Need a Taxi at Bangkok International Airport (BKK)? Know your Price!

by Juan Vives

 

Here is another post to help you plan your travel, save travel money, and avoid travel scams.  Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport is pretty easy to get around.  Knowing a few things about transportation at the BKK Airport will save you some travel time and money.  The Bangkok Airport is around 21 miles from the center of Bangkok. Taking a taxi at the Bangkok Airport is the most convenient and easiest way to reach your hotel.

The first time I landed in the Bangkok Airport I picked up a random taxi at the ground level of the airport. I asked them to use the meter and the meter posted 700 TBH when I arrived at my Bangkok hotel.

The second time I landed in Bangkok, I decided to follow the Bangkok Airport Taxi signs and take an official taxi. The driver says he will take me to the city center for 400TBH. I thought it was bargain ride since last time I paid much higher fee with meter. So, no meter, 400 TBH, OK Sir? Yes sure, go ahead.  Sir pays the tolls for the highway.  Ok, no problem.

The third time I landed in Bangkok Airport I decided to take an official taxi and this time go with the meter since nothing else was offered.  And here you go, the ride to the city center is only 260 TBH! (less than US$10)

The first time the meter was manipulated; the second time it was a verbal agreement; the third time we got it right!  Keep reading for a detailed explanation of what you need to know if you choose to take a taxi from the Bangkok International Airport to the city center of Bangkok.

This is what you need to know:

  • First, get to the ground level at the airport following the official taxi signs (don’t pay attention to people telling you they have a cheap taxi ride to Bangkok City Center).
  • There are several counters where you just tell the person where you are going.  You should have the directions to your hotel written on a paper.  If the hotel has the address in Thai at their website, then much better.  Just print it out.
  • You will get a small receipt that tells you (in Thai) that you must pay 50 TBH to the taxi driver on top of what the meter says when you arrive to your destination. This additional fee is only from the Bangkok Airport to Bangkok City and it does not apply from Bangkok City Center to the Airport.
  • Then you ask the driver to use the meter.  They will proceed to use the meter if you insist.  The driver will ask if you want to use the toll-way.  Say yes.  The highway to Bangkok City is the fastest and safest way. You will have to pay the tolls, which are only 25 THB and 45 TBH as we speak.
  • Bangkok taxi drivers tend to drive very fast since time is money.  If afraid, tell them to slow down (better using your hands than words).  I recommend you put on your seat belt, if you find one.
  • The ride without traffic would take around 35 minutes. The taxi ride from the Bangkok Airport to most parts of Bangkok City could take any unpredictable amount of time during traffic peak hours.  The taxi driver does not accept credit cards, so you need to take some cash from an ATM at the Bangkok Airport or just exchange money at the airport.

There is another option to get to Bangkok Central areas from Bangkok International airport (BKK).  There is a skytrain but you will need to combine it with a taxi ride to your hotel from the point where the train stops in the city.  It will most likely take a longer time.

Keep in mind that the total amount we are spending on this taxi ride is around $10-$12 at the current USD exchange rate, and even cheaper for Europeans and the British.  So, why carry around your luggage from trains to taxis for $10!

Note:  The article refers to Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.  This is most likely where you will arrive and depart for your international trip.  There is another airport if you take some domestic flights.  So, make sure you know what airport you are going to, and have it written down.  Save yourself some headaches!

 

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Comments

One Response to “Need a Taxi at Bangkok International Airport (BKK)? Know your Price!”

  1. Karl on

    Ive been to Thailand a few times now and always fly into BKK, i prefer to book a decent hotel that provides an airport pickup. I cant deal with all the hustle after a long flight. Great general taxi tips, even ive learned a thing or 2.

    [Reply]

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