Bangkok Airport is pronounced Suvarnabhumi and means "land of gold" in Thai. It was opened relatively recently on September 28, 2006. The project, developed back in 1996, turned into a long-term construction project for economic and political reasons. And only after investments from the Japanese Bank were the works completed.

Brief history

The new airport would take over most of the international and domestic flights that previously arrived at the old Don Mueang terminal. The building, built back in 1914, was in need of renovation. In 2012, a complete reconstruction of the territory, runway and all infrastructure was carried out. Currently, domestic charter and scheduled flights of Asian airlines Thai AirAsia, Orient Thai, Thai Lion Air and international flights of the low-cost airline AirAsia land in Don Mueang. Current information is available on the airport website www.donmueangairport.com.

After its opening, Suvarnabhumi became one of the largest air hubs in Asia, along with airports in Beijing and Hong Kong. Not only tourists fly here to relax in Thailand, but also many transit travelers who fly on to other countries. Suvarnabhumi Airport is located 25 km from the center of Bangkok. It has two runways and a 7-story terminal, with up to 76 flights per hour and 45 million passengers a year.

Contact Information

Airport code:

• international IATA – BKK;
• ICAO - VTBS.

Bangkok Airport Address: 999 Moo 1 Bangna – Trad Road Km 15 Rachathewa, Bang Phli Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand.

Contact numbers: +66 2132 1888, 66 2132 1111(2).

Opening hours: 24 hours a day.

Parking

Near the terminal of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport there are two parking lots, each of which consists of a 6-story building and a surface parking lot. Both buildings can accommodate 5,000 cars, and the street parking can accommodate up to 1,100 cars. They are combined for the convenience of passengers by an internal passage with the airport building.

Parking cost:

• 1 hour – 25 Thai baht (approximately $0.8);
• 2 hours – 50 Thai baht (about $1.5);
• 3 hours – 80 Thai baht (about $2.5);
• 4 hours – 110 Thai baht (about $3.3);
• 5 hours – 145 Thai baht (approximately $4.4);
• 6 hours – 180 Thai baht (approximately $5.4);
• from 7 to 24 hours – 250 Thai baht (approximately $7.5).

In addition, you can park your car outside the airport in a more economical public parking lot, which has space for 4,000 cars and 78 buses.

Parking cost:

• 1 hour – 20 Thai baht (about $0.6);
• 2 hours – 40 Thai baht (about $1.2);
• 3 hours – 60 Thai baht (about $1.8);
• 4 hours – 80 Thai baht (about $2.5);
• 5 hours – 100 Thai baht (about $3);
• 6 hours – 120 Thai baht (about $3.6);
• from 7 to 24 hours – 140 Thai baht (approximately $4.2).

Tourists who want to leave their car for a longer period can use public parking. The cost of a monthly subscription for a car is 600 Thai baht (about $18), for large vehicles (buses) the price is 900 Thai baht (about $27).

How to get to Bangkok Airport

The transport system of Bangkok Airport is organized at the highest level. You can get to the city not only by taxi or pre-booked transfer, but also by train or bus. From here you can go not only to Bangkok, but also to neighboring cities.

Taxi

Official airport taxis can be ordered at the counter marked “public taxi” on level 1 of the terminal. The cost of a trip to Bangkok, depending on the distance, will cost approximately 350-400 baht ($10-12).

Aeroexpress

Two high-speed trains connect the airport terminal with the center of Bangkok. The schedule is from 06.00 to 24.00. The station is located at level zero. You can buy a ticket from the machine by selecting the desired train and final stop.

The first Express Line runs non-stop for 15 minutes, and the fare is 90 baht (approximately $2.7).

The second City Line makes 6 stops and takes you to the center in 30 minutes. The fare depends on the distance of the trip and ranges from 15-45 baht (from 0.5 to 1.4 $).

Bus

The bus terminal is located on the 1st floor, from where city routes depart to different areas of the city from 04.00 am to 23.00. There is also a parking lot for air-conditioned commercial minibuses that run 24 hours a day. This type of transport is convenient for travelers who know their way around the city well or understand Thai, because... no information in English. The cost of travel by bus will be approximately 30 baht (just under $1), and by minibus – 50 baht ($1.5).

Passengers flying into Suvarnabhumi and departing from Don Mueang terminal can take advantage of the free shuttle bus that connects both airports. Opening hours: from 05.00 to 00.00. Travel time is about 1 hour with an interval of 12 minutes during peak hours. When boarding, you must show the driver your ticket for a flight from Don Mueang Airport.

Airport map

The passenger terminal of Bangkok Airport consists of 7 floors, in which everything is clearly organized and arranged. It is very easy for travelers to navigate.

• On level B (zero) there is a high-speed train station;
• The first level is occupied by parking for buses and taxis, there are also airline information desks, a VIP lounge, a medical center, restaurants, shops and boarding gates;

• On the second floor there are arrivals areas for international and domestic flights, passport control, baggage claim and luggage storage, a VIP lounge, shops, restaurants, airport management offices, the Thai Airways information desk and boarding gates;

• The third floor is occupied by restaurants, shops, airline offices, a VIP lounge, shops, restaurants, a lounge, airport management offices, Thai Airways information desk, airline business lounges and boarding gates. From this floor you can walk along a corridor to the parking buildings;

• On the fourth floor there are departure halls for international and domestic flights, a self-check-in area, passport control, customs, as well as luxury lounges for Thai Airways passengers. There are offices for receiving Tax-free refunds, a medical center, shops and restaurants, lounges and airline business lounges;

• The fifth is occupied by airline offices;
• On the sixth floor there is a passenger service center. There are restaurants and cafes here;
• The seventh floor is an observation deck.

Airport services

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is one of the most modern in the world, with all conditions for a comfortable stay for passengers. All rooms are equipped with racks for recharging mobile devices of various configurations.

Wi-fi at Bangkok airport

Wi-fi is available free of charge for 2 hours a day throughout the airport. To do this, you need to connect to the @AiorportTrueFreeWifi network, select a language and register.

Luggage packing

To protect your belongings, as well as to avoid contamination and damage to suitcases and bags, they can be wrapped in protective film or packed in a box at the baggage packing counter, which is located on the 4th floor next to the check-in counters. Cost – 150 baht for 1 piece of luggage (approximately $4.5).

Luggage storage

You can deposit luggage at the airport on the 2nd and 4th floors. The cost of the service is 100 baht per day (about $3).

Health care

Passengers who require urgent medical assistance can contact the medical centers located on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors. If necessary, transfer to the hospital in Bangkok is possible. In addition, there are several pharmacies in the airport terminal, they are called “Boots pharmacy” and are located at all levels of the airport.

Finance

At Bangkok airport you can not only change money, use an ATM, but also make an international bank transfer at a bank branch. Currency exchange offices are located on the 2nd, 3rd and 6th floors of the airport terminal. ATMs can be found on level B and 1st floor.

Religion

At the airport, people of different faiths are treated with respect. Separate rooms are equipped on the 3rd floor of the terminal for Muslim travelers and for Buddhist monks.

Airport VIP lounges

On the 3rd floor of the airport there is a luxury lounge where you can relax before your flight. It works around the clock. Guests are provided with drinks, snacks and free Wi-Fi. The cost of the stay is 500 baht per person for 2 hours (approximately $15). On the same level is the Louis Tavern business lounge, a two-hour stay in which will cost 1,000 baht (approximately $30). In addition, major international airlines have their own lounges for business and first class guests.

Hotels at the airport

There are ten hotels at Bangkok Airport, the closest of which is 150 meters from the terminal, and the farthest is 2.5 km. Travelers planning an overnight stay can contact the tourist center or book a room online. The two most popular are:

• Novotel Bangkok 5* is a hotel of the highest level, located 10 minutes drive from the airport. For hotel guests there is a 24-hour shuttle to the terminal and back;
• Louis Tavern Day room is located right in the building of Suvarnabhumi Airport. It is convenient for passengers who have a short connection.

Where to eat at the airport

At the airport there are many restaurants and cafes with a wide variety of cuisines. They are located on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th floors of the terminal. There are inexpensive food courts and restaurants for discerning tourists. The menu is presented in Thai and English, and is also illustrated with pictures. In addition, the terminal building houses two supermarkets of the famous Asian chain 7 Eleven. They can be found on level B and 2nd floor.

Airlines served

All major international airlines from Europe and Asia fly into Bangkok International Airport. It is connected to the whole world by direct flights. Aeroflot, Rossiya and Thai Airways fly direct from Moscow, as well as S7 flights from different Russian cities (Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk). Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Finnair fly to Bangkok. From the UAE and Qatar - Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways. From Asian airlines - Singapore airlines, Japan airlines, Malaysian airlines. From Australia you can fly on Qantas, and from the USA on Delta.

During the peak tourist season, numerous charter flights arrive in Bangkok. From Russia these are Royal flight, Ural airlines, Via-Avia and others.

Bangkok Airport is a modern air hub, very comfortable for passengers arriving here or in transit. Guests are provided with a high level of service and a wide variety of services.

Video

The theater begins with a hanger, and Thailand begins with Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, also known as Suvannaphumi, also known as Suanaphumi. This is where most flights from Russia, the former CIS countries and Europe arrive.

For the record: there is another airport in Bangkok - Don Mueang, but it more often receives flights from Asian countries, so I will not talk about it in detail.

To feel comfortable from the first minutes of your vacation, you will need a map of Suvarnabhumi Airport and some tips from an experienced traveler. From this article you will learn: where to eat inexpensively and tasty, what you need to get a VAT refund on purchases at the airport, how to get local Wi-Fi, where is the best currency exchange rate and, of course, how to get from Suvarnabhumi to the center of Bangkok and back.

At the end of the article, I will tell you why the unusual airport security, whose photo blew up the Internet, no longer pleases tourists with its presence

Where is Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) on the map and how to get there

Reference Information:

Address: 999 moo 1 Tambon Racha Thewa, Amphoe Bang Phli, Samut Prakan, Thailand
Official name: Bangkok International Airport Suvarnabhumi

ICAO code: VTSB

IATA code: BBK

Suvarnabhumi Airport on the map of Bangkok

Suvarnabhumi is located 30 km from the center of Bangkok towards Pattaya, from which it is separated by 120 km. The airport has its own metro line - Airport Rail Link, which makes life much easier for visitors. Take the Express Line and you will be in the center of Bangkok in 20 minutes. You can get off at Makkasan underground station (MRT Petchaburi) or above-ground Phayathai station (BTS Skytrain). A ticket costs about 90 baht. Children's is cheaper.

If you are not in a hurry and are not burdened with large luggage, then you can take a ride on the City line. It takes about 30 minutes to reach Phayathai station. The cost of an adult ticket is 25-30 baht.

Map of Suvarnabhumi Airport

Suvarnabhumi is the third largest airport in the world, with an area of ​​563,000 sq.m. But it is almost impossible to get lost in it, since it is divided into convenient zones by floor. There are a total of 4 floors and 1 underground level, designated by the letter B.

In order not to repeat myself several times, I will say that duty-free is available on all four floors of the airport. You definitely won't be left without shopping.

Floor 4: departure area

The hall is divided into two parts: international and domestic flights. In addition to passport control and check-in counters, there are storage rooms where you can leave things for 100 baht/day, a Family Mart store and several cafes.

There are also terminals for self-check-in for flights, but I do not recommend using them if you are flying with the whole family. Seats are given out randomly and it is unlikely that you will be able to sit next to each other.

Floor 3: waiting area

There are many chain cafes such as Starbucks, MacDonalds, European and Asian restaurants. The prices are quite high. If you want to save money or just try typical Thai fast food, then look for the Food Village. Here you can have a snack with a spring roll and drink regular coffee for 100-120 baht.

In addition to the food court, on the third floor there are restrooms (for a fee), ATMs and shops.

Floor 2: arrivals area

There is passport control, baggage claim, a meeting point for arrivals, currency exchange counters and local mobile operators.

Floor 1: exit to the city

Here you can catch a taxi, buy a bus ticket, withdraw/exchange money and use the help desk. And here is the cheapest cafe at the airport – Magik Food.

Level B: metro

Here you can take the Express Line or City line. But only regulars know that there is a currency exchange office with the most favorable exchange rate - SuperCheap. Even within the city limits you have to try hard to find such a course.

VAT refund at Bangkok airport

If, while in Thailand, you purchased an item/souvenir worth more than 2,000 baht, you have the right to refund 7% VAT within 60 days from the date of purchase. For this purpose, there are 3 VAT Refund counters on the 4th floor of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The following VAT refund conditions apply in Thailand:

The purchase must be made in stores that issue VAT Refund. Many retail outlets hang a corresponding sign to make it easier for tourists to find their way around. If it's not there, ask. Only such stores have the right to issue the VAT Refund Application for Tourists form (P.P.10), which you will need to refund the tax on your purchase.

To apply for P.P.10 you need a passport. Only the person to whom the VAT Refund was issued can receive the coveted 7%.

The amount of each check must be at least 2,000 baht. Several checks will not work. I heard that some stores issue VAT Refund for purchases of 5,000 baht or more. Please clarify this point in advance.
Important: only foreign tourists have the right to refund VAT on purchases. If you have a student or work visa, the tax will not be refunded.

When it is time to leave the country, you need to go to the customs counter in the departure area before checking in for your flight, present your receipt, passport and P.P.10. Sometimes staff check for items, so be prepared to open suitcases. If everything is in order, the customs officers will put a few marks and you can go to registration. After this, you need to go to any of the VAT Refund counters, present your check, passport, P.P.10 with customs marks and receive the money. Where the VAT Refund counters are located can be seen on the map of the departure area.

Suvarnabhumi Airport is considered one of the most comfortable, which is why the range of services is impressive. I'll briefly tell you how to save money on some of them.

Taxi. The prices of airport taxi drivers in any country are impressive. Thailand is no exception. The official counters are located on the 1st floor and there are always long queues near them. There is no point in haggling since the prices are fixed. If you want to save time and money, then go up to the 4th floor (to the departure area). There you can find city taxi drivers who have just brought clients. They don’t want to leave “empty,” so the cost of the trip will be lower.

Free Wi-Fi. It is located throughout the airport, but many do not know how to find it, so they are content with 15 minutes at special counters and then buy a SIM card. To get 2 hours of relatively fast Internet, you need to register in one of the networks: @AirportAisFreeWiFi, @AirportTrueFreeWiFi or @AirportDtacFreeWiFi, open any page in the browser and log in.

Rest. When a flight is delayed, hanging around the airport is a less than average pleasure. If nearby hotels are not affordable, then pay attention to the Boxtel hotel. It is located on level B, a minute's walk from the metro line, and offers comfortable single rooms for 4 hours for 2,500 rubles. Judging by the reviews from guests, the beds are quite wide, so there will be no problems accommodating small children. You can find out how to settle in it at the help desk.

In the spring of 2018, some tourists were very lucky: they saw with their own eyes the unusual security at Bangkok Airport.

unusual security at Bangkok airport

I hasten to disappoint: it was just a themed photo shoot of local models. Real employees look less impressive.

On this positive note, I end my review of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. Have a nice trip!

Suvarnabhumi Airport is better known as the new international airport of Bangkok (opened in 2006). Nowadays, it is the main air gateway of the country. Suvarnabhumi is considered one of the busiest airports not only in Thailand, but throughout the entire Asian region. It is located 25 kilometers east of Bangkok. The name of the airport was chosen by the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej (Suvarnabhumi means “golden kingdom”).

The main attraction of the airport is the control tower, which is considered the largest in the world (more than 132.2 meters).

The airport has only one passenger terminal, but it is considered the third largest in the world.

You can stay overnight at the following hotels located near the airport:

• - Grand Inn Come Hotel;
• - Miracle Suvarnabhumi Airport;
• - Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel;
• - Rafael Mansion Bangkok Airport.

You can get to Bangkok from the airport in the following ways:

1) Suburban train.

There are three surface metro lines from the airport to different areas of the city:

• - SA City Line. The fare, depending on the destination station, ranges from 15 to 45 baht.
• - Makkasan Express Line. One way fare is 90 baht (round trip 150);
• - Phaya Thai Express Line. One way fare is 90 baht (round trip 150).

2) Bus.

There are four express bus routes from the airport to the center of Bangkok. The buses have air conditioning and comfortable soft chairs. The fare is 150 baht. You can also get there by city bus. Ticket price is 32 and 34 baht. This is a cheaper alternative to the express bus.

3) Limousine.

For people accustomed to luxury, the airport offers a service such as travel in a limousine (as a rule, these are usually expensive high-class foreign cars). The fare is 500-3000 baht.

4) Car.

You can rent a car at the airport. The road network in Bangkok and the surrounding area is very well developed, so there will be no problems with car travel.

All cars are equipped with meters. The journey to the city, depending on traffic, can take 30 to 40 minutes. Price - from 300 to 500 baht.

Service area at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The following types of services can be offered to you at the airport building:

• - Duty Free stores;
• - a large number of currency exchange offices;
• - cafes, restaurants, snack bars.

Basic information about Suvarnabhumi Airport:

• Airport country: Thailand.
• The largest airport in Thailand, which serves the capital of the country.
• Year the airport was founded: 2006.
• GMT time zone (summer/winter): +7/+7.
• Geographic latitude 13.68, geographic longitude 100.75.
• Geographical location of the airport: 25 kilometers east of the center of Bangkok.
• Number of terminals: 3.

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. Official website: http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com

Main airport codes:

• IATA airport code: BKK.
• ICAO airport code: VTBS.

Contact details:

• Airport postal address: 171VibhavadiRoad, Bangkok, Thailand.
• City telephone number of the airport management: +5625351515.
• Airport local telephone number: +66021321888.
• Airport fax: +6625351065.
• Email address airport mail:

»»» Bangkok »»» Suvarnabhumi Airport

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

Bangkok's new international airport, Suvarnabhumi International Airport, is Thailand's largest airport, and one of two local airports that accept direct flights from our country. The airport is modern, huge, and has all the necessary functionality to serve more than 50 million passengers per year, which is exactly how many tourists pass through Suvarnabhumi Airport every year.

Passport and customs formalities at Suvarnabhumi Airport are quite simple, although there are queues for passport control, they pass quickly, and the first thought that comes to happy tourists who are finally on the right side of the Thai border is the thought that it would be nice exchange the currency you brought with you for local money. And it is for this reason that it makes sense to begin the description of Suvarnabhumi Airport by covering this topic, especially given the sad fact that Suvarnabhumi Airport is not suitable for exchanging any significant amounts of money.

Currency exchange at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Exchange offices and ATMs.

Exchange offices at Suvarnabhumi Airport are located everywhere, on both sides of the border, these exchangers belong to different banks, but the rate at all exchangers is the same, and it is equally bad compared to the exchange offices of Bangkok and Pattaya. To better understand the scale of the problem, the photo below shows the exchange rate at Suvarnabhumi Airport, and, on the same day, at one of the exchange offices in Bangkok.

The indicated exchange rate difference, about 5 percent, has always existed, starting from the opening of the airport in 2006,
so there are no prospects for an improvement in the exchange rate situation at Suvarnabhumi Airport. An alternative to exchanging currency at the airport is to withdraw money from a bank card, and this also has its pitfalls, the main one being that cash withdrawals from non-resident cards are subject to tax in Thailand.

The tax on withdrawing money from the card is 150 baht, and does not depend on the amount withdrawn. As you might guess, in Thailand withdrawing small amounts of money from a card is strictly contraindicated. Limits on withdrawals from ATMs in Thailand are usually 10 or 20 thousand baht, and depend on the bank that owns the ATM. There are ATMs with a limit of 20,000 baht at Suvarnabhumi Airport, but there are not many of them, and if you want to save on this tax, it makes sense to look for ATMs with a maximum limit.

Update Jan 2019. As of the beginning of 2019, the dollar purchase rate at Suvarnabhumi Airport exchange offices was still lower than the rate at city exchange offices by 1.5 baht, the same minus 5% as before.

Transport from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok and Pattaya

The next problem that may puzzle tourists who have already managed to acquire a certain amount of Thai baht is the problem of transport from the airport. And here it must be said right away that with transport at Suvarnabhumi Airport, things are normal; the nearest tourist centers, Bangkok itself and nearby Pattaya, can be reached from the airport cheaply, quickly, and by fairly comfortable transport.

If you are very exhausted from a long flight, taxis will be at your service; travel to Bangkok costs about 500 baht, and to Pattaya - about 1,500 baht. If you still have energy and want to save money, you can get to Bangkok by Aeroexpress for a very modest sum of 45 baht, and to Pattaya by bus for just over 100 baht (in March 2019, travel to Pattaya cost 120 baht) .

Aeroexpress from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the center of Bangkok

The Aeroexpress station (Airport Rail Link) is located on the ground floor of the Suvarnabhumi Airport building, and it is not difficult to find by following numerous signs. Trains from Suvarnabhumi Airport to central Bangkok run frequently, every 15 minutes, and Phaya Thai Station, located in the heart of the city, takes 25 minutes, faster than a taxi.

At Phaya Thai station you can either change to the main metro line or take a taxi. A metro ride in the center of Bangkok costs 20-40 baht (payment in the metro is zoned), the typical price level for a taxi when traveling around the city center is 50-100 baht (payment is made by taximeter).

More details about the airport metro line, as well as what the metro in Bangkok is in general, is written here:. By clicking on this link you can also get detailed information about airport taxis.

Buses from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Khao San Road

At the end of 2017, the BMTA (Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, a state-owned company, bus operator) opened the S1 bus route from Suvarnabhumi Airport to. The fare for this route is 60 baht per person, buses run from 6-00 to 20-00, with an interval of 30 minutes. The bus ticket counter is located near Gate 7 of the airport building, on the same level where tickets to Pattaya are sold (Gate 8) and where the exit to the taxi rank is located.

It is worth noting that buses on route S1 go quickly, since most of the route passes along a toll highway that is not congested with traffic jams. As of December 2017, the entire airport was covered with advertisements for the Suvarnabhumi - Khaosan route, so it was not difficult to find this bus.

Buses from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya

Unlike the metro station, which is easy to find, you will have to look for the bus stop from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya, since there are no signs for these buses. The stop and counter for selling tickets for these buses is located on one of the lower levels of the airport building, on the same level where the exit to the taxi rank is located, adjacent to exit No. 8. You most likely will not remember the number of this exit, but this will not create big problems for you; the location of the stop can always be clarified with the Suvarnabhumi Airport staff.

As noted above, the cost of travel from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya is a little over 100 baht (in March 2019, travel to Pattaya cost 120 baht), buses on this route run once an hour, in Pattaya buses make five stops, including the final stop opposite Jomtien Beach. More details are written separately, and by clicking on the link provided, you can see the exact bus schedule and see on the map of Pattaya where exactly their stops are located.

Shops in the airport building, cell phone counters and other useful services

The Suvarnabhumi Airport building has many useful and relevant services that most tourists do not notice. Firstly, at the exit from the arrivals hall there are several duty-free shops.

The size of these stores and the range of their goods are much smaller than the huge duty free store located in the airport departure hall, but a standard set of goods (cigarettes, elite alcohol, perfumes) is present in these stores.

Secondly, next to the baggage claim belts there are stands with various promotional products, among which you can find free maps of Bangkok, a useful thing that will definitely come in handy.

Thirdly, at the exit from the customs control zone there are counters of mobile operators, where they hand out free SIM cards, from which you can make international calls and access the Internet at extremely low rates.

And finally, fourthly, in the building of Suvarnabhumi Airport there are several grocery stores of the Family Mart and Seven Eleven chains, where you can buy water, drinks and snacks at low prices. To make the price level of these stores more understandable, you can buy a bottle of water or a can of energy drink there for 10 baht, and some tasty bun for 15 - 20 baht.

Rent a car at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Any tourist who has already visited Bangkok understands that a rented car in this city overloaded with traffic jams is not only unnecessary, but also categorically contraindicated. However, if you are not going to sit still, but plan to travel around Thailand while driving a car, at Suvarnabhumi Airport you can easily get a practically new Japanese car, with air conditioning, automatic transmission and proper insurance, this is exactly what even the cheapest rental cars look like in Thailand. and Budget Thailand). The typical cost of renting a car at Suvarnabhumi Airport, as in all major tourist centers of Thailand, is at the level of 800 - 1000 baht per day when renting a car for a period of 1 - 2 weeks. And, as elsewhere in Thailand, in order to get low prices, it makes sense to take care of renting a car in advance by reserving a car online.

Note. More details about renting a car in Thailand are written in the section; there are no fundamental differences between renting a car in Bangkok and Phuket.

Duty free shops in the departure hall of Suvarnabhumi Airport

The duty free shops located in the departure hall of Suvarnabhumi Airport are as huge as the airport itself. Their rows stretch for almost half a kilometer, and in addition to traditional alcohol, perfumes and cigarettes, in these shops you can buy local Thai goods, namely exotic fruits, orchids packed for long transportation and local drinks, Thai rum and Thai whiskey.

All these local goods cost many times more than in the city, however, if you suddenly discover that you forgot to buy gifts for one of your friends, you can easily correct this oversight.

A small note regarding the pronunciation of the name of Suvarnabhumi Airport

The letter-by-letter pronunciation of the English version of the name of this airport has taken root in Russian tradition. In fact, the name of this airport in Thai sounds like Suwannaphum, which was even noticed by Wikipedia. Translated from Sanskrit, this name means “Golden Land”, or “Land Full of Gold”, in a less literal, but more accurate translation. In ancient Indian texts this was the name given to the territory that is now called Southeast Asia.

Bangkok Airport has a name that is difficult to pronounce" Suvarnabhumi", which translated from Thai means "holy land". In terms of size, Suvarnabhumi Airport is one of the five largest and ranks 16th in the world in terms of passenger traffic, therefore, in order not to get confused and not get lost at Bangkok Airport, you need to familiarize yourself with at least a minimum of information about him.

There are 7 floors in the Suvarnabhumi Airport building, but we only need two of them:

• Second floor: this is where we arrive, where we go through passport and customs controls and meet our host guides.
• Fourth Floor: This is where we will check in and go through all the pre-flight formalities when we fly back home from Bangkok.

The sequence of our actions and movements at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport will be as follows:

1. We get off the plane and go to the passport control side.
2. We go through passport (migration) control.
3. We get our luggage.
4. We pass customs control.
5. We are looking for our transfer (meeting) guide, waiting at the meeting point until the whole group gathers.
6. We board buses with our guides and go to the hotel.

1. After landing at Suvarnabhumi

So the plane landed at Bangkok airport(or Phuket, the sequence of tourist actions in the latter case will be exactly the same). After waiting for some time to connect to the air arm of the terminal, we exit the plane (Business Class exits first, if available), with words of gratitude to the crew of the aircraft. And don’t forget anything on the plane, it will be very difficult to pick up what you lost!

Immediately at the crossing, tourists are very often met by one or more Thais in order to give them free local SIM cards (so to speak, a promotion from the telecom operator) with a minimum balance. We take a SIM card for ourselves (you can say hello to a girl or a boy in Thai, see Russian-Thai phrasebook), it won’t be superfluous and we go towards passport control. You may have to go quite far, to the only entrance to the main airport building, in front of which there is passport control. If you are in Thailand for the first time and are afraid of getting lost, you just need to go where everyone else is going.

2. Passport control (migration service) at Bangkok airport

It is undesirable to trail behind the crowd of people leaving the plane, because they all go through security in turn at several employee kiosks migration control. Once you get to the end of this line, you have a chance to spend 20-30 minutes there, it’s better to be one of the first.

Each tourist (except for those with children) approaches the employee in turn passport control (PASSPORT CONTROL / MIGRATION CONTROL), the next one waits at some distance (note that there is a boundary line on the floor; you should wait in line in front of it without stepping over it).

Hold your foreign passport and Thailand migration card in your hands (which we successfully filled out on the plane or, if for some reason we didn’t fill it out, we take the card at the counter in front of passport control and fill it out immediately before going through control). Having waited our turn, we approach the migration control officer, hand over our passport and migration card; it wouldn’t hurt to say hello to him in Thai or English, or even walking in Russian, there’s nothing to be shy about.

Don’t be surprised, but the appearance of a migration service officer in Thailand is much more severe than that of our similar workers. They take their responsibilities very seriously and take great pride in their distinctive work." guardians of the entrance to the Kingdom of Thailand". Their uniform is appropriate; senior officers are completely shine in gold on plaques and badges, very beautiful and commands respect (in fact, this is one of the examples of officer uniforms in Tsarist Russia, borrowed some time ago by the Thais).

The passport control officer will check the photo in your passport with the “original”, check the database to see if you have any serious violations and a ban on entry into Thailand, and perhaps take a photo with a small camera at the booth window. They usually photograph those whose appearance in the photo is slightly different from the original in front of them, given the fact that Europeans are as different from each other to Thais as Thais are to Europeans, they photograph almost everyone, especially women.

So keep in mind when the passport control officer points your finger at the little black thing in the corner or on the counter - he is asking you to look into the camera and freeze for photographing. When leaving the country, the tourist’s appearance will be compared with the photo taken upon entering the country.

Next, the migration control officer keeps two parts of the migration card, attaches the third to one of the pages in the passport with a stapler (so as not to get lost), and then puts a stamp on entry into the country, which indicates the date when the country must be left (tourist without a visa to Thailand has a right to be here no more than 30 calendar days). The passport is returned to the tourist, go to the airport through the door behind the booth. All, You are officially in Thailand!

3. Where to pick up your luggage at Suvarnabhumi Airport

Once you have passed passport control, the next task is to find your luggage(BAGGAGE). In an Aeroport Suvarnabhumi There are quite a lot of handout tapes, above each of them is written the number of the arriving flight and the city from which the plane arrived. You can visually find the tape (or several tapes) where our luggage should be by these inscriptions, but you can do it in a simpler and more logical way.

Immediately after we have passed passport (migration) control, we raise our heads and look for the huge ARRIVALS (ARRIVAL) board closer to the center of the hall, which displays all arriving flights (and there are a lot of them, because Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is huge - one of largest in the world). We find your flight by its number, time of arrival and departure city, in the same line it will be indicated baggage claim number. Now we just go to this belt, wait for luggage to start being served at the belt and look for our luggage (it’s best if bags and suitcases are marked with something noticeable and unusual in advance, the identification process will be greatly simplified).

Tip: before removing your luggage from the belt, find yourself a luggage trolley; they are located in special places throughout the airport building. The process of moving luggage around the building, and you may have to walk quite far along the building, will make it much easier for yourself. The trolley works on the principle: We pressed the handle from top to bottom, by which we are driving the cart - the brake was released, we were driving. Let go of the handle - the brake will clamp the wheels so that the cart does not “run away”.

4. Customs control at Bangkok airport

Having received our luggage, we move to the side customs control(CUSTOMS) along the shops of the Duty Free zone (to the left of the baggage claim belts, if you stand with your back to them). You can stock up on goods in Duty Free, but the prices, for example, for alcohol here are practically no different from the average prices for the same goods in stores in Thailand. If you need to stock up on cigarettes, now is the time to do it. But do not forget about restrictions on the import of alcohol and tobacco into Thailand.

Further along the path of the airport terminal building, on the right hand there is customs control: green and red corridors. The green corridor is for the vast majority of tourists. If you are not carrying anything that requires declaration, we will go through it, otherwise, with a completed customs declaration, we will go through red corridor. In the green corridor there are several customs officers at Bangkok Airport, who selectively stop tourists who have aroused any suspicion and check their luggage on the belt, shining it with a scanner or hand-held scanner.

If prohibited baggage or baggage requiring permission or declaration is detected, the tourist may face serious problems at customs control, be careful!

Complete import ban:

1. Narcotic drugs any type and in any quantity. By the way, a tourist found in possession of drugs will face the death penalty in Thailand or, at best, life imprisonment.
2. Any literature, photographs and other images or video materials, not only pornographic, but also erotic content. A huge fine or even imprisonment may be imposed for the discovery of this type of material.

5. How to find your guide at Bangkok airport

At this stage, you have already cleared customs and are walking with your luggage and passport with an arrival stamp and one part of the Thai migration card inside along the outer corridor of the second floor of the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. Now our task is to find our guide. Suvarnabhumi Airport is quite long, has 10 entrances. Typically, guides of various tour operators from Russia are located opposite entrance 10 (the rightmost one, the first after customs) and entrance 3 (see photo).

It is possible that your main meeting will take place at entrance 3, but an auxiliary guide (Thai) will meet you at entrance 10 after passing through customs control and show you the road where the main guide (Russian-speaking) is already waiting for you. The photo shows an approximate route through Suvarnabhumi Airport to meet the guide. Don’t be surprised if the Thai assistant guide puts beads on you from traditional Thai flowers - this is how tourists are greeted here.

Now we need to find our guide. Searching for him by the name of the tour operator is not very convenient, especially since there are a lot of guides who meet you, it’s easy to get confused among them. So we advise you to look for a meeting guide using the tour operator’s logo. Below are the logos of the main tour operators that provide pick-up at the airport.

In general, if you are confused and cannot see the name of your operator either on the signs with the logo of tour operators or on the guides’ uniform, you can go up to any guide with a Russian appearance and ask where your guide is (you can even show them yours; he will conduct the whole group onto the bus and you will go to your hotel.

6. Boarding the bus and transfer to the hotel

Group transfer to the hotel is carried out from the parking lot of the second or first floor Suvarnabhumi Airport by bus or minivan. After the entire group of tourists has been collected, the transfer guide will escort everyone to the bus. The driver will help you place your suitcases in the luggage compartment and we will all set off together to our hotels.

Lastly: currency exchange offices and toilets in Suvarnabhumi

If you need to visit the restroom, you can do this at Bangkok airport at almost any stage of your stay: before passport control, when collecting baggage, or while waiting for the entire group to gather in the outer corridor of Suvarnabhumi after meeting the guide. In the latter case, one piece of advice: if you leave while waiting for a group, warn the guide and/or people from this very group so that they do not leave for the bus without you. If a situation occurs that you still get lost after meeting with the guide, return to the place where the group gathered together; if you were missing on the bus, the guides will return to your search and begin from this place.

In any case, the waiting time for missing tourists is 1.5 hours. Therefore, if you have lost your group or cannot find your bus and your guide, call your tour operator and explain the situation, they will help you.

Despite the abundance of currency exchange offices in airport, we do not recommend changing money here, since the exchange rate here is, to put it mildly, extortionate. You can change money on the way during the transfer to the hotel at one of the stops, or even better wait until you get to your hotel, next to which there will be at least one or two exchange offices with a quite decent rate.