15 hr layover bt/wn flights, Leave airport or get dayroom ?

Hi

We are having a long layover in BKK in between flights to CMB. The layover is 10+ odd hrs. We%26#39;re supposed to get to BKK at 6 AM or so.. and flying out to CMB around 8 PM. Thai Airways said they provide a hotel for free/give vouchers to a hotel called ';Sofitel Centara Grand Bangkok'; and its rated as # 100 on tripadvisor. There are plenty bad reviews there about their service.

Now, I wonder how much time it will take early morning and late evening to travel from the new airport to the hotel ? I just dont want to miss my flights. They are supposed to have a free shuttle to the hotel. Otherwise I%26#39;ll just take a cab. Either way, need to know the distance with traffic. I%26#39;ve heard conflicting things about the time. Some say it took them 30-40 min, others said it took an hour.

I%26#39;m debating whether I should just get a dayroom and not leave the airport given the time limits.

Oh I%26#39;m also travelling with 2 kids, and will need a place to crash after the super long haul flights.

Thanks

Sam

15 hr layover bt/wn flights, Leave airport or get dayroom ?

Hi

how old are the kids

I would take Thai airways up on their vouchers

if they have a free shuttle must be close to airport.

that is a long time to set in the airport even in day rooms

the kids can swim if they have a pool and you can get a nice rest or explore and shop..

but hotels usually won%26#39;t let you check in until 2 or later

be sure and double check.

you will have to clear customs. if you leave the transit area.

but your bags will probably be checked thru.

so will need clothes in carry on for change.

you have too much time during the day not to explore Bangkok.

15 hr layover bt/wn flights, Leave airport or get dayroom ?

CMB is Sri Lanka right?.. and you are arriving from the US?...

If so, I%26#39;m pretty sure that you need all the rest that you can get after a long haul..

Just take the room.. Freshen up.. rest.. let the kids use the pool and get as much sleep as they can. The room(s) will be made available to you on your arrival at the hotel. I haven%26#39;t been to this hotel

At the old BKK airport, Thai air used a very nice hotel very close to the airport.. Just go with the deal..

If you think you have the energy... take a taxi from the hotel into town and go and see the palace or something... Taxifare would only be 300 Baht or so each way.

BTW.. the time it would take between airport and hotel will vary a lot.. depending on time of day... Peakhour trafic in Bangkok is a nightmare at the best of time.. and you arrive right in the midlle of morning peakhour.. and would need to get to the airport during afternoon rush... But just let the Thai air shuttle worry about that...

Hi

Thanks for the replies.

OK I checked my itinerary again and I%26#39;m coming to BKK on a Sunday early morning around 6:40 AM. And leaving at 10 PM. Whats traffic like on Sundays ?

Coming back, we arrive on a Thursday morning 6 AM and leaving 7 :40 PM. My kids are 4 and 2.

Any hotels you recommend that is quite close to the new BKK airport ?

(in case they don%26#39;t give the promised voucher or the hotel screwed up on the reservation) Which brings me to my next question... if we are supposed to get a voucher as part of the ticket, do we need to make a reservation ahead of time with the hotel directly ? Or does the airline guarantee it ?

Re; reservation.. the airline will arrange it all for you. Thai air is pretty reliable.... I would just make the most of it.. can%26#39;t remember if I had a voucher or not... but if they state that its all included.. it will be fore sure..

Also take into account that if you book a hotel.. check in time is likely something like 2 PM... Noon at the earliest.. unless you make special arangements..

The hotel given to you by Thai air would be from whenever they drop you there.. untill they pick you up again...

Re: traffic... the Sunday should be ok.... but the Thursday may take you a bit longer.

Trouble with the new airport is that there%26#39;s only one hotel really close by. (walking distance.. The Novotel... There are some dayrooms in the airport itself... but for your use.. if you choose not to use the hotel arranged by your airline.. you are better of just getting a car into town.. I%26#39;d say.. Cost of a taxi is only 300 to 400 Baht each way....

Depending on your pricerange and requirements.. you will have lots to choose from.

Places like the Majestic Grande.. Sofitel Silom or Dynasty Inn Grande .. Shop around for a good deal on line.. asiaroms, asiatravel, sawadee, res24, hoteltravel, atsiam, asiabesthotel, directrooms, wired-destinations, hotelthailand, Passionasia, agoda, planetholiday, precisionreservations, hotels2thailand would be worthwhile checking for deals.

The problem with the whole voucher is.. there is absolutely nothing written down anywhere on the airline ticket, that we can see, or on the travel documents Thai Airways sent us mentioning we will get a hotel night. It was something Thai said over the phone.

I%26#39;m almost inclined to go with a slightly better hotel and much more closer to the airport. I%26#39;d have loved to go with the Marriott Bangkok resort but I%26#39;ve heard its quite far.

Thanks a lot for those links. Will try them out.

If Thai Air is offering you a free hotel - take it! What%26#39;s the beef, it%26#39;s a hotel that is close to $100 a night! (If I have the right hotel, that is!)

Thousands of tourists are happy to find a place with air, private toilet and hot water for under 1000 baht! The price of this Sofitel is 2000 baht more than I pay for my place!

It is a good deal if Thai Air provides the hotel and ride, it%26#39;s not like you will be there a long time. You only need a place to take a shower and for the kids to rest a bit.

You have 15 hours to kill, riding a bus has to be more exciting than sitting in the airport in a plastic chair.

Even if it took an hour to get to the hotel and an hour to return that is a couple hours you are not cooling your heels at the airport with a couple tired and (maybe) cranky kids!

There is a hotel at the airport, I think the price is around $100 plus per night. You could try to get Thai Air to pay part of that price if you are getting a free voucher because they screwed up!

Good luck.

my wife and I stayed at the airport Novotel in a dayroom (8am to 6pm). It cost about 拢55 and was spacious and clean. The pool was an oasis in the midst of the hotel. Rooms were quiet and the bathrooms very roomy. A hotel courtesy bus operates between the airport and hotel every 5-10 mins. If you can get Thai Air to subsidise it is ideal.