Flying to Thailand

jammin_2

I tell you what's fun. Fly in to KL and get the train up to Thailand. It's an experience. Once, we were on a Thai train where the "host" was Natalie. He was great, tremendously friendly and entirely entertaining. Kept telling us he's going to audition for Miss Thailand, once he's had the chop.

Takes 11 hours by overnight Malaysian train from KL to Padang Besar (border). It might seem long, but you leave KL at about 9pm and arrive in Padang Besar at about 8am. If you get a private cabin, you get a bed and a TV and food. From Padang Besar, continue on to Hat Yai in Thailand (takes 40 minutes to get there).

From Hat Yai you can continue by bus or train to Thailand's Eastern or Western islands, as preferred.

shudd1967

I personally would have no concerns flying into Bangkok and then flying onto my resort. The airport is very well organised (huge!) and I really don't think anything like the takeover would happen again.

I hope to go to Thailand again in jan, will be flying with Eva air and transfering through and unless the FCO tell me not to transfer through the airport. The only reason I say that is if you go against their advice a lot of insurance claims are invalid.

Doshwaster

shudd1967 wrote: »

I personally would have no concerns flying into Bangkok and then flying onto my resort. The airport is very well organised (huge!) and I really don't think anything like the takeover would happen again.

The biggest problem with BKK airport is the sheer size. It is OK for arrivals and departures but transferring can involve walking miles. The last time I passed through I asked the information desk where the Emirates transfer desk was - the reply was "1200m that way" followed by another 1000m or so to the gate.

Given the choice Kuala Lumpur or Singapore are much nicer airports to transit through. BKK has been open 3 years but still has the feeling of not being finished.

Heliflyguy

If you are considering Phuket then the most direct route from Manchester is to Munich then on to Phuket with Air Berlin (LTU airlines codeshare).
All the other choices are far to round the houses with a 2 year old in tow, except maybe Singapore.
Maybe look at other choices via Europe although the cost may go up a bit.
Otherwise via Bangkok would be fine, it has calmed down, if you are going on a package holiday then I expect there will not be any other choice.

Mr_Lahey

I was in Bangkok a few weeks back and there is nothing to worry about its all sorted.
m back there in a couple of weeks, to worry is a waste of time.

jamsandwiches

jammin wrote: »

I tell you what's fun. Fly in to KL and get the train up to Thailand. It's an experience. Once, we were on a Thai train where the "host" was Natalie. He was great, tremendously friendly and entirely entertaining. Kept telling us he's going to audition for Miss Thailand, once he's had the chop.

Takes 11 hours by overnight Malaysian train from KL to Padang Besar (border). It might seem long, but you leave KL at about 9pm and arrive in Padang Besar at about 8am. If you get a private cabin, you get a bed and a TV and food. From Padang Besar, continue on to Hat Yai in Thailand (takes 40 minutes to get there).

From Hat Yai you can continue by bus or train to Thailand's Eastern or Western islands, as preferred.

Would love to do this but we would only get a 2 week visa as we would not be arriving in Thailand via the airport - which is a pity but we usually stay 4 weeks.

jammin_2

jamsandwiches wrote: »

Would love to do this but we would only get a 2 week visa as we would not be arriving in Thailand via the airport - which is a pity but we usually stay 4 weeks.

Would you stay 2 weeks in Malaysia, 2 weeks in Thailand? Langkawi and Penang are fantastic. Much better than Thai islands in my opinion.

kazwookie

I go every year, I flew into BKK 2 days after the 'sit in' 2 years ago, the place was spotless, no damage, no protesters.............

IMO the airport is fine, and from there you can fly to several of the islands. And remember BKK airport is no where near Bangkok itself.....it is a bus or taxi ride for about 30mins or more depending on the traffic!

Do not go into central Bangkok, (but then Bangkok itself is a sprawling mass of area) also be aware some of the areas are still on night time curfew, but it does depend on where you go, and one night the curfew can be on, the next night it isn't, there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to when it is or not as the case may be....if you do go, my advise is NOT to wear a yellow or red shirt / t shirt / polo type shirt!

I'm counting down the weeks, I have my ticket booked since April, hang on just had a count 16 weeks and 3 days, :beer:

If you get to Pattaya, there are several island ferries daily to various places, you just turn up, get a ticket from the Kiosk, get on the ferry and off you go.

Donnie

kazwookie wrote: »

I go every year, I flew into BKK 2 days after the 'sit in' 2 years ago, the place was spotless, no damage, no protesters.............

IMO the airport is fine, and from there you can fly to several of the islands. And remember BKK airport is no where near Bangkok itself.....it is a bus or taxi ride for about 30mins or more depending on the traffic!

Do not go into central Bangkok, (but then Bangkok itself is a sprawling mass of area) also be aware some of the areas are still on night time curfew, but it does depend on where you go, and one night the curfew can be on, the next night it isn't, there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to when it is or not as the case may be....if you do go, my advise is NOT to wear a yellow or red shirt / t shirt / polo type shirt!

I'm counting down the weeks, I have my ticket booked since April, hang on just had a count 16 weeks and 3 days, :beer:

If you get to Pattaya, there are several island ferries daily to various places, you just turn up, get a ticket from the Kiosk, get on the ferry and off you go.

To which places would those be?

the.weekender

Koh Larn, Koh Larn, Koh Larn ??????;)