted: 23/7/2009 - 19:02
------------------------------
Victory in Pattani